Question!

[FRR]

How many of you use the crashbars to tie down to when you trailer your Trike? Why and why not

 

[Gold Rush]

I don't think using or not using the crash bars as tie down points is as important with trikes as it is on two wheel Goldwings.

I did use them a couple times until snapped off two bolts. Can't tell you what caused them to break but they did and I'll never use them again!

I think the trike being heavier and on three wheels is more stable in or on a trailer so it just takes a little help to stay put.

I run the front tire into a simple wheel lock then use soft ties around the bottom triple tree pulling forward. I only compress the forks about half an inch. The rear is secured from the chassis in an "X" fashion pulling rearward. This method works well for me.. :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[Metal_Bob]

I trailer'ed my initial trike back to the dealer using the front crash bars and the rear wheels.

I did it the same way back with my 2nd replacement trike.

4 Hour drive 2+ hours on the back of a Uhaual 6x12 trailer.

The first trike I had the hand brake engaged. The 2nd trike I believe I had in gear or in Reverse.

I had no problems with the short trip and didn't over tighten the staps. Just enough to make sure the bike would not move.

4 staps used.

 

[wingit]

Tied to crash bars ?

I have tied to the crash bars by using 2"nylon straps to tie downs 4 ft. forward and aft. I wrap the trap around the bar 2 times , back around and complete to the tie downs staying on that side of the trike for each. This doesn't pull sideways hard, and I dont tighten the straps real tight. Also I add a strap back corner to corner off the trailer hitch for long trips. We have done this for 10,000 plus miles with no problems.
This Rance Alum enclosed trailer has side and floor tie downs.
happy day

 

[FRR]

Tell you why I asked this question. For years I have towed all over the country with two wheels and three wheels using the crash bars. A friend of mine told me that he had read somewhere that you were never supposed to use the crash bars to tie to. Last spring after towing my trike back from Florida I noticed that the crash bar on the left side was loose. When I got into the front of the motorcycle trying to tighten the nut that holds the crash bar I discovered that only an 8mm bolt is what is holding the crash bar in place. It may have a 12 mm head on it but the bolt itself is very small. As a result when I loaded the bike this week to take to Florida I am tying off on the wheels themselves and not the crash bars. My tech, who has worked on my bikes for over 30 years, also confirmed that it is not a good idea to tie off the front crash bars. Just and FYI

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Interesting question that has been discussed many times.
The tip over bars, as properly called, are not designed for downward forces.
While one may have use them to tie down many times/miles, hitting that one bad chuck hole may well be the thing that breaks a bolt!!!!
Having said this, guess what Honda uses to tie the wing down in the shipping crates!!!!!

 

[Gold Rush]

Having said this, guess what Honda uses to tie the wing down in the shipping crates!!!!!

Partly true for a fact. Here is a pix of my '15 in the crate. Here's hoping the rear straps are doing most of the work...

 

[CrystalPistol]

O a "bike", the lower bars are so low that it takes a lot more tension to hold the bike upright. The triple trees are higher and provide a wider triangle and would the bike up better with less tension. I use two soft ties on each side, total four .... on front when ever hauling a wing 2 wheeler. I also used a total 4 tie downs at rear, one from each passenger hand hold to near side of trailer and a second one over seat to the other passenger hand hold. Tensioned against each other.

On trike, when hauled I just secured front tire wheel to front of trailer at center with ties ..... and then criss crossed tie downs at rear axle ..... using four like I did with seat on bike.