Author Topic: Quality tie downs (Read 10232 times)

Gliderjohn · « **on:** January 27, 2018, 11:25:38 AM »

Getting tired of screwing around with the typical hardware store ratchet type of tie downs. Any recommendations for quality tie downs. Talking tie downs for strapping a bike or ATV in a PU bed or trailer.
GliderJohn

Utrider · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2018, 11:35:49 AM »

Ankra. Do NOT buy anything with text either silk screened or embroidered into it...............do n't ask how I know.

Well, never mind I will tell you. I have a 6x12 enclosed trailer I was hauling my Cali Touring in last fall. The tie downs had some advertising from wherever I bought them from silk screened onto them. The Cali tried to escape through the side door, as the clasp slid on the silk screening! The trailer was more damaged that the bike, but never again for me. I like to use the "soft" style straps and I usually use a carabiner to secure it to the D rings.

RinkRat II · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2018, 12:08:28 PM »

Ancra, Ancra or Ancra. Little more money but well worth it. I still have two pair I bought in the 70's and still work as they should.

Paul B

LowRyter · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2018, 12:14:15 PM »

No issue with walmart.

Utrider · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2018, 12:25:13 PM »

Quote from: RinkRat II on January 27, 2018, 12:08:28 PM

Ancra, Ancra or Ancra. Little more money but well worth it. I still have two pair I bought in the 70's and still work as they should.

Paul B

What he said.........lol

I spelled it wrong.

Sheepdog · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2018, 12:36:21 PM »

Get ratcheting tighteners...not the cam-lock type. Look for at least 1 1/2” width on stiff webbing. Store them clean in a dry, dark storage place. Replace when recommended by the manufacturer or when the webbing becomes damaged.

MotoChuck250 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2018, 12:44:37 PM »

Quote from: RinkRat II on January 27, 2018, 12:08:28 PM

Ancra, Ancra or Ancra. Little more money but well worth it. I still have two pair I bought in the 70's and still work as they should.

Paul B

Yep, yep yep!!!!!! ANCRA is the good stuff.

If you want ratchet tie downs then stay away from the 1" strap tie downs. Most are way too flimsy. Go at least 1-1/2" or 2" straps and look at the ratchets. The thicker the metal, the better the tie down.

Don't leave them out in the weather any more than necessary as most straps will photo-degrade when left in the sun for long periods of time.

rodekyll · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2018, 02:32:12 PM »

I've tried everything. I use ROK straps to keep my cargo tidy on the trike.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2018, 03:13:26 PM »

Did anyone mention Ankra? There is a difference. Really?

PJPR01 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2018, 03:21:45 PM »

Canyon dancer strap for the front...best solution.

For the rears, normal tie downs...

2nd the mention of Rokstraps for gear on the bike...simply the best and most elegant solution.

wyrtyr2 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2018, 03:31:38 PM »

Adran straps with Studebaker Mfg. ratchets. Better than Ancra. Cut off the hooks on both ends and replace with carabiners. Total confidence

wyrtyr2 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2018, 03:35:54 PM »

Canyon Dancer? Never. Bad for grips, bad on bars. Use soft tie between triple clamps, lead to ratchet straps

wyrtyr2 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2018, 03:38:43 PM »

Canyon Dancers? Never. Bad on grips, bad on bars. Use soft tie between triple clamps, led to ratchet straps. Total confidence, treats bike right.

Roebling3 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2018, 03:46:00 PM »

Reese, the hitch people have a really sweet self-retracting strap. I've only been using them for ~1.5 yrs. but they take much pain out of messin' w. non-retractable straps. Fast and dumb easy to store.
I've used Reese hitches on every tow application w. cars and light trucks. Excellent equipment.

I will not use Canyon Dancers on bikes with cast metal handle bar mounts. Those castings were not made for the loads encountered while towing. Perhaps not on clip-ons, either. R3~

PJPR01 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2018, 03:51:52 PM »

Well...interesting feedback. Haven�t experienced any of these issues towing for thousands of miles on the Norge yet...but will keep an eye on the items cited. Thanks!

I figure if Mike at MPH recommended them to me many years ago, and he knows more about the motorcycle business than anyone I know...they must be just fine. So far so good.

rider33 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2018, 06:06:40 PM »

most big-box store or auto store tie-downs are garbage. I've gone thru quite a few. When I almost lost a bike about ten years ago (tie down failed) I went out and bought the best tie-down kit I could find:

http://powertye.com/store/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=2

'not cheap but they are WAY better made than most and in the 10 years I've used them on everything from multiple bikes to snowmobiles to tractors they have never given me any trouble,ever.
Tie-downs are a tool, and like most tools cheaper to buy is rarely cheaper to own, 'just saying.

webmost · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2018, 06:20:42 PM »

I have actually had flawless results when using dacron line with a trucker's hitch. Most people these days play dumb whenever faced with knots. But, you know what, simple aborigines do it with coir, so it can't be rocket surgery. All's you need to bend a trucker's hitch is a bowline. Any boy scout knows that. A single 3/8" dacron twisted rope can lift your entire truck. A braided 3/8" can lift several trucks. Doesn't catch your finger & pinch it. Doesn't scratch anything. This I'm telling you is true and easy. And unlike a ratcheting shipping strap, you keep a coil or two of rope around, you can do a world of other things round the house too.

