I have towed my sport bikes (FXRT, FXDWG, FLD) for years on a trailer without any difficulties. I now have an FLHTK and a trailer all set up for towing, but I'm not sure where to connect the tie-downs on this bike since the handlebars are not reachable (fairing is in the way). Any recommendations on where to attach front/rear straps on an FLHTK? All anchor points are on the floor of the trailer.

Thanks in advance, and Happy New Year!!

 

Get these:

https://www.harley-davidson.com/stor...-down-brackets

 

Here's a link to a video from a dealer in Iowa that explains one way to tie down an FLHR. However, where he's placing the straps, it looks like this should work on an FLHTK as well. I've watched several videos and read various online commentaries, and this is the one I've decided to use to bring my FLHTK home when it arrives.

 

do not tie down to your handlebars. there is too much torque and weight with the bike, it will bend the bars.

there are several places you can use to tie the front end down. no matter where you choose to tie it down, i recommend some soft ties to keep the metal hooks away from your bike. some folks like to use the fork lowers, right above the fender mount. that will stabilize the front end, without pulling down on the front suspension. doing it this way ensures that your straps will stay tight. if you tie down elsewhere, as the suspension compresses, your straps will loosen and then get tight again, eventually leading to failure.

if you do use a location that can be affected by the suspension, you can stick a block of wood under your frame, just behind your jiffy stand. that way, when you tighten it down, your suspension will not bottom out, and your frame gets 'locked' to the trailer.

the rear is not as critical, you just want to keep the rear end from swinging right to left. i've used soft ties to the swingarm, or if i'm not going too far, using the saddlebag support rails. either one is easier if the bags are off.

just remember, no matter what way you choose to do it, make sure that you double and triple check everything, tape up the loose ends of the straps to keep them from waving wildly, wrap some tape around the ratchet mechanism to keep it from popping loose (some folks don't do this, i figure it doesn't hurt), and check it occasionally when your going down the road.

 

Around the engine guard and frame is my go to spot but it is VERY difficult on an FLHTK. So much so that I installed the tie down brackets mentioned above and LOVE them.

 

Also, I use a strap with hooks that have a clip on them(like the HD ones). That way if you hit a big bump in the road and the front shocks compress, they cannot come unhooked from the trailer tie down.

 

Wrap it around the lower legs above the fender lugs. Very secure, works on all bikes and does not compress your suspension. Good luck.

 

Thus far I've used a combination of Condor chock and ratchet straps to lower forks and bag guards on my FLHTK. I've always believed it's best to tie down below the suspension up front in order to prevent having to compress the suspension, as well as preventing repeated slackening-tensioning of the strap caused by braking, road irregularities, trailer bounce etc. I learned that from hauling an atv in my cargo trailer many years ago.


That said...I like the chrome tie-down brackets shown above and would prefer them for convenience sake. I wonder if anyone has had any issues with straps loosening etc due to the suspension 'working' while trailering on longer hauls of many hours or days?

 

I'm sold. Going to order the brackets.

 

Condor chock most important, makes the rest of the strapping points possible. Light duty tie downs around the engine guard/footpeg mounts just to keep the bike from swaying left to right, or rolling backwards but that would have to be a hell of a pothole to cause something like that. Heavier duty straps around the rear wheel just to keep the rear from swinging around.