How to make a motorcycle trailer with your own hands

How to transport a motorcycle in a trailer?

For a successful trip, the most important thing is to take care of its safety.
First of all, you should familiarize yourself with the legal side of the matter. Different countries have their own nuances in the content of laws. Therefore, be sure to check all the details on how to transport a motorcycle in a trailer and not be fined by the traffic police. The same rules apply to the transportation of motorcycles on Russian roads as to the transportation of goods in general.

Transportation of a motorcycle at a specially designated transportation site

Specialized equipment may only be used if certain rules are strictly followed. Each of the points will ensure the safety of not only the equipment itself, but also other road users.

Rules for securing a motorcycle on the site and the fastenings used

• The load capacity should not exceed the permissible value - 130 kg.
• The maximum dimensions of transported cargo behind the vehicle should not exceed 1 m to the rear and 40 cm to the sides.
• Niches for different wheel diameters can be either variable or stationary.
• For fixation, special hooks and knitting needles are used. If such elements are not available, then they are mounted only to the fastening belts.

Basic requirements for the transportation of motorcycles

• The driver must have a license, a power of attorney (if the car is someone else’s) and all documents for vehicles, car registration and an insurance policy.
• Driving with a trailer requires special attention to maintaining the permitted speed limit. On highways you cannot accelerate more than 90 km/h, on ordinary roads - the limit is 70, inside populated areas - 60, and within residential areas and in courtyards it is not recommended to drive faster than 20 km/h.
• The weight of the motorcycle, like other cargo, must not exceed the figures specified in the document for the trailer.
• The cargo must be securely secured - the most important condition for a safe trip.

More details about the rules regarding the transportation of goods in general can be found on the traffic police website, where all current changes appear most quickly. And the specific requirements regarding how to transport a motorcycle in a car trailer is a particularly careful attitude to securing the equipment.

Types of devices for transporting a motorcycle to a car

Each motorcycle owner chooses the most optimal device option for his equipment, based on individual operating criteria. First of all, the equipment must be safe for transportation over long distances. The remaining criteria determine the shape and size of the fasteners.

Standard trailers for passenger cars

Professional motorcyclists often purchase pickup trucks or vans to transport motorcycle equipment. Such machines are convenient in all respects:

• reliable fixation of two-wheeled vehicles in the back of a car;
• safety during transportation;
• convenient loading.

A more common method of transportation is the use of trailers. The design of the trailed equipment allows you to place up to 3 motorcycles at once. The quantity depends on the size of the motorcycle. Trailers are purchased when there is a need for irregular transportation. There is a wide variety of options in shape and size. If we are talking about category B, then only light trailers are available to motorists. The weight of such equipment does not exceed 750 kg.

Fastenings for transporting motorcycles in a trailer allow you to securely fix the equipment. All kinds of brackets are used to mount the front fork. Elements can be part of the structure and screwed to the base during transportation.

Lifting straps are considered a popular device. With their help, the owner can firmly fix the wheels, steering wheel and frame of the equipment. It is important to provide for the presence of a lodgement. The device is attached to the bottom of the trailer. The element prevents lateral movement of motorcycle equipment in the body.

In addition, support stands are widely used on trailers. Their purpose is to prevent vehicles from tipping over during loading and unloading operations. The parts are mounted on the rear panel of the trailer. In addition, trailed equipment is equipped with wheel chocks. The elements are installed both under the rear wheel of the motorcycle and under the wheels of the trailer itself.

How to secure a motorcycle to a trailer?

To load and securely secure your bike on the platform, you will need tie-down straps with secure buckles and toothed grips, wheel stops, soft hinges, as well as a ramp and gangway if the trailer does not have the appropriate equipment. So, here's the procedure.

