Which Vehicles Can Fit a Dirt Bike? Cars, Trucks, Vans, SUVs, and More

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If you’re going to ride your dirt bike any significant distance from home, you’ll need some way to get it there, other than riding it all the way there. Most dirt bikers recommend driving to the spot where you’d like to take your dirt bike out for a spin, since riding it all the way there and back can be exhausting and usually illegal since most dirt bikes aren’t street legal. So, it begs the question, what kind of vehicles have enough space to hold your dirt bike when you need to haul it?

Dirt bikes can be transported in most vans, trucks, and some SUVs as long as there is enough cargo space to accommodate the length of the bike, usually about 7 feet. However, different models can transport different ranges of bikes, so it’s vital that you measure the length of your dirt bike beforehand.

Different models of the same vehicle can hold dirt bikes, and some can’t. It all depends on their size and carrying capacity, as well as the number of passengers.

Determining the length of your dirt bike will be the other important factor. To get an idea of how long a dirt bike is, including a list of many examples of actual popular dirt bike models along with their lengths, see Average Dirt Bike Length (With 17 Examples) here.

Vans

Dirt bikes are big, there’s no doubt about it. With an average length of 85.7 inches (around 217.7 centimeters) and an average width of 32.4 inches (around 82.3 centimeters), your average dirt bike will not be easy to stuff into a small van or a minivan. An average adult dirt bike weighs around 215 lbs (97 kgs). They also can’t be easily disassembled like bicycles, so your storage options are a bit limited.

Fortunately for you, there are vans made to transport big objects, and most of these cargo vans will easily be able to transport most dirt bikes (just, maybe not all at once).

Ram C/V Tradesman

The 2015 Ram C/V Tradesman is a full-size cargo van that has been adapted to also have the space-functionality of a smaller minivan body. It’s like Mary Poppin’s bag–it can park and fit in minivan-sized spaces while fitting almost anything and everything inside of it. The payload capacity is 1,900 lbs (861 kgs). And with a width of 79 inches and a length of 203 inches, there’s plenty of space to fit at least one dirt bike in the back.

Two might even be able to squeeze in the back depending on the size of your dirt bikes. If they’re less than 39.5 inches wide each, then you can take both of your dirt bikes with you, no problem. You just won’t have room in the back for any other people–so choose your one biking buddy carefully.

Chevrolet Express Cargo

This van was designed to haul large amounts of cargo, so fitting two dirt bikes (or more) in the back won’t be a problem. Some models are longer than others, but even the shorter Chevrolet Express Cargo models will be more than wide enough and long enough to fit and haul dirt bikes. The payload capacity for the 135-inch Chevrolet Express G2500 is 3247 lbs (1473 kgs) and the payload capacity for the 135-inch Chevrolet Express G3500 is 4120 lbs (1869 kgs). For more information about dimensions, check out Chevrolet’s website.

TIP

You’re definitely going to need a good set of loading ramps if you are going to be transporting your dirt bike in just about any vehicle. You can see the best loading ramps available on this page: Best Loading Ramps for Dirt Bikes: These are the Best Out There!

Ram Promaster City

This baby is yet another cargo van, so it should be no surprise that the interior can easily fit all dirt bikes, along with almost anything else you want to pack into the back. The payload capacity is lower than the other cargo vans on this list, at 1760 to 1886 lbs (798 to 855 kgs) and so it won’t be able to haul stacks of gold bars, but you just need it for your dirt bikes, which weigh much less than a bunch of gold. One thing to be careful about is this van’s high center of gravity, so you just have to be extra careful while turning corners.

Toyota HiAce

The Toyota HiAce is a HUGE cargo van that is made for hauling large objects, so two dirt bikes should do in a pinch. The Toyota HiAce 280 has a payload capacity of 2314 lbs (1050 kgs) and the Toyota HiAce 300 model has a payload capacity of 2579 lbs (1170 kgs). The only problem with this vehicle is that it is not available for purchase in the United States so the options are more limited. But if you live in the United States, don’t give up just yet.

