Tying down in a trailer

Rather ride it than trailer it, but the logistics work out best to trailer.

What is the proper/ safe way to secure my baby on a trailer?

5' x 8' trailer, 4 tie down points on the floor, in the corners.
81 XJ 650 with center stand.
Plenty of ratchet straps.

 

That's like asking 10 people how to cook with a cast iron pan, you'll get 12 answers

Here's what I've always done with no issues. Front wheel against the front of trailer/truck box. Ratchet strap from front corners to the handle bar. Kick stand and center stand up, ratchet strap tight to compress front suspension. That's enough to hold the bike. I then run a third strap through the back wheel to keep it from sliding around. You could do some ratchet straps up to the rear corners as well.

The key here is actual ratchet straps and knowing how to use them!

 

Cast iron - NEVER use soap to clean it.
Ok, so awaiting 11 more answers . .. .

So you do NOT use the center stand?
Do you compress the front forks until they bottom out?

 

No center stand, makes it too rigid. With ~400 lbs you want a little give. Don't need to compress all the way, just until the ratchet feels tight. Grab the bars and give her a tug side to side. No movement you're good. Hard to explain but you get the "feel" after awhile.

 

no center stand, no side stand. you want the lower hooks at least 3 feet apart, the more the better. compress the forks till it won't tip over far enough to let the hooks come undone.
go watch some dirt bike guys load up

 

I loop my tie-downs around the fork legs at the lower triple tree; less chance of bending a bar, or having a strap slip off. After years of having the rear end hop around with a strap around the tire, I've swiched to a strap on each side at either the frame rail, or passenger footpeg mount. Definitely compress the fork; ratcheting straps will do that part for you if you have to load alone.

And definitely watch the dirt bike guys load up.
Observed Trials riders do it best.

 

For me....

-Front tire against front of trailer
-NO stand.... Seen too many people punch through the floor OR rip the side stand off the bike and screw up the frame
-forks compression "enough"
-four straps, on from each "corner"

Never had an issue moving any bike.

 

I'll add one more to hogfiddles list. I do mine exactly like his. If your trailer(or truck) has a smooth floor the wheels needs to be strapped so they won't slide sideways or the bike will fall, even with 4 straps. My trailer has a full rail so I don't need to do that anymore. I had to learn the hard way. Normal bumps in the road can make the bike wheels slide sideways and tip over, even with 4 straps.

 

a piece of 4" channel about a foot long bolted to floor and one standing upright locks the front wheel from sliding or twisting. Even a few pieces of 2x4 will do the trick

 

No, don't bottom them out.

Put bike on side stand, front wheel against front of trailer. Losely attach strap front left of the bike.
Next, attach strap on the right side. Start tightening the right and the bike will begin to "stand up". It's not going to tip because the left strap is holding it. Adjust left and right putting some pressure on front fork. You'll see that the bike will already be secure.
Next, attach one strap left, one right at the back of the bike, compressing the rear.
Make sure that the front straps pull the bike towards the front, against the trailer. Like you can see in the pic above.
Your baby will not go anywhere.
I did it last year for first time. Was scary at first but once you do it, you'll see it is secure.
Stop after first 20 minutes of driving to check and readjust straps.

I spent extra money on ratchet straps. They lock securely into place and no worries about becoming lose.

 

Thanks for the replies.
Not going to move bike for about a week, gives me time to practice my backflip!

 

No practice required. That was the guy in the video's first try!

 

I like to strap from the handle bars back , and strap from the rear of frame forward, then it doesn't really matter if it's on the centre or side stand, suspension can work a bit on the bumps but the bike can't move ...
I also recheck my straps after , towing a block or two...
Alan

 

Again, don't put it on either stand....

Center stand-

run a very high risk of punching through the floor. You are greatly I creasing the down pressure in the feet. You not only have the weight of the bike.. Now you have:
1. Weight of the bike
2. Force added from straps
3. Force of upward 'impact' from bumps
4. Force of downward 'impact' after bump

Your truck bed/trailer bed/etc..... Can only take so much.......

Side stand-

Same as above, but the forces are angled sideways and you can literally tear the mount off the frame, leading to an expensive repair. The side stand is only designed to support the bike at that angle. I don't even like to sit on the bike on the side stand......

But, to each his own---

 

I'm wondering how you practice that maneuver. Not a lot of room for error.

 

Carefully.

 

Since we're talking bike hauling...

I'm heading to Hogfiddles for the June 11th Carb Clinic. My plan was to move my XJ there in the bed of the my Silverado. It's a short box, so I have to travel with the tail open. Full 4x8, 3/4 plywood from bed floor, across the tail gap. Up the ramp and in we go... right? But I want to be able to do it all by myself and I've seen too many failed "bike loading under it's own power" attempts on YouTube to want attempt it.

Winch you say? They freak me out. Had one on a boat trailer... it was always binding, grouchy and unhappy... I hate electric winches.The gritty noise, the raw power, the possibility of a cable snap...

And of course my unique ability to CATCH THE TIP OF MY LEFT POINTER FINGER in my new 2500 badland just a few hours ago...