What you need to mount a motorcycle

1. Check the mounting straps to ensure they support at least 50 percent of the motorcycle's weight. If your Harley weighs 340 kg, then the number on the belt should be at least 170.
2. Roll the motorcycle onto the trailer platform along the gangplank and ensure that the front wheel touches the wheel chock.
3. To avoid damaging the motorcycle's surface when fastening with belts, use soft loops. Do not attach the belts to the steering handles; they are not suitable for the loads that will arise. Also, do not use a seat bag or rack for mounting.
4. To ensure secure fastening, cross the straps. On a motorcycle, hook them as high as possible, and on a trailer, try to fasten the belt lower.
5. After securing the two straps, ensure that the two-wheeled vehicle is standing upright. This can be achieved by tightening the straps one at a time, ideally with someone to help you.
6. Secure the motorcycle at the rear to prevent it from swinging during transport.
7. Check how evenly the load is distributed and whether the belts are equally tensioned.

After loading and securing the bike, experts advise doing the following maneuver: jump on the platform and see how your vehicle behaves. Simulating how to transport a motorcycle in a car trailer will help determine whether you have secured the vehicle well enough.

If you are going to drive with a trailer for the first time, be sure to practice on a free area, an empty road.

Features of installing special mounts for transporting a motorcycle to a tow bar

The most optimal type of car for transporting motorcycle equipment is considered to be frame SUVs and pickups. The design feature of such machines is the high level of strength of the frame to which the platform is mounted.

If it is necessary to equip passenger vehicles, either the method of inserting a profile beam into the towbar square (50 by 50 mm) or changing the beam is used.

The first method is simpler and significantly saves time. Almost all models of transport platforms and mountings for vertical loading fit perfectly into the tow bar. All that remains is to fix the product, following a certain procedure.

Sometimes specialized fasteners have to be installed independently or to order. In this case, a welding machine is used during conversion. The main thing is to make high-quality seams so that the structure meets the proper level of strength.

It is convenient to transport motorcycles in several ways, the effectiveness of which is determined by the motorist independently. By adhering to strict transportation rules, each driver will be able to deliver motorcycle equipment safely to any destination.

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Check how the road train behaves during maneuvers

• Take a ride around the yard during a quiet time.
• Try to turn around on a narrow road.
• Test your skills when driving in reverse.
• Take a trip with different speed modes.

After such training, you will understand how to adjust your driving style to make the trip as safe and comfortable as possible. Both during training raids and on subsequent trips, make stops to check the tension of the belts and check that your cargo is secure.

And finally, if you have any questions about how to transport a motorcycle in a passenger trailer, you can always call us!

The following trailer models are ideal for transporting motorcycles:

In what ways can you transport a motorcycle?

Transporting a motorcycle as a task appears before the pilot in the following cases:

• Buying/selling a motorcycle
• Motorcycle breakdowns
• Inability to travel on public roads on official grounds
• For long journeys, when a motorcycle is not the main transport

Let's look at ways to transport a motorcycle on your own and a few important little things that may come in handy.

How are motorcycles transported?

• Motorcycle tow truck/tow truck
• Inside vehicles
• From the outside on the platform
• Partial loading method
• Transportation in a trailer
• Transporting on the side of a motorcycle trailer
• Sending by transport company

Motorcycle tow truck/tow truck

In our world, almost all problems can be solved with money. If you get stuck along the way due to a breakdown or need to transport a bike but don’t have a workhorse, a motorcycle tow truck is always happy to see you. They can have any kind of transport, from a regular tow truck to an adapted van.

There’s nothing stopping you from calling even a regular tow truck. Not in every area you can find a free motorcycle tow truck, then why not turn to a simple one, the main thing is to warn that you want to transport a motorcycle. It will occupy a modest place on the tow truck and will need to be securely secured in a special way so that it does not tip over. In exceptional cases, it is possible to place the bike immediately behind the driver’s cabin and attach it in the wind.

Inside vehicles

This is where the scope for imagination lies! They carry motorcycles on everything. It's easy to talk about transportation when you have a pickup truck or a gazelle, from which you throw out the seats for a motorcycle. But we must admit, not every motorcycle fits in a pickup truck. There is one subtlety here: the ratio of the dimensions of the car’s cabin to the dimensions of the body. A pickup truck is not always as roomy as a wardrobe from Narnia. But drivers fell in love with minibuses and vans. The motorcycle is safe, it won’t go further than the van and you don’t have to worry about it falling out or getting lost along the way. In addition, the motorcycle is not affected by weather conditions inside the van.

