Trailering and Tie downs
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
Likes: 374
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
HF Wheel chocks aren't expensive and work fine, I have used both styles.
Spend the money you save on good quality straps and soft ties (so the hooks don't touch the bike). I use at least 4 and usually 6 straps to tie down a bike.
Spend the money you save on good quality straps and soft ties (so the hooks don't touch the bike). I use at least 4 and usually 6 straps to tie down a bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,415
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio, Republic of TEXAS
let me be the first to say - THEY ARE MEANT TO BE RIDDEN, or IF YOU SEE MY BIKE ON A TRAILER, CALL THE LAW, IT'S BEEN STOLEN, or...... well you get the idea.
LOL - please understand I'm poking fun at some of our fellow forum members that will try to flame you for trailering your bike without knowing any of your reasons to do so. not that anyone but you need to know that!
use the best straps you can find. 2 straps per side on the front, and one on the rear - mostly just to keep the back in place. I always put a 6X6 block under the frame and pull the bike down solid.
LOL - please understand I'm poking fun at some of our fellow forum members that will try to flame you for trailering your bike without knowing any of your reasons to do so. not that anyone but you need to know that!
use the best straps you can find. 2 straps per side on the front, and one on the rear - mostly just to keep the back in place. I always put a 6X6 block under the frame and pull the bike down solid.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 16
From: in a van down by the river in Ga.
Trailer safe
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 1
Yea this really got me thinkin about my trip from Florida to Texas in 10 days.....my plan is to put my bike and all my stuff inside a 14 foot uhaul and trailer my jeep on a hauler behind.....packing household goods around a maze of tie-downs doesnt seem like an easy task....anyone with experience or ideas would be appreciated
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Kremmling Co.
I also use the Harbor freight wheel chocks. Get the heavier ones at 39.95 not the cheaper "hoop" ones. Friends have borrowed my trailer and towed to Kentucky from Colorado. I trailer down the mountian to Denver in January to ride. It can be minus 20 up here and plus 60 in Denver.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
I would also add, If you're using a wheel chock you put the tiedowns in the front using the front forks as a guideline where they hook to the floor of the trailer. You just want the bike pulled slightly into the wheel chock. The rear tiedowns get secured so it just holds the rear of the bike down. You don't have to put them on a back angle so their trying to pull the bike out of the front chock & fighting against the front tiedowns. Unless you want to be the guy that has to stop every 300 miles to keep re-tightening his tie-downs.
The best tiedowns for the rear are those white tiedowns they ship new bikes with. The dealers usually have them laying around that they'll give you or sell them to you very cheap. They seem to come in a long or short version, get the long ones. The short ones are a little TOO short to use.
The best tiedowns for the rear are those white tiedowns they ship new bikes with. The dealers usually have them laying around that they'll give you or sell them to you very cheap. They seem to come in a long or short version, get the long ones. The short ones are a little TOO short to use.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 724
Likes: 2
I use two up front and two for the rear. Buy some good straps with the cambuckle ratcheting system. From another forum where i am a member they have tie down pics. Telling you not to compress the shocks down all the way by using the handlebars as a point to tie from. Go lower to where the fender is attatched to the forks where they want be compressed. That allows the bike to ride on the trailer as it would as if you were riding it. Makes sense right?
Trailer safe
Trailer safe
no it doesn't make sense. pull the suspension down tight. fork seal will be fine.