Time to argue about those rear tie-downs...

[luvtolean]

Statically indeterminate...



(only laughing because we're talking about tie downs, not because the term was improperly used)

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Baketech

I think this thread is a smutty little troll....

It wasn't until you chimed in.

[tigerblade]

Did someone say "Pete in assless chaps"?

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/hauling/

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Chain

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/hauling/

"Secure the rear of the bike lightly and try to have the straps pulling the bike forward also. You don't want the rear straps pulling against the fronts..."

Kinda funny that their sister publication has a different opinion on such a subject.

The attachment points in the bed of my pickup are not as far forward as I would like, hence the front straps don't really pull the bike forward. I use them and the ones from the subframe to each side to hold the bike for stability but I run fron the same subframe point forward to get the pull into the chock. The chock is a homemade piece that just drops into the bed stake pockets. (The cables in the pic are there for overnight security of the bikes and gas cans etc.)

I have the rear straps going towards the rear of the trailer, but I do not pull them tight. They are used to keep the rear of the bike from sliding left to right. Never had any problems, but I'm not say it's the best way, I've just always done it that way.

in the truck: front strap hooks around upper triple, down to stake pockets.
rear straps hooked to subframe, down to whatever is available. front straps pulled somewhat tight, then rear straps tighted to pull tire off bed.

on trailer: straps run over lower triple, down to D rings (through the eye, not the hook) attached to trailer frame, . rear straps on subframe, down to lowest point on trailer. front straps pulled somewhat tight, then rear straps tighted to pull tire off chock.

run hundeds of miles like this without a single problem.

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Now, now. After tying your bike down for your trip home using my 2 strap method and providing you with some good quality Ancra tiedowns (not those crappy cheap ones you got from the Home Depot), your bike trailered just fine all the way back to NJ, now didn't it?

yeah, and i was going to mention that, but i was hoping you forgot

Originally Posted by bubba

yeah, and i was going to mention that, but i was hoping you forgot

Not a chance!!

[SomeStrangeGuy]

Originally Posted by bubba

I just put down the side stand and go for it that way, one is just as reliable as the next

Thats right, frames are cheap anyways

I use good front straps so I never worry about one failing. Having said that, if the rear subframe is easy to get to then I will run the rear straps towards the back. If it isn't then I will just loop a tie down around the rear wheel and pull it towards the back. All you really need to do with the back is to just keep the rear wheel from hopping around the trailer if you hit any bumps.

BTW, if you have cheapie straps then do yourself a favor and go buy some good ones. Why someone would spend thousands of dollars on a motorcycle but then not go spend $50 on some good Ancra heavy duty ratcheting straps is beyond me. Get ratcheting straps for the front and use the cheaper ones on the rear.

[SomeStrangeGuy]

Originally Posted by lfg929

... not go spend $50 on some good Ancra heavy duty ratcheting straps is beyond me. Get ratcheting straps for the front and use the cheaper ones on the rear.

I had to use their 'pull-tite' version for towing my truck a short distance once, and they're about 4 years old now and still in use, and are in perfect shape - I'd hate to see how long the ratchet ones hold up

(just my backwards way of voting for Ancra, I'm also a big fan, I leave the cheaper stuff for lumber, lawnmowers, etc.)

[Pete]

Originally Posted by soniccbr

...then rear straps tighted to pull tire off bed.

...then rear straps tighted to pull tire off chock.

Huh? You lost me there.

[ConqSoft]

Originally Posted by lfg929

I use good front straps so I never worry about one failing.

I dunno about that. I think that one of your front straps at Grattan was faulty.

I dropped two very expensive bikes inside my trailer on a twisty mountain road last year. I used the "both straps pulling forward method". I also did NOT use ratcheting ties downs, but ANCRA ties. I believe the reason the bikes fell over was due to the suspension allowing the tension on the straps to be jerked loose. This is allowed by the way the bikes were tied in one direction only. I had checked these bikes at the first 10, 100, 200 and 300 miles. Each time I had to re-tighten them a bit. When I got the trailer to the ride location, I was horrified to find them leaning on each other.

From now on, I will use ratcheting ties on top of the compression ties and I will use rearward facing rear tiedowns. Leason learned. YMMV.

[ConqSoft]

I use Ancra racheting on the front, and Ancra standard on the rear. Both pulling forward into the chock. Never had any issues, over a LOT of miles. Including one 3000+ mile trip, and many 1000 mile trips to the mountains.

[Pete]

Ancra-schmancra...see the attached thread for the best tie-downs on the market. I finally got a chance to give these a full test, hauling my bike for 6 hours in non-stop rain, on an open trailer at speeds up to 95 miles per hour, nasty potholes, bumps, the whole nine yards. They didn't budge or stretch, even from getting wet, AT ALL.

http://www.fireblades.org/forums/showthread.php?t=8896

Never use rateching tie downs, you can all to easily over compress things. If someones tie downs kept loosening up, that should be a sign that you bought crappy straps. Cambuckle type straps don't loosen when tension is let off, they will only allow the strap to go in one direction (unless they are a crappy design). I have hauled many many bikes over thousands of miles and have never ever had one failure, not even a loose tie.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by CBRBob

Never use rateching tie downs, you can all to easily over compress things.

Ridiculous. That's like blaming a gun for a murder, and not the person who pulled the trigger.