When transporting motorcycles inside a vehicle, it would be good to have a wheel mount (trap); they are mounted to the floor and prevent the front wheel from dangling. Additional fixation with straps is also necessary. But we’ll talk about belts and traps a little later, since the issue is relevant for all types of transportation.

Transportation of motorcycles is available even if you have a passenger car, unless you are trying to pack a Honda GL1800 into a Kia Picanto, of course. It is possible to fit a modest motorcycle in reasonable proportions if you prepare the car and remove all unnecessary things and remove the seat. Sometimes it is necessary to partially disassemble a motorcycle if transportation inside a passenger car is limited by the working space. But all these are special cases and are considered separately.

Use a ladder or its substitute

The simplest and most commonplace way is to use a ladder or build one from improvised means. The ramp is a long strip along which the motorcycle is rolled into the body. It happens that the vehicle for transportation arrives and does not have a ramp, or the driver thinks that the motorcyclist will have his own in the garage. Then adventure and improvisation in its purest form begin.

If there is no special ladder, then instead use boards connected together, or something that can support the weight of the motorcycle and allow it to be rolled in. The width of the ladder plays as important a role as the angle of inclination. With a narrow ladder it will be more difficult to dive. At any moment the wheel can slip, and then a fall is inevitable. You can climb up the wide ramp with your motorcycle, which makes the task easier.

Some drivers use large boxes as an alternative method or out of desperation. You need to understand that this trick works more effectively with motorcycles that have a short wheelbase. With large models, it is better not to take risks and load with the help of a second person. First, the front wheel is placed on the box, then it is lifted and placed in the body, then the rear wheel is lifted onto the box, and then the entire motorcycle is rolled in. The box is also useful for lowering the bike when there is no ramp. Essentially, the box is used to save a person’s strength and as a safety net when there is no confidence that it will be possible to “throw” the bike in one jerk.

A friend's help when loading a motorcycle into a high body will never be superfluous.

And yes, you don’t need to try to drive a motorcycle up the ramp into the back. The Internet is full of videos of how it ends: rarely with success, more often with injuries and disgusting giggling of eyewitnesses.

Transport from outside on platform

A good way to transport equipment without taking up space in the cabin. Why not? At the same time, the choice of platforms is quite large; some of them are also called towbar racks. Platforms can have different designs and mounting methods. At the same time, sometimes several motorcycles fit on such a platform!

Initially you mount the largest and heaviest motorcycle, and after that the lighter one. This way you distribute the weight. The closer the motorcycle is to the car body, the less load on the platform fastening, because if you place a light weight closer to the body, and only then attach a heavy weight to the edge, then during movement vibrations can unnecessarily rock the entire structure.

Some installations require reinforcement of the frame, since the standard body structure may not be enough. Fastenings allow you to distribute the weight evenly so as not to overload individual parts of the car.

If they have a welder, a pipe bender and shoulder straps, many people are smart and cook the platforms themselves. Why pay more if you have extra pipes lying around the garage?

By the way, who said that the mount can only be in the rear of the car? With the help of the platform, motorcycles are also placed in front, but these are rare individuals. By the way, there are persistent legends that cars can more easily tolerate the installation of a platform with a motorcycle on the drive side of the car: on a rear-wheel drive, installation from the rear is preferable, and on a front-wheel drive, installation from the front is recommended.

When installing a platform under a motorcycle, you have to monitor the visibility of license plates and the condition of the lighting devices.

There is a form of attaching a motorcycle to the engine. The platform provides for mounting without a wheel stand. The motorcycle is supported on a frame under the engine. It’s very difficult to transport heavy motorcycles like this, but with cross-country equipment, eduro and pit bikes, everything is simple!

Broken unbroken: 5 ways to transport a motorcycle

Winter is the best time for enduro rides, a visit to the service center, or even a reason to drop everything and go to the sea, taking a couple of bikes with you. But how, and most importantly, what to transport them on? In this review we will talk about all the known methods of transporting motorcycles, methods of securing them and devices that help to do this.

