Trailer straps

[AJ Huff]

For those times I have to trailer a bike, I always use ratchet straps from the hardware store. I was curious if there was anything better for that application that you guys use.

Thanks,

-AJ

[Clifton]

I use Ancra cam buckle straps (rather than ratchet straps) attached to the bike with soft-ties. I once picked up some off brand cam buckle straps and they weren't very good so have only bought Ancra since.  https://ancracargo.com/red-cam-buckle-tie-down-4-pack

[Dirk_S]

I use Ancra cam buckle straps (rather than ratchet straps) attached to the bike with soft-ties. I once picked up some off brand cam buckle straps and they weren't very good so have only bought Ancra since.  https://ancracargo.com/red-cam-buckle-tie-down-4-pack

I’ve had buckle straps come loose when trailering bikes. Never had a ratchet strap do so.

[Clifton]

I’ve had buckle straps come loose when trailering bikes. Never had a ratchet strap do so.

I did one time and it was some gypsy brand strap I bought at a dealer when picking up a bike after I forgot to bring my straps. I've never had an Ancra strap loosen in all the years of hauling bikes in trucks and trailers. I use them because they're easier and quicker than ratchets and they can be pulled plenty tight for motorcycle application. And unlike ratchets they're much less likely to be pulled too tight. Like any type of nylon strap they'll expand 3% when wet so snug them once after it starts raining.
BTW new BMW, Honda, and probably all the other motorcycles as well come secured in their crate from the factory with cam buckle straps.

[Perazzimx14]

For those times I have to trailer a bike, I always use ratchet straps from the hardware store. I was curious if there was anything better for that application that you guys use.

Thanks,

-AJ

For the longest time Harbor Freight Rachet straps (black/orange) ones have worked a treat. Since most of the rachet straps are made overseas why pay more fo rthe same thing. I will say the second best thing I have done is get a bag to put 4 rachet straps in along with 4 double loops and keep them as a kit behind the seat of my truck. When i am done with them I wrap them up and use a strip of hook and loop to secure them and keep them from truing into a birds nest that I have to spend 10 minutes untangeling. Also the bag is much more organized than my prior method of just letting them ride around the bed of th etrick where they either got stolen, sun bleached and rusty or in the winter got frozen into a big block of ice.

I also cut about 8 feet off my rachet straps so I am not dealing with all the excess. I mean a truck bed is 8 feet or less and the bike is 6 feet +/- so using a strap at each corner the aver length of my rachet straps is probablt about 24 inches. No sense dealing with 13 feet of strapping I'll never use.


The best thing I did was a little while ago ditched the 2 piece rachet straps and went for 2 sets of retractable self contained rachet straps. When done wind them up and into the bag and done. No tangles, now wrapping up and no mess.


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[pehayes]

I dislike the release of ratchet straps under tension.  All or nothing.  Release and the strapped item goes flying if it is under spring pressure.  Good cam straps allow for gentle or partial controlled release.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[kballowe]

We use the common ratchet straps, but with that spring-loaded safety on the hook.  Just a little added piece of mind that the hook won't come off if the strap gets loose, or if ya hit a big bump.

A search for "motorcycle ratchet straps" at Amazon brings up many examples.

[bmc5733946]

I'm an Ancra man. With the spring closed hooks with soft ties built in, I feel safe when trailering even when enclosed. I have never had a failure. If using an open trailer I make sure to have a twist in the strap to prevent that fluttering the do in the wind. I dislike ratchet straps intensely, I do carry them on my trailer but only use the for securing things other than motorcycles. The thing I see that bugs me most is seeing a bike tied down against the side stand. I don't think people understand the forces at work when hitting a bump etc..

Brian

[rocker59]

Ratchet straps and soft ties is what I've been using for years.  In the 1990s and early 2000s, I used the cam buckle style.  They performed fine, with only a couple instances of loosening.  When I needed new straps, I moved to the ratcheting style and haven't looked back.

I zip tie the hooks to the tie down loops on the trailer for security.  That way there is no chance of that hook coming out of the loop.

