Tips for Loading a Bike on the etrailer Motorcycle Carrier part # e98873 with One Person

Question:

Are there ways that a person can load and unload a bike by themselves? I imagine a person could figure something out, but do you folks have any tips for doing it if you are alone? - ways I could steady the bike while I got the tie-downs going? Thanks,

asked by: Chris

Helpful Expert Reply:

You could absolutely load and unload the etrailer Motorcycle Carrier part # e98873 by yourself. I have loaded several bikes on similar carriers or in the bed of a truck with a similar ramp by myself and it was pretty painless.

You would just want to set the ramp up behind the wheel tray, give yourself about 15 feet or so of room to build up a decent speed to push the bike up on to the ramp while covering the front brake, and then line up the front wheel onto the ramp and let it travel up the ramp and into place.

Have the tie down closest to you on the carrier ready to go. Take that tie down and put it on the handlebar closest to you. Tighten it down enough that you can lean the bike away from you and the tie down you just installed will hold it in place. Basically the bike will lean slightly away from the tie down, but the tie down will keep it from falling. This will allow you to let go of the bike so that you can go around to the other side of the bike and attach the other tie down. From there you would just tighten them down evenly.

expert reply by: Jameson C