Trailering our 2012

[DarkLeftArm]

Hello. I have not been around here much for a long time. Have been riding a LOT though.
I have a question.
What would be the best method of tying down the bike on a trailer?
I've never trailered a bike before, had it on ferries many times, but never a trailer.
I bought a swivelwheel trailer to tow behind our fifth wheel, so the bike is going to be travelling perpendicular to the trailer's direction of travel.
I bought a couple boxes of nice heavy duty tiedown eyes and decided to ask here before proceeding fastening them down.

Thanks for your time and wisdom.
Bert

 

[tubebender]

All I have ever used is a front wheel chock, 4 soft loops, and 4 Ancra tie downs. I looked up swivel trailer, so I'd would not have a problem tying it down that way. I have tied down bikes to my trailer cross-ways using the same method.
There are other types of restraints that don't use straps, like pit-bull, you could look at too.

 

[DarkLeftArm]

Thanks for the reply.
What anchor points on your bike do you use? I'll be fastening the front wheel securely into the wheel chock, but not sure where else on the bike to attach the straps. I'm considering the triple tree, compressing the suspension part way, and then somewhere in the back. Maybe just the grab handles, also partially compressing the rear?
Wow, that pitbull system is pretty slick. Not what I'm looking for, but great suggestion.
Cheers
Bert

 

[holligl]

For the front use a soft loop around each of the forks above the lower triple tees. Tighten until the forks are about 2/3rds compressed. Is there a built in wheel chock? If not, I would add one.

I use custom cut long loops and go doubled up into the strap clamp. That way residual straps aren't flopping in the wind. You can use water knots to make the loops.

I've done the rear different ways, strapping the swing arm and letting the suspension work, or strapping down frame components and compressing the rear in addition to the front. If you are paranoid you could do both.

Straps do stretch, so check periodically.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[HeliMark]

I always use a wheel chock, then a long enough strap that I loop around the triple tree, being careful to avoid any hoses/cables. Rear, I just used the grab handle. All cinched down about a third to half the shock travel. I have seen people use the crash bars as tie points, I just like using the triple tree.

Whichever strap you use, make sure the hooks on the end are either long enough, or are closed hooks, as when the bike compresses from a bump in the road, the strap may become loose enough for the hook to "unhook".

 

[holligl]

Whichever strap you use, make sure the hooks on the end are either long enough, or are closed hooks, as when the bike compresses from a bump in the road, the strap may become loose enough for the hook to "unhook".

I use soft loops for all connections. If I do connect to a strap clamp with an open hook, I twist the loop to form a cow hitch, and slide it on the hook. Once seated it will not come off until you remove it.

 

[tubebender]

Yep, like the other gentlemen above, soft loops around lower triple and grab handles.

 

[DarkLeftArm]

This is a lot of great advice. Thank you all for your time!

 

[MattR]

I always use a wheel chock, then a long enough strap that I loop around the triple tree, being careful to avoid any hoses/cables. Rear, I just used the grab handle. All cinched down about a third to half the shock travel. I have seen people use the crash bars as tie points, I just like using the triple tree.

Whichever strap you use, make sure the hooks on the end are either long enough, or are closed hooks, as when the bike compresses from a bump in the road, the strap may become loose enough for the hook to "unhook".

I had a very bad experience of this a while back. Went over a big pothole and the hooks came off and the bike fell over.
The best solution is to use carabiners instead of hooks


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[magic]

I use these on my Altrider crash bars in the front with a wheel chock. On the back I use another set on the grab handles.

PowerTye 1.5" Fat Straps With Latch Hooks - RevZilla

The 1½" Fat Strap Tie-Down is Powertye's standard tie-down in the 1½" configuration. Comes in a standard 6 ft length with secure latch hooks for an ex…

www.revzilla.com

 

[HeliMark]

I had a very bad experience of this a while back. Went over a big pothole and the hooks came off and the bike fell over.
The best solution is to use carabiners instead of hooks


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Had one hook come off also, but luckily the bike stayed up. I tend to use a lot of tie downs like I was on an aircraft carrier now after that incident. Going down our smooth highways, and watching your trailer just about airborne is not fun.

 

[Sierra1]

I use these on my Altrider crash bars in the front with a wheel chock. On the back I use another set on the grab handles.

Even I have had trouble getting those straps tight enough. I use the Harbor Freight ratchets. I've never had any issues with them. The loop straps solve the "no place to hook onto" dilemma.

combined with these:

 

[magic]

Even I have had trouble getting those straps tight enough. I use the Harbor Freight ratchets. I've never had any issues with them. The loop straps solve the "no place to hook onto" dilemma.

View attachment 78139 combined with these: View attachment 78140

No problem here...I thought you worked out? I can easily compress the front or rear suspension halfway on my S10 or any of my other bikes for trailering.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I tie the wheels down. Anything above that is to keep the bike from falling over so goes to the sides.

 

[Sierra1]

No problem here...I thought you worked out? I can easily compress the front or rear suspension halfway on my S10 or any of my other bikes for trailering.

If you can compress the suspension. . . . while pulling those straps tight. . . . you are the man.

 

[old1959]

Here is how I trailer mine.

 

[03A3KRH]

If you can compress the suspension. . . . while pulling those straps tight. . . . you are the man.

Harder to explain than demonstrate, but wIth tug tight straps, you can place the clamp close to the anchor point and use one hand to hold the tag end of the strap and your foot in the belly of the strap to tighten them while the other hand stabilizes the bike. You can compress the suspension to the stops if you want doing this.