I have been doing this for over 35 years (3 wheelers, snomobiles, dirt bikes etc before quads), and I have loaded everything every which way you can think. And I'll be the first to tell you that I am a safety freak. So I can speak with experience. A trailer is MUCH safer than a pickup. I am living proof of that. I have dropped a quad off ramps when the grass was wet, and ]slick tires spun and it slid sideways and rolled it right off the side. I blew a knee (ACL) pushing a lightweight dirt bike into a pickup too, and spend several YEARS getting that fixed and learning how to walk again. (7 surgeries to fix a botched first attempt) I have seen guys gun a sport quad into the truck only to slam into the back window and shatter it. Or have a machine slide forward with the same result if the truck has to stop quickly.
Trailers are the way to go.

 

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the advice regarding this topic. After shopping around a bit I decided to get a 6' x 12' flatbed trailer. I found one here in San Jose at a local truck/trailer center for a good price. Problem solved.

Now I can haul 2 ATV's or an ATV and a couple dirtbikes without the "excitement" of driving up ramps into the back of my truck. When you stop to consider I have no experience with a motorcycle clutch, negotiating ramps is sure to be dicey. I will turn 50 this year, and everything still works fine - I'd like to keep it that way as long as I can.

Thanks again for your inputs.

Doug

 

After hurting my knees and back I agree with you. Have fun.