How to Properly Secure Powersport Vehicles

Personal-use powersport vehicles offer freedom — on the road, off the road, on water, and over snow. But when being hauled from place to place, these motorcycles, ATVs/UTVs, jet skis, snowmobiles, and other "saddle-ride" machines are valuable assets that must be correctly secured for safe transport and to prevent damage and eliminate theft.

From snowmobiles and personal watercraft to motorcycles and ATVs, Kinedyne has the necessary tie-downs and gear you need to safely transport your powersport vehicles. Let’s first go over the basic steps for loading and securing powersport vehicles inside an enclosed trailer or on an open-deck trailer. Then we’ll run through the various types of tie-down products for powersport vehicles that Kinedyne offers.

Proper securement is all about preventing a powersport vehicle from coming loose in transit. If that happens, you risk damage to the vehicle itself and your trailer. If not secured correctly, the vehicle could fall off your trailer, in which case it could cause property damage and injuries to others.

Watch the Video below to see how a 4-wheeler is properly secured:

The Load-Up

Securement starts with loading up your adventure toy of choice on or in a trailer. When doing so, make sure you follow the 60/40 rule: 60% of the vehicle weight should be in front of the axle and 40% behind the axle. Once your vehicle is loaded, put it in park and apply the parking brake, if it has one.

It’s important to determine the weight of your powersport unit. Knowing that weight will help determine how many straps or chains are needed. There are two types of securement methods to consider:

1. Direct Tie Down

The strap or chain goes from the trailer directly to the powersport load. With this method, you are allowed to use only half of the working load limit stated for the cargo-control product you are using.

2. Indirect Tie Down

The strap or chain goes from the trailer through or over the powersport load back to the trailer on the other side. With this method, you are allowed to use the entire rated working load of the cargo-control product.

Next, determine the securement points on the frame of the vehicle. If you secure to the body of the vehicle, you will need to compress the suspension to avoid the vehicle bouncing, as that can loosen the tension on your straps and cause the vehicle to come loose. Pro tip: Lightly secure all points before going back and fully tightening them down. After all your straps are tight, go back and secure any loose strap ends. Loose strap ends can become damaged by the wind or by dragging on the road. As a final check, rock the vehicle to make sure everything is properly secured and then you’ll know you’re ready to roll.

The Tools of Tying Down

Now, let’s take a close look at the powersports tie-downs and other equipment available from Kinedyne to confidently secure your powersport vehicles. Starting from the ground up, automotive-type tire nets hold your vehicle in place during transport by securing their tires in place. These come in two styles: Basket and Single Over-The-Wheel:

Basket configuration allows adjustment to your exact tire size while allowing more flexibility for securement points. Can be fitted with wire hooks, flat hooks, or snap hooks.

Single over-the-wheel tire nets also allow adjusting to exact tire size but require E-track to be installed on a trailer underneath the tires.

Automotive tie-downs are typically used to secure cars for transport by using hooks that fit most automotive frames. For example, the cluster hook has several different anchor fittings that can be used on GM, Chrysler, Ford, and import frames. The universal auto hook can be used in places where a cluster hook will not work.

Another way to go is to install surface-mount logistic E-track kits that can be mounted anywhere in your trailer to provide an E-track fitting securement point without having to install lengths of E-track. Also consider using a standard 5’ x 8’ pickup truck net to secure any loose cargo in the bed of your pickup.

Onto the axle: Axle straps wrap around axles, chassis, or other attachment points to secure a vehicle in transit. An axle can be used in tandem with a Kinedyne auto tie-down ratchet to ensure the load is secure for the road.

Cinching It

Kinedyne’s Steadymate Cinchtite tie-down products are engineered to secure any motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, personal watercraft, or other powersport vehicles with ease. The lineup consists of six different Cinchtites, all of which leverage the combined power of durable webbing with strong hardware to provide a securement job that you can count on.

Accessories for Cinchtite tie-downs include the Kinedyne Handle Strap, Soft Loop, and Kwik Strap, which are all designed to wrap around parts of the vehicle to allow easier attachment for the Cinchtite instead of hooking it directly to the vehicle. The Handle Strap fits over the handlebars of a motorcycle, snowmobile, or ATV/UTV. The Soft Loop wraps around a securement point without scratching or damaging the motorsport vehicle. Options include 1" webbing or 2" webbing, ratchet or cam buckle, and vinyl-coated S hook or snap hook. And there’s the Fleecemate, a protective sleeve that can be used with the other accessories to protect the vehicle’s paint finish and chromed parts.

Other securement tools by Kinedyne for use with motorsport vehicles include the heavy-duty wheel chock, ideal for supporting motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, sport bikes, or anything else on two wheels. The snowmobile and ATV tow strap features versatile loops to wrap around any securement point, making rescuing a stuck motor-sporter just a little easier. And the aptly named Tree Saver Strap is meant to protect Mother Nature from chains and cables while keeping your cargo securement sap-free.

Get In the Swim

Kinedyne can also help get your personal watercraft or boat to the launch quicker and easier to give you more time on the water. The Transom Trapper line of  marine tie-downs provide efficient security thanks to their strong webbing and durable rust-resistant hardware. Designed to provide a steady grip on your boat, these tie-downs comes with a gel coat protector to prevent the buckle hardware from scratching the boat’s surface.

Accessories for securing your wet ‘n wild motorsport unit provide flexible support. The Bow Safety Strap prevents a boat from bouncing off your bow rollers. There’s a Boat Winch Strap for securement jobs that require a winch. A Gunwale Strap covers your entire boat from one side to the other for steadier securement. And Kinedyne offers a Personal Watercraft Strap designed specifically to support jet skis.

But that’s not all. Kinedyne doesn’t sweat the small stuff that can make a big difference when you’re out enjoying your high-performance toys.

Recognizing that solid pieces of steel may cause damage if they’re left to constantly bash against your vehicle’s surface, Kinedyne offers a handy vinyl ratchet cover. Easy to use, this cover can be placed around a 1" or 2" ratchet buckle in seconds. It then acts as a cushion to keep the ratchet from knocking against your powersport vehicle.

Now you know how to keep your toys safe and secure with Kinedyne!