I'm embarrassed to admit it. What a stupid, stupid thing! As I crouched there in the bed of the truck staring with disbelief that the winch and I had become one... My first thought was "Oh S@%t, Oh S@%t, Oh S@%t," Then it was "REVERSE, REVERSE" Looking down at the buttons on the remote, with all the adrenaline flowing, it took a moment to decipher what direction the EXTEND/RETRACT buttons would send the spool in...

Choose the wrong one, and I lose a digit! Clearly initially, "He chose poorly!" (solid Raiders quote!)

The third thing that went through my mind was... how the hell am I going to ride with this busted finger? I need that clutch hand!

The bleeding has stopped and I'm keeping the swelling down with ice. Pain... YES! It is throbbing like... well, like I caught my finger in a winch! I don't think it grabbed the first joint as I can get a little movement out of it.

Here's to healing and riding ASAP.

Haul carefully and stay away from winches my friends... now for me, more ice...

 

riding up a ramp is easy, wait till you ride backwards down one

 

Ouch for your finger. Self inflicted wounds always hurt the most. Hope it heals well.

As far as truck bed loading . . . any berms around?
When we got our atv the dealer had a berm that was pickup bed height, loaded on easy and as it turned out we had an appropriate sized (well, close enough) berm at the farm to unload off the truck bed. No ramps required. Obviously a 4 wheel drive atv is a different animal than an XJ but ramps are scary.

 

It will be a bunch easier if you can get the truck in a ditch or backed up to a bank or somehow a LITTLE bit down hill so that you can ease the bike down a ramp or plank. Use a second ramp or plank for you to walk on into your truck. Don't tie the bike down on the side stand. When/if you hit a big bump with the truck you stand a good chance of breaking the side stand or bending the frame. Don't tie it down too tight, secure but not so tight the bike can't move a bit on it's own suspension. I use 4 ties, 2 in front, 2 to the back. Elevate your finger and the throbbing will be a little bit less.......
Good luck!
John

 

This may sound silly but ware your helmet when loading your bike using ramps. If you fall and hit your head you will be safe. The guy that did the back flip into the back of his truck did.

 

Yep... Was going to test it today, until my unfortunate..."Snag." My hope was to ease her back down while sitting/walking the same way she went up.

Dave said there was a spot... but I was thinking big picture when going other places as well. Ive been doing an Outer Banks, NC trip once a year for the past few. Useable berms could be hit or miss... unless you count the dunes!

Thanks for the well wishes.

 

And make sure it is IN GEAR when you tighten it down. The last thing you want is a free-rolling load

 

Yeah, the ramp will be almost level when we unload here.

Also, if your truck bed is short, put it in diagonally with the front wheel turn a but to allo the bike to get in as far as it can. You may even get the tailgate closed that way..... I have--

 

Tie downs would be problematic, no? I have the hasps left and right, low in the truck bed towards the front and same in rear. I was thinking about the diagonal thing, but it might make the strapping awkward. Also was going to pop this:

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

up front for added upright stability. Will test this week.

My neighbor across the street from me has one of these:
https://loadall.com/products/v2-800-long-bed-loading-ramp?variant=9100443651

He spends month long trips down in Florida... I know he's about to disappear for a while when I see his Harley Ultra Classic peering over the top of his F-150 !

 

Not 100% sure on a 700, but you can fit a 82 650 Max in a short bed with the tailgate closed. I have a Sierra and did that. Once its tied down you swing the rear to the side. I would leave it open if I had nothing else in the bed but 99% of the time there is other stuff back there.

 

When I had a tuck I wold park to load with the truck in the street and use the difference in height between the street and the driveway to my advantage.

 

Well. It's official... Tossed and turned all night. Pain kept me up... Went to the walk in clinic today. X-ray shows fracture in the middle phalange (second bone in from finger tip).

Winch - 1, Nuch - 0

Still hurts like hell...

Still got three good fingers on that hand for the carb clinic... heh...

 

I'll look through my parts bins and see if I have any extra fingers....

 

I jus transported an 82 xj750 maxim in a bed that was only 4' wide and 6' 8" long. Tailgates was closed bike was not quite diagonal corner to corner, there was about 1" clearance between the left turn signal and the edge of the bed. Earlier that day I transported an '81 750 Virago the same way.

 

Wait, are you saying you run a finger pool too? Hey buddy, click back to the other tab that must be open in your browser, you're posting in the wrong forum...

 

Extra fingers seem more common in mountain folk.

 

The better to pick your banjo with ....

 

This thread got weird.

 

They all do eventually.

 

with bacon . . .

 

I believe protocol is that Hangout Lounge postings are open for interpretation and veering astray from the original post is tolerated (and often encouraged). Where as the other forums (Technical Chat, etc.) should be more proper and respectfully stay on topic . . . However, with that said, often times technical troubleshooting can lead down paths other than the original post out of pure necessity. The knee bone is connected to the shin bone, etc. just like the gas tank, is connected to the petcock which is connected to the in-line filter which feed the carbs which have floats, etc. etc. . .

I'm gonna have another beer now! All Day IPA

 

It's connected to WHAT?!?

 

Follow up; finally nailed down our moving day (last Friday). Did as directed and the bike traveled like a dream on the trailer.

As always; brilliant, eager to help people here - I love you guys!

THANKS!