Loading a bike in a pick-up

[Manik]

hey I was just wondering OP how did your first bike get totaled? my friend dropped his off the ride up to the bed of a truck! and it was pretty hurt...

My first bike fell victim to a new driver. He took a left turn about 8 feet in front of me without a blinker and then proceeded to yank the wheel right when he saw me, putting him in my lane... he hit me head on....bye bye ex500.

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

My first bike fell victim to a new driver. He took a left turn about 8 feet in front of me without a blinker and then proceeded to yank the wheel right when he saw me, putting him in my lane... he hit me head on....bye bye ex500.

ouch, those moments always shake me

[Manik]

ouch, those moments always shake me

yeah, trying to get back in the seat quick before it shakes me too! waited or the bones to heal... been long enough!

[FAST GSXR750]

Do yourself a big favor and tie the ends of the straps to either each other or something so that on the ride home they are not whipping the crap out of your paint. Bungee cord works wonders.

[Garandman]

Nope it's easy. /.

[ptk-napalm]

Stoneman is correct about not using the side stand if the bike isn't at 90 degrees the side stand will dig into the bed of the truck or trailer, ask me how I know.

Also, it is supposed to rain on Sat. when your tie-downs get wet they will stretch, stop & tighten them occasionally. Always look in your rear view mirror every 5-10 minutes to check the integrity of your tie-downs.

[freezinvt]

I don’t know if it’s been mentioned yet but I like to take a bungee cord and run it from eye to eye on the strap. This way when you go over a bump and the strap compresses the bungee still pulls on the hooks so they don’t fall out of the tie down points. I also like to take the excess strap and tie it back onto itself so if the ratchet or cam comes loose it will pull the extra strap into it so it doesn’t come completely loose (it probably doesn’t make sense explaining it but if you see it done it will). Good luck.

[jwm2k3]

What time and what dealership?

[RandyO]

Stoneman is correct about not using the side stand if the bike isn't at 90 degrees the side stand will dig into the bed of the truck or trailer, ask me how I know.

Also, it is supposed to rain on Sat. when your tie-downs get wet they will stretch, stop & tighten them occasionally. Always look in your rear view mirror every 5-10 minutes to check the integrity of your tie-downs.

tie downs that stretch when wet ? none that I have ever seen

[Garandman]

If you just have line instead of ratchet straps, learn to tie a Trucker's Hitch.


If you were closer you could borrow my Condor wheel chock.
HF in Danvers has a cheaper one made from steel.

[csmutty]

If you just have line instead of ratchet straps, learn to tie a Trucker's Hitch.


If you were closer you could borrow my Condor wheel chock.
HF in Danvers has a cheaper one made from steel.

What's the point of a chock in a pickup? I never understood that.

[Kurlon]

What's the point of a chock in a pickup? I never understood that.

Keeps the front wheel from turning and loosening the straps. I use a strap around the wheel and the front rail to accomplish the same thing on my trailer. It's less of an issue when you have back straps also but I still prefer a chock setup.

[csmutty]

Keeps the front wheel from turning and loosening the straps. I use a strap around the wheel and the front rail to accomplish the same thing on my trailer. It's less of an issue when you have back straps also but I still prefer a chock setup.

I've honestly never had a wheel turn on me with just using 2 straps.

I see the point...but seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. As long as your tie downs are angled forward it shouldn't be an issue?

[Kurlon]

I've actually had it happen to me a few times. My dirt bike in particular is prone to it. Every time the bike gets a chance to cycle the suspension it has an opportunity to wiggle that wheel. As the wheel starts to cant to one side the action gets stronger and stronger. Because I use a trailer without a chock, it happens quicker than in a truck thanks to the lack of suspension damping out much of that vibration.

[keeena]

I don’t know if it’s been mentioned yet but I like to take a bungee cord and run it from eye to eye on the strap. This way when you go over a bump and the strap compresses the bungee still pulls on the hooks so they don’t fall out of the tie down points.

Yeah, which is why you want to tighten straps enough to minimize that possibility when using regular S-hooks.

