Tie Downs Points For Dirt Bike

Just picked up a 15 Tacoma 4x4 AC, TRD OR. One of the main uses of the bed will be strapping in my dirt bike. Been a while since I had a truck.

For better stability I prefer to put the wheel of the dirt bike in the corner of the bed with the bike diagonal so I can close the tail gate.

I have 4 sliding tie down points (2 on each side) along the top of the bed rail. Are these strong enough to strap in a dirt bike? You have to pull the tie downs pretty firmly to make sure the bike is steady.
The two anchor points in the lower corner of front on either side of the bed look much stronger but wouldn't allow for stuffing the wheel into a corner.

How do you all strap the bike in?

 

The bed cleats are fine in my experience... are you using the the pull tight straps? if so I highly doubt you could break one...

Ive always had bikes straight however with the tail gate down and used the front hooks just because they are so much lower..

 

I wouldn't trust those cleats.

 

Check this out:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-motorcycle-tie-down-bar-05-15-tacoma.361168/#post-10107159



That's what I would use if I still had my bike. Looks sturdy as hell. I tried moving a Yamaha 750 using the bed cleats once (weights a lot more than a dirt bike for sure), but the flex was concerning.

 

Have you tried to put the front in the center using the lower tie downs and just swinging the rear to the corner, after strapping the front center, to try clearing the gate? Not sure if it would work, just an idea.

 

Now I have bed corner tie downs from another member here. A bunch of companies make them though- usually somewhere around $60-80.

 

i position mine like this.


I use the rear drivers side d ring and i added another d ring to the front passenger bed bolt on the other side. On your '15 you could maybe use that bed side hook. i've since gone to pro taper soft tie downs which i recommend. Most times i add a third strap from the rear passenger d ring to the brake side footpeg area to prevent the bike rolling forward. i don't purposely cram the front wheel into the box corner. It just kind of wedges in there nice when the tailgates up.

 

Didn't break...

And how the hell does @Rock Lobster fit a quad in the back?

TBH I ride a LTR and the only way it may fit would be on top of the bed cover

 

Humm... maybe extended A arms were a bad idea...

 

I second this. I have one and it works awesome. Can fit 2 or even 3 bikes with the wheels stuffed between the gaps. I have a short bed and just let the bikes back tire sit on the tail gate. I also just put a strap around the rear swingarm to the back corner d-rings so the ass end cant move around at all.

 

I swear i have seen a picture showing which tie-down points are good and bad.
I searched forum but cant seem to find it.
Anybody?

 

I've had no problem with these points.

 

Dont remember where I got this. But it’s worked great for me. Goes along the front of bed like the other pictured here.

 

That's made by CCR (http://ccrsport.com/bed-buddy/), and I have that as well. I'm looking to move from this to the one that At The Helm Fab makes: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-rail-tie-down-wheel-chock-system.483012/

 

Do not use the bed cleats only for tie down. I added D-rings to the bed so I had one on each bed bolt (two front, two middle, two rear), and tied down using those and Canyon Dancers.

Matt

 

Bed rail cleats are not safe. Add 4 more D rings to the bed like CanisLupus and I did, and you're good to go. I use soft loop cam lock straps around the upper fork, and they're very secure.

 

The ones on the back of the bed have a lot less flex to them than the side rails. I've been hauling my bike with those for years. Still not the ideal mounting point, but they have held up for me.