Loading and tie down on Motolug

[Deleted account 260111001]

I know your supposed to be able to stand next to the bike and load it on to the trailer, but it scared the pants of me, so I decided to use some ramps I had for putting bikes into vans.

The ramps sit on the axle and mean I can ride the bike up and sit on it to pull it down, much easier !

Initially I used a ratchet strap to hold the ramps down, but modified this to make up brackets for the axle and extended the hinge bolts on the ramps.

The bike in the photo is a loaner,which unless the dealer gets the parts will be coming with me to Yorkshire and around Croft circuit.

My bike has engine bars, but this one does not so tried this way of keeping the front in the wheel stop. if the ratchet is in a direct line to the top of the forks, the body gets In the way.

I also put straps on the back as well.

Any better suggestions ?

 

[bisbee]

I've got a tip about straps Don't rely on open hooks,which can jump off in certain circumstances Use some shackles or carabiners

 

[Deleted account 260111001]

Tip greatly appreciated, I have these straps.

http://www.recoveryworld.co.uk/inde...tegory_id=13&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=155

 

[bisbee]

If you get some soft webbing and make some loops with a double figure of eight knot you can attach them with a girth hitch around forks frame or handlebars too without causing damage.

It looks like you're doing ok though

 

[dmilne]

I rely on strapping the front wheel down to the trailer through the axle. Then two ratchet straps over the top aft of the rear wheel then diagonally forward to underneath the main beam as tight as you like. The bike is now held very firmly by the wheels. The rest of the bike will bounce up and down on the suspension. I use two straps from the frame to the ends of the axle to help stop it leaning over. Sit on the bike to squash the suspension and tighten them up to tension the suspension a bit. Works for me.

 

[Blackal]

IF you tow regularly - think about investing in one of these............. They secure the unsprung mass of the bike, and are tip-top.

I bought mine from Demon Tweaks.


(they come with open hooks, but I always cable-tie them to prevent any chance of slackening - even though they can't slacken since the tyre doesn't bounce)

Al

 

[Greg Masters]

Very dodgy!

There appears to be virtually no triangulation to stop the bike falling over sideways.

 

[Deleted account 260111001]

I did point out that the two rear lashings were not on at the time I took this photo

Doh

 

[Deleted account 260111001]

IF you tow regularly - think about investing in one of these............. They secure the unsprung mass of the bike, and are tip-top.

I bought mine from Demon Tweaks.


(they come with open hooks, but I always cable-tie them to prevent any chance of slackening - even though they can't slacken since the tyre doesn't bounce)

Al

No photo and no idea what you might be referring to

 

[Deleted account 260111001]

I rely on strapping the front wheel down to the trailer through the axle. Then two ratchet straps over the top aft of the rear wheel then diagonally forward to underneath the main beam as tight as you like. The bike is now held very firmly by the wheels. The rest of the bike will bounce up and down on the suspension. I use two straps from the frame to the ends of the axle to help stop it leaning over. Sit on the bike to squash the suspension and tighten them up to tension the suspension a bit. Works for me.

I cannot use the rear wheel method as the RT panniers get in the way, unless you know something I don't.

Are you using a Motolug? Any other photos?

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

You have an unfortunate forum name for a thread about securing a bike on to a trailer

 

[Deleted account 260111001]

Is that a dad joke?

It's the way you tell em.

 

[dmilne]

I cannot use the rear wheel method as the RT panniers get in the way, unless you know something I don't.

Are you using a Motolug? Any other photos?

Yes I use a Motolug. Take the panniers off.....
I've been searching through all my photos and I don't (surprisingly) have any of the bike strapped to the trailer, sorry.
Securing the back wheel onto the central beam of the trailer really locks the bike down.
Rgds D

 

[bowser]

I've got a tip about straps Don't rely on open hooks,which can jump off in certain circumstances Use some shackles or carabiners

I have a tip dont worry about it, often repeated, often talked about and rarely if ever happens, in addition if you use standard straps correctly it will NEVER happen, just so much scare mongering rubbish as is oft repeated on the internet by the over enthusiastic and uninformed..

Millions of miles driven each year by towed vehicles and equipment without a single failure!!!!!!

 

[Bendy toy]

HGVs use open hook ratchet tie downs. They get accused of dropping loads but how many straps actually fail in the real world.
If a hook detaches it's been fitted wrong allowing the load to shift. Carabenas are nice but fitted wrong the load will still move.

 

[Bendy toy]

Deleted duplicate

 

[Blackal]

HGVs use open hook ratchet tie downs. They get accused of dropping loads but how many straps actually fail in the real world.
If a hook detaches it's been fitted wrong allowing the load to shift. Carabenas are nice but fitted wrong the load will still move.

If the ratchet straps are connected to any part of the bike which is on the suspension (basically - anything bar the wheels) then unless you have the suspension yarked down to the stops - it is possible for hooks to pop free when the bike bounces around.

A bike on a trailer behaves differently to a bike in a van.

Al