have found many good tips on trailering one question when on the trailer do you leave the park brake set or leave it off and just strap it down have a couple of spyder riders give different answers your 2cents worth please
I've never had to trailer mine, but if I ever do it will be in 1st gear, park brake on, strapped down with 4 straps. Why would you take any chance of it moving if one of the options failed? A few good wheel chocks would be in place. that's my .02
I've never had to trailer mine, but if I ever do it will be in 1st gear, park brake on, strapped down with 4 straps. Why would you take any chance of it moving if one of the options failed? A few good wheel chocks would be in place. that's my .02
I leave the Spyder in neutral with the brake on.
where are you going to put the fourth strap? One over each front wheel and one through the rear wheel makes three.
I have found wheel chocks pushed into the wheels don't stay there. Since the suspension is not strapped under load, the tires flex on bumps and push out the chocks. You would have to mount chocks into the trailer floor for them to stay put.
if it's semi auto it doesn't matter in what gear it will still roll so best leave it in neutral. If it is manual it's not a good idea to leave it in gear cause it is rough on the transmission. Same goes for the brake so basically if you tie her down right you should not need to have it in gear or have the park brake on...this is how I towed all bikes....
2012 RS sm5 , 998cc V-Twin 106hp DIY brake and park brake Classic Black
Leave the tranny in neutral. No parking brake. One tie down each wheel, three total. My Spyder has never moved. Use towels in the spokes of the wheels to prevent scratching them. Tom
Baloo is my name. Spyders are my game. Well, it's a doo-bah-dee-doo, yes, it's a doo-bah-dee-doo, I mean a doo-bee, doo-bee, doo-bee, doo-bee, doo-bee-dee-doo. And, well, now. Ha ha! What have we here?
When I trailer the Spyder, I do it the same as the tractor or car. Parking brake on, 4 axle straps through the wheels and 4 ratchet straps (1 each on the fronts, 2 on the rear, all 4 going at diagonals to the hooks at the 4 corners of the trailer and wheel chocks screwed to the trailer floor. It's safety first: both for the Spyder and for anyone or anything which might be nearby in the event of some kind of failure.
On my 2014 RTS - SE6, there is a warning chime if you shut off the key with the parking brake off. If a person wanted to trailer without the parking brake, they would need to disconnect the battery to silence the chime.
SE-6 here...
Neutral; with the parking brake on, and three straps...
Check the straps shortly after you start your trip, and then every couple of hours after that.
On my 2014 RTS - SE6, there is a warning chime if you shut off the key with the parking brake off. If a person wanted to trailer without the parking brake, they would need to disconnect the battery to silence the chime.
H2O
Why? Doesn't your chime quit after about 20 seconds, like mine?
NEW - 2015 RT Limited SE6 Intense Red Pearl - 07/21/15
Retained the old mirrors with TricLed Signals
General Altimax RT43 rear tire (at...17,000 miles) Ran for 36,500 miles
Michelin Defender.......rear tire (at...53,500 miles) Ran for 60,700 miles
Riken Raptor HR.........rear tire (at 114,200 miles)
Vredestein Quatrac 5 front tires (at 70,500 miles, first new fronts!)
Gear Brake Decelerometer Module
OLD - 2012 RT Limited SE5 Pearl White - 01/31/13 - Traded in at 32,600 miles.
