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Admin
Posts: 2294
Location: Renton, WA | Subject: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
Looking for advice on trailering two motorcycles (basically securing the bikes to the trailer). My riding buddy for my Sturgis trip has very limited time so to maximize our time there, we will trailer the bikes (yeah I know... but I have no choice) so we can drive 24/7 to get there and back. Since I've never had any interest in trailering a bike, I've never done it and don't know squat about it.
We have a more-than-heavy enough flatbed trailer with tandem axles available to us and the owner says we can punch holes in it to our delight. So, I guess we need two front wheel "chocks" and some sturdy eye bolts to hook the tie-down straps too.
Any advice on where to get quality wheel chocks for the front wheels and what type are the best buy? Any tips on strapping the hogs down (in terms of protecting paint and chrome)?
Sample wheel chock
Thanks in advance for advice. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1431
| Subject: RE: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
You might visit your local motorcycle dealer and see if they can get 2 front wheel racks that you can bolt down to the trailor and some tie downs that run from the back of the bikes to eye bolts attached to the trailer. If they can't supply the gear you can visit your local machine shop and have them fabricate the front wheel racks. You can punch in "Trailering Motorcycles" into your computer and log on. They will have a picture of the rig at on of the sites that turn up.
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 2561
Location: Rapid City, SD | Subject: RE: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
Hope your time isn't TOO limited! I may have access to a helmet.  |
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 561
Location: Belleview, Fl | Subject: RE: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
Don't forget to get the handlebar tiedowns, they are nothing more then rachet straps with the ends designed to go over the hand grips and they get criss-crossed to hold the bike in place. Also a couple of tiedown points behind the rear wheel will allow you to run a rachet strap through the back wheel intstead of having to worry about going over the seat and scuffing your paint. BTW I pulled my buddies Harley home on a trailer with nothing but the handle bar straps and it didn't even bounce or move an inch (mustang cut him off and did just enough damage to the bike that while it could have been ridden home in first gear it was safer to put it on the trailer and go home safely). granted it was a short trip home but it made me into a believer right there that it is a good thing to buy just case. |
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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 561
Location: Belleview, Fl | Subject: RE: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
Don't forget to get the handlebar tiedowns, they are nothing more then rachet straps with the ends designed to go over the hand grips and they get criss-crossed to hold the bike in place. Also a couple of tiedown points behind the rear wheel will allow you to run a rachet strap through the back wheel intstead of having to worry about going over the seat and scuffing your paint. BTW I pulled my buddies Harley home on a trailer with nothing but the handle bar straps and it didn't even bounce or move an inch (mustang cut him off and did just enough damage to the bike that while it could have been ridden home in first gear it was safer to put it on the trailer and go home safely). granted it was a short trip home but it made me into a believer right there that it is a good thing to buy just case. |
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COMSUBBBS
Posts: 6180
Location: Summerville, SC | Subject: RE: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
Get an 8' long 2x4 and cut it to sizes you need to block the tire and nail it to the deck of the trailer . The tiedown straps will hold everything in place. Cheap, yes. Effective, yes. The money you save can be used for more worth while things like beer and woman chasing objects.
Nice shiny tire holders? Gotta be a nuke thing. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1796
Location: Albany, GA. | Subject: RE: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
From hauling many flatbed loads to many places. When you think you have it right, shake the load hard. The trailer should move, not the load. Then add another tie down or two. Now stop after the first twenty-five miles and check everything again. Then check it about every two hundred until you are comfortable it is right. Screwed down two by fours or four by fours work well. |
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Mess cooking
Posts: 46
| Subject: RE: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
Do NOT cover them if it is an open trailer................. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1796
Location: Albany, GA. | Subject: RE: NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
I know you are not a Lawyer or a Doctor. Or for that matter, own a Construction company. However, the folks around here with Harleys, time and money haul them on fifth wheels that have the bikes in the back, with a ramp to unload them. The front half is a nice trailer house with all the ammenities. They take them to Daytona and Sturgis. I understand that one will trailer the bikes out there, and the others will fly in on occasion. Now that is doing things right. |
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Admin
Posts: 2294
Location: Renton, WA | Subject: Thanks to all...
... for the various tips! I'll post some photos down the road of what we come up with. |
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NSR: Advice please, on trailering motorcycles
