'70s imported trucks

I was wondering how big the beds on old '70s imported trucks (like the Datsun 620, Mazda B1600, etc) are? What can you fit in one aka can you fit 2 dirtbikes?

Repu's rule

Depends on the size of the bike. My f150 is a 6 foot bed, has a tool box and I can only fit one dirty bike with the gate shut. Also, with two in one if those little things you'd be looking at the sky unless it were a bigger one. A dedicated two bike trailer would probably work great, though.

I carried a Ninja 250 in a Dodge D50 (aka Mitsubishi Mighty Max) longbed once. Only difficulty was loading it in - without ramps. I could see getting a pair of dirt bikes back there if they're standing up and strapped in place. A bit newer than what you're looking for but I think a lot of the '70s ones had the same bed length, at least as an option.

I can fit a full dress Harley in the back of my 86 RN Truck, with the gate down.

I wish there were trucks that small again

mad_machine wrote: I wish there were trucks that small again

Why when the bug trucks get similar mileage and only cost 25k more?

My 74 REPU has a 6' long bed. I assume the others are the same, but I have seen 7' beds on Toyota's and early 80's Mazda's.

There are long and short bed versions out there. Not sure if there were any in the 70's.

My XL125 takes up most of the bed in my (normal bed) 87 B2000. I think you could get two in there, but the gate would have to be down and you would need to figure out how to strap them down straight ahead (not on the kick stands). No guarantee with two larger modern dirtbikes though.

N Sperlo wrote: Depends on the size of the bike.

'70s Yamaha CT3 and hopefully something like a Hodaka Dirt Squirt or similar.

aircooled wrote: I think you could get two in there, but the gate would have to be down and you would need to figure out how to strap them down straight ahead (not on the kick stands).

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands/motorcycle-wheel-chock-96349.html

I was thinking mounting 2 of these in the bed.

You can get 2 in the back of one of those trucks. We put 3 in a full size Chev, and 2 in my Colorado with room to spare.

The ads for Toyota and Datsun pickups in the 1970s almost always depicted the trucks with a dirt bike or two in the back.

In reply to Zomby Woof:

Well that is confirmation.

Like you would question me anyway

how ironic, talk about small trucks and payload the day after I spot this rolling down the LIE....

a dually import....

N Sperlo wrote:

mad_machine wrote: I wish there were trucks that small again

Why when the bug trucks get similar mileage and only cost 25k more?

mostly because I do not need a HUGE truck.. I might just get a trailer for my saab

I cant recall the last time I saw a minipickup. There is a guy around here that has a REPU, but it's been turned into some sort of farm truck. He's put some kind of homemade stake bed on it, and from the sound, the rotary's been replaced by a piston engine of some sort. I haven't seen it lately, I wonder if it finally gave up on him.

In reply to Supercoupe:

I have seen one like that around Huntsville. I keep wondering if someone stole the rear end off on of these.

I thought it looked strange too, but it had a "1ton" stickers that looked factory on both front fenders and the rear tailgate.

Toyota did build a 3/4 ton version of their pickup in the mid '70s...I think.

I wasn't all that long ago that you could get a "mini" truck with a 6 or 7 foot bed, but Chevy discontinued the long bed in it's S-10/S-15s in 2002 and Ford? Not sure when the Ranger lost it's long bed...but it was AFTER Chevy. Nissan ADDED a long bed too it's crew cab Frontier in 2002, and I'll bet they are somewhat rare.

I know that you're talking about old trucks, but for reference, here's a photo of my "long bed" Toyota (which is still only 73.5 inches), with a bike in the back. You can see that there's a bit of room to spare, especially when you consider that any 70's truck will have a full steel tailgate.

You could get a proper "long box" on the early Toyotas.

My '76 and my '82 both had a full 8' box.

Shawn