There are ways to import Toyota HiAce vans from Japan to the United States. Check out this website to see if you can reserve your very own Toyota HiAce. But if you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg to import a whole van from another country, an alternative option is the Ford Transit Connect LW.

SUVs

Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) aren’t just good for transporting your family from basketball games or on road trips. These “lighter trucks” also have hauling capabilities. You just have to be careful to find the models that are actually large enough to fit dirt bikes in the back. But don’t worry! We’re here to help you out with that.

Ford Excursion

There’s a reason the Ford Excursion can fit two dirt bikes in its trunk–it’s really, really long. The 2021 model measures at a length of 226.7 inches (575 centimeters) and a width of 80 inches (203 centimeters), so there’s no doubt that two dirt bikes can fit. The payload capacity of the 2021 Ford Excursion is 1,512 to 1,950 lbs (685 to 884 kgs) so weight isn’t an issue either.

The only real problem with this model is how long it is. Yes, it can and will easily fit dirt bikes and motorcycles and probably even a T-Rex, but it’s also huge and will be harder to maneuver and fit into parking spots. That’s just the price you have to pay for something this spacious.

Cadillac Escalade

This SUV is almost the same massive size as the Ford Excursion. The 2021 model is 212 inches (83 centimeters) long and 81 inches (32 centimeters) wide, so shoving two dirt bikes in this SUV won’t be a problem. The payload capacity of the same Ford Excursion 2021 model is also 1,765 to 1,877 lbs (800 to 851 kgs). Not only can this model haul dirt bikes, but it also has HD surround vision, front pedestrian braking, and rear pedestrian alert, which can be useful when there are two dirt bikes in the back that are actively blocking your vision.

Chevy Tahoe

The Chevy Tahoe 2020 model has a payload capacity of 1,698 to 1,745 lbs (770 to 791 kgs). Its length is 211 inches (535 centimeters) so, like the other models, dirt bikes won’t be a problem. This SUV comes highly recommended as a great vehicle to haul dirt bikes. Just be careful to only use it if you’re not worried bout the interior being ruined by putting two mud-covered dirt bikes in the back. Sticking dirt bikes in the back of a Chevy Tahoe is only for those who don’t mind getting a little dirty…so this might not be the best option if you’re sharing this SUV with someone who cares about appearances. Or get used to scrubbing down the inside after every biking trip.

Trucks

With their powerful engines and large open beds, trucks are an obvious choice for hauling dirt bikes. The article on this site all about fitting a dirt bike into a truck bed with the tailgate up here, dives in-depth into which truck beds will fit what kinds of dirt bikes. But here’s a chart to help you to understand if your dirt bike will fit in the bed of your truck:

Some trucks can fit dirt bikes, but like mentioned before, it’s really a case-by-case basis. Another way to see if your truck can fit a dirt bike is by measuring the length and width of the truck bed. Even if your truck bed isn’t as long as your dirt bike, you still could fit it in if you put the dirt bike diagonally.

You might already know this, but if you use Pythagorean’s Theorem (from way back in middle school), you can measure the width and length of the truck bed, then square each and add them together. Find the square root of that number, and then you have the length of the hypotenuse (the diagonal lay of the truck bed).

In the image above, the width would be A, the length would be B, and the final diagonal length would be C. If you’re unsure that your truck will fit your dirt bike, try using this method. Putting it on its side means you’d only be able to bring one dirt bike with you, but that’s still better than nothing.

That being said, there are some great trucks that are definitely big enough to fit almost any dirt bike. Let’s take a look at some of those monsters, shall we?

TIP: As you can see, simply finding the length of a dirt bike doesn’t always answer the question of if that bike can fit inside your vehicle. To see a long list of popular dirt bike models and their real-world dimensions, take a look at Average Dirt Bike Dimensions (With 21 Examples) here.

Ford F-350 XL

This one-ton pickup truck isn’t just gorgeous; the 2021 Ford F-350 XL also has a payload capacity of 3,893 to 4,222 lbs (or 1765 to 1915 kgs). We know this isn’t a monster truck, but it’s really close. However, before you drive out to the closest dealer and buy one of these, it’s good to know that the reliability reviews for the Ford F-350 XL (at least for the 2020 model) were low.