Minibus

Ford Transit VR46 minibus, adapted for transporting motorcycles

Without a doubt, a van is the best thing that can happen in a motorcyclist's life. Minibuses can be cargo, cargo-passenger and passenger, and even the latter, with a certain transformation of the interior, can accommodate a motorcycle, and a cargo van can easily take on board at least one luxury tourer like the BMW K1600GTL, or at least a couple of medium-sized vehicles. In any case, the low loading height and ease of fastening will allow you to easily roll up and safely transport the motorcycle to any distance.

Pickup

Unlike the USA, where pickups are used everywhere, this market segment is practically not represented in Russia

The second friend of a motorcyclist, without a doubt, is a pickup truck. Like vans, they are divided into three main types, differing in cab type and body length: single cab, one-and-a-half cab (Club cab), and also, the most popular in Russia, double cab. The larger the cab, the shorter the body, but almost any motorcycle can be rolled into a pickup truck with the shortest body if you put the rear wheel on the open side.

This is permissible according to traffic regulations, and manufacturers, as a rule, include a sufficient margin of safety in the design of the side. In addition, pickups come with both all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive - the latter is preferable for motorcyclists due to their lower loading height.

Trailer

There are a huge number of trailers of all sizes and purposes on the market.

Vans and pickups are convenient, but there is no point in buying them for a couple of trips a year and they are needed only by those who need to transport motorcycles regularly. But a trailer, on the contrary, is better suited for rare trips. There are an extremely large number of trailers on the market, however, only light ones, weighing up to 750 kilograms, are available to owners of only category B.

But even such a trailer will be enough to transport three medium-sized motorcycles at once; in addition, there are special motorcycle trailers on sale, already equipped with everything necessary for attaching a bike. Modern low-bed trailers are convenient for loading, but it is worth considering that without a special awning, the motorcycle will get to the place dirty, and driving with a trailer, especially in reverse, requires certain skills.

Tow bar mount

When installing a motorcycle platform on a towbar, you must make sure that the number is legible

In addition to a trailer, there is another completely legal way to transport a motorcycle in a car - a special platform. It is installed in place of the towbar and allows you to transport a light motorcycle or scooter directly behind the car. This is the simplest, but far from the most convenient way to take a pit bike or enduro bike for rides. The main thing is to make sure that the motorcycle does not block the license plate and the car’s lights, otherwise you will have to deal with additional lighting equipment and a remote license plate bracket.

Partial loading

Partial loading is one of the simplest ways to transport motorcycles.

The transportation method, well known for automobile towing, is also available for motorcyclists. Such devices are rarely found on sale, but nothing prevents you from ordering it from some company that manufactures metal structures. This is convenient when you need to transport a motorcycle with a sidecar or a pair of enduros, and a trailer seems like an unnecessary luxury.

The only pitfall that not everyone is aware of is the motorcycle transmission, which may not be ready for such trips. For example, on a Ural motorcycle, the gearbox is lubricated by oil sprayed from the input shaft. When the engine is turned off, it does not move, while other gears rotate following the movement of the machine. In any case, before transportation by partial loading, it is better to remove the chain or cardan, out of harm’s way.

These are the main and most common methods, followed by other, more exotic ones, such as sending a motorcycle by a transport company to its destination, riding on a motorcycle tow truck, or trying to fit something that cannot be fit into the passenger compartment by disassembling the motorcycle down to the nut. But no matter what method you choose, the main thing is to securely secure the motorcycle.

The most convenient way to help secure a motorcycle in the back of a van, pickup truck or trailer is a wheel trap. It is screwed to the floor of the body and securely fixes the front wheel of the motorcycle. There are expensive and complex designs on sale, but there are also simpler ones, in the form of a pipe curved to the shape of a wheel, but you need to be especially careful with it if you don’t want to bend the brake discs.

Mount for the front wheel of a motorcycle in the back of a pickup truck or minibus

But even with the most advanced trap, you will need to secure the motorcycle in the back. To do this, you can use everything from ropes to seat belts, however, it is better to stock up on special cables - they will provide the strongest fixation. A motorcycle transported using a wheel trap can only be stretched on both sides so as to prevent it from falling on its side, and at the same time additionally support it with the front wheel.

