When you look at the business end of a light-duty wrecker, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of real estate available to transport a motorcycle. Unlike a car carrier, there are no platforms, no side rails and limited stability. All you have to work with is a narrow wheel lift.

However, if your wrecker is equipped with an auto loader or a self-loading wheel lift, you’re in luck. Several wrecker manufacturers and after-market suppliers have designed brackets to help. They bolt onto or pin into the center beam of your auto loader just for the purpose of transporting motorcycles.

Common to most late-model equipment, this T-shaped extension makes life easier when picking up a disabled bike. The extra length of the auto loader accommodates the size of most motorcycles out on the road. The crossbar provides tie-down points on each side of the bike.

Uniquely designed for this type of wheel lift, storable motorcycle kits typically include brackets for both the front and rear wheels. Some also include a small loading ramp.

The front wheel bracket likely includes a cradle to lock in the front tire. Beveled or flared sides help guide the motorcycle onto the center beam and prevent the tires from sliding sideways during transport. Most kits require only two straps on opposing sides to fully secure the bike upright.

Most of the new light-duty wreckers assembled by Zip’s are sold with auto loaders. If you operate in an area with moderate to heavy motorcycle traffic, you may want to consider an auto loader and a motorcycle attachment. This will have you prepared for when that next bike call comes in. Plus, you can add more functionality to your fleet without the added expense of more trucks.

For tips on loading a motorcycle onto a car carrier, click on this blog post. Here, we discuss three options for loading a motorcycle on a car carrier. We also discuss strapping points on a motorcycle which can apply to securing a bike to an autoloader.