So, not sure if this is the right section for this post. I need to bring 6-10 of my motorcycles from CT to FL in August. I'm moving lots of other possessions too, so regardless, I'll need a box truck for the move. Does anyone have any suggestions as far a fastening/ratcheting down the bikes inside the truck? So far, I'm thinking of using pallets, like so:

Motorcycle Shipping - YouTube

Or build a chock stand for each bike like:

Dirt Bike Shipping Rolling Dirt Bike Photo 1

Any input would be appreciated!

 

Most box trucks have wooden floors in them. If you get some short pieces of 2x4 and
screw them to the floor with one end of your tie-down strap captured under them, you
can do the same as a pallet. You'll use a lot less floor space and it'll be a easier/tighter load.

Also, note that the tie-downs should be attached to the LOWER tubes
of the front forks. I have heard of people blowing the fork-seals from over-compressing
the forks while attached to the bars. Use one strap at the back, one on the front-end
and one at the tips of the bars to the back of the bike to keep the front from turning.
Or make some 2x4 cradles to screw down, for the front tire.

whether you do a cradle or not, use something attached to the floor to trap the wheels
from any side-to-side movement, across the floor of the truck. Other-wise you could find
the bike/s laying down because the wheels slide out from under.

Hope this gives you some ideas, Ern

 

Thanks for the thorough reply! Assuming the truck has wooden floors, ill go that road. Now I just need to pick up about 36 more ratchet straps, and we're set!

 

Btw, when you say ratchet to the "lower tubes", does that mean over the lower triple tree?

 

Below the top-tubes/fork-seals, the idea is to NOT compress the front forks.
You run the strap around one bottom tube, over the fender and then around the other
bottom tube. That will isolate the front wheel and stabilise the bike without
over-loading the fork-seals.

If you make some throw-away wheel-chock/stands, you can just use tie downs at the
rear of the bike to secure/stabilize them. Something out of 2x4/plywood, similar in design to these....
Motorcycle Stand / Wheel Chock

Ern