And if there is no trap, just set up a side stand, rest the wheel against the corner of the body and tighten the motorcycle with a pair of tie-down straps so that the bike does not try to roll out of the corner. In any case, your task is to make sure that the motorcycle suspensions compress under the pressure of the ties and do not play while driving, and the motorcycle itself does not try to ride back and forth.

Partial loading method

The name speaks for itself. You attach the front wheel, securely fixing it, you can even remove the wheel itself, or even disassemble the fork. The motorcycle follows the car, leaning on its rear wheel. There are ways to attach it to the rear wheel. Then it is necessary to additionally fix the steering, but this method is rather strange. You shouldn't do that.

During partial loading, the motorcycle is tilted (which makes it difficult to transport long wheelbase motorcycles, as well as other types of heavy motorcycles). All technical fluids flow accordingly and the motorcycle is not always happy about this at the end of the journey.

An additional disadvantage is the danger of such transportation, because if road unevenness is passed between the wheels of a car, then the probability of a motorcycle wheel landing in a hole is 50/50. So-so jackpot.

Transportation in a trailer

A banal, simple method of transportation. Suitable for bulky motorcycles or transporting several bikes. For a small and light motorcycle, it is more logical to install a platform. The trailer has the same number of supporters and opponents; everyone simply chooses what is more convenient for him personally. Some even haul a trailer on a motorcycle.

Transporting on the side of a motorcycle trailer

Motorcycles with sidecars definitely have their advantages. With a bit of perversion, the side trailer is replaced with a platform on which the motorcycle is actually placed for transportation. But you need to remember about weight distribution. This trick works with light models and scooters; if the motorcycle you are transporting turns out to be heavier, then problems on the road are inevitable.

Rules for transporting a motorcycle in a car

According to the experience of “Lucky Everyone,” the most reliable way to deliver a motorcycle is to transport it in a motorcycle tow truck or in the cabin of a gazelle that has special fastenings. You can always order such transportation on our service.

If you decide to implement your plan using a car, there are several ways:

Transport on a trailer

In this case, the motorcycle should be secured with planks and slings, and if two motorcycles are transported at once, they should be placed in a “jack” position. This is a simple and accessible method that requires the presence of trailers, documents for this trailer and an agreement (the latter - if the motorcycle is someone else’s and the owner is not nearby during transportation). If you and your friends do not have a trailer, you can find a good price by adding a request to our website.

How to transport a motorcycle in a trailer

Motorcycles are becoming more popular every year. Most models are difficult to go on a long journey, or to use in late autumn and winter. Before the most avid motorcyclists accuse us of misunderstanding, we hasten to justify ourselves: this point of view is shared by most people. If you don’t part with your iron horse, even in winter you feel comfortable, we don’t mind at all. Moreover, today we will not talk about choosing a vehicle, but about how you can transport a motorcycle in a trailer.

Trailer selection

If you choose the wrong type of trailer and do not secure the vehicle properly, this will lead to catastrophic consequences. The motorcycle will begin to slide and simply end up on the roadway, causing damage not only to the two-wheeled vehicle itself, but also to other cars. We cannot give universal advice on choosing a trailer, because... it all depends on the frequency of transportation, the size of the motorcycle and other features. We advise you to pay attention to the following points:

• There is no need to purchase expensive trailers. If you do not plan to use the device often, then you can simply rent a trailer. The technical condition of the rental store is very good, and the documents are in order.
• Dimensions. To transport one or several motorcycles, dimensions of 1.5 x 1.8 meters are sufficient. The type you need to choose is open; be sure to pay attention to the presence of a folding ramp.
• Fastenings. Pay attention to the presence of special fastenings on the trailer floor. If you don't have them, you'll have to cut and install them yourself, so installing this important element at the factory will make life easier.
• Wheel diameter. This point is usually not paid attention to, although the stability of the motorcycle depends on the diameter of the wheel. Any unevenness on the road will be felt very sharply; the smaller the wheel size, the greater the load on the mounts. The motorcycle may bounce on the road, which will lead to property damage.
• These are just general recommendations. Today, the choice of two-wheeled vehicle models is extensive; it is difficult to provide for the possibility of transporting them all. But we will still offer more specific recommendations.