Just don't use polypropylene. Goes all to hell quick and breaks.

Scott DeRoss · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2018, 06:34:33 PM »

I have used this company for years on my enclosed trailer and other things. They seem to have it all. Scott
http://powertye.com/store/index.php

pyoungbl · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2018, 07:01:12 PM »

The 2" powertye straps look pretty good. Notice that some of their straps have built in soft ties. Most straps have an 'S' hook end that can easily come apart when the suspension of your bike gets compressed. Suddenly the whole strap is flapping even though the rachet (or cam) is working perfectly. The Powertye has a cam to keep the hook from coming loose. I like that! As for the truckers hitch, I agree that it's both low tech and effective. Beware of nylon on either straps or rope because, when wet, they can stretch 20%. I'm also a big fan of 2" straps. You do not need the extra strength when tying down a motorcycle. You do need the extra abrasion resistance. Any fabric strap will tend to abrade when you take it across a metal part. If you only have 1" of strap and it wears through 1/2" you are screwed. This can easily happen on a 500 mile trip and you may never see the problem until it is too late. The same wear on a 2" strap is just "oh shit".

rss29 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2018, 07:14:38 PM »

+1 on Powertye. I have a bunch of them and they’re excellent. I can drive hundreds of miles with a bike strapped down and they don’t loosen even the tiniest bit. I have the kind with built in fuzzy loops and have never had any type of damage to the finish. American made and excellent quality.

lucian · « **Reply #20 on:** January 27, 2018, 07:15:33 PM »

Quote from: webmost on January 27, 2018, 06:20:42 PM

I have actually had flawless results when using dacron line with a trucker's hitch. Most people these days play dumb whenever faced with knots. But, you know what, simple aborigines do it with coir, so it can't be rocket surgery. All's you need to bend a trucker's hitch is a bowline. Any boy scout knows that. A single 3/8" dacron twisted rope can lift your entire truck. A braided 3/8" can lift several trucks. Doesn't catch your finger & pinch it. Doesn't scratch anything. This I'm telling you is true and easy. And unlike a ratcheting shipping strap, you keep a coil or two of rope around, you can do a world of other things round the house too.

Just don't use polypropylene. Goes all to hell quick and breaks.

:1: :1: :1: As a licenced arborists for 40 years I can tell you first hand, knots are a far better solution when your life or motorcycle depends on it. Rachet straps may have their place but the right line with the right knot you can take to the bank.
Eliminating the mechanical aspect of a tie down also eliminates the possibility of failure on several levels.

twowings · « **Reply #21 on:** January 27, 2018, 07:17:08 PM »

https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/tie-down-straps?SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending&tw=tie-down&sw=Tie-Down%20Straps

redhawk47 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2018, 12:28:19 AM »

I bought these Powertyes: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JRG2F1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I'm impressed: Soft loop that I put over the lower triple clamp. Carbineers at both ends with grommets that keep the straps in the right place. Stitching to maintain the shape of the strap through the grommet. Good length for trailers; not a lot of extra to drag on the ground.

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2018, 07:07:38 AM »

Thanks all for the suggestions.
GliderJohn

twowheeladdict · « **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2018, 07:16:41 AM »

I borrowed a friend's enclosed trailer to haul a bike one time. He had a wheel chock in it and already had straps so I decided to make use of them. I decided to strap the bike down and take it for a test haul before heading out on the trip. Glad I did. The straps loosened within 10 miles but not enough for the bike to touch anything.

I through them in the nose of the trailer and grabbed my ratcheting straps that were overkill for the job. No issues during the entire trip. I gave him a set as a thank you for using the trailer.

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #25 on:** January 28, 2018, 09:18:50 AM »

Rope. It fits anything if you know the right knots.

Tom · « **Reply #26 on:** January 28, 2018, 03:52:25 PM »

:1: on the rope. Have Ancra's. They work.

Carlo DeSantis · « **Reply #27 on:** January 28, 2018, 04:06:16 PM »

Quote from: wyrtyr2 on January 27, 2018, 03:38:43 PM

Canyon Dancers? Never. Bad on grips, bad on bars. Use soft tie between triple clamps, led to ratchet straps. Total confidence, treats bike right.

This!

I use ratchets on the front and cam-overs on the rear. Always Ancra.

Best,

Carlo

PJPR01 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 28, 2018, 06:07:32 PM »

Well I must be playing with fire then, living on the EDGE!

Delivered the Scura to MPH today for a clutch replacement...Canyo n dancers and straps got it there safely and snug, no muss no fuss.

Party on dudes!

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #29 on:** January 28, 2018, 06:26:24 PM »

These bikemaster units are good, used ‘em today

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Author Topic: Quality tie downs (Read 10232 times)

twowings