James & Julie
New member
I know there are other post on this subject, but they all say you can't do what I did....
I'm hauling my boat to Florida this week. I would like to take the Spyder and the boat. Problem is I don't want to drive the Spyder 600 miles, and I can't pull double trailers with my boat trailer. (Aluminum)
So, I decided to load the Spyder in my pickup, and tow the boat. Everything I read online shows loading the Spyder backwards with the front wheels on the tailgate. This will not work with my boat trailer. Need the tail gate up, and I really don't want to take the windshield on and off every time we stop. I plan to visit friends alone my route requiring the Spyder to be loaded and unloaded 3 times during the trip.
I need to load the Spyder facing forward, and it be relatively easy to load and unload. I also have a tight budget. Oh, and to all the guys that said you "can't", please read on lol.
The fact that several people stated "it can't be done" probably helped make this happen.
I started drawing on a piece of paper a crude idea of a way to lift the Spyder into the back of my pickup. The bed is 52" wide, the Spyder is 51 1/2" wide. Too tight for my comfort, so I changed my plan to set the Spyder in top of the bed rails.
I designed and constructed a 4 point linkage attached to a wood 4X4 tee frame. Installed a winch to pull the loader into the truck, and another to pull it out. All of this is attached to my existing 5th wheel hitch rails.
After 3 weekends of construction I tested the loader. See pictures.
Cost:
Northern tool has 2000 warn winche for $99.00, The loading winch I used was given to me by my son, I purchased another Warn 1700 on Craigslist for $65.00.
The pulleys used for the block & tackle were $6 each at Northern Tool and I bought 10 of them, so another $60.00
I bought a trailer fender at Northern Tool for $16.00, cut it in half to use on both sides for the front wheel supports.
Spend about 20.00 in misc. bolts and pins.
Grand total I have $161.00 cash invested, and probably 40 hours labor, and another 10 hours design time.
I already had the wood, misc. angle iron, aluminum plate, misc. bolts, screws, nuts, and some eyelet connections. Could have been purchased for $100 or less.
Trial and error:
I used a 4 part block and tackle to pull the rig into the pickup, and a 6 part to pull it out due to that being a smaller winch. I used some cheap variety store pulleys on my trial run and the weight crushed the cheap aluminum pulleys. Picked up 6 more heavy duty ones today to replace them.
I added a vertical support under the rear shock to gain a bit of height in the rear to allow the tailgate to close.
The rear wheel will be strapped to the Reese hitch. Both front tires are strapped to the 4X4 and then again strapped down to the tie downs inside the bed.
I'm using some heavy duty Reese aluminum ramps, that I drilled holes in to bolt on the underside of the wheel support (fender cut in half).
This Thursday is my last work day to complete the build, and then off to sunny Florida with my boat and my 2014 circuit yellow Spyder.
Let me know what ya think guys,
James & Julie
I'm hauling my boat to Florida this week. I would like to take the Spyder and the boat. Problem is I don't want to drive the Spyder 600 miles, and I can't pull double trailers with my boat trailer. (Aluminum)
So, I decided to load the Spyder in my pickup, and tow the boat. Everything I read online shows loading the Spyder backwards with the front wheels on the tailgate. This will not work with my boat trailer. Need the tail gate up, and I really don't want to take the windshield on and off every time we stop. I plan to visit friends alone my route requiring the Spyder to be loaded and unloaded 3 times during the trip.
I need to load the Spyder facing forward, and it be relatively easy to load and unload. I also have a tight budget. Oh, and to all the guys that said you "can't", please read on lol.
The fact that several people stated "it can't be done" probably helped make this happen.
I started drawing on a piece of paper a crude idea of a way to lift the Spyder into the back of my pickup. The bed is 52" wide, the Spyder is 51 1/2" wide. Too tight for my comfort, so I changed my plan to set the Spyder in top of the bed rails.
I designed and constructed a 4 point linkage attached to a wood 4X4 tee frame. Installed a winch to pull the loader into the truck, and another to pull it out. All of this is attached to my existing 5th wheel hitch rails.
After 3 weekends of construction I tested the loader. See pictures.
Cost:
Northern tool has 2000 warn winche for $99.00, The loading winch I used was given to me by my son, I purchased another Warn 1700 on Craigslist for $65.00.
The pulleys used for the block & tackle were $6 each at Northern Tool and I bought 10 of them, so another $60.00
I bought a trailer fender at Northern Tool for $16.00, cut it in half to use on both sides for the front wheel supports.
Spend about 20.00 in misc. bolts and pins.
Grand total I have $161.00 cash invested, and probably 40 hours labor, and another 10 hours design time.
I already had the wood, misc. angle iron, aluminum plate, misc. bolts, screws, nuts, and some eyelet connections. Could have been purchased for $100 or less.
Trial and error:
I used a 4 part block and tackle to pull the rig into the pickup, and a 6 part to pull it out due to that being a smaller winch. I used some cheap variety store pulleys on my trial run and the weight crushed the cheap aluminum pulleys. Picked up 6 more heavy duty ones today to replace them.
I added a vertical support under the rear shock to gain a bit of height in the rear to allow the tailgate to close.
The rear wheel will be strapped to the Reese hitch. Both front tires are strapped to the 4X4 and then again strapped down to the tie downs inside the bed.
I'm using some heavy duty Reese aluminum ramps, that I drilled holes in to bolt on the underside of the wheel support (fender cut in half).
This Thursday is my last work day to complete the build, and then off to sunny Florida with my boat and my 2014 circuit yellow Spyder.
Let me know what ya think guys,
James & Julie
