Google some businesses in the town you're going to, and give them a call.

I loaded my Wee onto a Penske moving truck when I moved cross country. Getting it up that skinny little ramp was no problem. Just rode it right up. Getting it off, I got nervous and started going slow..... Luckily my wife was standing behind me. Otherwise the bike and I would have fallen FAR to some unforgiving pavement.

Next time I'll be getting a trailer.

__________________
Paul "Happy Wanderer"
"I want to live. I want to experience the universe,
and I want to eat pie"
2008 DL650 (VStrom/WeeStrom/BeeStrom)

[url]http://motophotofile.blogspot.com[/url]

When you back your bike down a ramp don't use the front brake. Put the bike in 1st gear and slip the clutch to slowly back it down. That way you can more easily walk beside it and there is less danger that the front wheel when braked will slip as the heavier rear end starts down the ramp. This is a good method even if you are sitting on the bike as it descends.

__________________
2007 DL650
"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" -- Harry M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927

On the surface, it's a sound suggestion....but what if the distance to a hill, dock, ramp, is a distance and he's doing this alone? I don't intend to be critical, but perhaps purchasing the correct ramps is the way to go and may come in handy for other loadings in the future. High-weight capacity folding ramps have been so handy for me. I use them to run my machine up onto supported beams for maintenance, safe loading into my truck as a one-man operation....etc. Spending a few hundred dollars on a one-time rental is not cost effective to me unless it is truly ONE-TIME. If you have heavy motorcyles, ZTR mowers(yep, two ramps) and other toys, owning ramps can keep you from injuring yourself and/or damaging your toys. I'm glad I decided to buy heavy duty folding ramps a few years ago...made my life easier. My opinion.

__________________
'92 Honda Z50R
'94 Kawasaki KLX250 modded to 340cc's
'00 Yamaha YZ426F
'94 Yamaha 125 scooter
'05 Vespa E4 scooter
'68 Vespa VBB scooter (restored)
'06 Wee
'03 Honda S2000 roadster

Excellent advice!! On my ramps, I used a angle grinder with a 40 grit sanding disc to roughen the surface and then apply an anti-skid coating that I helped to cure with a heat gun set on low and waving it over the surface from about 15 inches away. This was very time-consuming but my ramps look like professional quality and I get questions about the coatings often. Unfortunately, after 7 years, the coating is starting to peel off. I attribute this to the ramps being subjected to thermal cycles of from 104f to as cold as 14f as they are stored in an unheated /cooled shop.

__________________
'92 Honda Z50R
'94 Kawasaki KLX250 modded to 340cc's
'00 Yamaha YZ426F
'94 Yamaha 125 scooter
'05 Vespa E4 scooter
'68 Vespa VBB scooter (restored)
'06 Wee
'03 Honda S2000 roadster

I'm sure he will determine if he can use them like you do. For me , I never used them again . Renting is wasteful like you said since he's trying to save money. I'd rather pay someone $20 to follow me back to my house in my truck if I needed help, and then give them a ride back . I think he said he's moving to Co., and I doubt he'll have trouble finding an incline to back up to and unload.

No problem here. Anyone reading this thread and considering ramps....or other options... will get different opinions. I see that as a PLUS.

__________________
'92 Honda Z50R
'94 Kawasaki KLX250 modded to 340cc's
'00 Yamaha YZ426F
'94 Yamaha 125 scooter
'05 Vespa E4 scooter
'68 Vespa VBB scooter (restored)
'06 Wee
'03 Honda S2000 roadster

1. Don't Panic.

2. Go to harbor freight and get the 6' bi-fold ramp As seen Here.

3. Back the truck into a ditch (with either the truck in a yard or on a road with little traffic and good visibility) so the back tires are in the lowest part and the tailgate is that much closer to the ground. Just make sure it's a ditch or yard you won't get stuck in... especially important after a downpour.

4. Secure the ramp.

5. Don't be a puss.

6. If you can touch the ground at a stoplight this ramp is wide enough to have feet down on the raised lip edges while riding up or to walk the bike up on one side while standing on the other.... or if it's flat or downhill enough just ride on - slowly.

I recommend this ramp as I've been using it for a couple years now, maybe two dozen times... and have loaded and unloaded without problem every time - into the back of a 2500HD 4x4 with oversized tires. The only thing that makes it even easier is a wheel chock that will hold the bike upright till you can get two straps on it.

When you're done with it you have a decent ramp you can use for a lawnmower or whatever else, or fold it up and put it in a closet.

Or... rely on the charity of others and the use of a loading dock that may be miles from your destination.

__________________
05 DL1000 - PC III, cheap top box,
cee bailey 27", 20mm ammocans, scottoiler,
Rick's fork brace & peg drop, 530 conversion,
madstad bracket, darkside, Moose bars