Best way to tie down 2 bikes with factory D rings

[ak85lp]

I recently had a D ring snap apart because of the tension on the ratchet strap. Keep in mind I only have hauled our bikes twice this summer and I'm new to it. My wife and I have both have Suzuki Vstroms that we can fit in our 2019 Wolf Pack 24 + 14 Toy Hauler. My bike goes all the way to the front and hers will fit with the front wheel just beside mine and between the kitchen counter. We ran our straps through the tip over bars and compressed the suspension which worked for the last trip but I don't think that is ideal. On the one trip, her rear tie down strap came loose and the bike tipped a bit before the rear trunk caught it on the rear decking that folds out.

I see others use the factory D ring hooks too and maybe supplement it with a free standing wheel chock.
- If you use a wheel chock that is not bolted to the floor, will the straps hold it fine?
- What do you use under the chock to keep it from tearing at the floor?
- Is it best to run the straps through the front and rear wheel to the tie down hooks as to not compress the suspension as in my scenario?

Any pictures, suggestions or links to suggested equipment would be great. Thank you!

[Homebrew]

We did use a wheel stand without bolting to the floor, but we did strap the front tire to the stand. We also looped a strap around the stand and hooked it to D rings behind the motorcycle to help prevent the stand from sliding forward when driving into the stands.
Also we purchased ratchet straps with a spring loaded clip to close the hook. To prevent the hook from leaving the D ring. We probably have over 5000 miles towing and learned to check the straps every hour or hour and a half. The more bumps you hit the more the straps stretch or get loose.
We also learned to strap the back wheel from sliding or jumping right to left.
We have not had issues with our factory D rings yet.

[t_bare]

I use Bolt it on chock, It work great for my dirt bikes and street bikes. I've got the "sport bike chocks". Not the best photos.

https://boltiton.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw...4aAv_nEALw_wcB

t_bare

[Vontriple]

I used to put them parallel to one another, with the straps going to the further D rings on the far side of the opposite bike, if that makes sense. Of course, the other would go more vertically down, but I'd cross as well, left to far right, right to close left. Reverse for the bike on the right. As you mentioned, you don't want to have them too compressed as you can damage the suspension, but you definitely need them tight enough so it doesn't move. That's why I prefer crossing and going out further. It gives a lot more horizontal stability.

Ideally, you'd get a wheel chock that can be easily unpinned and doesn't leave obstacles on the ground, so you're not loading the suspension and really just have to tie down the rear wheel. Even better, pit bull makes a trailer restraint system where it secures the rear wheel, and you can remove everything aside from the mounting plate, which just has 4 little posts coming up. Worth a look

https://www.pit-bull.com/motorcycle-...18-f0075tu-000

[ak85lp]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

We did use a wheel stand without bolting to the floor, but we did strap the front tire to the stand. We also looped a strap around the stand and hooked it to D rings behind the motorcycle to help prevent the stand from sliding forward when driving into the stands.
Also we purchased ratchet straps with a spring loaded clip to close the hook. To prevent the hook from leaving the D ring. We probably have over 5000 miles towing and learned to check the straps every hour or hour and a half. The more bumps you hit the more the straps stretch or get loose.
We also learned to strap the back wheel from sliding or jumping right to left.
We have not had issues with our factory D rings yet.

This setup sounds like what I am looking for. I also thought about straps with a spring loaded clip to keep it coming loose but I already have the straps, so I just used some zip ties in that area.
Would you happen to have any pictures of your setup with all the straps in place?

[ak85lp]

Originally Posted by t_bare

I use Bolt it on chock, It work great for my dirt bikes and street bikes. I've got the "sport bike chocks". Not the best photos.

https://boltiton.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw...4aAv_nEALw_wcB

t_bare

Very interesting, a combination of straps and the chocks.

[ak85lp]

Originally Posted by Vontriple

I used to put them parallel to one another, with the straps going to the further D rings on the far side of the opposite bike, if that makes sense. Of course, the other would go more vertically down, but I'd cross as well, left to far right, right to close left. Reverse for the bike on the right. As you mentioned, you don't want to have them too compressed as you can damage the suspension, but you definitely need them tight enough so it doesn't move. That's why I prefer crossing and going out further. It gives a lot more horizontal stability.

