Troul 

Lay it on its non drive side side.
Main reason for not going lp tonneau & picking up one that sits on top of the rails. That slight space difference makes or breaks having clearance in my experience.

Nerostarr

I use a fork mount and have it mounted to a piece of 2x6, I just remove the front wheel and mount the bike to the mount and use a small ratchet strap attached to the hooks in the bed to hold the bike secure. It rides up right and is very secure and my mount is portable, I can take it anywhere anytime. I bought the fork mount on amazon and they sell them in different sizes so be sure to measure your fork width spacing, they also sell them in thru axle and skewers.

hicks

I lay mine down with a ratchet rope over it to keep it from moving.

SteckMark

So it sounds like the consensus is to transport the bike upright/vertical utilizing a fork mount.
The main problem I have is that I need and want to transport my bike under a Tonneau cover. Upright and exposed doesn't work for me. There are no such products on the market. I tried lying the bike flat on several cushioned blankets, but ended up damaging a crank and having to spend quite a bit to fix it.
What I created is a rack to transport the bike horizontally under the Tonneau cover, protecting the cranks, derailleurs, frame, etc. While you may not need a horizontal bike rack, can you see imagine there being a market for such a product?

Troul 

Are you stone cold steve austining the bicycle into the bed? If so, STOP THAT!

flangehead

There is a related market:


This might be what you're looking for. I use it on Houston Metro buses. The loading position is shown. Once loaded, the panel folds down and the rack slides into the bus baggage bay so the bike is lying on its side.

https://www.sportworks.com/products/transit-bike-racks

Pricing unknown but that looks like more than $2K and less than $10k.

Or you might just find a good way to support the frame and tie it down securely.

Bmach

I just lay my bike non drive side down in the bed under the tonneau.

Camilo

Get yourself a cap/canopy/topper and carry your bikes using fork mounts on a 2x6 - inside, locked, safe and out of the elements. Flip answer, I know, but it's the best way to utilize a pickup bed for hauling bikes. Not a fan of tonneau covers. Had a truck with one in the 80s and 90s and never liked it for any purpose I used the truck for, including hauling the bike. Finally removed it.

Or put a nice scrap of plush carpet, covered with cardboard and lay the bike flat. Carpet for padding, cardboard so the bike slides easier than on the carpet.

dudeliving

Also have the same set up. Have the gatemate from Thule https://www.levittownfordparts.com/s...955100-ab.html if it is our biking family day. Hoping this virus could stop so I can bike again with the fam.

Speedway2

It would be a mess if the tailgate latch failed speeding down the highway. There have been reports of electronic and mechanical latches releasing while the truck's in motion.

Like others I try to avoid removing the front disc wheel so simply lay my bike down (drive side up). The Linex bed spray is rough on Everything so I've been using a rubber coated matt. The only PITA is having to remove some of the "tool" bins to make room for the bike.

I've considered a rack for the existing hitch but this doesn't answer the OP's question......

SteckMark

Hi Speedway. I want to know if people would buy a bike rack for use in a pickup truck, under a Tonneau cover? Would you?
I would. To get to my group ride, I need to store my Specialized Roubaix in the bed of my truck while at work during the day, then drive out to where I meet the group (or at least did prior to COVID). I have damaged a crank transporting the bike lying flat in the bed of my truck. I want to produce and sell a rack to do this since there isn't one on the market.
So I ask, would you buy a bike rack that would allow you to store and transport your bike in the bed of a truck under a Tonneau cover? Why or why not? You gave me reasonable input and I just want to know what you think. Thanks!

probe1957

Personally, I wouldn’t. Bikes get damaged during normal operation and normal operation includes transporting same, laying flat, drive side up, in the bed of a pickup.

Bmach

No I would not buy one. Laying flat on nd works fine for me.

Bill in VA

I would not.

I have successfully carried 2 bikes in the back of a Ford Ranger pickup many times. Never is issue with careful packing and tarps and/or padding. The bikes stay put and so far have never been scratched. I have a cap, but assume that if passerbys can see a bike, they might want a bike, so I use the tarp to cover it (or them) and then throw some hefty bag messily on the tarp. This works even with hotel overnights and the truck in the parking lot. We now use wheel bags and that works even better, as it camoflages the humps of the handlebars or brake levers. We manage to load it so both are below the top of the bed sides, so they would easily fit under even a soft tonneau.

Last ride 76 

All the time.



No, not mine... I have a work truck, rarely empty enough to use an internal rack. I have a blue padded "movers" blanket, that lives under the bench seat in the back. That way, when the truck is full of tools, rocks, or other stuff, I lay out the moving blanket over the top and lay my bike over that. If I'm bringing my daughter's bike too, the blanket can be partially folded back so there is a layer on the bottom, and enough folded between the two bikes so that the bikes are protected. No tonneau cover now but I've had'em, still didn't use rack.

Last ride 76 

I never realized that it might make a difference, which side I lay my bike down on.

Speedway2

My bike(s) rarely get transported in my pickup bed but when it does it gets laid down on it's side. I have a locking hard folding cover (BakFlip) so does the job for temporary storage.
To answer your question....I personally would not have a need for such a device.

frizzen

When I had a pickup I put a couple of big eye bolts in the front of the bed (on the sides). Then used motorcycle tie-downs to hold the bikes upright. The wheels stay on, the bikes stay put.

rlmalisz

I have a Honda Ridgeline, and put together a crossbar with locking fork mounts that mounts to the upper factory tiedowns. Had some residual Yakima mounts for the front wheels, and incorporated those on release hinges. Really nice thing is I can install/remove the crossbar in about 5 minutes, no tools required. We have the bed tent for the truck, and I haul landscape materials, whatever in the back. So I was looking for something that was solid, secure, light, and easy to install/remove. I'm a few posts shy of 10 (I think this makes 8?) but once I get there, I'll post a photo. It worked out more slickly than I could have hoped for.

--Richard

thumpism 

I used a Hollywood brand truck bed rack that bolts across the bed but usually had a cap on the truck so used a roof rack or, when I had the space inside, laid the bike inside drive side up.

Squeeze

Nevermind. At first I didn't realize the OP is only here to do market research.

Danhedonia

These are a thing:


Real good for laying bikes flat on top fo them.

CGLTD

Some great ideas here. I use a hitch mounted carrier.

rlmalisz

Rack by itself. Wish I'd been able to get the Brinks adjustable shackle locks keyed as a pair. Remove the locks, the eye nuts rotate to remove (they're atop stainless spring washers, so I can always get them parallel to the bar without reefing on them), and the whole thing just drops through the tiedowns.

Rack with my 1420 locked into the Yakima Blockheads and front wheel held by a residual Yakima Wheel Fork.

Yakima Wheel Fork mounted via one half of quick-release hinge. For putting a wheel in, I can mount it to the wheel fork on the ground, where I can easily get to both sides of the wheel to adjust the quick release. For taking them out, just release the QR lever, and then quick release the mounting fork, and throw it under the back seat until ride's end.

Dr.Lou

I use fork mounts on a 1x10, which is secured to the bed of my truck. Easy to remove bike and mount. I put the front wheel in the cab. Been using this method for years, often traveling a 1,000 miles.