Tie downs

[Cheese Monkey]

So I just bought myself a van, need to add some tie down points to fit 2 bikes in. Where is best to put them, and what are good ones to use? Where can I get them? Can they go straight into the ply base or is it better to cut a hole into the ply and bolt them in?

Thinking 3 down each side, 3 down the middle.

[deej]

2 at the front, buy yourself a handlebar strap
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Motorcycle-Ha ... 286.c0.m14

and then just have 2 tie down points at the back of the bike. thats what i use on a trailer and if tied down properly doesnt move on a 300 mile journey, should be more than enough for a van

the other option is to spend 60quid on a wheel mate that the front wheel locks into

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Motorcycle-wheel- ... 286.c0.m14

then all you need is a few smaller ratchet straps

couple of ideas for you to start with

[billinom8s]

when we have tied the bikes to the trailer have learnt a few lessons

1: don't use cheap tie straps, the strap stretches and the bikes move, i got a couple of sets from b&q £15 a pair but do an awesome job.

2: front is the important part, pull the straps down and compress the shocks, that way it wont allow the bike to 'bounce' (like yours did in bambams truck)

3: can get away with only one strap on the rear, feed it up close to the swing arm pivot, thru the subframe and then back down, it compresses the rear shock and the bike is locked.

4: to top it off, tie wrap the front brake lever to the grip as this will stop the bike from moving front to back if the straps do come loose.



just remember to release all the straps when u get to the track or home to release the pressure on the shocks









as for tie down points i would say 3 across the front of the van and then 3 across the rear(approx position of the swing arm pivot, but thats just me)

middle point on each shared by each bike unless of course u think it's too much for one pivot then go for 2 points in the middle

[TLS-Moose]

The advice given is the ideal - generally two to the front and if you want to ensure no movenet one at the rear

However, with a van, you can get away with the sidestand, a wheel-chock, and one ratchet-strap/tie-down Push the bike right to the front, with the front wheel hard into the corner behind the driver, on left-hand lock. Put the bike in first gear and the wheel-chock (A wheel scotch pinched from Laira or Tavvy might do ) pushed hard into the rear of the back wheel. Hook the ratchet strap somewhere around the right hand footpeg then over the saddle and down to a floor anchor somewhere behind the passenger seat of the van and hey-presto, all sorted

[Cheese Monkey]

I might do that one when I got to pick it up tommorow

[deej]

Si - spot on

I always leave the bike in gear too,won't move anywhere then with a tie round the front brake


I personally wouldn't leave a bike strapped down on its side stand,been at a few days where peeps have turned up with a broken side stand due to the pressure
Have seen a few people put they're bikes up on paddock stands in the van,not sure how secure it is as I've never tried it myself

[bambam]

So I just bought myself a van, need to add some tie down points to fit 2 bikes in.
Where is best to put them, and what are good ones to use? Where can I get them? Can they go straight into the ply base or is it better to cut a hole into the ply and bolt them in?

reading the question and the replies i think most people are missing the point.
it's not about strapping a bike down but where to get and fit the tie down rings.

[billinom8s]

ebay or fasteners shop online

i don't think they are tapped in, more like a spreader shaft. speak to julian he is yoda when it comes to stuff like this

[Cheese Monkey]

Just bought these, will have to recess them into the ply and bolt in. Easy

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT



Oh van was deal of the century, 95 reg, swb hi top, roof rack, tow bar, nice stereo, good bodywork, literally FSH, MOT jan, tax Sep, mint apart from two windows that need replacing, £450

[billinom8s]

jammy git !



did you find a fiver in the glove box too !!!!

[Scotty]

Your set up will only be as strong as what it's bolted into. My old Tranny had a ply floor so I removed it and found the proper anchor points for tie-downs in the floorpan - these are the daddies, a proper boss welded into the floorpan for a single bolt fixing through them, I used M10s with a self-locking nut underneath, they won't go anywhere. Following that, I marked up the floor panels and used a hole saw to rebate it so the tie-downs were accessible but tidily recessed.
You can tie a bike down rock solid with a single ratchet strap - use the tie-down behind the driver's seat (as mentioned elsewhere), bike up hard behind the bulkhead panel on full left hand lock, leaning by a few degrees against the right side panel (wooden ideally, if the sides aren't panelled, put an old seat cushion between the bar end and panel or you'll get a big dent in it!) and in gear if you like, and thread the strap up through the fairing and over the top yoke and stright back down again. Wind it down hard to compress the forks a few cm and the bike will not budge - if it does move, you haven't done it right - try again. For extra peace of mind (if you really need it), you can run another single strap over the right side of the subframe, exhaust bracket, footrest bracket or similar to compress the rear suspension a little.
Important point - ensure that the ratchet strap mechanism isn't close to any bodywork or it'll rub and chafe against it.
Now go and buy yourself a folding aluminium ramp if you don't already have one....

[deej]

So I just bought myself a van, need to add some tie down points to fit 2 bikes in.
Where is best to put them, and what are good ones to use? Where can I get them? Can they go straight into the ply base or is it better to cut a hole into the ply and bolt them in?

reading the question and the replies i think most people are missing the point.
it's not about strapping a bike down but where to get and fit the tie down rings.

no he asked how many points and where too so we all went off on one telling him everything he needed

[Cheese Monkey]

No but I did find 5p

Going to try the ply first, see how it is, theres gonna be 4 screws holding the mount in so should be ok

[deej]

can you not put long nuts and bolts in through the ply and floorpan, thats what i did in my old T4. will make it more secure than few screws that could pull out of the ply

[TLS-Moose]

Aawwww b*ll*x - it's a track bike that'll probably end up getting slung down the track, scuffed and battered ..... just juck it in their and let it fend for itself