[Perazzimx14]

I dislike the release of ratchet straps under tension.  All or nothing.  Release and the strapped item goes flying if it is under spring pressure.  Good cam straps allow for gentle or partial controlled release.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

The trick is to not bind the suspension down unil it screaming for mercy. My goal when tying down a bike is to securely hold it in place not make it a monolithic part of the truck/trailer.

[Moparnut72]

I use ratchet straps also, I have had Cam locks come loose. I cut the hooks off and run the loose end through the eye after going around the attachment point. This way there is no danger of the hook coming off if the strap loosens up for some reason.
kk

[Motormike]

Along with a quality front wheel chock, like a Condor or Baxley, ratchet straps on the front to compress the suspension (enough to hold tension, but not all the way) and cam-style on the back end.  Soft-ties all around. I'm pretty paranoid when I trailer a bike and usually stop after just a few miles to recheck/tighten anything.  The motorcycle will usually settle a bit on their suspension unless you've really cranked it down.  The stretch issue in the rain is also true.  Interestingly, whenever I've watched a dealer unbox a new bike, it looks to me like the front suspension is compressed all the way down.  I don't do it that way, but it seems the manufactures do.

[AJ Huff]

When you guys say "soft ties" what do you mean? I've always just used the hooks on the ratchet strap to some mounting point on the bike, with a lot of reservation.

-AJ

[Perazzimx14]

When you guys say "soft ties" what do you mean? I've always just used the hooks on the ratchet strap to some mounting point on the bike, with a lot of reservation.

-AJ

Double loops $4 for a 4-pack at HF. These allow a place to connect the tie down hook without the steel hook connected directly to the motorcycle.

[pehayes]

And then there's the Italian version with my Falcone Club.



Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Motormike]

Many years ago, I was attending a track day down in Jennings, FL.  A young rider and his parents pulled in next to me.  There was a late model Honda CBR600 on the trailer that had seen better days.  One whole side of the bike was totally scuffed and ground down.  When I asked about it, the father told me the bike had completely fallen off the trailer while they were traveling down the highway!  Ouch!

[AJ Huff]

Double loops $4 for a 4-pack at HF. These allow a place to connect the tie down hook without the steel hook connected directly to the motorcycle.

I will check into these. Thanks! I'll also look into the cam buckle straps. Maybe use a combination.

Thanks for the suggestions.

-AJ

[Perazzimx14]

I will check into these. Thanks! I'll also look into the cam buckle straps. Maybe use a combination.

Thanks for the suggestions.

-AJ

Cam locks might be okay for the rear of the bike but for the front its rachet straps for me and since I like simplicity there is no need to carry two styles of straps so I just use rachet straps all around.

Disrereguard the cam strap and the hook not fully inserted but this shows the use of the double loop. This set up is on my lift so the wheel vise does the lions share of the holding the two cam straps are just there for a bit of additioanl side to side support. If this were in my truck or on a trailer there would be rachet straps.





This shows is you do not have a double loop. Put the tag end of the rachet strap around the fork o frame tube then pull it through the eye in th ehook. Then pull the tag end throught the rachet strap and cince down.





This method if you don't what the hook to touch the bike and you don't have a double loop





You can simply hook both hooks to the fixed point.





Or the double around method with one hook to the fixed position in the bed of the truck/trailer and then the floating hook, hooked the eye of the fixed hook.





Its not rocket surgery and once you tie a bike or two own you'll get your own routine. MIne is lay all 4 straps and double loops at eash corner of the bike. Pudh the bike into the wheel chock then double loop around the left front ied down point then rachet strap connected and snugged dows a couple clicks. Move to the right front and repeat. Once both front rachet straps are connected and started to be tightened I take up a couple clicks on one side then the other until the front of the bike is secured and both straps are pulled down equally and the bike will not rock side to side when pulling on the handlebars. Then move to the rear of the bike and repeat the process but stop at just snugging the straps. All I'l looking do is keep the rear of the bike from moving side to side.

It is also a very good idea to stop about 5 or 10 miles in and check to see if all the straps are still tight or need adjusted. I also tend to recheck at gas stops.