I try to use hooks which have snap clips on them (clips ensure they won't come off if they get slack).

What's the point of a chock in a pickup? I never understood that.

A regular chock is fairly pointless in a pickup. But a -clamping- chock (which the Condor is) allows you to more easily strap the bike solo because the chock will hold the bike upright by itself. Also adds quite a bit of stability to the point that the straps don't need to be very tight. If using a clamping chock, I just use 1 set of tie-downs. W/o a clamping chock, I use 2 sets (front & rear).

[Manik]

I dont have a chock at my disposal. Going to tie the bike down in four locations. Front and rear. Moved my pick up date to next friday.time will depends on traffic as the bike is five hours away. (I have other business nearby that may also keep me)

[csmutty]

Yeah, which is why you want to tighten straps enough to minimize that possibility when using regular S-hooks.

I try to use hooks which have snap clips on them (clips ensure they won't come off if they get slack).



A regular chock is fairly pointless in a pickup. But a -clamping- chock (which the Condor is) allows you to more easily strap the bike solo because the chock will hold the bike upright by itself. Also adds quite a bit of stability to the point that the straps don't need to be very tight. If using a clamping chock, I just use 1 set of tie-downs. W/o a clamping chock, I use 2 sets (front & rear).

Huh. I didn't know it was a problem. Always just used 2 straps and no chock in the pickup with street and dirt bikes and never had anything happen. You must be doing it wrong Kurlon.

[Manik]

Huh. I didn't know it was a problem. Always just used 2 straps and no chock in the pickup with street and dirt bikes and never had anything happen. You must be doing it wrong Kurlon.

How did you use only2 straps? Did you snake it through both sides, out only tire the front down? I'd be concerned about the bike moving forward..

[csmutty]

How did you use only2 straps? Did you snake it through both sides, out only tire the front down? I'd be concerned about the bike moving forward..

Only use 2 straps on the front. When I go to VT this weekend that's how I will put the bike in the bed. Just 2 on the front. How could the bike move forward if the tire is in the way? And if you are concerned then just kitty corner the bike so the front tire is at the corner of the bed. Then it can't move.

[SRTie4k]

Huh. I didn't know it was a problem. Always just used 2 straps and no chock in the pickup with street and dirt bikes and never had anything happen. You must be doing it wrong Kurlon.

I've noticed that the front wheel has a tendency to turn when the bike has a fat ass. It happened often when I used to put my Z1000 in the bed of my truck with only 2 straps. Over bumps, the rear would wallow back and forth which would cause the triple to move to one side or the other. The issue also seemed to happen more often when the bed of the truck was wet, since it becomes more slippery.

As Kurlon said, once the front wheel turns a bit, it gets progressively worse. Of course this wouldn't have happened had I tied down the rear, however (or had a wheel chock).

[keeena]

Huh. I didn't know it was a problem. Always just used 2 straps and no chock in the pickup with street and dirt bikes and never had anything happen. You must be doing it wrong Kurlon.

I never said it was necessary homeboy. I was just answering your question why chocks are helpful.

2 straps and no chock = immediate incident if 1 strap fails. I'd rather have a safety margin, but 2 will work.

[j4eric]

[RandyO]

if yer pickup bed has corrugations, the front wheel will stay straight, if you have a flat floor (plywood, etc.) then a chock of some type is a good idea, even if its a couple of short slats nailed to the floor each side of the tire

with a good wheel chock
like a Bike Grab, ya don't even need tie downs, just secure the front wheel to the Bike Grab (bike grab needs to be bolted to the trailer/truck bed)

[Manik]

Going to have to buy one of these in the future. looks good.

- - - Updated - - -

Only use 2 straps on the front. When I go to VT this weekend that's how I will put the bike in the bed. Just 2 on the front. How could the bike move forward if the tire is in the way? And if you are concerned then just kitty corner the bike so the front tire is at the corner of the bed. Then it can't move.

Gotcha, guess i was thinking that in my situation i dont want the tire up against the bed because the truck is a rental..

[breakdirt916]

dude...this chock discussion is epic

this is the epitome of what it means to have a forum discussion