How to tie down a trike

[Jimsjinx]

Hi all.I need to know the best safest tie down points for trailering a trike. I bought an open trailer, and have never tied one down for transport. I have done so with dirt bikes, but not a three wheeler. Trailer has a wood floor. Jim

 

[Trikerjim]

Jim I think everybody does it different... Remember to leave the trike in gear, then I hook 2 straps on each side. I run from the passenger grab handle, forward, and from the engine guard (crash bar) to the rear. This way they are pulling against each other. I just repeat on the opposite side. Do it anyway it makes you feel secure, but just take notice of anywhere the straps may contact the paint or fiberglass. Good luck with it Jim.

 

[Ozarkryder]

We have trailered from SW Missouri to Minnesota a few times, about 600 miles one way. The trailer is a 16' X 6.5" tandem axle plank floor utility trailer.
The bike would go into the 8" bed of the pickup, and on the trailer we would tow the bike and the Bunkhouse camper. Yeah, we towed a trailer on the trailer. The last 4 years we have taken the trike and the Bunkhouse, left the bike and pickup at home. So there is the history, on to the specifics....

To secure the front, we have one of those chocks that locks the wheel. The one we have is called the Wheeldock, it locks the front wheel with a spring loaded piston. There are others like the LA Chock and Condor that work with the weight of the trike. I have seen people use these the same way and they say they work well. I then tightly strap the wheel to the chock. The thing I like about the locking chocks is that you don't have to compress the front suspension. If the forks are compressed too much,there is a good possibility of blowing the seals. (Don't ask me how I know.) If straps aren't tight enough, the trike can bounce around, also not good for the forks.To keep[ the rear stable I ran ratchet straps from the hitch out to the side. Have never had any problem towing this way. For regular tie down of a Goldwing, Tulsa, the windshield people have a pretty good article on it here:

TYING DOWN A GL 1500 OR GL 1800

There are systems that connect to the frame, but someone else will have to chime in on how those work, I've only seen them at rallies and shows.

 

[rosiesdad]

Hi all.I need to know the best safest tie down points for trailering a trike. I bought an open trailer, and have never tied one down for transport. I have done so with dirt bikes, but not a three wheeler. Trailer has a wood floor. Jim

I towed my trike round trip, 5200 miles from the east coast to Las Vegas.
I tried this suggestions at TYING DOWN A GL 1500 OR GL 1800
Soft ties around the fork clamps and then heavy duty straps to the floor.
Removed the side covers ( batt cover ) and used soft ties around the frame
then HD straps. Trust me that trike never moved. I believe it could have hung upside down with no problem.

 

[Jimsjinx]

Thanks friends! I used your tips to lay out my trailer/hauler! 3,000 lb. "D" ring anchors bolted to the floor, through the frame,1,100 lb. straps from the rears,pulling forward, and from front wheel,pulling rearward. All 4 straps are pulling downward. A large wood wheel chock was bolted to the floor, in front of the front wheel. That trike is solid!!! Will make early stop to inspect the straps, as they are new, and they stretch. Thanks again guys! Jim

 

[Jimsjinx]

Trailer worked great!

Well, I towed the trailer and trike about 425 miles, and was a breeze. Thanks again, it really helped me think this one through! Jim

 

[Paul06Trike]

Everyone has their own ideas of tying a motorcycle or trike down. I have hauled my 93 Goldwing and now my new 2006 Goldwing Trike and they have never moved. The only statement I disagree with is to leave the motorcycle in gear. I never leave mine in gear and Honda recommends not to leave it in gear.
What do others think about it?

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Everyone has their own ideas of tying a motorcycle or trike down. I have hauled my 93 Goldwing and now my new 2006 Goldwing Trike and they have never moved. The only statement I disagree with is to leave the motorcycle in gear. I never leave mine in gear and Honda recommends not to leave it in gear.
What do others think about it?

I leave both the trike and the bikes in gear. Pretty much always have.

I never use the engine guard to strap down though. They have a tendency to wiggle too much or bend like a handlebar would. Like others here I use a pull against a pull method to the frame with softies at the best down angle I can get.

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

I take mine down to the dealer (300 miles away) in the spring of the year.
I use my enclosed snowmobile trailer. I drive it on and leave it in gear.
Then i put 2 eye bolts into the bottom (where the tie down bars go for the sleds).

Then one come-along from the front eye bolt to the front tire.
One come-along from the back eye bolt to the trailer hitch.
Tighten both, close the door and down the road i go.
It doesn't move an inch in the 300 mile trip.

 

[ricle41]

I operated a vehicle hauling service for several years. We hauled cars, pickups, small trucks, bikes, snowmobiles, golf carts, etc. I ran a Freightliner with a 52 foot stepdeck that would extend out on both front and rear to 60 feet. We could usually get 4 average cars or pickups on a load and hauled in the 28 Western States, over mountains, deserts and everything in between.

In every case, every attempt was made to tie down the tires and/or axles to the trailer, and let the vehicle float on it's own suspension. Any ties to the bumpers, vehicle or anything that compressed the suspension made for a constant challange to find that happy point where you do not smash the springs or shocks, and yet did not keep working the straps or chains loose.

This also made for an easier ride for the vechicle and the hauling trailer. If you tie your trike down by putting pressure on the suspension, it will probably sit still for miles and miles going down the road, but it probably would sit there without any tie downs as long as you don't have to make sudden stops or swerves or take the ditch, etc. If a strap is going to come loose with evasive driving actions, then in case of something serious, it is going to come loose and become another 1000 lb missle flying through the air.

When I tie down the tires, I can roll the trailer, and may lose the shields and fenders and plastic, but the frame, engine and tires will still be on the trailer (or under it). Also, research the weight capabilities of that "cheaper" trailer. Not only your trike, but even your life could depend on it.