[p_rod]

Good morning!

I'm new here, and have spent the last hour or so researching the best way to secure my '16 Rancher to a trailer. I feel confident that the four ratchet straps I have will do the trick and I now know the best points are to secure it.

My question is concerning the brakes and transmission when towing. Maybe I didn't use the proper search terms but I didn't find a lot about it.

Personally, I think that leaving the tranny in neutral and using the parking brake (all done after strapping the trailer down to my trailer) is the way to go but I am deferring to the much more experienced members here to either agree or convince me there is a better way.

Thanks in advance everyone!

Pat

Now if I can find some good places to ride in Georgia I'll be all set!

 

[Goober]

Good question I get why you want to leave it in neutral because you want to avoid clutch wear. Well for very long trips I get that but for short trip (all I do):
Get it in the truck or my tilt trailer
Leave in low gear
Set parking brake
Chock it—I have these big rubber chocks I bought from Tractor Supply—one set for each non-steerable wheel; my tilt trailer has 4x4 lumber all the way across the deck—front and back—hitch pinned to deck.
Straps—I use Harley Davidson ratchet straps with the soft hooks. Only attach the straps to rigid frame members—not steering members, handlebars or across seat. Use a bungee cord from foot peg to foot peg to restrain the seat-seen several atv seats lost on the highway.
Lastly remove your key—that little flag will catch the wind and you’ll lose it too.

 

[hodge5]

Definitely set the brake. And, remember- you are wanting to secure the ATV (this is also important to remember for anything trailered), but you are also wanting to keep it on there in the event of an accident. Normal procedures are fine for just towing, but imagine the forces applied in a hard collision. Plan for that.

 

[mac102004]

I put the brake on and leave it in gear. 1 strap at each corner closer to the wheel the better. Never had any trouble.


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[shadetree]

when in my truck bed, or trailer, I put them in 1st gear, set parking brake, then turn the fuel off, then remove key. ALWAYS TURN THE FUEL OFF WHEN HAULING AROUND !!. they bounce, when they do this ?, the carb's float needle will not seat, letting fuel in. then I use four 2 inch ratchet straps rated at 1500lb loads. over kill ?, yes !. been down that road once..never again !..lol.

 

[mrbb]

OK I'll toss this out there, I have towed my atv as far as 1800 miles one way NON stop from pavement to dirt back roads on MANY MANY MANY trips over 800+ miles as well
I simple put atv on trailer, set parking brake,in Netural
I hook 1 very HD ratchet strap from foot peg to anchor point on trailer, per side
My anchor points are set up so its JUST to the outside of each front tire, tires cannot turn
I then use another HD ratchet strap from tow hitch to directly straight line to trailer's anchor point
and then I add a second HD ratchet strap around rear axle tube and again to trailer
I have NEVER taken the seat off, I have never had the atv move an inch and I have gone down some nasty back roads at 65+ mph towing, had a few close calls on icy roads where trailer broke loose and tried to pass the truck only to catch before there and do some CRAZY whipping action that I was sure the atv was GONE, and again its never moved an inch
NOW when I say HD ratchet straps, I mean GOOD one's, 2-3 inch wide that have a LOAD holding limit of 5,000 lbs and a BREAKING point of closer to 15,000 lbs
NOT little wally world 1 inch straps
I have towed my atv all across the USA and again this is what works for me
MY 2 cents here!

 

[mac102004]

This is/was my favourite way to secure my machines. 2 large chains on the front and 2 straps on the back to tighten it down.

I no longer haul like this since my new shorter deck makes it a bit harder and I never did get around to making up chains and hooks. I actually worked as a surveyor and ran this setup daily, I logged approx. 50,000+ miles hauling ATV's or snowmobiles on my truck deck, and my furthest distance traveled at one time was actually just under 4,000 miles. So, I've been there done than when it comes to hauling ATV's lol