Ideally, you'd get a wheel chock that can be easily unpinned and doesn't leave obstacles on the ground, so you're not loading the suspension and really just have to tie down the rear wheel. Even better, pit bull makes a trailer restraint system where it secures the rear wheel, and you can remove everything aside from the mounting plate, which just has 4 little posts coming up. Worth a look

https://www.pit-bull.com/motorcycle-...18-f0075tu-000

I like your ideas about strapping the bikes down in that pattern. However, those chocks are out of my price range being I have 2 bikes. Do you have any pictures of how you tie things down?

[KyDan]

I hauled my Suzuki 800 Intruder motorcycle for years all over the US in the back of my truck.
The very first trip I just tied it down with the suspension compressed somewhat. I noticed in the rear view mirror that the motorcycle was bouncing
significantly over rough highways.

After that I placed a block of wood under the skid plate of the motorcycle and pulled the straps until the bike was sitting firmly on the block underneath. It never bounced after that. I had the block thick enough that
the bike suspension was not over compressed when it sat on the wood.
It worked well for me for several years.

[Vontriple]

Originally Posted by ak85lp

I like your ideas about strapping the bikes down in that pattern. However, those chocks are out of my price range being I have 2 bikes. Do you have any pictures of how you tie things down?

Unfortunately no, I'm fairly bad at taking photos regularly

[Homebrew]

I don’t have any good pictures showing the chocks or strapping. But here is the cheap chock I purchased a few years ago.

[Homebrew]

Originally Posted by KyDan

I hauled my Suzuki 800 Intruder motorcycle for years all over the US in the back of my truck.
The very first trip I just tied it down with the suspension compressed somewhat. I noticed in the rear view mirror that the motorcycle was bouncing
significantly over rough highways.

After that I placed a block of wood under the skid plate of the motorcycle and pulled the straps until the bike was sitting firmly on the block underneath. It never bounced after that. I had the block thick enough that
the bike suspension was not over compressed when it sat on the wood.
It worked well for me for several years.

This is a great idea, there is a lot of bounce. I wish I would have learned this years ago.

[ak85lp]

Originally Posted by KyDan

I hauled my Suzuki 800 Intruder motorcycle for years all over the US in the back of my truck.
The very first trip I just tied it down with the suspension compressed somewhat. I noticed in the rear view mirror that the motorcycle was bouncing
significantly over rough highways.

After that I placed a block of wood under the skid plate of the motorcycle and pulled the straps until the bike was sitting firmly on the block underneath. It never bounced after that. I had the block thick enough that
the bike suspension was not over compressed when it sat on the wood.
It worked well for me for several years.

I don't have a skid plate but I do have a center stand that this might work with. Thanks for the suggestion!

[ak85lp]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

I don’t have any good pictures showing the chocks or strapping. But here is the cheap chock I purchased a few years ago.Attachment 293410

Thank you!! That looks like what I might need and I see they are reasonably priced on Amazon here in Canada too.

[CJColumbus]

When tying the front of the bike do not compress the springs. Find a way to tie the forks to the D strap without compressing the suspension. It's not good for the suspension and you will break/stretch straps. When the tie a car down they just strap the tires or axles to the trailer.

[jjscsix]

Originally Posted by CJColumbus

When tying the front of the bike do not compress the springs. Find a way to tie the forks to the D strap without compressing the suspension. It's not good for the suspension and you will break/stretch straps. When the tie a car down they just strap the tires or axles to the trailer.

You can do that with a car because a car won’t fall over on its side. Compressing the suspension will not hurt it. The key is to put the front wheel in a fixed chock that actually has a method of holding the front wheel down and snug down the suspension but not too tight. Use a strap to strap down the rear wheel by wrapping it around the bottom of the wheel then out to the D hooks

[Boomerweps]

Nobody uses E-track and E-Track tie downs for motorcycles?
I’d investigate options from them for any cargo tie down solution.

[ak85lp]

Originally Posted by jjscsix

You can do that with a car because a car won’t fall over on its side. Compressing the suspension will not hurt it. The key is to put the front wheel in a fixed chock that actually has a method of holding the front wheel down and snug down the suspension but not too tight. Use a strap to strap down the rear wheel by wrapping it around the bottom of the wheel then out to the D hooks

Thanks, this method sounds the best for me. I see a fixed wheel chock previously mentioned on Amazon. I just need to find a way to attach one for each bike to the floor and easily remove it when the bikes are not in the trailer. Since our bike area in the toy hauler is also our kitchen and dining area, the floor needs to just have the recessed D hooks tucked out of the way,