Okay, so I needed a way to get my motorcycle into my pickup truck without breaking my back. I’m not getting any younger, you know? And wrestling that beast up a ramp was becoming a real pain. So, I started looking into motorcycle lifts. I saw some pretty fancy ones online, but the prices? Forget about it!
The Search Begins
I spent a couple days, maybe a week, looking at all sorts of contraptions. I’m no engineer, but I’m pretty handy, so I figured I could probably build something myself. I mean, how hard could it be, right? Turns out, harder than I thought! I found a bunch of plans online, but most of them looked like they needed a whole machine shop to put together. Not exactly what I had in mind.
The Plan Takes Shape
Then, I had an idea. I already had a hydraulic engine hoist sitting in my garage. What if I could adapt that somehow? I started sketching things out, and after a few false starts, I came up with a plan. It involved some steel tubing, a winch, and some heavy-duty straps. I figured I could build a frame that would attach to the hoist and cradle the bike. Then, I could use the winch to lift it up and swing it into the truck bed. Sounded simple enough, at least in my head.
The Build
I gathered up all the materials, which took a trip to the local hardware store and some serious digging around in my scrap metal pile. Then the real work began. I spent a good weekend cutting, welding, and grinding. Let me tell you, sparks were flying! My neighbors must have thought I was building a spaceship or something. There were definitely some moments where I questioned my sanity, especially when I welded a piece on backward and had to cut it off and start over. But eventually, the frame started to take shape. I bolted the winch on, attached the straps, and gave it a test run. It actually worked! Well, sort of. It was a bit wobbly, and I definitely wouldn’t trust it with my bike just yet.
Refining the Design
Back to the drawing board. I added some extra bracing to the frame to make it more stable and replaced the cheap straps I initially used with some super strong ones. I also added a couple of safety features, just in case. After a few more tweaks and adjustments, I finally had something I was proud of. It wasn’t pretty, but it was solid, and it did the job.
I moved my truck near my motorcycle. It was time to see if it could really work.
The Moment of Truth
I wheeled my motorcycle over to the lift, hooked up the straps, and said a little prayer. I started cranking the winch, and slowly but surely, the bike started to rise. It was a bit nerve-wracking, watching my prized possession dangling in the air, but the lift held strong. Once it was high enough, I carefully swung the whole contraption over the truck bed and gently lowered the bike down. Success! It fit perfectly, and I didn’t even break a sweat.
Lessons Learned
This whole project was definitely a learning experience. I learned that I’m more capable than I thought, I saved a ton of money, and now I have a custom-built motorcycle lift that works like a charm. Plus, I have a pretty good story to tell. If you’re thinking about building your own lift, I say go for it! Just be prepared to put in some time and effort, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way. And most importantly, always prioritize safety. You don’t want to end up dropping your bike, or worse, getting hurt yourself.
It was a tough job, but hey, I got it done. Now, loading up my bike is a breeze. And that’s all that matters, right?
- Build a stable frame – Make sure it will not break!
- Use strong straps – You want to make sure it is secure.
- Have a winch ready – This will be your friend to lift.
I did it, you can do it too!
