Securing a Nomad on a trailer

[soldierboy3502]

Originally Posted by nomadtom69

Cabby have you got that new bike home yet ??? ???

Not yet bro. If everything everything works by Weds night and the money gets here in time, I'll be taking possession on Thursday the 27th.

[nomadtom69]

Hope everything works out let us know and more pics

[oldbikers]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Tie it down from the front and rear crash bars. They are plenty strong enough. I've done it plenty of times and hauled the Nomad several thousand miles without a problem.

Tie the bike down so it stands straight up -- NOT on the kick-stand. You risk breaking the stand-weld; or cracking it. Kick-stands aren't meant to take the beating of having the weight of the bike bouncing on it.

Do not over compress your shocks. There is a big misunderstanding about doing so. Just don't over compress them -- period. No more compressed than you sitting on the bike. (I'll explain if needed.)

Make sure the front wheel is in a chock, or tie it so it doesn't turn from side-to-side, or move backwards. Make it immovable.

Tie your rear wheel from side to side so the rear wheel doesn't slip to one side or the other. Most forget to do that; and you may regret it if the bike does slip some. (I'll explain why if needed.) Just simply run a tie-down around one of your rear wheel aluminum spokes from each side to the same rear tie-downs you use for the rear crash bars.

Check the bike within 10-20 miles of the trip to be sure nothing is slipping. Then you'll check it every gas-stop.

Do not put a cover on it. That is illegal in most states, and is dangerous.

Do not tie a bike the size of a Nomad down by the handle-bars. Just don't do it. Some get away with it; but just don't do it.

Good luck, and may you survive the harassment!

Jeff you should listen to GL he owns a Harley ;) (sorry GL just couldn't resist)

[glwilson]

Yeah!! That makes me the expert on trailering!!!

[Cajunrider]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Yeah!! That makes me the expert on trailering!!!

Don't let em get to you Greg......that's why we have enclosed trailers. Nobody can see what we're hauling.

[fish]

On my wife's bike you can see that I have the front wheel in a wheel chock bolted to plywood that is bolted to the floor. The rear wheel is inside a home made wheel chock that is bolted to the floor. It didn't move one bit in on the 200 mile ride home.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...8/DSCF1891.jpg
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...y/DSCF1192.jpg

[schoeney]

Greg Wilson- Is it really illegal to haul a bike covered? I am not sure I understand the logic on that? Of course I don't understand most of what our government does anymore.

As far as a chock...you have plenty of ideas and I do recommend you have a front chock and block/tie the rear.

I made a chock that looks like a ladder laid in the trailer sideways. It has several "chock" spaces in case I want to use it to haul a few bicycles as well.

It is approx 3' a 5'. My trailer is 5 X 10. It is made out of 2 x 4's and it sits across the width of the entire trailer so it doesn't need to be screwed into the trailer (just drop it in and pull it out) as it can't shift left to right because it fits snug.

Good luck!

[Cajunrider]

Greg, the cover can catch a draft beneath it resulting in it flying off into someone's windshield. The same can happen with a tarp covering cargo on a trailer but they are normally secured better than a bike cover with an elastic bottom. I wouldn't want a cover on mine anyway because the constant movement will marr the paint.

[macmac]

A covered bike on a open trailer won't have any paint left anyway. Don't do that!

I fought with my boos about that on a machine we rebuilt. It was brand spankin new powder coat. I drove it at legal limits 80 miles covered as i was told i must after objecting and every edge that cover touched was stripped to bare steel. I knew before I left it would be too.

I had that cover tied 6 ways from sunday and nothing I could have done with that cover on would have worked, and i had foam padding on most of the endes and that was all gone tape and all.

I like Wilsons idea of lashing the rear tire down a lot. And it never occured to me anyone would tie a bike down on it's side stand. Don't

[skeeter]

Fish, like the rear block but can't see how you are securing. Thru angle brackets on side pieces? On Nomad would have to extend far enough to get screw gun past the bags.

[fish]

I use the side of a hammer to get the lag bolts started then a short socket and ratchet the bolts in. Once you have the holes in the bed its just a matter of lining it up next time.
I thought about just drilling holes and then dropping a 1/2" pin or bolt down.

[ballast]

When people look at it on the trailer and say, "That's a good looking Harley you have there."

Just smile and say, "Thank you. It is, isn't it."

[glwilson]

Schoeney, I believe I am correct on that.

I assume, as Cajun said; that most would not tie it down and it would blow off -- besides -- the paint-job would be wiped out on a long trip if the bike was covered.

Fish, I like that idea. Your rear tires are not going to move from side to side with that setup. ;)

The reason one doesn't want the bike's rear tire slipping to one side or the other is that is puts a good deal of strain on the frame of the bike when it happens.

Take a bicycle and hold the front forks securely and straight upright -- then have someone move the rear wheel from side to side. You'll feel the forks wanting to twist and lean the opposite direction of the rear wheel slip.

With a heavy motorcycle, like the Nomad, this force is multiplied, causing an enormous amount of twisting pressure on its frame.

Some will tell you that the bike can "take it". I prefer not to find out -- especially later when I am riding on it.

Mac... I see bikes tied-down on their kick-stands all the time. With a heavy bike, that just might not work out someday for someone that does it.

Cajun... that's right... I have a covered trailer so I don't have to endure the harassment until I am caught loading or un-loading it

[billmac]

Jeff, I have trailered my Nomad all over the U.S. and to Calif twice. And yes, I take alot of ribbing from other Nomad owners. Cheryl and I don't like cold, hot, or freeways. That's just how we are. :)

Anyway I learned not to tie to the handlebars. I tie to the crash bars with 2 inch ratchet tie downs. No sense in repeating everything, I totally agree with Cajunrider's advice. I am sure others have good advice too.

billmac

[skeeter]

Thanks for the photo Fish.