Trailering a Trike

[americanbadass]

OK-I know there have probably been volumes written on this subject, but just wanted to double check before I advise my friend on this suject. He needs to trailer his new Victory Pitboss A few hundred miles. He has access to a flat trailer that is 8'L X 6'W, and has a 2200 lb weight capacity. I suggested that he use a four point tie down system. Pinch the front wheel down-tie downs on each side of the handle bars, pulling wheel to the stop. On the rear wheels< I am thinking that he could use one tie down strap per ewheel-through the wheel and attached toward the rear of the trailer. THe trike does have an E brake, I suggested he put it in neutral and pull the brake full on. Any suggestion about not screwing this transport up would be greatly appreciated- I know he is stressing a lot about this, since he has never done this-and I have only done 2 wheel trailering.

[Rosy]

Here is what I did when I went to NC to trailer my trike to NH:
Use a wheel chock on the front wheel. Strap the front down using the crash bars around the engine to keep it steady in the front.
I chocked the rear wheels so as not to move forward or reaward. I used the trailer hitch to stop it from going side to side.
If you can, run a strap over the rear wheels to strap them down, just like the car hualers do when the tow a car on a flat bed. You may have to put eyes on the floor of the trailer to hold the wheel strap down.
If you have an open trailer, you may want to cover the trike with a heavy soft cover. Remember, never use a plastic cover that will flap in the wind because it will wear your paint from the rubbing as the wind whips it around.
Tie the cover down real good as not to flap.
Stop here and there to check your tie downs to make sure they are tight and holding. NEVER ASSUME!
Good luck!

Regards,

Rosy
From NH

[rhino 2]

Probably Apples to oranges here But when i had to trailer my 11 T/G 160 miles , I put it in 1 first gear parking brake on, One ratchet strap though the front wheel, One ratchet strap under the tie down loop on each side bottom of the rear shocks.
Tie the ends of the straps to something for two reasons, Stop them from flapping and in case one comes lose you don't lose the strap, and also Take extra straps just in case you do lose one.
Side thought, When was the last time you checked the air in the trailer tires , And greased the trailer hubs.??

[HDHoggly]

Isn't the Pitboss built by Lehman? If so my Lehman has some anchor points close to the rear wheels for tying down to trailer. You may want to check

[BladeRunner]

Using the handle bars is probably not a good idea,the best is to secure in a way that allows the bike to "ride" on it's own suspension to a point. I use a Condor wheel chock on my trailer...it's the same one I use on my lift table.
It's very secure holding the front wheel and I can sit on the bike and no matter how you try..the bike stays put.
Strapping through the front wheel then I also use the rear wheel (s) to keep the load from shifting forward / sideways.
Every bump and pot hole in the road will be transferred through the bikes frame if the center stand is used..that is not an issue with a trike of coarse.
If no wheel chocks are used, then the crash bars or frame are a good option as long as they are not too tight.
Stopping in a hurry in an emergency is the concern, so the greatest care is securing the load from forward movement, pulling away from stops not so much.

[Casper]

DO NOT USE THE HANDELBARS FOR A TIE DOWNPOINT!
Get a set of soft ties, loop them above the lower triple trees, then attach you straps to the soft tie loop....as for the rear, just tight enough to keep the trike from moving side too side...use a wheel chock...I've used the one from harbor fright and it works very good...about 50.00....leave the trike/bike in first gear.

[Lee H. Mann]

Using the handle bars is probably not a good idea,the best is to secure in a way that allows the bike to "ride" on it's own suspension to a point. I use a Condor wheel chock on my trailer...it's the same one I use on my lift table.
It's very secure holding the front wheel and I can sit on the bike and no matter how you try..the bike stays put.
Strapping through the front wheel then I also use the rear wheel (s) to keep the load from shifting forward / sideways.
Every bump and pot hole in the road will be transferred through the bikes frame if the center stand is used..that is not an issue with a trike of coarse.
If no wheel chocks are used, then the crash bars or frame are a good option as long as they are not too tight.
Stopping in a hurry in an emergency is the concern, so the greatest care is securing the load from forward movement, pulling away from stops not so much.

I agree. Do not pull down on the front suspension but secure the wheel. Allow the motorcycle suspension or trike suspension to absorb the trailer ride. I use soft-ties on front wheel or lower fork legs and soft-ties on rear axle or rear wheels. This keeps things from falling off on a long haul.

[bayoudave]

I may be the only one to ever have this problem but I learned from experience. I always tie (just hauled the trike yesterday to the shop) the wheels. First time I ever hauled mine I tied to the frame and after the ride I had two busted shocks. Putting restriction on the shock movement and then hitting the MANY pot holes and bumps blew the seals in both shocks. I do as Rhino 2 suggests, tie the wheels not the trike since you don't have to worry about it tipping over. Just MHO based on experience.

[patriot]

Very simple for the TG; use a chalk, run strap through front wheel ans secure to tie-down rings. the rear end on the TG has tie-down loops welded to the axel. cris-cross sraps to tie-down rings. Thats it. I've made 2 round trips GA to AR and have not had any problems.

[Oldmsocko]

Very simple for the TG; use a chalk, run strap through front wheel ans secure to tie-down rings. the rear end on the TG has tie-down loops welded to the axel. cris-cross sraps to tie-down rings. Thats it. I've made 2 round trips GA to AR and have not had any problems.

+1. You are spot on. It don't get any easier.

[Lakeman]

I have always used the handlebars plus the rear tiedowns and never had a problem, should I change?

[americanbadass]

I have always used the handlebars plus the rear tiedowns and never had a problem, should I change?

Yea-I have always used the HB's for two wheelers. I think though-on threes the popular opinion is to anchor the front wheel-thus allowing for full frontal suspension.