Trailer tie-down

[FLCRO]

Well, uncle sam has told me that I'm moving back to the great state of Florida. Going to trailer the chopper on an open uhaul trailer from C Springs. Had a couple questions for you guys:
1) anyone have any pics/suggestions on the points to tie down the bike?
2) would like your $0.02 on what ratchet straps to get. Will harbor freight work for one trip, what brand should I get, are Powertye worth the $$$, etc.

Appreciate everyone's thoughts!

Thanks!

 

[bdm7250]

Well, uncle sam has told me that I'm moving back to the great state of Florida. Going to trailer the chopper on an open uhaul trailer from C Springs. Had a couple questions for you guys:
1) anyone have any pics/suggestions on the points to tie down the bike?
2) would like your $0.02 on what ratchet straps to get. Will harbor freight work for one trip, what brand should I get, are Powertye worth the $$$, etc.

Appreciate everyone's thoughts!

Thanks!

Do yourself a favor, rent a closed trailer. Uhaul sells some decent ratchet straps as well, just make sure to pick up some strap protectors as well.

 

[HMAN]

Forget the straps and put in a bikerbar.

 

[1BADK9]

Never seen the biker bar, pretty damn cool though.

 

[KnotSo]

Powertye's are worth the money if you will be using more than a few times. Don't trailer my bike but due tie down sand rails and the atv's, the Powertyes are the best.

Thank You for Your Service.

 

[bdm7250]

Forget the straps and put in a bikerbar.

By the time you invest in a condor chock and GOOD straps the cost is about the same, most importantly the bike is much more secure in the biker bar there is zero chance of loosening no pressure on suspension (causing fork seals to leak prematurely or blow out) I used tie downs for years racing motocross , bought the biker bar when I started trailering my big dog and I'll NEVER go back to tie down straps

He's renting a trailer, might be frowned upon by Uhaul..

 

[FLCRO]

Correct- just renting a trailer, so don’t think I have any options besides tie down straps....

 

[BWG56]

Correct- just renting a trailer, so don’t think I have any options besides tie down straps....

Get one of these from HF, its free standing and use 2" rachet straps on the triple trees to the trailer and 1" ratchet straps on the rear to keep it from bouncing side to side, pull the front forks down half the distance of the travel on the tubes

https://www.harborfreight.com/1800-lb-capacity-motorcycle-standwheel-chock-61670.html

 

[1BADK9]

I tie off my front wheel so it can't roll, then a strap across the triple tree on each side with the fuzzy protectors, that would probably suffice, but I add another strap on each side down low around the frame just to be sure.

 

[toomanybikes]

The Harbor Freight 1000 pound tie down will work, but you will want something like these to wrap around the front end and frame

https://www.denniskirk.com/drop-tai...soft-ties-03-p1-5st-01.p409893.prd/409893.sku

 

[Reddickracing]

Never seen the biker bar, pretty damn cool though.

Pretty dang cool, hadn't seen that before

 

[Mr. Wright]

Well, uncle sam has told me that I'm moving back to the great state of Florida. Going to trailer the chopper on an open uhaul trailer from C Springs. Had a couple questions for you guys:
1) anyone have any pics/suggestions on the points to tie down the bike?
2) would like your $0.02 on what ratchet straps to get. Will harbor freight work for one trip, what brand should I get, are Powertye worth the $$$, etc.

Appreciate everyone's thoughts!

Thanks!

Strapping around the triple trees put to much stress on the forks and seals. Not to mention, the rub marks it will leave. Get you a wheel chock and screw it down in the trailer, they won't notice the holes. Next, put the straps around the frame at the battery box, and angle them slightly forward.
Yes the bar Kevin got is the cat's meow, and some day when I'm rich and famous, I'll get one too, but the way I described will hold it really good.

 

[Mr. Wright]

Looking at the picture, I forgot to mention the one's on the lower frame pulling backward, to take the stress off the forks.

 

[Dogbone]

and dont forget to strap the seat down or remove it and put in the back seat of your vehicle. seen way to many fly off. OH and get the tie-downs that have the safety latches so they cant bounce loose

 

[Dogbone]

 

[FLCRO]

ok- bit the bullet and ordered the 2" powertyes today (with sheepskin)

Ker- the utility trailer I'm renting has a motorcycle chock in it. I'm assuming that would suffice and wouldn't need the freestanding wheel chock from HF?

Shannon- as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Hadn't seen that method before- thanks!

 

[FLCRO]

Dogbone-
thanks for the pictures. that set-up looks bombproof. Where are the black tie downs tied to? Handlebars? Does that compress the suspension?

 

[FLCRO]

Also, once the bike is strapped down, should the kickstand stay down or up?

 

[Dogbone]

they are just at the first triple tree plate and they are just snug. the one down low keeps it stable. just liked the extra security.
with the low fender on the front, i made my own wheel caulk as the others that flip up will hit my fender. the strap in the middle is wrapped around the seat bracket and snug. Only two are really tight. Low front and rear tire.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

I've moved a bike a lot in a trailer -- hell first on lived on the bed of my f150 with a custom cap.

Now some will disagree with me here but I am a firm believe that ALL straps should pull down and forward in the direction of the chock.
Rear straps as well.
I usually use 2 sets in the front - I set to handlebars/fork with softies and a second set to the pegs.
In the rear I will use the rear pegs or thru the wheel but still go forward.
I've seen strap failure and for me the last thing I want is that front coming loose. If everything pulls in the same direction the bike will stay in the chock even when a front strap snaps.

Now that you have the softies to protect the bars/bike, put them in your tool bag -- that way if you even have to be towed by AAA or something, you have them, or even by friend -- ratchet straps are easy to locate in an emergency on the road -- the softies not as much.

I've used mine when AAA towed me and the buy had never heard of them -- Made his boss buy them for all the trucks (they did a lot of motorcycle towing)

Since you can't/arent using an enclosed trailer you might want to think about a bike cover for while its on the trailer, even a blanket on the bike and a tarp across the trailer will protect the bike better for that long trip. You can always use some 1x2 zip tied (well) to the trailer frame to hold the tarp away from the bike.