At Repairlpal.com, the Ford F-350 XL received 1.5 out of 5 stars for reliability. Their reliability scale looks at costs made for repairs, the severity of those repairs, and how often Ford F-350 XL owners have to bring their truck in for repairs for unforeseen issues. So while this is one of the options for hauling dirt bikes, it might cause some strain on your wallet later on.

Ford Ranger

Ford Rangers are midsized pickup trucks that are great at hauling dirt bikes. Their extended cab bed is definitely long enough to fit a dirt bike and the 2021 Ford Ranger has a payload capacity of 1609 to 2128 lbs (730 to 965 kgs). You’d think that a Ford Ranger could easily carry two dirt bikes; the only problem is that the bed isn’t quite wide enough to squeeze two average-sized adult dirt bikes. An average adult dirt bike is 32.4 inches wide. Two dirt bikes would be 64.8 inches wide, and the truck bed for a Ford Ranger is around 54 inches wide. That’s ten inches short of hauling two dirt bikes, but if you only have one, this truck is perfect for you.

Toyota Tacoma

Since fitment of a dirt bike into a Toyota Tacoma is such a popular request here, we’ve actually done an article completely dedicated to different dirt bikes fitting in the bed of a Toyota Tacoma here. Take a look at that article to see which models and types of dirt bikes will fit in the bed of the various Tacoma versions out there.

Dodge Ram 3500

The Dodge Ram 3500 has the smallest payload capacity of all the Dodge Ram models. But its payload capacity is still at 3,590 lbs (1628 kgs) so it’s strong enough to carry two (or more) dirt bikes. And the width (83.5 inches, or 212 centimeters) is plenty to fit two full-sized dirt bikes. Not only is this heavy-duty pickup truck more than enough to haul your dirt bikes, but Motortrend.com named the 2020 truck model their “Truck of the Year” for being “its automaker’s largest and most capable consumer pickup.” If you’re looking for a new truck, the Dodge Ram 3500 might be the best option for you. It won’t just be able to carry dirt bikes (and almost anything else you want) but its efficiency and capabilities in other areas were enough for it to beat out the Ford F-350 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, at least in Motortrend’s eyes.

Other Solutions

Let’s be honest; sometimes you just have a dirt bike that will not fit in your available vehicle, no matter how much you push and shove. Maybe you’ve got a dirt bike, but no way to fit it into the only car you’ve got. Or maybe your SUV can fit a dirt bike just fine, but you don’t want to tear up the inside of your new SUV with a rugged, muddy dirt bike.

Either way, don’t worry. You’re not the only person who has this problem, and there are other ways to transport dirt bikes (aside from trying to squeeze them into a too-small car).

One of the best solutions is to invest in a dirt bike hitch carrier. Instead of trying to force some dirt bikes into the back of your new minivan, you can buy a hitch carrier for 100 to 200 dollars, which might seem like a lot, but it’s a smart investment.

Would you rather buy a whole new vehicle that might fit your two dirt bikes, or would you rather put down two Benjamins to have guaranteed dirt bike transportation, no matter what vehicle you use? You can buy a hitch that carries one or two dirt bikes, depending on your needs.

Using a dirt bike hitch or motorcycle trailer is highly recommended by frequent bikers. Attaching dirt bikes this way is much easier on your vehicle’s back and interior than it is to just shove dirt bikes in vans that weren’t designed to haul anything that heavy. Motorcycle trailers (good trailers, at least) are much more expensive, but worth it if you have two hefty dirt bikes that need more than a tiny hitch that attaches to the back of your car.

Useful Information

• Average Dirt Bike Weight (With 27 Examples) – Don’t forget to consider how much your vehicle is rated at hauling and how much your dirt bike actually weighs. This is incredibly important to check before hitting the road. See this article for the weights of many popular dirt bike models.
• What Size Trailer Is Needed to Fit 2, 3, 4, or 5 Dirt Bikes? – If you’ve given up on trying to stuff that big old dirty bike into your car, then you might have to break down and get a trailer. But how many dirt bikes can you fit in that trailer you’re looking at? This article will answer that question.