NEED Tips for strapping a bike to a flat trailer w/ramp

Hey,
I'm going to be picking up a non-running parts/project? bike next weekend with a 5x9 open uHaul trailer with ramp.

It does have 4 stap hooks (1 in each corner) and lattice type sides.

So any tips on how to strap it down successfully?

I.E. On center stand or not?

I was thinking on center stand.
Straps thru front tire to front hooks and rear tire to rear hooks to "locate the bike".
More staps over the top of the bike across the side to push down on the bike/front tire.

At the moment I have 8x 14' 1000lb straps and 1 16' security chain (in case I have to park it over night while on the road).

Any other suggestions, assuming the seller (forum member) doesn't know how to strap down the bike?

I believe the trailer looks like this:

http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/Equip ... x?model=RT

 

off stand, if the trailer has a front baulhead, put the front wheel up against that & tie the front wheel, then 2 diagonals from the tripple tree & 2 more from the top of the rear suspension, pull the front down so the forks are 1/2 compressed.

 

I stay away from the center stand because it raises the rear wheel off the deck... I have been known to use the side stand... But Wiz hit the nail on the head

 

cam straps are the easiest, ratchet straps are a pain.
a trailer like that doesn't even need the back tied unless you get airborne

 

If the trailer does not have a center rail to put the tires in then straps to hold the tires centered are necessary. I have seen several bikes slip over even though they were secured at the trees and rear and not the tires. I will use two for each wheel, you just need to keep the wheels from sliding sideways, the top straps will keep the bike from falling over. Secure a strap from the wheel to the trailer rail as close to the bottom as possible, one on each side of each wheel.

 

Pull straps from h'bars to front mounted rings etc. pull sraps from top of shock mounts in rear to rings etc. And as mlew said, pull strap thru rear wheel downward as possible. Went to Fla. (about 300 miles ) and transported my beloved find home in that manner.

 

Put the bike in gear also when you put it on there. It will help keep it from rolling around.

 

It shouldnt matter if it is in gear or not if you have it strapped right, but it is a necessary safety precaution. Compressing the shocks is essential.

 

all suggestions are good ones but i can tell u what NOT to do from personal experience. i had my bike strapped down and it rode from pensacola florida to memphis tn with no problem, that is until i went to unstrap it. i undone all straps except the 2 on the handlebars (1 on each side). not thinking i had used ratchet straps instead of the cam style straps and i couldn't slowly release them and when i popped the strap lose the one on other side was still tight so the bike flew in the direction of the strap that was still tight. of course it happened so fast i didnt have time to react and bike immediately landed on its side. long story short, use at least 1 cam strap on each side and undo them last! GOOD LUCK!!!

 

You don't want it on any stands. As the trailer bounces you don't want them banging down and possible breaking something.

You've got good advice, but I'd add 1 tip:

Have the bike on the trailer resting on the side stand. Tie down the left front with little tension. Then use the strap on the right front to stand the bike up straight. This will compress the forks a little and lift the stand off the trailer deck. Then raise the side stand and finish the tie down.

When you're taking it off put the side stand down, untie the rear. Now pull down on the right bar and release the right front strap. Now you can stand it up on the side stand and remove that left front strap last.

Doing it this way keeps it from being pulled over when you release that next to last strap.

 

Two straps at each tie-dow point in case one fails.

 

Thanks for all the tips everyone.

The bike made the 10.5 hour drive home (max 70 mph).

I used 6 total straps. 2 Front corner to handle bars. 2 Rear corners to grab bar/shock area. 2 Totally diagonal over seat just in case.

 

Good thing! No one wants to see that pretty red paint get hurt

 

Looks to be in remarkably nice condition for a "non-runner."

 

I have not had a chance to give the bike a GOOD look over. But you are right, for a non-runner it is in very good condition.

I was a (former?) member's bike and it was in his shed out of the elements for the last year, and in his garage before that. He has a nice modern Yamaha now

I did notice on a stop on the way home, it even has the factory security chain. Looking inside the tank today, it looks spotlessly shiny and clean. WOOT. Just one small (knee?) dent on the tank from initial inspection.