P500 Securing on a trailer

[jamesh]

Whatever works for you but I can only assume that these guys know more about it than we do?

View attachment 138313

It's six in one, half a dozen the other. Honda manual says use tie down points on frame. How will all those motocross guys keep from losing their bikes tying to the handle bars? They have WAY more travel and softer suspension than a P500.

Tractor guys argue straps vs chains. It never ends. Anybody with a product to sell can talk about why theirs is the best and the others are not right. I use my trailer for other stuff, so I'm not bolting wheel chocks down. for that matter, wheel chocks are a wast of money based on the truck photo. Wonder if truckers argue over bonnets vs single strap? It's mostly perception than real difference here, IMO. Which is exactly why you'll get millions of opinions on such a minutia subject.

 

[carlsonjmc]

It's six in one, half a dozen the other. Honda manual says use tie down points on frame. How will all those motocross guys keep from losing their bikes tying to the handle bars? They have WAY more travel and softer suspension than a P500.

Tractor guys argue straps vs chains. It never ends. Anybody with a product to sell can talk about why theirs is the best and the others are not right. I use my trailer for other stuff, so I'm not bolting wheel chocks down. for that matter, wheel chocks are a wast of money based on the truck photo. Wonder if truckers argue over bonnets vs single strap? It's mostly perception than real difference here, IMO. Which is exactly why you'll get millions of opinions on such a minutia subject.

Answer to you bike question:
Redirect Notice

 

[hemifoot]

I've tied my P500 down a number of ways, but have not been happy with them. I've finally settled down on using the heavier 1500lb working load ratcheting strap from Menards as the ratchet is so much better than the smaller ones. I use one strap across the front bumper. This is what I'm doing now in the rear. I welded a head on one end of a 13/16" diameter steel bar and slide it through the frame holes. I put a pin on the other end so I could remove it. A single strap works well. This gets the ratchet away from the tires and makes it much easier to secure.View attachment 137644 View attachment 137645

why not just strapping over the hitch receiver?

 

[oldfortyfive]

why not just strapping over the hitch receiver?

This gets the ratchet away from the tires and makes it much easier to secure.

 

[nitzo]

My set-up. After years of tying down bikes, cars, anything with shocks and wheels, I have found that tying below the springs, unsprung weight is the best way.

 

[Gassygordo]

Yup, works GREAT! Winch holds the front.

 

[oldfortyfive]

I tow my P500 around 5,000miles a year and have secured the machine both sprung and unsprung. Can't say it makes any difference. Most important thing is that the machine is actually secured at both ends. I've seen some pretty dismal tie down jobs.

 

[rtn001]

When I was trailering my ATV, tie down wasn't a problem. It couldn't go anywhere and l only had to stop forward and rearward movement. 30 inch solid sides on a 5' by 8' bed. When I bought the P500 it would not fit. A new trailer (5' by 10') cured the problem leaving me with the question "how do I secure this sucker to the trailer". Because I wanted it against the front trailer rail I strapped it so there wasn't any rearward movement, compressed suspension. This didn't work out very well as I had straps loosen and 2 times come off. I then straped from a-arm around the center rail support back to the opposite side a-arm. That cured my problem, no forward or aft movement. Nope! Now the front bumper is bouncing up and down on the rail where before it only rubbed.
I next talked with a friend that drove a car carrier and another friend that owned a tow company. Both said they were required law/rules to secure to the axle or a-arms or frame and could not compress the suspension. Tire straps could be used as long as fore and aft movement was stopped.
I next searched the forums and read the back and forth on how "I secure mine" and the reasons why I do it my way and why I don't use other ways. You've all read it, so no reason to repeat it.
I did see the Erickson securing system and liked what I saw. Bought a set for front and rear at Tractor Supply, on clearance. I strap one or both rear tires for short trips and all four for long trips. I have had only 3 problems with this system. Two of which were operator error, read that as "I screw up". The third time I only strapped the front tires and found the rear could and did bounce, on a ruff road, to the side against the rail causing some problems when unloading. Again I should have known this could happen as the front tires no only go around they also turn left and right.
This is my story as to why I do it my way and do not suppress superstition. I would suggest you do it the way you feel is best and safest with and the heck with the rest of us. Just remember you have 1025 pounds plus behind you and in a sudden stop situation it is going to try to keep moving in the direction of travel. And yes I do know you are a very safe driver and it was the other guy who pulled out in front of you. Ask that 1025 plus pounds it cares. Please secure it for your and others safety. My rant is now over and I am off my soapbox. Lol. Safe travels and have fun.