BajaRon Anti-sway Bar
Kumho ECSTA AST rear tire (at 14,200 miles)
TricLed Turn Signals in Mirrors
Send a pm to Mike( Blueknight911) on how he strapped down a 2012RTS-SE5( that was mine) on a snowmobile trailer. Deanna
Current Spyder - 2023 F3 LTD Special Mineral Blue
Red LED NANO Saddlebag Marker Lights with Full Illumination
Sequential Fender LED'S (Amber/Red) with Safety Reflector
Dual Power Plate (12 V & USB ports)
Gremlin Bell
Rear Trunk Organizer (4 holders, 2 Elastic Holders)
Lamonster "Top Cuff" with adjustable drink Holder
SpyderPops Missing Guard Belt
Console Accent Trim (Carbon Fiber Domed Black)
Ultimate F3 Floorboards
Front Fairing Service Access Door Covers (Carbon Fiber Doomed Black)
Sway Bar with Links
Rolo Laser Alignment
Half Cover
A-Arm Daytime Dual Color LED Running Lights with Blinker Module
Hi-Viz DRL and Sequential Mirrors lights
Marinco 12Volt Power Receptacle with polarized leads & slide lock
Show chrome Trunk Shock
I have an SE5, and in my toyhauler I have parking brake on and tie downs on each front wheel and two on the back wheel going out to the corners of the garage. I have the CAN AM tie downs, got them off ebay, still pricey... but they are set up to go thru the wheels and are padded so they dont scratch. Come as a set of four.
Why? Doesn't your chime quit after about 20 seconds, like mine?
As impatient as I am, I never waited that long to see if it would quit on its own. I couldn't stand the noise so I turned the key back to the on position while I was doing whatever it was I was doing at the time.
After reviewing many of the trailering threads I decided to follow Mike's advice and strap all three tires u-haul style. I have a 7x12 enclosed trailer with ramp door. I chose a position over the axle allowing most of the 1000+ lbs to be over the single axle rather than further forward making excessive hitch weight. Attached photos show how I did it. Real wheel used 33,000 lb ratchet strap, front wheels used 2 In 1600 lb straps. Anchors are 3/8 in 6000 lb bolted through 3/4 in advantech floor with 3/8 x 2 in carriage bolts and 1.5 in flat washers and a lock washer. I have not trailered it yet except for short test run, so if anyone has advice as to how I can improve or have errored, please comment. My initial impression is that it is pretty secure and not going to move much. I plan to leave trans in neutral with parking brake on.
I think I'm the MIKE you are referring to , Nice job, and very nice PICS.... ........I can't believe someone actually believed me .......good for you, you won't be dis-appointed.......I only use ONE on the rear wheel ...But I'm a dare Devil .....The only thing I would caution about is the distance of the front wheel anchors from the front tires / wheels. I don't think it's possible that the Spyder can move forward though.....and this is only as strong as the weakest LINK which is the ANCHORS .....I think your's are FINE....................Mike
Last edited by BLUEKNIGHT911; 04-20-2016 at 03:14 PM.
I tie down the front wheels because someone said that they could bounce sideways and maybe be off the chocks. I'm figuring why take a risk. I don't plan on hitting anything hard enough to cause that , but then a lot a crap has happened to me that I hadn't planed for.
After reviewing many of the trailering threads I decided to follow Mike's advice and strap all three tires u-haul style. I have a 7x12 enclosed trailer with ramp door. I chose a position over the axle allowing most of the 1000+ lbs to be over the single axle rather than further forward making excessive hitch weight. Attached photos show how I did it. Real wheel used 33,000 lb ratchet strap, front wheels used 2 In 1600 lb straps. Anchors are 3/8 in 6000 lb bolted through 3/4 in advantech floor with 3/8 x 2 in carriage bolts and 1.5 in flat washers and a lock washer. I have not trailered it yet except for short test run, so if anyone has advice as to how I can improve or have errored, please comment. My initial impression is that it is pretty secure and not going to move much. I plan to leave trans in neutral with parking brake on.
