Strength of In-Bed tiedown points

[Moterhead]

My wife just started a new job so can't get the time off to go to Sturgis this year. Since I only have to haul one bike, I'm not going to pull the big trailer. Instead I'll just put my bike in the back of the truck. I did this on my '98 with no problems. The '98 had very sturdy tiedown points in the front of the bed at the bottom and at the rear. Hard to get to, but very strong. The new '04 has these cleat looking things bolted to the bed sidewalls front and rear. Just how strong are these? I'm talking about cinching down an 800 pound Harley. I DO NOT want these things to break and drop my bike!! Has anyone really worked these for a long period of time? It's 2300 miles each way from Big Pine to Sturgis.

 

[txhawg]

You know, I love my truck. That said, it would be much more fun, and less worrysome to ride the bike to Sturgis.

 

[Moterhead]

I wondered how long it would take for someone to respond with that. You go ahead on & ride to Sturgis. You are a lot closer than I am and, most likely, in better physical condition. I'm not physically able to ride that far, so thanks for your non-answer to my question.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by Moterhead

My wife just started a new job so can't get the time off to go to Sturgis this year. Since I only have to haul one bike, I'm not going to pull the big trailer. Instead I'll just put my bike in the back of the truck. I did this on my '98 with no problems. The '98 had very sturdy tiedown points in the front of the bed at the bottom and at the rear. Hard to get to, but very strong. The new '04 has these cleat looking things bolted to the bed sidewalls front and rear. Just how strong are these?

I've never needed to use them, but have wondered the same thing, and considered finding some cleats used on small boats to replace them. They seem to be close the the same size as the plastic cleats, and would be a lot stronger. Question is, will they fit the existing holes without drilling the bed too much?

 

[RJBussey]

I use them all the time for my ZX-10R. But then my bike only weighs 430 LBS with a full tank of gas. But the tie down is strong. I would not worry about it.

 

[bighammer]

I have used mine enough to know that even though they look like plastic, they are some kind of alloy. Mine have been used with my rachet straps (the big 3" heavy duty kind) a number of times. The metal hooks have wore off the coating exposing the metal underneath.

 

[bish777]

Go to bike week in Daytona next year for a test run, then do the cross country trip! ha ha

Have used mine many times, they look cheep but are holding up well.

 

[JLovas]

Whenever I hauled my Sporty around, I've always just hooked my one inch rachet straps into the two sockets that are in the corners on top of the bed sides (the ones right behind the cab). But the way it sounds, the metal hook thingys are holding up well. Another thing to take notice of, make sure your front wheel lands in a valley of one of the ribs of your truck bed. If you tie her down while the wheel is on one of the ridges, the front wheel could vibrate to one side, causing the bike to come forward some and thus the straps coming loose. If your really want to be secure, bolt a chunck of channel iron to the bed to create a craddle for your front wheel.

 

[sarj]

This may sound like a stupid reply, but I'm going to claim ignorant inexperience...



It seems to me that is a question that could and should be answered by Dodge, since they were the ones who engineered it. It's an answer that i"m sure lots of people would be interested in knowing as well (me included). Is there a way to ask Dodge that question and maaaaaayyyybbbeeeee get a response? ( I can hear everyone laughing now... but hey... it could happen )



sarj

 

[Moterhead]

I've got a 7' long bike rail that I made up many years ago. It's made of 1/8" thick sheet metal, 2" high sides, 4" wide. The truck I had at the time had a bed liner, so I welded some feet onto it. They are about 10" wide, 1" stock. I put a short 90 degree bend on each end. The bends drop down into the bedliner grooves to keep it from sliding sidways. No more bedliners for me down here in rust country. I may get a spray in liner done before the trip. If so, I'll leave the feet on. If not, I'll cut 'em off. Either way, I'll put a 1/4" bolt thru the floor of the bed to hold it in place.



I can't use the corner stake pockets as you recommened. I've got a tonneau cover & the frame covers those pockets. Yeah, I could take the frame off, but it's not a five minute job.

