How To Tie Down A Motorcycle In An Enclosed Trailer

An enclosed trailer is the perfect option for transporting your bike. In an enclosed trailer the bike is protected from the wind, rain, hot sun, and ultraviolet light. The bike is also protected from prying eyes that might belong to thieves. It is a lot harder for a thief to get a motorcycle out of an enclosed trailer than it is for a thief to get a bike off of an open trailer.

In an enclosed trailer you bike is also protected from minor highway travel damages like dust, pebbles, and road debris that can be thrown onto the bike by the wheels of other vehicles on the road.

If you plan to transport your bike in an enclosed trailer you must know that you do not simply drive the bike into the trailer and shut the door. You need to secure the bike inside the trailer so it does not fall over, or become damaged during the travel.

How To Tie Down A Motorcycle In Enclosed Trailer

Securing Materials

To properly secure your motorcycle you will need:

• Ratcheting straps
• D rings that are surface mounted inside the trailer (get heavy duty rings for larger bikes like street bikes and ordinary rings for dirt bikes)

You may also want to have a wheel chock on hand to stop the bike from rolling at all, and some soft straps that are used to keep the ratchet straps from coming into contact with the paint or chrome on your bike. Ratchet straps can scratch paint and chrome.

Have the Trailer ready

You want the trailer that the bike is going to be transported in to be as level as possible. Your bike will be more secure in a trailer that is level. You also want to make sure that you drive the bike straight into the trailer.

If you have a front wheel chock it is easier to make sure the bike is perfectly straight as you drive it into the chock.

With a chock

If you do have a chock make sure that you drive the bike as far into the chock as it is possible to get it. The chock provides you stability but the bike must be placed properly into the chock device.

Without a chock

You can still transport the bike if you do not have a front wheel chock. Make sure you get the bike into the trailer as straight as possible. You want an even distance on each side of the bike, and you want to get the bike pretty much centered inside the trailer. By centering the bike you distribute the weight properly on the trailer axles and this will make the trailer pull better and give the bike a smoother ride.

Tie the Bike Off

First you apply a ratchet strap to the bike opposite of the kickstand. Tighten the ratchet until there is no give or slack in the strap. Tie the strap off to a D ring to hold it in place.

The next strap needs to be positioned high up on the chassis. The second strap should be placed diagonally from the first strap. Ratchet the strap until there is no give or slack in the strap.

Repeat this process with another strap on the front of the bike and another strap on the rear of the bike.

When you stop for fuel or to stretch your legs check your straps and make sure they are staying taut. Vibrations from travel can loosen the straps and allow the bike to slide or fall.

For more information on this subject watch this useful video