<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: reno82

One thing I learned is to not take up too much slack before you ratchet the straps. Best to have a few turns on the spool before you tighten it down. Another thing is to make sure it's locked, make sure you get a solid click and the handle is all the way down.</end quote></div>

Very true..and the point that was brought up about strapping it down before you put in Park or setting the brake is a good one as well..if you tighten say the rear straps down tight with it in Park you will just be loading the park pawl with the force of the straps.
I put it on the trailer in neutral and the brake off. I then put the rear straps and SNUG them down EVENLY from side to side..tighten one a little then the other,making sure that the ends are positioned so that they can not slip and allow the strap to loosen.. Do not tighten them enough to move the machine since it is still free to roll( side note : one thing to consider is if you use two different strength straps for the front an rear use the strongest in the rear). I then put on the fronts and tighten then evenly from side to side..again tighten one a little then the other..again make sure the hooks are positioned so they can not slip and allow the strap to loosen. Now go back and tighen up the rear straps a little more evenly..
Now set the Brakes properly..and if you choose put it in Park.
If you do it that way and use good straps it will not loosen at all..and if they do you will catch it on you check after a few miles..if they are loosened at the 1st check tighten them EVENLY..if they loosen up after than you are doing something wrong..

The best way really to secure one is with tire nets...that allows the suspension to absorb the bumps ect..but it is quite a bit more costly.

I secure loads in aircraft..I use the same priniples with no problems..trust me a heavy load moving around in the back of an aircraft is the last thing you want.

 

Hey HO,

Not to question your methodology but isn't there a HUGE risk
that while the bike is stopped in neutral WITHOUT the brake
on while strapping that you run the RISK of it rolling?

I on the other hand would put it in PARK period. Then strap
and anchor it down going back to the point I made earlier
putting SAFETY FIRST even over technical "more wear and
tear" on the trans. or brakes etc. While strapping down tight
before may give you an added edge to more tight security
think about mishaps that can and do happen.

Again I think your approach is SAFE but by your implementation.
Many who may apply it may do it on angles, back of the bed
of a truck with tailgate down etc. etc. thinking "Ohh nothing will
happen" then it does.

Good topic folks, makes all of us think!

R'

 

The night I picked up my new quad from the dealer one of my trailer tires blew and the trailer started shaking back and forth. The quad stayed put. I had it in park, the parking brake all the way on, and 4 ratchet tie-downs that were TIGHT. If the brake was off and it was in neutral maybe it would be okay, or maybe it would put enough of a load on the straps to break them. I don't know but I still plan on loading it the same way.

 

HO - guess I'm not real sure how "PARK" works, but if there is a pawl than you are correct you should tighen the straps first as you suggest, then engage "PARK" such that you are not loading the pawl. Never really gave it much thought.

Rtick - Absoultely the safety of securing the vehicle temporarily using the brake lock would take priority if you are on an incline.

All in all - I cannot believe that it makes much of a difference either way - but theoretically HO's procedure would be the better method.


<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RticKwad

Hey HO,



Not to question your methodology but isn't there a HUGE risk

that while the bike is stopped in neutral WITHOUT the brake

on while strapping that you run the RISK of it rolling?



I on the other hand would put it in PARK period. Then strap

and anchor it down going back to the point I made earlier

putting SAFETY FIRST even over technical "more wear and

tear" on the trans. or brakes etc. While strapping down tight

before may give you an added edge to more tight security

think about mishaps that can and do happen.



Again I think your approach is SAFE but by your implementation.

Many who may apply it may do it on angles, back of the bed

of a truck with tailgate down etc. etc. thinking "Ohh nothing will

happen" then it does.



Good topic folks, makes all of us think!



R'</end quote></div>

 

Great info folks. I like to read all the input. I do strap the quads down (4 straps each) and I will set the parking brake. Prior to this, I just kept the quads in neutral while doing so. I have the type of trailer where the quads are loaded sideways (driven on from the side of the trailer). There is an amount of side to side rocking movement in the quads when I hit a bump. Yes the roads here are imperfect and I do not drive at break neck speeds! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Maybe it is just the suspension movement of the quad bodies bouncing....? Even being strapped SECURELY and with the parking brakes locked. Now I am not implying that the quads put 4 extra miles on per trip while rocking back and forth, the wheels do not really move much, but how much is too much for the tranny to take wear and tear as a result?

 

I have an 03 with 4500 miles has been strapped down in park with no brake set since new, no problems at all. To those that are not tying machine down, I saw one come out of the back of a pickup that slid in the ditch, bounced over the side and tailgate, wheeler landed upside down and destroyed the plastic, bars headlight ect, made a believer out of me, I will always tie them down.

 

Monstersasquatch-Again as long as you strap it down putting it in park is fine...I just prefer not to put it in park BEFORE it strap it.. It might move around a little strapped down but the straps are taking the brunt of the load not the park mechanism.
Like RticKwad said safety should be the first priority..use your best judgement with safety in mind first and you'll be fine.

 

I noticed alot of people say they use four straps to tie it down. This is also a good practice because it fedral law. Any thing with 4 wheels Has to be secured at 4 points. Tecnically you could use 2 straps looped through the frame with both hooks going to the trailer that is considered 4 points. If you use those same two straps and put one hook to the wheeler and one to the trailer that is only two. Found this out while getting checked at a safety compliance check point only got a warning. Just FYI boats are required to have four points too your winch counts as 1 your safety chain is the second and a boat strap that goes over the top is three and four.

 

I use 4 mainly because letting the strap ride on the frame,tow loop,hitch ect wears the strap rather quickly and frayed strap is not a good thing...besides you have to pull the strap out of the ratchet to get it through the loop.