Hey there, it’s Jake from [Our Company], your go-to dropside pickup truck supplier, and I get it—if you’re a bike lover or someone who’s been hauling gear around for adventures, you’ve probably stared at the back of a dropside truck and thought, “Wait, can this actually move bikes without turning them into scrap metal?” I’ve fielded this question so many times lately, I figured I’d break it down straight—no fancy jargon, just real-world stuff I’ve seen with our trucks, tips that actually work, and why our dropside pickups are way better for bike transport than you might think. Dropside Pickup Truck
First off, let’s cut through the confusion: yes, a dropside pickup can absolutely be used for transporting bicycles. I’ve watched it happen a hundred times—friends picking up road bikes for a group ride, small business owners moving multiple bikes for a trail maintenance crew, even parents hauling their kid’s BMX and a mountain bike for weekend camping trips. But here’s the thing: it’s not just shoving a bike in the bed and calling it a day. Dropside trucks have that open, slatted side design that’s different from a regular closed pickup bed, and that’s actually a super big advantage for bikes—if you use it right.
Let me start with why dropside is perfect for bikes, actually. Regular pickups have those solid sides that can scratch a bike’s frame or hold dirt right against the paint, but dropsides? The slats are spaced just right, so you can tie bikes without them rubbing against hard metal. And if you need to load longer bikes—like 29er mountain bikes or full-suspension models that stretch almost six feet—dropsides let you lower the side gates if you need a little extra length, no weird custom rack required. I once had a customer who used our midsize dropside to move four bikes and a cooler for a weekend trip, and he texted me later saying it was way easier than the old enclosed trailer he’d been using.
Now, let’s get into the real question: how do you actually do this without wrecking your bikes or them flying off the highway? I’m not here to give you a random list of tips I found online—these are the ones our team’s tested, from hauling our own demo bikes to working with local bike shops that use our trucks for deliveries. First, think about bed size. If you’re only moving 1 or 2 road bikes, a compact or midsize dropside works totally fine. But if you’re loading 3 or more—maybe for a club ride or a small event—you want to go for a full-size model. Our full-size dropside has a 6.5-foot bed, which fits six standard bikes standing up, no overhang. Compact models are 5 feet, so those work for 2-3 bikes max, and you have to stack them smartly.
Next up: securing the bikes. This is the make-or-break part. I’ve seen people use bungee cords that are too stretchy, or just tie the wheels, and that’s a disaster. The best method I’ve found is to use both wheel straps and frame straps. Wheel straps are simple—you loop them around each tire, either at the front or back, and tie them to the side of the dropside bed, not just the rails. The frame straps go around the top tube (the horizontal bar on the bike) and anchor to the bed’s tie-down points, which our trucks have spaced every foot along the sides, so you don’t have to stretch straps too tight. Pro tip for dropsides: don’t tie the straps to the slats themselves—they’re strong enough, but over time, they can warp. Use the built-in metal tie-down anchors we install in every bed.
Wait, what about hanging bikes? A lot of people use roof racks, but if you don’t want to climb up and down to load, the dropside bed is way easier. I tested this last month: I hung my mountain bike on a bike rack I set up in the dropside bed, so it’s sitting upright, not lying on its side. That way, the frame doesn’t get scratched by the road, and the wheels spin freely without hitting anything. I tied a strap around the handlebars just to be safe, and drove 45 minutes to a trail without a single issue. Another trick: if you’re transporting road bikes with thin carbon frames, put a old towel or a foam pipe insulator around the points where the straps touch the frame. I learned that the hard way—scratched a $300 carbon frame on a test haul once, and now I never skip that step.
What about different types of bikes? Not all bikes are the same, so your method changes a little. For kids’ bikes—small, lightweight, and often have smaller wheels—you can stack them on top of each other, just make sure the bottom one’s wheels are secured, and use a soft strap around both to keep them from tipping. Mountain bikes, especially full-suspension ones, are heavier, so you want to make sure their wheels are tied down more firmly, and if you’re loading 2 or more, leave a small gap between them so the suspension doesn’t rub against another bike’s pedal. Electric bikes? Yeah, e-bikes work too, just keep in mind they’re heavier—30-70 pounds, usually. So you’ll want to use heavier-duty straps, maybe two per bike, and distribute the weight evenly in the bed so the truck drives straight. I had a guy haul two e-bikes to a race last month, and he used our heavy-duty tie-downs, and didn’t have any issues even on dirt roads.
Wait, what about when you’re moving longer bikes, like tandems or bikes with fat tires? Tandems can be up to 8 feet long, so if you’re using a full-size dropside, you can lower the tailgate and let the front end of the bike rest on the cab of the truck. Just make sure you have a soft mat on the cab roof so the frame doesn’t scratch it. Fat tire bikes—those wide-tire mountain bikes—you have to make sure the spacing between the dropside slats or the space you leave between bikes is at least 4 inches, so the tires don’t get squished. I’ve had customers say they thought their fat tires wouldn’t fit, but with a little planning, they fit perfectly, no problem.
