Without a wheel chock!
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Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: El Paso, TX
Without a wheel chock!
Will be trailering the bike in a few weeks, I'm using a friends trailer and it is an open trailer. He hauls his ultra around in it so I guess he knows how to tie his bike down. I asked him if it had a wheel chock and he said no, so I'm asking what is the safest way to tie down my ultra without a wheel chock!?
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: North East, Florida
You have a nice looking bike. Do you really want to chance trailering without a wheel chock? Why don't you buy one, install it and when you finish with the trailer, let your friend keep it as a "thank you". Wheel ***** are cheep, paint isn't.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
That's a pretty good idea actually. I've got a couple with different mounting bases for either two or solo bikes. If you aren't going to chock it, then get the front wheel up against something (like the front of the trailer). Make sure, absolutely sure, that where the wheel and tire is touching the trailer that it's lower than the front fender. In other words you can't just push the bike to the front of a trailer with a straight up front. Your front fender will get scrunched! Something has to be between it and the end of the trailer if that's what your pulling the bike to. Compress the front end with your tie downs pulling down on the bike. (If you have air shocks you might want to deflate both the front end and or shocks on the rear.) That will hold the bike from moving forward or backward. Both sides should be down and compressed. (Tie downs on each side of the front) Attach your tie downs to the rear so that it can't move laterally and your set. Don't forget that front end now, because if you don't have the tire pushing against something that brings the bike back far enough for the fender not to be able to hit the front, you'll regret it. Just ask my best Bud! If you haven't done it a couple of times, it might just be easier to go buy the chock. Good Luck.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: North East, Florida
I mount a Condor in my trailer when I trailer the bike and strap the forks just above the fender bolts because I don't like to compress the suspension for long periods. I think it might be hard on the seals. Plus I found that the straps don't loosen from the suspension bouncing up and down. I've done 2 trips that way from Florida to Sturges, 4,000 miles round trip, 4 bikes in one trailer with no problems. Worth the cost of a good wheel chalk.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
I have done it like bigskyhd a few times with no problems.
Another thing, if you do it like this secure the front wheel so it cant turn.You could use tie downs from the sides of the trailer to the wheel or lumber used as a spacers.
Another thing, if you do it like this secure the front wheel so it cant turn.You could use tie downs from the sides of the trailer to the wheel or lumber used as a spacers.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14,865
Likes: 4
From: Mn.on a lake,well nxt to a lake.
I hauled open air for 30 yrs and just bought a chock this spring when I brough my Deluxe home from being dynoed....Dont no if I like it yet but will come in handy if I get a differant trailer were the rails are higher,now my bikes fit up against the front rail and dont touch my fenders.....
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 478
Likes: 1
From: In my home
My brother had to trailer his old bike when he sold it. This will probably sound funny, but our dad made a nice wheel chock out of lumber, fastened it to the aluminum trailer and it worked wonderful. Used soft ties and rachet straps (2) per side on front and a single rachet strap from the tie-down point wrapped around the rear tire twice (through the rim and around the tire) and over to the other tie-down point on the other side of the trailer. It didn't move a bit.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
I've been using the same trailer for 20 years. I don't have a wheel chock and don't see the need. The front wall is low, so I just put the front tire against it....No chock for my truck either. The bed wall is high enough that the fender would hit the edge of the bed. I just put a couple of boards in front of the tire to set the bike back a few inches.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14,865
Likes: 4
From: Mn.on a lake,well nxt to a lake.
My brother had to trailer his old bike when he sold it. This will probably sound funny, but our dad made a nice wheel chock out of lumber, fastened it to the aluminum trailer and it worked wonderful. Used soft ties and rachet straps (2) per side on front and a single rachet strap from the tie-down point wrapped around the rear tire twice (through the rim and around the tire) and over to the other tie-down point on the other side of the trailer. It didn't move a bit.
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