How to tie down a trike??

[rickt]

Am new here and to triking. Looked around but didn't see a thread on tie downs.

Do you need to compress the front end on a trike?
If not ,can you just tie onto the front crashbar to hold in place, since there would be no downward pressure?
How about the back -- passenger hand grips OK?
I have an '05 GW with CSC kit.

Leave in gear?

Rick

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

When I trailer my trike, I use my enclosed snowmobile trailer.
I put a eye bolt in one of the floor holes (for the sled tiedowns) and put a come-along around the front tire and hook it to that bolt.
I then put a come-along from a eye bolt in the back, and hook it to the trailer hitch on the trike.
Leave it in gear and go.

[Blondie Gal]

We have a Wells Cargo enclosed trailer that has a chock in place for the front tire, and we use tiedowns that attach to triangular hooks on both sides. We've only taken it this way a couple of times, but it doesn't move at all. Of course, there's only about six inches on each side leeway, but it's never jiggled out of place. See picture on my profile (Trike in trailer).

[Calman]

I have an open trailer with a floor-bolted chock for the front tire. I use a come-along tiedown which runs from the trailer front through the trike frame and hooks on the trailer front on the opposite side. The rear tires get a 2x4 wedged behind them then screwed into the deck of the trailer. As an added precaution I use come-along tiedowns which run from the the axle near each tire and out to the respective trailer side.

Regardless of the way you tiedown you trike, check your tiedowns after the first mile of travel for slack and, if it's a long haul, every stop thereafter.

[Doorman]

I have trailered my trike several times in enclosed and also open trailer. I have 06 wing with motor trike. I put front wheel in chock and use tiedowns on crash bars in the front and put two tiedowns on rear hooked to trailer hitch. I leave trike in gear and the front will be partly compressed. The rear ties just need to be snug to keep rear from shiftiing.

[rickt]

thanks for your thoughts -- seems a lot easier than tieing down the bike

[meredog]

another way to tie em down whenever you are tying across or too something you don't want "rubbed out" is to use horse saddle cinches. you can get them in a soft cotton twill and they have a large steel ring on both ends to tie your tie down straps too.

[tfdeputydawg]

Am new here and to triking. Looked around but didn't see a thread on tie downs.

Do you need to compress the front end on a trike?
Never compress the forks more than a couple inches.If you compress all the way, you will at some point, some time blow a fork seal!

If not ,can you just tie onto the front crashbar to hold in place, since there would be no downward pressure?
There will be down pressure! The best way is soft ties wrapped around the lower triple tree plate w/ratchet strap hooks into the soft ties.

How about the back -- passenger hand grips OK?
NO! Not on a 1800 as the frame is aluminum. I use soft-ties wrapped around the trike frame and then ratchet strap hooks into those soft-ties.
I have an '05 GW with CSC kit.

Leave in gear?
NO! Use a front wheel chock

Rick

'''''

[rickt]

tfdeputydawg, coudn't be more clear, thanks, Rick

[meredog]

Could a guy wrap a chain around the front wheel and hook it to the bumper hitch of a truck and pull it down the road ( of course it would have to be in nuetral)

[tfdeputydawg]

Could a guy wrap a chain around the front wheel and hook it to the bumper hitch of a truck and pull it down the road ( of course it would have to be in nuetral)

Front wheel might have a little problem turning if it's chained

[tfdeputydawg]

Could a guy wrap a chain around the front wheel and hook it to the bumper hitch of a truck and pull it down the road ( of course it would have to be in nuetral)

Seriously, for those that might think about lifting the front wheel and towing. Some bikes must be running for the tranny to get proper oil. If one would unhook the drive-train, I assume it would be OK.