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How to load and position a bike in a trailer>
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:12 am
by norsseman
Just bought a 6.5' x 10' trailer and am about to install a removable
Chock in the front center of the trailer. How far back from the front solid wall should the Chock be placed?
The bike I will be loading most of the time is a Kaw vulcan 750cc and sometimes a Kaw KLR650. Should the bike be on the center stand while towing?
Anyother info for this towing novice would sure be appreciated.
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:36 am
by Wrider
Have a friend help you and mark where the front wheel of your bike goes when the bike's mass is just slightly forward of the axle on the trailer... That's the way my uncle has always loaded his trailers (tree farm business), most of the mass just ahead of the axle, and it helps not only reduce bounce on the trailer, but on the back of the hauling vehicle too...
Wrider
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:48 pm
by Shorts
Wrider wrote:Have a friend help you and mark where the front wheel of your bike goes when the bike's mass is just slightly forward of the axle on the trailer... That's the way my uncle has always loaded his trailers (tree farm business), most of the mass just ahead of the axle, and it helps not only reduce bounce on the trailer, but on the back of the hauling vehicle too...
Wrider
+1
You want a nice forward balance there on the axle. This allows the vehicle to only pull/push the weight rather than actually carrying while pushing/pulling. The geometry is much friendlier
On Center stand?
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 3:05 pm
by norsseman
The main question I need answered is whether the bike should be on the center stand in the trailer?
Re: On Center stand?
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:11 pm
by Gadjet
norsseman wrote:The main question I need answered is whether the bike should be on the center stand in the trailer?
no. definitely not. If the bike is on the centerstand and you hit a bump, the bike could come up and tip. Or, the bike could land back on the centerstand and break it (they're designed to hold the weight of the bike, not take a several hundred pound blow)
put the front wheel in the chock and secure it, then tie the bike at all four corners with tie down straps. I also wouldn't leave the sidestand down, as a big enough bump can cause the sidestand to hit and either throw the bike off center, or break the stand.
You don't want to tie the bike down so tightly that the suspension is fully compressed, as this will put strain on the fork/shock seals, but you do want it to be tight enough that the bike isn't in danger of falling over or having the straps come loose when you hit bumps.
Re: On Center stand?
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:30 pm
by Shorts
norsseman wrote:The main question I need answered is whether the bike should be on the center stand in the trailer?
Hmm, sorry, I read other questions in there too
As said above, leave it on its tires and strap it down. Let the suspension absorb some bumps while its tied rather than be standing on a rigid stand.