trailering a spyder

[midnightbreeze50]

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!!!


Midnightbreeze:yes::yes::yes:

 

[900Dave]

MIKE I ALSO BELIEVE YOU BUUUUT

I think I'm the MIKE you are referring to :thumbup: :2excited: , Nice job, and very nice PICS.... :yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:........I can't believe someone actually believed me :banghead::banghead::banghead: .......good for you, you won't be dis-appointed.......I only use ONE on the rear wheel ...But I'm a dare Devil :lecturef_smilie:.....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 :bbq:

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.

 

[900Dave]

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.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

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. :bowdown:

 

[dlby]

All look pretty good to me
But!
I would never tie down on any of the mechanical parts
A frame tie rods etc

Many 2000 mi trips just going thru the wheels with micro fibre cloths to protect finish

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[budbetj]

Tie down strap angle

I think I'm the MIKE you are referring to :thumbup: :2excited: , Nice job, and very nice PICS.... :yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:........I can't believe someone actually believed me :banghead::banghead::banghead: .......good for you, you won't be dis-appointed.......I only use ONE on the rear wheel ...But I'm a dare Devil :lecturef_smilie:.....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 :bbq:

Thanks Mike, I was limited by the length of the short strap with hook connected to the ratchet - caused me to have the angle you don't like. I would prefer to have the strap come straight down from the top of the tire - possibly could add another anchor which is straight down to run the strap through, but I thought it would be OK with the forward strap angle because the rear is secure and pulling toward rear while the front straps are pulling forward. I'll be checking the straps often the first time I haul it any distance. Appreciate your advice and comments.

 

[Jim&Teresa]

Using a Droptail Trailer

We use a Droptail trailer. I really like that it folds and store upright in the garage and NO ramps needed - built in. Works well for the Spyder with the low clearance. The back of the trailer hydraulically lowers and the built in rear gate folds down to extend the ramp portion. Easy to use. Our Spyder RT just fits and the nose of the Spyder fits in the V part of the front of the trailer. Not a lot of spare room, but works well. The Spyder fills the whole trailer even though this is a "two up" motorcycle trailer. A bonus for us is that our Gold Wing can be hauled on this trailer as well - however, only one bike at a time (unless you have two - 2 wheel motorcycles). There is a standard 8 inch stone guard and an optional 20" stone guard. I did add the 20" stone guard on our trailer. Also, we purchased an optional spare tire which bolts to the bottom of the trailer.

Here's some info on the model number and a few pics: Drop - Tail "Two - Up" Cruiser / Sport Bike Trailer, model number: 03-DCT2200-02

Good luck on your choice of trailers - there are a lot of good trailer out there that work!! :thumbup:

 

[kbwitt]

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 highly recommend factory way. Look in your Manuel under Transporting The Vehicle.
It has good pictures and its so much easier than some of the suggestions made here.
It has you putting it neutral parking brake off to pull it up onto a trailer ( in a broken mode) it never tells you in the stap down mode to put it back in gear or set brake so leave in neutral brake off when transporting.
Kennn

ps parking brake is only on back tire

 

[Elembytes]

Exactly---

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. :2thumbs:

I agree with Bob---SE6- leave in Neutral, use 3 straps, check it after moving a little bit and check it often during your trip. The straps do come loose! This is exactly how we do it and it works great!

 

[AzBTO]

Good thread but not sure if it will work for me. Live in Arizona, looking to get a spyder in california (~ 500 miles away) and was thinking of getting a uhaul open trailer to bring her home. Don't think uhaul would appreciate me modifying their trailer and don't have a spyder manual so no idea what it says about transporting. Any thoughts on securing to a uhaul open bed trailer? I'm guessing I'll need a 6 x 12 to be safe.

 

[CopperSpyder]

yes 6 x 10 or longer. the issue will be getting ramps long enough to get the spyder on and off. The ramp in the middle can be a little shorter. The Spyder sits low so you will need long ramps for the out side (front wheels). The Rt is about 64 inches wide and 9 foot long. Few ways to strap it down. best is over the top of the wheels but for you; you may have to use the through the wheels with ratchet straps place a soft rag or towel on the strap between the strap and rims so you don't scratch them. Tie the all 3 wheels down using 3 straps.

 

[timeless]

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. :thumbup: Tom :spyder:

Me too, I do exactly the same and in several thousand miles of trailering I have never had the RT move even through several trailer and motor home tire failures.

 

[Gwolf]

My wheel chocks have a slot on the back side. One in front of the tire and one in rear of the tire, then run a strap through the slots and lock it in place. Also put a strap on the rear wheel, but not through the wheel. It goes through the frame in front of the wheel.

Only time it has ever been on a trailer is the day I picked it up at the dealership.

 

[NewYorkSpyder]

This is how I tow my RT and also my Ryker. Straps thru front wheels then attached to front of trailer with emergency brake on no rear strap used.

