Hauling dirt bikes

How do y'all strap in your dirt bikes? Whenever I put the 450 and the girlfriends 150r I always get the wheels turning. I don't like the idea of drilling a wheel chock right into the fiberglass bed. Removable would be a big plus for me. Anybody else have this issue while hauling multiple bikes.

 

use some of the moveable bed cleats to create a stop for the front tire.

 

Put it in gear, straps on the handle bars to tie downs.

 

That's what I do but whenever I stack two of them I always get a front wheel that won't stay put. I want to do a chock but I don't want to drill into the fiberglass bed.

 

I do not haul with the bikes in gear. To me, I don't like the idea of possibly wearing on anything in the tranny. But I haul 1 or 2 bikes in my Taco no problem. Find a good spacing so that you don't get the bars tangled (shouldn't be an issue since you have 2 different sized bikes) and don't go too close to the outside edges or you won't get enough leverage. But I always tie down to the bed D-rings in the front corners. If you have everything strapped in properly, the wheels will not move and both bikes can be in neutral w/o issue.

Like nd4spd said, you can slide your cleats on the front rail to hold the wheel, if you feel the need.

 

I always leave them in neutral so nothing binds in the transmission and it makes it easier getting them out. Both bikes have fork supports put in them before tightening the straps. I don't use ratchet straps I use the soft straps (pull slack to tighten). Maybe I'm the only one with this issue. Maybe I'll scoot them closer together and try that. I have them as far apart as they will go to squeeze the cooler in the middle with gas cans and ramp.

 

Ya, try to move them in a little closer, maybe. I don't have a good pic handy with both bikes in. But I do have 1 of just my 250F strapped down, just to see how I do the straps. It's pretty standard, nothing fancy. Soft ties from the bars to the front bed D-rings. For 2 bikes, just imagine the rear kicked straight. And all 4 straps (2 on each bike) go from the handlebars to the front 2 D-rings.

 

That looks like you have a long bed. I was about to say how the hell did you get a full size dirt bike in the bed with the tailgate shut

 

Ya. But when I haul 2, I have to run the tailgate down.

 

what REALLY helps out is a 3rd strap on each bike. Let me explain.

Use a strap on either side of the bars like normal, tighten her down. Then on the handle bar side thats on outside of the bed (so the throttle side if the bike is on the passenger side of the bed, or clutch side if the bike is on the driver side) do a 3rd strap from the same spot the main strap is pulling on the handle bars, but go straight down to slightly back to the side rail of the bed. This creates a "triangle strap" that holds the harder side of the bike and makes it to where the bike wont lean inward nearly as easy.


I have also been considering making a wheel chock for the front of my bikes by using two bed cleats and bolting a chock between two of the stock bed cleats at the proper distance apart. This way everything can be removed and no holes need to be drilled in the bed.

If you need pics of my 3 strap mounting i can take some pics for you. just let me know.

 

tell her to transport her own bike. problem solved.

 

I have only hauled 1 bike at a time, but it was my t street bike.
I wanted a wheel chock as well without drilling into the bed. I took a 1/2" sheet of plywood, and cut it to match the shape of the front 1/2 of the bed. I have a 6' bed so it went out in front of the wheel wells and can not slide back. I have D-rings mounted to the bed bolts so I cut out holes for them. I then mounted a wheel chock to the plywood. Painted it black so it kinda hides in the bed.

 

So the tires are moving sideways? I've hauled bikes all the time and they never moved after compressing the forks down about 4 inches.

 

I agree, which is why I think that the angle of his tie-downs are not pulling the bike forward enough. That or if there is a 3rd strap, depending on how it is positioned, if can pull on the bike the other way and take away from the handlebar tie-downs (which should be pulling down and forward). Just my input.

 

Do any of you use a seal saver to avoid compressing your forks? I have seen them for sale and I have wondered if they are really all that great. It is basically a rigid piece of formed plastic that goes between your front tire and beneath your fender that allows you to ratchet your bike down without compressing your forks.

My gen I was great to haul my dirt bike since it has the 6 ft bed. I haven't even tried with my 2nd gen, the bed is too damned short!

 

I've never had a problem with compressing forks, I think they get compressed way more on the trail than you can do in a truck. I've rebuild only 2 forks from seal failure from just wearing out. Just put the tire in one of the bed groves and pull straight down and forward and they wont move, unless you drive like a maniac. We used to haul 3 down to Detroit for the races at the old football dome to race armature, that's about 400 miles 1 way.

 

go grab some 2x8s and make a tire holder

I used to haul 3 bikes in my 99 taco, one in middle put in backwards

 

I used them back in the day. Had 1 slip out and almost lost the bike out of the truck (since then there is not enough tension on the bike, when the Saver falls out). After that, I never used one again. I don't worry about it. I load my bikes a lot in the morning and they sit at work all day, tied-down and then I go ride practice after work in the evenings. My fork seals don't wear premature or anything.

 

We just use a 2x4 cut an inch shorter than the uncompressed gap. It makes a big difference especially when you hit a real rough road, as that is when the fork movement will allow your straps to move around.

 

I have had a different experience, but maybe the roads to where we ride are different. An hour of washboards will almost always allow the front wheel to slip without chocks. All my friends have converted to a 2x4 between wheel and fender. The key is that it has to still allow an inch or two compression. But if i am going to local park then i dont use them.