I bought a trailer to haul my bike and the wife's bike to Colorado this summer for a TWT rally. It's a 5x10 utility trailer, really nothing special, but I am now ready to buy some motorcycle specific items for it: wheel chocks, recessed tie down loops, new racheting tie downs (my old ones are ready for the dumpster). I would like to know of som good places to buy this gear and what y'all recommend. I want to protect the forks from damage on the drive there and back and I want to set this trailer up right the first time.
I bought five removable Pingle chocks off of Ebay for under 40.00 with shipping and hardware. Don't buy crappy chocks get name brand.
I use pull straps with soft sinch straps on the front. Then I use rachets on the rear to get the bike tight. Don't waste you money on Canyon Dancers... They suck on most bikes. I personally know that a turd would hold a V-tec better than Canyon dancers. Note: Ask Paul/Havagan about his Canyon dancer, on our last trip.
I placed flush mount d-rings in my trailer floor and welded steel rings to the sides of my trailer.
My trailer is a 16' tandem axle and will hold five bikes without any problems. I pull it with a Nissan Titan Crew Cab LE.
wczimmerman, Feb 1 2005, 02:24 AMI bought a trailer to haul my bike and the wife's bike to Colorado this summer for a TWT rally.� It's a 5x10 utility trailer, really nothing special, but I am now ready to buy some motorcycle specific items for it:� wheel chocks, recessed tie down loops, new racheting tie downs (my old ones are ready for the dumpster).� I would like to know of som good places to buy this gear and what y'all recommend.� I want to protect the forks from damage on the drive there and back and I want to set this trailer up right the first time.�
Thanks.
I would recommend contacting the local Harley Owners Group, when it comes to trailering a motorcycle those Harley riders have it down to a science. biggrin.gif Defininately get some Canyon Dancers but make sure they fit, getting the wrong size can put you in a bad situation...if you avoid the CD's at least use soft ties around your clip ons and passenger peg mounts. Good luck. wheel.gif
I have two Baxley trailer chocks on a utility trailer. Stress free loading and trailering and can be adjusted to different tire sizes. Highly recommend them!
....And please check with your insurance agent! I've seen some real nightmares where someone got into a single-vehicle accident while trailering bikes. (Actually it was a dealership and we were trailering twelve bikes on a 40-footer.)
Just present your insurance agency with what you're doing and a 'what-if' scenario.
Blue Skies, JJ
wczimmerman, Feb 1 2005, 01:24 AMI bought a trailer to haul my bike and the wife's bike to Colorado this summer for a TWT rally. It's a 5x10 utility trailer, really nothing special, but I am now ready to buy some motorcycle specific items for it: wheel chocks, recessed tie down loops, new racheting tie downs (my old ones are ready for the dumpster). I would like to know of som good places to buy this gear and what y'all recommend. I want to protect the forks from damage on the drive there and back and I want to set this trailer up right the first time.
Definately check out Baxley products! I got the Sport Chock, and it works wonderfully. It works in a trailer, truck, garage, track paddock, etc... It sounds expensive, but everytime you use it you will thank yourself. Basically you just roll the front wheel into it, and it holds the bike upright. Allows you tie it down with out help holding it up. I use it in place of a kickstand at the track and in the garage. I've not had any problems with the Canyon Dancer.
vtecal, Feb 1 2005, 11:12 PMI have two Baxley trailer chocks on a utility trailer. Stress free loading and trailering and can be adjusted to different tire sizes. Highly recommend them!
I can only speak for the Sport Chock. Baxely says that if it is mounted, you only need to tie the rear. This saves you from having to compress the forks, this prolonging fork seal life. I've seen it done without the SC being mounted, though. I still tie the front, since I don't have the chock fixed in place. The biggest advantage to the sport chock is that you roll the bike into it, and then you may let go of the bike completely. Makes one person loading very simple, as the bike sits there waiting for you to get the straps on it. Plus, with a no side stand track bike, you don't have to try to mess with supporting your bike while you fumble around for the track stand. I use it to park the bike in the garage, too. Saves space by standing my F3 up straight, and I keep the other bikes on the center stands. I guess they go for around $210-$215, but I swear I say I love the thing every time I load the bike on the trailer.
Total cost ~ $38 for the steel, and a flat of beer for my welder. I designed the system and she's good for over 1000 lbs (I have a Reese Titan hitch good for 1200 lb direct weight) Comparable Joe Hauler system was over $500
The Baxley Sport Chock is grat. Drive it in, attach rear tiedowns and you're through. Even befre the baxley, I've never pulled the forks down to secure the front. I use soft ties on the upper fork tubes. This applies plenty of pressure without stressing the seals. Of course, with the Sport Chock ($199), thi step is no longer necessary! cool.gif
Here is another vote for the Baxley Sport Chock......well worth the price!! I have a Toyota Tacoma, and I place the chock in the truck and ride the VFR right up the ramp into the chock. No need to tie the chock down. One strap on each rear footpeg attached to the rear bed hooks is all that is needed, but I add a Canyon Dancer and a pair of straps to the front hooks for added security. I pull the front straps down just enough so that there is a little tension, without compressing the forks much.
johnmark101, Feb 3 2005, 08:33 PMHere is another vote for the Baxley Sport Chock......well worth the price!! I have a Toyota Tacoma, and I place the chock in the truck and ride the VFR right up the ramp into the chock. No need to tie the chock down. One strap on each rear footpeg attached to the rear bed hooks is all that is needed, but I add a Canyon Dancer and a pair of straps to the front hooks for added security. I pull the front straps down just enough so that there is a little tension, without compressing the forks much.
It really is great, and you won't believe it until you use it. I got it because I thought it would be cool, and somewhat useful. But, it really makes loading so much easier! I just got my truck, so I haven't tried it in the bed, yet. Even though I love me a Dodge truck, they left out the tie downs on the front of the bed... dry.gif Do you really ride it into the bed? If so, what kind of ramp? Wide enough to put your feet down?
I want to hear this "Anti Canyon Dancer" story. I can't imagine how a properly tied down bike using a Canyon Dancer could fall. Were the straps not tight enough, allowing the front to bounce and the strap to come loose? Were the straps the "friction" type, and they slipped? My buddy owns a Bike shop, and picks up bikes all the time in his truck using the Dancer. He's driven to the track many times with his own bike, and I and my other friends also using the CD have transported our bikes to the track. It's nearly 400 miles! If nothing else, it's another good reason to buy a Sport Chock. I had a rear strap come off my bike on the trailer twice while driving to a friend's to share a ride to Jennings GP. Front secured with Sport Chock and also Canyon Dancer, and it never moved!
KPerham, Feb 4 2005, 01:22 AMIt really is great, and you won't believe it until you use it.� I got it because I thought it would be cool, and somewhat useful.� But, it really makes loading so much easier! I just got my truck, so I haven't tried it in the bed, yet.� Even though I love me a Dodge truck, they left out the tie downs on the front of the bed... dry.gif Do you really ride it into the bed?� If so, what kind of ramp?� Wide enough to put your feet down?
Yes........I do ride it right up the ramp into the truck. The first time I did it I took a deep breath and gathered up my nerves before letting out the clutch. After doing it a couple of times it is not so bad. I usually try to find a place to park the truck so that it reduces the angle of the ramp, but can do it on flat ground if needed. I always secure the ramp by attaching a strap between the ramp and the rear bumper of the truck.
The ramp I use is a Quad Boss, made for four wheelers, and it is wide enough that I can put my feet down if needed. The ramp folds in half along it's length and I slide it into the truck bed along side my VFR.
smile.gif beer.gif
End of thread · 14 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 29 Jul 2005