Transport safety

If you want to buy a trailer for transporting a motorcycle, you need to pay attention to the fasteners that were installed on it. If the parts are weak, they may break out, break, or bend while securing the motorcycle. It is necessary to attach the equipment, even if the motorcycle is transported nearby.

It is important that the trailer is positioned so that the wheels are placed in the same plane. You cannot transport a motorcycle if the steering wheel is facing to the side. It is important that the vehicle is upright. When securing the motorcycle using tie-down straps, you need to make sure that the equipment sags slightly in the suspension. The part located in front should be pulled slightly forward and downwards. But the back part should sag down.

A motorcycle trailer is a reliable option for transporting it in any situation.

Ramp selection

This is a fundamentally important point. You need to correctly measure the ground clearance and wheelbase length. How to do it right. Let's take a closer look at the process:

• The length from the front to the rear wheel is measured using a regular tape measure. It is important to measure from the middle to the middle of the wheels.
• Let's move on to measuring ground clearance. The height from the minimum point of the motorcycle to the ground, located between the rear and front wheels, is important because a heavy unit will have to be transported on a trailer.
• Trailer height.

If all measurements are carried out correctly, then there will be no problems with loading the motorcycle, but in order to transport the motorcycle in a trailer, you need to properly secure the equipment.

Two-wheeler fastening

First of all, you need to provide for the presence of a towbar in your car. If you did not buy the car new and did not install the device for attaching the trailer yourself, then you need to make sure that the tow bar is not decorative. To transport a trailer and a motorcycle, you will need a reliable design and a powerful vehicle. If the total weight of the structure is more than 2 tons, then you will need a pickup truck or jeep. The mounting process itself is simple:

• First of all, you will need tension straps. Choosing them is very simple, you need to pay attention to the total weight of the motorcycle and divide it in half. Each belt should support half the weight of the motorcycle, but it is better to buy nylon models with a safety margin.
• Acquiring an emphasis. If you plan to drive and secure the motorcycle on a trailer yourself, then a stop is a must. The devices will simplify the work and avoid arbitrary movement of the motorcycle. The stop is usually made of metal or plastic and is installed under the front wheel.
• You need to tighten the belts crosswise, this will give the structure rigidity and reliability. You need to adjust the degree of tension yourself, it depends on its vertical alignment. You can use soft options as hinges that will not damage the elements of the motorcycle.
• If it seems to you that the work is completely finished and everything looks good, then you should first climb onto the trailer and jump on it. This will be an imitation of riding, you will be able to evaluate how much the iron horse bounces. If necessary, you need to make adjustments and increase the tension of the belts. Do not tighten the belts too much. Even soft rings can damage important parts of your motorcycle.
• At the final stage of fastening, do not forget to cover the expensive equipment with a tarpaulin. Even if you are sure of good, sunny weather, this will provide additional protection from dust, stone impacts and other factors.

Before you go on the road, double-check that the fastenings are secure. Check to see if the motorcycle is level and if all the belts are secure. If you are going on a train with a trailer for the first time, then it is better to practice driving around the city and on the highway with an empty trailer. You need to take turns very slowly, take into account the turning radius of the trailer, and adhere to the speed limit. If you are transporting a motorcycle, be sure to stop along the way and check the tension of the belts. A planned stop will not take more than 5 minutes, but it will protect the motorcycle from damage.

Motorcycle trailer: how to make or buy it yourself?

A motorcycle is a vehicle that is designed for traveling or moving around the city, and the presence of only two wheels limits the maximum load capacity, as well as the transported cargo dimensions. This is why many motorcycle owners sometimes think about getting a trailer for their iron friend. It will be especially relevant for travelers who travel long distances and want to take a lot of things with them. Special trailers for motorcycles are not so popular in Russia and the CIS countries, but you can always find a suitable option.

There is also a good option to make a trailer for a motorcycle, the costs will be small. Also, simple drawings and design will allow you to solve the problem of transporting cargo literally in a day. As for ready-made models, sellers will be able to offer two types of designs:

• Two-wheeled. They have one axle, look like a miniature car trailer and are limited in width.
• For 1 wheel. A less popular variety has only 1 wheel, which is located in the center. Consequently, the stability of the trailer will be less and it will not be possible to transport a heavy load.