I'm moving, and need to secure my SV in the back of the Penske truck I rented. I hear the side rails can't hold the weight... is it possible to lay the bike on it's side for a two day voyage? Any other options?
I'm moving, and need to secure my SV in the back of the Penske truck I rented. I hear the side rails can't hold the weight... is it possible to lay the bike on it's side for a two day voyage? Any other options?
when I moved mine had a few tie hooks at the floor... I loaded the bike in 1st... put it flat to the wall tied down i belive the rear wheel ton one hook and the top front of the fork down to another (to compress suspension) then put the mattress between it and the rest of my stuff...
I'm not sure I believe that rumor about the side walls. If you are concerned though, I'd go against the front wall, just behind the cab.
I really wouldn't lay it down.
As these wise gentlemen suggest, the best thing would be to sort of lean it against the front wall so that the side slats aren't doing much of the weight support. (You won't be accelerating hard enough to put too much strain in the rearward direction.) Carefully wedge it in with furniture and mattress/blankets/pillows and such. Take off your tailsection plastic, and maybe your turn signals, to keep from getting cracking and scratching to a minimum.
You might find a swingarm stand to make life easier. This sounds like a good excuse to buy one. Of course you'll still have to tie it down, but the stand will keep it upright.
Otherwise, you could drill a couple discreet holes in the floor for hooks tie-down points and hope they don't notice, or disavow any knowledge of their presence if they do. This might be the route I'd choose.
alex wrote: Otherwise, you could drill a couple discreet holes in the floor for hooks tie-down points and hope they don't notice, or disavow any knowledge of their presence if they do. This might be the route I'd choose.
I have heard of doing this; just plugging the holes afterward. Oh, and I remember "something something something fuel and brake lines" too.
Does the Penske have a wooden floor? I hauled a Harley Low Rider up to New Hampshire a few years ago..We Screwed some extra heavy duty time downs to the floor
noodle wrote: Does the Penske have a wooden floor? I hauled a Harley Low Rider up to New Hampshire a few years ago..We Screwed some extra heavy duty time downs to the floor
It does indeed have a wooden floor... You sir, may be on to something...
The ten gajillion pound ones are only $5 or so at Harbor Freight.
Four 8' 2x4's, some sheet rock screws, a holesaw, and a sheet of plywood.
Cut two 2x4s in half.
Screw one 4 foot-er across the short end of the sheet of plywood and another 8" or so away from it. Measure your wheelbase and screw the third one that far back from the edge one. Fourth goes 8" back from that. Drill 8 holes with the hole saw a few inches from each of the long edges of the sheet of plywood on either side of the second and third board.
Add your two last 8' 2x4s to the top of the other ones, down the center of the sheet of plywood long-ways with enough gap between them for the tires of the bike.
Lay sheet flat with 4 straps fed through your holes around the 2x4's. Bike sits on top with the front wheel chocked in the gaps. Front straps go up to handlebars, back to the rear of the bike somewhere.
Super easy, no holes drilled, costs about $20.
Strap it to a pallet. Box the pallet in with furniture.
Dan
The pallet or fabricated stand described above would work, but I suspect the side rails in the truck are sturdy enough - an old roommate once moved across country with his motorcycle strapped to the side rails in a U-Haul truck with no issues.
Screw six of these to the floor, unscrew them when you get to the new place.
Or.....
Ask someone you trust if they're up for a bike ride. 
Cross country bike trip?
914Driver wrote: Screw six of these to the floor, unscrew them when you get to the new place. Or..... Ask someone you trust if they're up for a bike ride.
Unfortunately, every single one of my friends seems to be tied up this week, much less ones I'd trust on two wheels.
There's a bunch of good ideas here, thanks ya'll!
Build a pallet. I think this one cost me less than $30, including the straps. Next time, though, I'd use 2x4's instead of 2x3's, as it started to bow up a bit.
The wide base of the pallet also gives you a bit of a space cushion around the bike.
Well, it seems every powersports store in the area is closed on Mondays... so much for the swingarm stand.
I did purchase the tie-downs 914 recommended, I guess I'll just crank that bitch down on there!
oldopelguy wrote: Four 8' 2x4's, some sheet rock screws, a holesaw, and a sheet of plywood. Cut two 2x4s in half. Screw one 4 foot-er across the short end of the sheet of plywood and another 8" or so away from it. Measure your wheelbase and screw the third one that far back from the edge one. Fourth goes 8" back from that. Drill 8 holes with the hole saw a few inches from each of the long edges of the sheet of plywood on either side of the second and third board. Add your two last 8' 2x4s to the top of the other ones, down the center of the sheet of plywood long-ways with enough gap between them for the tires of the bike. Lay sheet flat with 4 straps fed through your holes around the 2x4's. Bike sits on top with the front wheel chocked in the gaps. Front straps go up to handlebars, back to the rear of the bike somewhere. Super easy, no holes drilled, costs about $20.
+1
I made chocks out of plywood & 2x4s before and they worked perfectly.
Request the motorcycle transport cradle option from Penske. Additional $17 on a box truck.
(Do you think he called?)
In reply to pinchvalve:
Big sign in the back of the truck said no motorized vehicles in the back, so I dunno how the cradle would work.
However, the trip was made, and 914's recommendation worked like a charm!
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