Can Am Spyder in Toyhauler

[Daddyray]

I will be receiving our Grey Wolf 25rrtbl toy hauler soon. I will be carrying our Can AM Spyder RTL with us. I am hoping that I can get some info on how anyone secures their Spyder. If anyone has pics I would really appreciate it a lot.

[CincyGus]

Not specific to your spyder but most folks use multiple ratchet straps from different parts of the frame of whatever they are tying down to D rings in the floor. A spyder with all it's body work to work around will make that more of a challenge but I'm guessing it will be the same. Interested and monitoring for others answers as if I ever get rid of the golf cart, A spyder may be in our future.

[alb2tpa]

Assuming you can get the 4.2" nose clearance up the load ramp, you will find the absolute easiest and very secure way to haul the Spyder is by ratcheting down the rear tire. Not thru the wheel, but across the top of the tread. I installed 2 "D" rings to the frame. One in front of the rear tire and one behind. Then run the strap over the tire. Ratchet it down til you see the strap really grabbing the tire tread.

I have traveled from FL to NY twice and the RT never moved. I did check and tighten the ratchet straps after the first 20 miles or so.

The hardest part was finding the right spots for the D rings.

[alb2tpa]

Also, other Spyder owners report that you should never tie down the body or suspension parts when trailering. Reports of bent and broken pieces.

[spydernut]

I back mine in. Cloth strap thru each front wheel, ratchet strap thru front D ring to ratchet side D ring. 2 straps around rear tire thru center D ring, one ratchet strap to each side rear D ring ( total of 4)

[Daddyray]

Originally Posted by spydernut

I back mine in. Cloth strap thru each front wheel, ratchet strap thru front D ring to ratchet side D ring. 2 straps around rear tire thru center D ring, one ratchet strap to each side rear D ring ( total of 4)Attachment 229438
Attachment 229439

Thank you very much for the reply and Pictures. I have a question for you. The way you have it tied down you are pulling each tire to the outside. Does that effect the alignment?

[spydernut]

No with the brakes on and straps snug the Spyder rides well.

[Daddyray]

I finally got my Spyder in and strapped down like I wanted and it works very well. I use a piece of 4x4 and an open eye hook and a 7' piece of 1" square steel tube. I use a strap on the back tire to the D ring and a strap on both front wheels and to the 1" bar.

[Daddyray]

This is how I tied my Can AM Spyder RTL down at the front tires.

[asr524]

Originally Posted by Daddyray

I finally got my Spyder in and strapped down like I wanted and it works very well. I use a piece of 4x4 and an open eye hook and a 7' piece of 1" square steel tube. I use a strap on the back tire to the D ring and a strap on both front wheels and to the 1" bar.

Is the square metal tube bending or is that just an optical illusion. Looks sketchy if its actually bending.

[Daddyray]

It may have a small bend from where I strapped it little too tight. The bike doesn't move at all. I am using a 1" steel bar and I didn't think I would need a larger bar. The bar is straight and not bent from my strapping at all. I have since wrapped it in a blue tape to keep the bar from rising on the floor and getting wife mad at me. It traveled like you see it from Jax. Florida to Deadwood S.D. and back and is still straight. I hope that helps you look at it as not sketchy.

[asr524]

That was just the engineer in me looking at a bending tube thats supposed to hold the Spyder during an emergency stop.

[Daddyray]

Thank you for the safety information I hadn’t thought about. Everything is tight and I thought it would be ok. So what do you think of my setup? I can always move the strap towards the 4x4 a little as I am trying to pull straight on the tires instead of to the side angle.

[asr524]

Originally Posted by Daddyray

Thank you for the safety information I hadn’t thought about. Everything is tight and I thought it would be ok. So what do you think of my setup? I can always move the strap towards the 4x4 a little as I am trying to pull straight on the tires instead of to the side angle.

Just because its tight doesn't mean much in this case. I think you could easily exceed the yield strength if the 1" bar (assuming its hollow). Also if you bent it while strapping extra tight then you already know you can exceed the strength of the bar.
I found this tool which will help for a basic understanding.
https://www.roguefab.com/tube-calculator/
I am assuming your using 1" square with 0.125" wall thickness that is mild 1018 or 1020 steel. The spread on the bar is 84" (7ft). With a load of 1000lbs your safety factor is only 0.2 when you want to be above 1. Just jumping to a 2"x0.125" bar increases your safety factor to 1.18.

Long story short I would just use the D rings in the floor or increase the bar size. Your basic idea is the same as the "Bolt it On" system but its hard to tell in pictures what their bar size is.

[Daddyray]

Thank you very much for the explanation and the information. I will see about going and getting a 2' tube as I am wanting to pull straight on the wheels and not to the D ring on an angle.

[Wileykid]

Originally Posted by Daddyray

Thank you very much for the explanation and the information. I will see about going and getting a 2' tube as I am wanting to pull straight on the wheels and not to the D ring on an angle.

Out of my curiosity, why do you not want to just hook it up to the D-rings? That is what they are made for (if they are installed right, mine weren't). It looks to me like you are actually putting more strain on the one side due to where the one strap is.

[Daddyray]

I am not wanting to pull on my steer wheels to the side and possibly change of the alignment items on the bike.

[Squatchin]

Does your rubber tires discolor the linoleum? We have permanent discoloration from our quad tires.

[Thomas ho]

i bought a pack of 4 ratchet straps at Lowes. black and white checkered. They have clasps ends and a extra strap above ratchet with a D ring on the end . it is about 18 inches long. loops perfect through front rims makes a loop then ratchets to floor. 1 strap through rear rim left to right. my floor d rings are set near door hing. pulls spyder back, and tight to floor. WATCH THOSE VALVE STEMS.

[agpopp]

Originally Posted by Squatchin

Does your rubber tires discolor the linoleum? We have permanent discoloration from our quad tires.

On another thread By ACLaser he mentioned buying a rubber mat and I followed suit for my motorcycle hauling as well. It adds a no slip surface and hopefully won't stain the floor like the tires do.
If nothing else, maybe get a pack of the harbor freight foam floor squares and throw one under each tire as they will stain the floor.