Ford makes cheap flimsy fenders

[ericheath]

I was unloading my new baby, 77 with 1200, monoshock, bigger front end. I had it in my F150 which has a 13" tool slide in. So the bike was almost as high as the top of he box. I had a three foot wide ramp about 7' long. I have unloaded it a few times before, but always in some kind of ditch. Seemed easy enough the other times, so what he heck, right in the parking lot at the casino with cars on both sides. Rule number one for unloading the bike: put kick stand up.....fail. Doing this myself, it rolls a bit back and then starts pushing me a little to the right. I think this is okay, I'll hit the brake a bit and put up the stand. Sorry, ran out of room on the right side of the ramp. Meanwhile gravity has decided it has the advantage and the tire starts slowly inching along the plywood. Plan #2, start the bike, and power it back up in the box. Fail keys are in my pocket and the bike is still being dragged along by gravity. Plan #3, yell for help. Crap, no one in sight. Plan #4, there is no plan #4 because I'm going down with a Goldwing on top of me. My pride and joy. I really can't tell you much about the fall, it's a blur. All I was thinking was ,"You moron, why did you do this here?" I'm expecting pain and scraping ad breaking sounds. Next thing I know I'm on the ground. I jump up waiting for incoming messages from my back, my legs, my elbows, knees, shins, hands, head. Nothing! Not a scratch. I dust myself off and of course four workers show up to see if I'm okay. I look around thinking, "Thank you, Lord." Then I'm looking at the car next to me. Its mirror isn't hurt, hey I lucked out big time. I'm still wondering how the heck I could not be hurt. I had just seen Sandra Bullocks movie, The Heat. In it they are holding a guy by his ankles off the second floor and accidentally drop him. Bullock's line was,"It's okay, steel car broke his fall," as he splats on the hood. Well then I look at he fender of he Ford and its all wrinkled up. Nah, I couldn't have done that. But how the heck was I not hurt??? Well, we call the owner, of the rental car. Yup it broke my fall. All I can say is Ford makes really cheap, lousy, flimsy, soft fenders, and thank you very much. The bikes front tire stayed on the tailgate and that's probably why I'm completely unhurt. Okay here are the pics.

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Bike is virtually unhurt. Rode it 30 miles tonight. Loaded it in the truck. I wonder who I can get to unload it?

[rgr375]

And that's why I didn't mind using my 35' gooseneck flatbed to carry mine around... enough room to ride on, strap it down, unstrap, turn it around and ride off.

[sunnbobb]

Bummer. Glad you were ok. I have a rack on my truck. I tie a rope to the bike and then loop the rope up to the front of the rack and back to my hand. I can then use the rope as a brake as I am backing the bike down.

[Roady]

That's too bad. But I was happy to read that you and the bike are OK.

[roncar]

Well then I look at he fender of he Ford and its all wrinkled up. Nah, I couldn't have done that. But how the heck was I not hurt??? Well, we call the owner, of the rental car. Yup it broke my fall. All I can say is Ford makes really cheap, lousy, flimsy, soft fenders, and thank you very much.

As I understand it, newer cars are "designed" to self destruct in an accident to cushion the blow to the occupants. While they may be "lousy, flimsy, soft fenders", I doubt they'll be cheap, at least to the end consumer.

[ericheath]

I am happy they are cheap today. Got up feeling fine, but just putting on my shirt, my back gave me a shout. I'll probably be stiff for a few days.

[ericheath]

Not a bad idea, Sunnbobb. I guess I was surprised it couldn't hold itself there. I looked last night. I have a black streak starting about 18" from the front of the box to almost the back. I am dreading the call to insurance. It probably would have been smart of me to research this a bit.

[Werner]

Glad you and your bike is O K . What happens many times when one do something "stupid" and you go down, is to jump up and see if anybody saw you. Glad nobody saw you and then realise, if you got hurt, still nobody saw you.

[ericheath]

There were witnesses and several security cameras. It'll probably be on the web, or tv. Enjoy the laugh. I still feel fine. I am major lucky. Now I'll gave to see how this goes with insurance.

[terry_208]

I replaced a fender on an old Mercury a few years back and was pleasantly surprised that the replacement (after market) was only $110. I was rebuilding a total so wasn't concerned with oem parts. Of, course painting was multiple time more than the fender.

[avg_joe]

That cheap flimsy fender probably helped you avoid more injury. Think if you had fallen against an old Caddy.

[CYBORG]

i can relate. i had one fall off of a u-haul truck ramp

[ericheath]

Does anyone else have any safety pointers when unloading by yourself? Whiskerfish's trailer looks better all the time. I have Sunnbobb's suggestion. In thinking about this, having the back brake would help more than the front, but then you're one footing all the way down.

[CYBORG]

the best advice is to have a ramp wide enough to touch your feet on both sides, and secure it to the truck. and longer the better. front brake only, both feet down

[robin1731]

the best advice is to have a ramp wide enough to touch your feet on both sides, and secure it to the truck. and longer the better. front brake only, both feet down

Yes, a long ramp is best. At least as long as you can fit in the bed of the truck with the tailgate closed. Maybe even longer.

Or air ride on the truck. Just get the back real low.