Mike( Blueknight911) tied down my 2012RRTS-SE5 the way you described above and my did not move on snowmobile trailer. Deanna
Current Spyder - 2023 F3 LTD Special Mineral Blue
Red LED NANO Saddlebag Marker Lights with Full Illumination
Sequential Fender LED'S (Amber/Red) with Safety Reflector
Dual Power Plate (12 V & USB ports)
Gremlin Bell
Rear Trunk Organizer (4 holders, 2 Elastic Holders)
Lamonster "Top Cuff" with adjustable drink Holder
SpyderPops Missing Guard Belt
Console Accent Trim (Carbon Fiber Domed Black)
Ultimate F3 Floorboards
Front Fairing Service Access Door Covers (Carbon Fiber Doomed Black)
Sway Bar with Links
Rolo Laser Alignment
Half Cover
A-Arm Daytime Dual Color LED Running Lights with Blinker Module
Hi-Viz DRL and Sequential Mirrors lights
Marinco 12Volt Power Receptacle with polarized leads & slide lock
Show chrome Trunk Shock
I loaded up the Spyder the other day for experimental reasons. I was gonna do what Mike described, but then I came up with a different plan. My trailer is open, with angle aluminum open rail sides. I had 2 straps in place. One strap went through the rear wheel and back to anchors in the rear corners. The other strap went under the front of the bike, behind the lower A-arms, then I put it over the top of the A-arms, and outside of the lower shock mount, and forward to the aluminum rail. Sorry no pics, but both straps created a nice downward and forward and backward pull. The front strap, being on the outside of the shock mounts, creates a good downward and forward pull, but also a pull that would prevent side movement too. The back strap is simply through the wheel and down/back. I don't plan to have to trailer, but now I know how I'll do it if the need arises. The way the weather looks, we might be trailering to Spyderfest
After reviewing many of the trailering threads I decided to follow Mike's advice and strap all three tires u-haul style. I have a 7x12 enclosed trailer with ramp door. I chose a position over the axle allowing most of the 1000+ lbs to be over the single axle rather than further forward making excessive hitch weight. Attached photos show how I did it. Real wheel used 33,000 lb ratchet strap, front wheels used 2 In 1600 lb straps. Anchors are 3/8 in 6000 lb bolted through 3/4 in advantech floor with 3/8 x 2 in carriage bolts and 1.5 in flat washers and a lock washer. I have not trailered it yet except for short test run, so if anyone has advice as to how I can improve or have errored, please comment. My initial impression is that it is pretty secure and not going to move much. I plan to leave trans in neutral with parking brake on.
I have a similar setup.
2015 RTS Special Series
Russell Day Long seat
F4 Customs windshield
Sena 20s
When I trailer the Spyder, I do it the same as the tractor or car. Parking brake on, 4 axle straps through the wheels and 4 ratchet straps (1 each on the fronts, 2 on the rear, all 4 going at diagonals to the hooks at the 4 corners of the trailer and wheel chocks screwed to the trailer floor. It's safety first: both for the Spyder and for anyone or anything which might be nearby in the event of some kind of failure.
Sent from my little piece of paradise!
I Concure, this is how I tie my Spyder down too!! Better safe that sorry!!!
I think I'm the MIKE you are referring to , Nice job, and very nice PICS.... ........I can't believe someone actually believed me .......good for you, you won't be dis-appointed.......I only use ONE on the rear wheel ...But I'm a dare Devil .....The only thing I would caution about is the distance of the front wheel anchors from the front tires / wheels. I don't think it's possible that the Spyder can move forward though.....and this is only as strong as the weakest LINK which is the ANCHORS .....I think your's are FINE....................Mike
The tie downs in my Toyhauler are not at the correct location to put the straps over the tires. I don't want to cut new holes in the floor. The Toyhauler cost a lot more than the Spyder.
I use 4 straps, brake on and I do no go through the wheels at all. The front wheels move, I tried this a couple times and the straps were loose every time I checked them. The front I hook the ratchet straps to the cross member up front (were the sway bar passes through). I pull back to the rear. The rear I pull front and I tie off to the rear bottom shock mount. Never has been an issue.
I may have to rethink this when I bring home the F3. I will see and adjust accordingly.
I've gone back n forth a couple times, but today I looked at the forecast and decided to load up the Spyder on the trailer. We'll arrive on Wed afternoon sometime. I've himmed n hawed on how to tie the Syyder down. I opted to do this same thing with mine. I had to alter my anchors, but no big deal. The straps over my tires are over the top and straight down, front/back, with no forward angle on the straps. I also added a 4th strap that goes under the belly, and up over each lower A arm, then forward to the front of the trailer. I can't imagine the bike moving at all.