Now, let’s bust the biggest myth I hear about dropside trucks and bikes: that the open sides make bikes unsafe. Yeah, if you don’t tie them right, a bike could tip, but a closed pickup bed has way more issues too—like bikes getting covered in mud, or frames scratching against the metal sides. I talked to a local bike repair shop owner last week who’s been using our midsize dropside for 2 years to pick up used bikes from auctions and deliver tune-up jobs, and he said his old closed truck had 12 bike scratches in one year, but with the dropside, he’s only had 2, and both were his fault for not using padding. He saves about $500 a year in touch-up paint, not to mention the hassle of having to fix customers’ bikes when they get damaged during transport.
Another win for dropside trucks when it comes to bikes: unloading is way faster. If you’re at a trailhead, you don’t have to lift a bike over a closed side rail—you just untie it, grab it by the wheels, and go. For people with bad backs (or who just hate fumbling with heavy racks), that’s a game-changer. I had a dad with two young kids tell me he used to struggle with a roof rack every time they went to the park, but with our dropside, he can load both bikes in 5 minutes flat, no ladders required. That small convenience adds up to way more time on the trail instead of messing with gear.
Wait, should you use additional equipment? A lot of people ask if they need a custom bike rack for the dropside bed. The answer is: not always, but some stuff makes it easier. A basic bed mat or foam padding for the bottom of the bed prevents the bike’s frame or wheels from getting scratched when you slide them in. A side-mounted bike holder—like the ones that clip to the dropside slats—can keep bikes upright so they don’t shift when you turn or brake. For long hauls (over an hour), I’d recommend using a few extra straps, just to be safe. I never skip checking the straps before I hit the highway, even after I thought they were tight—vibration can loosen them, so a quick pre-drive check is non-negotiable.
What about weather? If it’s raining, can you still transport bikes in a dropside? Yeah, most bikes are fine getting a little wet, but if you want to keep them dry, you can pick up a basic waterproof bed cover—our trucks work with all standard truck bed covers, so you can put one on when it’s raining, and take it off when it’s nice out. That’s way cheaper than an enclosed trailer, and way more flexible. I’ve hauled bikes in light rain dozens of times, and the only time I’ve had issues was when I forgot to cover my carbon road bike once—so a quick tarp or bed cover is all you need.
Now, let’s get real about the downsides, because I don’t want to sell you something that’s not perfect. If you’re only moving one bike occasionally, a dropside is overkill—you’d be better off with a roof rack or a small trailer. If you’re hauling bikes on curvy back roads all day, you do have to make sure they’re tied extra tight, since the open bed means a little more movement if you brake hard or turn sharply. But for most people—bike club leaders, small business owners, families that go on weekend rides, anyone who needs to move 2+ bikes regularly—those small downsides are way worth the convenience and cost savings.
At [Our Company], we design our dropside pickup trucks specifically for people who need utility without the bulk. The side gates are reinforced, so they can handle the weight of bikes, camping gear, or whatever else you throw in the bed. The tie-down points are stainless steel, so they don’t rust even if you’re hauling muddy bikes on trail days. And the beds are sized to fit standard bikes without a ton of extra space, so you’re not wasting room. We even have a lot of local bike shops as customers, because they say our trucks cut down their transport time by half compared to old closed pickups.
If you’re on the fence about whether a dropside is right for your bike transport needs, here’s my quick advice: figure out how many bikes you’re moving, how often, and what kind of trips you’re taking. If it’s 2-4 bikes once a week, midsize dropside is perfect. If it’s 4+ or longer bikes like tandems, full-size is your call. And don’t overcomplicate it—you don’t need fancy gear, just a few good straps, some padding, and a little common sense. I’ve seen so many people use our trucks for bikes and love it, and I’d bet once you try it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch sooner.
4-Wheel Electric Cargo Pickup If you’re looking for a truck that works seamlessly for transporting bikes (and everything else you need to haul—tools, gear, supplies, whatever), hit us up to chat through your needs. We can walk you through bed sizes, optional tie-downs, even answer any specific questions you have about loading your bikes. No sales pitches, just real talk from someone who’s been in the bike and truck game for years. Let’s find the right dropside for your adventures.
References
- North American Bike Dealers Association, "Truck Transport Best Practices for Bicycles," 2022.
- Pickup Truck Manufacturers Association, "Utility Truck Bed Design and Haul Safety," 2023.
- Local Trail Crew Association, "Trail Gear Transport Tips for Small Pickups," 2021.
- Consumer Reports, "2023 Pickup Truck Utility and Accessory Guide."
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