My Version of the Spine

[DieselTwitch]

This is what I'm calling the "Razor Back" hahaha. I like the idea of the Spine ramp but it doesnt do any thing for keeping the bed in good shape.



This ramp takes 100% of the load off the tail gate.

Supports more of the track in short bed trucks.

Eliminates wear and tear on the bed

Takes weight off the lugs on the track.

Elminates the chance of the ramp spitting out during loading

Secures to the bed using L-Track and 9x L-Track studs



I really liked a lot of the features I saw on the spine ramp. I hope the original mfg of the spine does not think I am ripping them off.



I wanted a system that would be modular but would let me load up in minutes with out having to install or remove anything frequently. So I split the bed mounted section into two parts. a part that will stay in for the season, but is short enough that i can close my short box F150 tail gate. I made an extension that cantilevers out past the tail gate for a total of a 100" from the front of the box. This means on on my ST Timbersled that only about 18" of the track is unsupported.



Every thing is off to water jetting now. It will be made entirely of DOM Tubing. the main tubes are 2" OD x 0.120" Wall



I also use Quick relase pins for assembly for easy use



All told the thing weights 150 lbs. I'm building two in bed sections and 1 ramp so I can carry two bikes.

The in bed section weight 65 lbs and the ramp parts weights 85 lbs without the sides it only weights 47 lbs.



It will probably weight in a little bit more once i coat the entire thing in bed liner.



The loops will accommodate a 2.25-2.5" paddles



The ramp is 98" long and will present with roughly a 23* Ramp angle on my truck with a 6" lift and 35" tires.



I've included a photo of how my bike rides now. Seams to put a lot of weight on the tail gate and all the weight on about 4 paddles. I've also have a photo of the L-Track that mounts into my bed. Right now I only have 4x 4' Rails in there. I will be making it so there will be 8x 6' rails and a series of shorter ones



Tell me what you think.

 

[Niskibum]

If the track isn't running down it why do you need the loops? Why not just two raised tubes for the ski to run down?

I haven't had a problem hurting the truck bed, since I have a hard rubber pad that is for protecting my camper. The ski doesn't seem to cut the pad, just rides over it, but a track to keep the ski straight and make it easier to back it out would be nice.

I would like to see something that keeps the track centered when you are unloading. I have had times when I had to ride it back up because the track wants to wander.

 

[DieselTwitch]

If the track isn't running down it why do you need the loops? Why not just two raised tubes for the ski to run down?

I haven't had a problem hurting the truck bed, since I have a hard rubber pad that is for protecting my camper. The ski doesn't seem to cut the pad, just rides over it, but a track to keep the ski straight and make it easier to back it out would be nice.

I would like to see something that keeps the track centered when you are unloading. I have had times when I had to ride it back up because the track wants to wander.

Thank you! I didn't even think about that. Was to easy to just copy the loops.

When you say keep the track centered during unloading, what do you mean? I only have a problem with the ski trying to turn.

The main reason I wanted the rails to extend over the bed is because the point load from the ski on the bed during unloading was causing the sheet metal of my bed to deform at the very edge of the tail gate.

With this system all you need to do is untie the bike at the grab handle and pull backwards on the bike till the ski drops out.

 

[Niskibum]

You must be tailgate dropping. I started using the spine to unload. Works a lot easier, and I think it's easier on the bike and the truck.

When I back it off the truck onto the spine the track will sometimes go to one side, which wouldn't be fun if it came off the spine all the way.

 

[DieselTwitch]

You must be tailgate dropping. I started using the spine to unload. Works a lot easier, and I think it's easier on the bike and the truck.



When I back it off the truck onto the spine the track will sometimes go to one side, which wouldn't be fun if it came off the spine all the way.

Yeah and it was the gate dropping that was killing my tail gate.

Interesting that it wonders. I would have thought that the way they spaced the loops it would have held it true? What spacing between tubes do they have? Also what's the distance from loop face to loop face?

I'm spacing mine at 6.5" and the loops are 11.5" I think. The size of my loops will keep the center paddle between them.

I though to that tail gate dropping it was bad until I dropped my bike and broke two rad shrouds and bend a rad. Now I like dropping much better!


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[DieselTwitch]

Here's what it was doing to my bed before I put in my bed line. Being that it's my shop we put it on at 2x the normal thickness!





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[sodahucker]

What is the tie down system you have connected to the truck in the last picture?

 

[DieselTwitch]

What is the tie down system you have connected to the truck in the last picture?

That's airline track. I made my own tie downs that allow me to hold the bike down just using the pegs. Works great, and holds better then holding off the bars!


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