Forum Discussion

Brisk's avatar
Brisk
Explorer II
Apr 26, 2015

How do you secure your motorcycles inside your toyhauler?

We just bought our first toyhauler a couple of months ago. We are planning our first trip with the bikes in a few weeks and I was wondering how to tie the motorcycles down securely. Our rig does not have a separate garage so there is no forward wall to secure the bikes against. I would prefer to not tie them to the side walls to avoid tire marks.

I Really like the Bolt It On rack but $350+ is more than I want to spend Here

How do you guys secure your bikes in the back of your trailers? Have you built a similar system to the bolt it on? Pictures would be ideal.

Thanks in advance!
  • My Toy Hauler is setup to carry two Harleys (although I usually only carry one). I use ride in Condor Chocks. I have used a Harbor Freight Chock like the above and for the money that is a pretty good deal. I went with condor because it's quality and the locking bracket that secures the chock to the floor makes the chock removable. You will want to stagger the chocks brackets.

    I have three sections of Etrac that run down the sides and middle of the floor. Carpet over the Etrac can be left in or taken in and out. I cut the carpet around the condor brackets...

    For heavy street bikes I would double strap the front. For the rear I just cross strap by going through the rear wheel (it's just to keep the bike from shifting..


    By hauling the bike to one side I can still use one of the rear couches and part the garage when the bike is in transport..


    PS. You don't want to carry your bikes with kick stand down..Can damage floor and hard on the bike too..
  • I also need some flexibility. I go from hauling just the Harley, to the Harley and the KTM dirt bike, to 2 full size ATV's or one of each. The Harley always goes in the fixed Condor chock, the KTM uses a moveable chock like above, the ATV's use moveable D rings in E-Track mounted along the sides of my garage floor.
  • I should say that I don't always haul the same load. Sometimes it is 1 bike and a couple quads. Sometimes 6 bikes. flexibility is key
  • I use a $69 Harbor Freight t-shaped chock place on a rubber mat, so it won't slide around on the floor. I use ratchet straps around the fork tubes/fender bolts (2 sets) one tied to the D-rings and one tied to the chock. I run another set up straps from the rear crash bars to the rear D-rings. My 950# Harley has never moved an inch.

    20150311_182109 by oneboltzfan, on Flickr
  • Whatever system you use is only as strong as its weakest link.

    If you want your bike to be truly secure, make sure whatever system/device you use (Bolt-It-On, eTrack, OEM tie-downs, etc.) is bolted/welded directly to the frame in some manner . . . not just to the plywood floor.
  • ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Best way. I also use the Condor chock and that means I don't have to tighten the front straps hardly at all. Mine isn't bolted to the floor, rather it is bolted to an aluminum plate that has slots for the D-rings. It can't move around, and is easily removed in about 30 seconds.
  • I use a Condor locking chock for the front tire and D rings bolted to the floor for tie down ratchet straps.
  • For the dirt bikes I load them in backwards and tighten them down facing the back wall/ramp.

    I don't have my little winch set up yet (to pull my street bike in backward) so I load my street bike facing forward, and line the front tire up in between the front tie downs.
    Place bike in gear, and a block of wood or something under the kickstand to hold it more upright.
    I do one strap with a loop around the front tire to keep it from turning left/right, and it attaches to the front tire downs. Get the bars straight and tighten it down.
    One strap for each side of the handle bars, and those straps also attach to the front tie downs (the same as the strap that is on the tire). These two straps will hold the bike upright and off of the kickstand. Tighten just enough to get the bike upright.
    One more strap with a wrap around the rear tire to keep it from bouncing left/right and to keep the bike from sliding forward. Tighten this strap.
    Then go back and tighten the straps on the bars to compress the forks slightly. Use judgement here.
    Done.

    I'm cheap, and don't want to mess with a check in the floor (the reason why I want to load the bike backward).

    That setup in the link above is a nice piece, but could be built for a whole lot less. That is way too much cost for what you are getting.
  • I've been using the "Bolt It On" rack since 2009 for two Harleys. In my opinion it is well worth the price. It is easy to remove to have your floor back when bikes not in it. My first toyhauler did not have a separate garage either.