Wayne

Big Pine Key

Originally posted by JLovas

Whenever I hauled my Sporty around, I've always just hooked my one inch rachet straps into the two sockets that are in the corners on top of the bed sides (the ones right behind the cab). But the way it sounds, the metal hook thingys are holding up well. Another thing to take notice of, make sure your front wheel lands in a valley of one of the ribs of your truck bed. If you tie her down while the wheel is on one of the ridges, the front wheel could vibrate to one side, causing the bike to come forward some and thus the straps coming loose. If your really want to be secure, bolt a chunck of channel iron to the bed to create a craddle for your front wheel.

 

[rbattelle]

I think my dealer told me they're good for 1000 lb each, which I think is total baloney. Did you check the owner's manual?



If I had to wager a guess, I wouldn't put more than 400 lb of tension on each of them.

 

[shendren]

i'd put some tube steel down the stake holes and be done with it.

 

[Boonieman]

I have used my tie downs several times for my Honda ATV. I do notice that as I'm tightening down the ratchet straps I can see the inner walls of the bed pulling in. For my part, I'd be really reluctant to depend on them to haul a bike that heavy all the way out there. It looks like they are stressing quite a bit and mine has 4 wheels. I'm getting ready to install some heavy eyebolts in the corners of the bed with a backup plate underneath for extra strength. I really don't like hauling the ATV in the bed at all because with my tool box the back wheels rest on the tailgate, but occasionally I have no choice.



PS. . Have fun out there!! We're going to Deadwood in October. I grew up out there and like to go back home every year or so.



Danny

 

[NSperduto]

Originally posted by Moterhead

I've got a 7' long bike rail that I made up many years ago. It's made of 1/8" thick sheet metal, 2" high sides, 4" wide. The truck I had at the time had a bed liner, so I welded some feet onto it. They are about 10" wide, 1" stock. I put a short 90 degree bend on each end. The bends drop down into the bedliner grooves to keep it from sliding sidways. No more bedliners for me down here in rust country. I may get a spray in liner done before the trip. If so, I'll leave the feet on. If not, I'll cut 'em off. Either way, I'll put a 1/4" bolt thru the floor of the bed to hold it in place.



I can't use the corner stake pockets as you recommened. I've got a tonneau cover & the frame covers those pockets. Yeah, I could take the frame off, but it's not a five minute job.

Wayne

Big Pine Key

You can't use the stake pockets, but there are also holes into the stake pockets from the inside of the bed. While the bike weighs alot, it's not like the bike is dangling on the end of the strap, the strap is just keeping itself upright and the main force against it is from the strap pulling the opposite direction. Just put one on each corner of the bike and compress the suspension and you'll be fine. The keep is to compress the suspension some, and no, compressing the suspension for an extended period wont' screw your bike up.



The only other not is you may want to put a board across the front bed wall. I'm not sure about the 3rd gen, but I've seen plenty of guys put a bike in the center of the bed, crank the front straps down and bend the center of the bed wall into the cab.



I'd be more worried about getting the thing up and down the bike ramp without dropping it.

Nick

 

[Scooby]

I'd have to agree with the above post. Those anchor points will never carry the full weight of the bike. Assuming the bike is upright when secured, the most force against a strap will be that of an emergency manuever... which will still be only a portion of the weight of the bike (distributed across two of the anchor points - assuming you are using all four).



It shouldn't be a problem... I'd feel pretty comfortable using them.





The chocking of the front wheel and improper tightening of the straps can do more damage than people think. The dramatic tightening of one front side tie-down and then the other can cause the front fork to actually twist and deform - later resulting in "stiction" (when the suspension no longer compresses and rebounds properly due to misaligned componants).

 

[DPelletier]

Moterhead,

Put a piece of plywood in the front of the bed with two 2x4's to hold the front wheel in place. The plywood doesn't need to be fastened to the truck. Then use all four tie down points to secure the bike. Compress the rear suspension (I assume your bike HAS rear suspension) when you tighten the rear straps and make sure that you don't pull the bike too far to the rear thereby pulling the front end away from the plywood wheel chock pce.



Dave