The only thing left is to have a self-loading
motorcycle!
We've been trying to rethink the basic motorcycle
loading system since we got the trailer, and the one
thing that still bothered me was those nasty old
ratcheting tie down straps.
Nylon webbed ratcheting straps are probably the most
common method of securing a motorcycle to a trailer.
Anyone who trailers a motorcycle, an ATV, a dirt bike or
whatever probably has a couple of pair floating around
in the bed of the pickup.
But it seems like every time I fish the things out
from their hiding place, they're knotted up like a cheap
plate of spaghetti. Then I have to fuss with
getting the loose end through the ratchet roller, which
inevitably ends up the wrong way around the spindle.
The Cargo Buckles have made life so much easier.
They're super-easy to use and once installed, they're always ready to go and
you'll never have to worry about forgetting to bring the
straps, unraveling the knots or, best of all, having to
mess with tying up the loose strap ends.
I found the Cargo
Buckle product at this year's
Powersports Dealer Expo in Indianapolis. As
soon as
I got back home, I ordered a pair and installed them on
our flatbed trailer.
The trailer has a wood floor, which, by
the way, I now realize
is the only way to go. It makes mounting
accessories like the Bike Grab or the Cargo Buckles a
piece of cake, and if I have to move one of them to a
different location on the trailer, no problem. The
wood planks can also be replaced if they ever get
damaged or rotten, although that's unlikely since
they're pressure treated lumber.
A Cargo Buckle is a self-contained ratcheting
motorcycle tie down device. It has a built-in 55"
webbed strap with a powder coated metal hook and a
built-in ratcheting and self-retracting mechanism.
The Cargo Buckle unit can be mounted to metal or wood,
or on the optional 45 degree risers seen here.
Operating the Cargo Buckle is as simple as it gets,
and much easier than the typical ratcheting straps.
All you have to do is pull on the hook to extend the
strap, which is coiled inside of the Cargo Buckle unit.
Slip the hook through your hold-down
straps on the bike and use the big gray handle on top of
the Cargo Buckle to ratchet the strap until it's tight.
To disengage the Cargo Buckle, press one of the
smaller levers on the bottom and the ratchet is
released. The strap retracts into the assembly
just like rewinding a tape measure. That's all
there is to it, and the entire process can be done with
one hand if necessary.
The rated capacity of the Cargo Buckle unit is 5,000
pounds, more than enough for any type of motorcycle
we'll see in our lifetime.
wBW
YouTube Video of the Cargo Buckle in Action
A pair of Cargo Buckles retails for around $69.99 a
pair. This is actually a very reasonable price,
considering their usefulness. They're also
available in stainless steel for about $40.00 more, but
the salesman told me that he has been using the regular
version for some time on a trailer that's left outdoors
near salt water with no problems.
Conclusion
The Cargo Buckles really do make loading a motorcycle on
a trailer so much easier. I hope I never have to
go back to old-fashioned ratcheting straps!
Product
Review: Cargo Buckle Motorcycle Trailer Tie Down
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