Hi everyone, I'm currently in the market for a pickup truck and wanted to get some feedback from you guys. One of the uses I am looking to get out of the truck is to haul the bike around to the different tracks, so it has to be able to hold the bike in the bed. I'm looking at getting a Chevy Silverado crew cab with the short bed (bed length is 69 inches). Would that be long enough to load my ZX6R into the back? I don't necessarily mind if the gate is left open since I could always get one of those bed extenders.
I load my bike in my Tacoma bed corner to corner and cram a lot of stuff in there around it. According to the internet, my truck's bed is 73.2". I think that with 69" you could easily handle any bike in the back. I keep it steady with Canyon Dancers and cam straps. Throw the rear wheel in the corner against the tailgate and it will not go anywhere. I do have to muscle it around in the bed to get it situated exactly how I like it, but I also have a very specific order to fit all my junk in there with it. With the tailgate up and bike corner to corner, I manage to fit: (2) Canopies, (2) camping chairs, 2000w generator, bike ramp, 100ft power cord, VP gas can, fan, 4 person tent, both bike stands, folding table, bicycle, two extra wheels, and up to 4 extra tires. The cab is also crammed full of stuff, including gear, sleeping bags, tools, spares, tire warmers, clothes, etc. I have just about reached the limit, but I have run out of things that I've deemed necessary. I spent my first year or so of track days finding a new thing to bring with me every weekend and I'm pretty satisfied with it where it is now. This is not everything I usually bring, but here's an idea of what I do. I'd like to get a trailer simply to avoid having to load and unload everything every weekend and instead just hook it up and go. For a one man show, a truck is a spectacular option and will definitely get you there with all the trackside amenities you could want.
Trailer!! I used to cram everything into the bed of my Tacoma as well. Having a trailer is soooo much better not to mention the fact that with a trailer you will be able to buy a vehicle that gets better gas mileage. I saw a guy at a WERA event towing his KTM RC8 with a Mazda3. If you're dead set on getting a full sized truck then look at the older 4.6 liter Toyota Tundras. They have a crew cab plus enough bed space to fit everything you need.
i second the trailer, even if its a small one for a few hundred bucks, my friend josh started by towing his bike to the track with his corvette
Thanks for the feedback. I actually had a trailer for a little while, but with the homeowner's association, it got to be a little troublesome to have that thing around. I'll look at the used truck market as well, but I may be able to get a good deal on a lease. Regardless, having a pickup truck is nice for hauling stuff around. We'll see what happens. Once again, thanks for the feedback!
Get an 8 foot bed. Yeah it’s not as sexy looking as the short beds but if you actually use your truck as a truck it’s so much more convenient Plus the security of being able to shut your tailgate is worth it. It’s not much harder to park ether.
I would try to get a crew cab with the standard GM short bed (6'6"), not the 5'9 super short bed. Looking at getting a newer truck myself. I cant believe how many 4dr trucks have the ultra short bed. At least in a 6'6" bed a 8' long 2x4 will fit in it (at an angle) with the gate shut.
Because most people who buy trucks rarely use them as “trucks” and don’t mind the short bed because it fits their 3 bags of mulch once a year just fine
Simple solution for that is make it a law that all trucks must be manual transmissions, manual transfer cases, only frills would be power windows, locks and a/c. No leather, no electronics package that rivals the space shuttle. Oh what the hell make another license endorsement to drive a pickup. Built conversion vehicles in the 90's. Seen suv's and 4x4 popularity go nuts with the idiots who only bought them for a 'status symbol'. Hell I remember when the only time you seen a suburban in town was a large family, construction crews or farmers. Even 4x4 pickups were not common (even in southern WI).
They are still around, just not as many manufacturers. StarCraft still makes them last I heard. Its just most of the options that people bought these for now are standard or optional equipment from GM, Ford, Mopar. Personally I don't get all only buy one brand like some people. Owned Ford, GM and Dodge trucks. Have a friend who's a Ford fan boy. So bad that he drools over their website looking at new cars & trucks. When my Dakota took a shit after its 14th birthday, he kept trying to get me to get a F150. He sure didn't like it when I told him I wouldn't buy another Ford truck UNLESS it had a built in fire suppression system. Both Ford trucks I ever owned CAUGHT FIRE behind the dash on the left side of the gauges. Only minor issues with the GM trucks, ie rocker rust on my current GMC and my old Sonoma had a reccuring ignition module issue that was a 5 min fix on the side of the road. The Dakota was the quintessential nightmare. Was fine UNTIL the warranty ran out, then started nickel and diming. Should had replaced the damn thing in 2003 (when it was 5) but didn't want another loan.
When I lived out west, and to show just how fucking old I am, we used to call these desert gates or desert rails I started track days using a short bed Dodge Ram, got a trailer and never wanna look back. Trailers make shit easier by a factor of five. https://readyramp.com/shop/readyramp-i-beam-full-sized-bed-extender-ramp-black-100-open-60-on-truck/
Check into Baxley if the HOA is an issue. High quality fold up stuff made in the great state of Alabama.
If your getting a full size truck with a class 4 hitch I would consider motorcycle receiver carrier. https://www.discountramps.com/hitch...dE&ppcstrkid=1069721600&ppcsu=xhg7f5djqlusist this thing is awesome I'm wanting one myself no trailer and you can put it in the garage with minimal space. I've seen several at the track. its a heavy duty motorcycle carrier.