How To Strap Down A Motorcycle On A Trailer

To avoid damage to your cycle when transporting information technology on an open trailer, it'southward important to tie information technology down properly. The last thing y'all want is for your bike to slide effectually in the back, getting scratched up and condign a safety risk.

Is A Wheel Chock Your Best Bet?

The near common way to necktie down a motorcycle is using a wheel brimming. These are steel wedges designed to concur the wheel of your bike and support its weight, and then it doesn't shift or fall over when the vehicle makes sharp turns or goes over bumps.

Merely considering its size, a chock may not be suitable for trailers with limited infinite. A depression-toll trailer does not typically come with information technology, and then you may have to purchase them separately. Also, not all types of wheel wheels can always fit a wheel chock.

In nearly situations, you should be using wheel chocks.

But there are alternative ways to tie downwards a motorcycle without a chock where yous don't have that option.

Alternatives to a Wheel Chock

The main reason why people employ a wheel chock is that it holds their tires firmly in identify. So when yous're choosing an alternative, it needs to exist just as sturdy to stop the wheels from turning. A piece of plastic, metal, wood or even a pair of bricks can all be good options.

If the flooring of your trailer is wooden, you can also cut a sheet of 3/4 inch OSB to the width of the trailer, put some holes in them for the tie-down, and bolt pieces of 2X4s with deck screws.

Depending on the size and weight of your bicycle, y'all will have to improvise with these materials to ensure they are an ideal fit for the tire. You can even throw in a towel or 2 to human action every bit an added back up wedge. Once the wheel is thoroughly secured, it'southward time to tie the cycle down.

The Do's and Don'ts of Tying Down A Motorbike

If you're not careful, the simple act of tying downwards a motorcycle to a trailer can be a real hassle.

It's of import to practise it right to avoid accidents and unwarranted damages. So, here are some dos and don'ts of tying a bike on a trailer without a wheel chock:

Read: How to tow a motorcycle

The Dos:

1. It is crucial that you use a skillful quality ratchet strap because it volition assistance you fasten the wheel properly and keep it stable from all sides. Cheap straps can suspension off apace, causing your cycle to wobble around.
2. Wrap the ratchet straps with soft loops to prevent the hooks of the ratchet from leaving scratches on your bike. If y'all have fixtures on the flooring of the trailer, you tin use them to tie the soft loops every bit well.
3. Strap the bicycle downwardly on 2 points at the front and rear wheels. In the front end, y'all can apply the front end forks of the bike for the tie-down.
4. As an added protection for your bicycle, consider covering information technology with blankets to foreclose scratches and potential damage from the fabric you use.
5. Although the odds are very slim, you can keep the cycle in gear in order to minimize the impairment that may occur if at that place is a strap failure or if it disengages from your cocky-made chock.

The Don'ts:

1. Don't shrink the suspension of the front cycle likewise much. Only do it partially for the front and a little less for the rear This will prevent the bike from billowy and loosening the straps when driving on a bumpy road.
2. Avoid strapping the handlebars, as doing then tin compress the bushings or bend the washers, causing the bars to loosen.
3. Don't throw the straps over your motorcycle's seat or your saddlebags, as yous volition wear them downwardly and leave marks.
4. If yous have spare textile or slack from the strap, don't leave it flapping around. Instead, tie it downward securely to your trailer.
5. Don't forget to stop and do a load cheque every 25 to 30 miles to ensure everything is in place, especially If you have a long journey alee.

Conclusion

The safest manner to transport your motorbike on a trailer is past using a motorcycle chock. Simply if you don't have a proper i, you demand to ensure that yous're using a suitable alternative and investing in high-quality ratchet straps to cinch the bike tightly to the frame then that it doesn't move at all during transportation.

Also, read our guide to the all-time motorcycle loading ramp.

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Image credit: Cjp24, CC BY-SA four.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Source: https://www.simplymotorcycle.com/tie-down-motorcycle-on-trailer-without-chock/

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