 

[BigOL3]

I have been hauling ATV's on trailers for a long time. The Erickson set up is the only thing that keeps them in place. It takes all the suspension movement out of the tie down that puts slack in no matter how well you ratchet down. It really works well.

I have nothing bad to say about Erickson, BUT that statement simply is NOT true. Although I have never owned them I KNOW there is at LEAST one other method that keeps them just as secure ..... lol.

I just came back from doing my food plots in MO. I pulled the load 550 miles up there and 550 miles back. My Pioneer did not move .1 of an inch in that 1100 miles. It was not necessary to re-tighten the straps even once. I attach the hook on the bottom side of the frame on all 4 points. The suspension is NOT compressed and the ride is rock solid. I have made the trip numerous times and KNOW this configuration to work perfectly. If you magnify the pic the strap configuration is partially viewable.

 

[nitzo]

I tow my P500 around 5,000miles a year and have secured the machine both sprung and unsprung. Can't say it makes any difference.

unsprung weight is the best way.

View attachment 160902

Works best for me.

 

[Zaleski]

This is pretty entertaining to read, asking best way to secure something is like asking which brand makes the best truck(Ford, btw Lol) lots of differing opinions. I’ve never tried or seen the Erickson tie-downs, pretty slick looking. According to the Honda manual they recommend tying the P500 down on 4 points, 1 on each side of the front bumper, and 1 on each side of the rear frame upright. So that’s what I’ve been doing in the short time I’ve owned and hauled mine, with no problems or straps coming loose. Interesting to see all the different ideas though!

 

[Smitty335]

This is pretty entertaining to read, asking best way to secure something is like asking which brand makes the best truck(Ford, btw Lol) lots of differing opinions. I’ve never tried or seen the Erickson tie-downs, pretty slick looking. According to the Honda manual they recommend tying the P500 down on 4 points, 1 on each side of the front bumper, and 1 on each side of the rear frame upright. So that’s what I’ve been doing in the short time I’ve owned and hauled mine, with no problems or straps coming loose. Interesting to see all the different ideas though!

I agree on the entertaining part! HA!

 

[trigger]

Used this system to TN and back twice now. This past weekend had to go off roading to go off roading, lol! It doesn't move.

 

[HiFive]

What about using the La Guard dog set up attaching to your hitch ball?

 

[Cyborg]

Harbor Freight has these bonnets, they work well. I would never compress the suspension on a vehicle to tie it down again.

Bonnet

• pFive
• Jan 8, 2019

This is the safe way to go.

pFive - I'm currently using the same straps you are on the rear tires, but would like to start using them on the front, too, like you have in this picture. Question I have is - where did you anchor to with the strap that runs over the front rail of the trailer and goes down? I can't tell from the pic. Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[100Acre]

Eriksons

 

[JCart]

Use a combo, on my old Ford truck loaded backwards. Front wheels on custom tailgate are tied down, so body of machine can move on its own suspension. Have ratchet straps, with built in rubber dampeners on each side of cab ties to e-track system so it limits body movement on machine. Seems to be best of both worlds for now. Will take better pix next time it’s loaded. Winter pix with skinny wanker truck tires on 🤣😂😝

 

[mgm1035]

I have a 12 foot trailer and utilize these cargobuckle to the four corners of the frame. I can strap my P500 down un under 10 minutes and it never moves an inch. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030OGBCO/?tag=sxsweb24-20

 

[CID]

When I picked up my Talon (first SxS) I just grabbed what the dealer had to get me home. Two of the straps worked perfect and I still use them, at that time, one front one rear. I returned the others, unused. Later I saw Home Depot had 2" x 26' straps for $9, hard to pass up, although probably made in china. Since all the straps had metal hooks and I didn't want to scratch the trailer any more than necessary, I bought some 3' axle straps to use as 'soft straps' protecting the paint.

Having seen how the suspension will compress, no matter how hard you pull down, I make no attempt to compress the suspension - the low angle allows it to work without trying to suppress travel.

Motorcycle shop - $48 for two.

HD, $19 a pair (only using one here).