 

[strykerAKAmack]

Black+Gray stuff works great keeping stuff from moving round also their hangers are great also

https://www.blackandgray.com/products/total-kits/tck3-total-chock-kit-sp.html
with their
https://www.blackandgray.com/products/total-kits/tdk2-total-tie-down-kit.html

 

[CopperSpyder]

This is how I tow my RT and also my Ryker. Straps thru front wheels View attachment 179201View attachment 179202 then attached to front of trailer with emergency brake on no rear strap used.

You should rethink the rear strap. If you ever get in an accident or have to leave the road because of an accident in front of you that Spyder may not stay with you.

 

[Peter Aawen]

You should rethink the rear strap. If you ever get in an accident or have to leave the road because of an accident in front of you that Spyder may not stay with you.

:agree: With it secured like that up front & no rear strap (of any sort) there's nothing at all holding your Spyder DOWN & on the tray besides its own weight, and there's nothing at all to stop it bouncing forwards & over that beam of wood in front of the front tires in the event of an impact &/or sudden/hard stop !! :gaah:

IF you're lucky, that sudden/hard stop or knock might only bounce the tires up & over the beam, damaging the front end of the Spyder & maybe the suspension too; but if the stop is sudden/hard enough, there's the potential for the Spyder to bounce forwards up & over the beam & flipping, ending up inverted half in the back of your truck, albeit with the front tires still securely tied to the front of the trailer! :shocked: Not happy Jan! pps:

If you haven't secured the front tires DOWN behind that beam in addition to the straps holding it forwards across the top of the beam that we can see, then your Spyder really isn't too much better off than just leaving it sitting on the flat trailer deck with a couple of chocks in front of the front tires!! :lecturef_smilie: At least with a strap holding/pulling the rear wheel back towards the back of the trailer, it'd lessen the risk of your Spyder bouncing forwards over the beam in the event of an impact or sudden/hard stop; but ideally, you really should secure at least one end DOWN & onto the trailer bed!

Me, with straps like that up front, I'd be fixing the rear tire down with something like an E-track ratchet strap over the tire circumferentially. Or better yet, I'd strap the front tires down using the same style of E-track ratchets, & secure the rear tire either the same way or with a strap wrapped figure 8 style around the rim & tire so that it'll stop the rear of your Spyder moving from side to side as well as holding it back & down! :thumbup:

Over to you! :2thumbs:

 

[Terraplane8Bob]

I guess that trailers are the best way to go, but has anyone here backed their Spyder into the bed of of a pickup truck ? My Ford Super Duty has a tailgate opening that is one inch wider than the width of the bike, so if I back it into the 8' long bed, I would avoid the narrowest width at the wheel wells and the front wheels of the Spyder would set onto the very last few inches of the bed --- or even onto the tailgate. I have a "Gator-Ramp" that telescopes off the tailgate that provides a solid surface from side-to-side so there wouldn't be the necessity of having three normal-type ramps to accommodate the rear wheel. Has anyone been adventurous enough to try something like this ?
As you may have guessed --- I'm terrible at backing up a trailer !

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I guess that trailers are the best way to go, but has anyone here backed their Spyder into the bed of of a pickup truck ? My Ford Super Duty has a tailgate opening that is one inch wider than the width of the bike, so if I back it into the 8' long bed, I would avoid the narrowest width at the wheel wells and the front wheels of the Spyder would set onto the very last few inches of the bed --- or even onto the tailgate. I have a "Gator-Ramp" that telescopes off the tailgate that provides a solid surface from side-to-side so there wouldn't be the necessity of having three normal-type ramps to accommodate the rear wheel. Has anyone been adventurous enough to try something like this ?
As you may have guessed --- I'm terrible at backing up a trailer !

I have put my 2014 RT ( see my album ) onto/into my 03 Toyt. pk-up that I made a flatbed for .... however I can drive it up and in going forward ... yes the ramps are steep ( 10' ramps & 28" rise ) ... I put 10ft. of 26ga. galvanized sheet metal that I put hundreds of dimples thru.... excellent traction even in the rain .... your problem is going to physics .... the Spyder hasn't got the greatest traction ( ie one powered wheel ) and you arn't making it better because you are going backwards. I'm known to try just about anything, but I wouldn't try that ..... good luck .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Steve W.]

As you may have guessed --- I'm terrible at backing up a trailer !

I'll just make one comment here. If you are terrible at backing up a trailer, backing the Spyder up a ramp into a VERY tight area isn't going to be any easier. In order to get the rear tire into THAT particular spot, the front wheels are going to be going from side to side, quite a bit more than that one measly inch of room that you have. Remember, that's only HALF an inch on each side. The sides of the tailgate opening will not be gentle on the wheels, tires and fenders if you miss.

.