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Hauling Four Baggers and Four Riders to Sturgis: Trailer Setup, Tie-Downs, and Route Tips

Trailers
September 10, 2025•4 min read

Hauling Four Baggers and Four Riders to Sturgis: Trailer Setup, Tie-Downs, and Route Tips

Riding Sturgis is a bucket-list trip. Trailering your four baggers gets you there fresher, with fewer miles on the bikes—and a safer plan for desert heat and mountain weather.

By Scott — Copper State Trailer Rentals • August 18, 2025 • 3 min read

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Plan your layout, strap geometry, and driver rotation before you roll. This guide covers chocks, tie‑downs, weight math, and a no‑drama route plan.

Capacity & trailer choice

  • Weight math: Most baggers weigh 800–900 lb each → four bikes ≈ 3,200–3,600 lb plus chocks/gear. Add tools, coolers, luggage (200–400 lb). Stay under trailer GVWR and your truck’s payload/GCWR.

  • Best fit: Our 20' Enclosed Car Hauler (E‑track) keeps bikes clean without rock chips, dry, and secure overnight. Our E-track system was specially laid out to accommodate 4 large, 9000lb Baggers. Prefer open air? Our 20' open car hauler works with bolt‑on chocks.

Layout & chocks

  • Staggered 2×2 pattern: front pair slightly wider, rear pair slightly narrower. Leave a walking lane to reach straps and fuel caps.

  • Chocks: E‑track chocks lock wheel to the floor (E-track chocks can be easily relocated as needed). Confirm tire fit before loading.

Tie‑down method (baggers)

  • Front: soft loops at lower triple tree or fork brace; compress the suspension 1–1.5 in—not solid.

  • Rear: soft loops at saddlebag guards/subframe (avoid exhaust/paint).

  • Angles: create opposing angles—front straps pull forward/down; rear straps back/down.

  • Redundancy: add a secondary strap on each rear point for long highway stints.

  • Re‑check: stop at 5–10 miles, then each fuel stop to re‑torque straps.

Packing for four riders

  • Shared toolkit: torque wrench (lugs), sockets, Allen/Torx for Harley, tire inflator + gauge, fuses, spare strap, tape, rags.

  • Comfort: cooler, water, snacks, sunscreen, gloves, headlamps.

  • Security: disc locks, bar lock, hitch/coupler lock, and a cover if using an open trailer.

Route & safety tips

  • Drive shifts: rotate every 2–3 hours; the co‑pilot manages navigation and strap checks. With our Cargo Camera (and Backup Camera) system ($10/day), you can monitor your bikes while cruising down the highway.

  • Fuel & food: plan wide, pull‑through stations; avoid tight curbs with long rigs.

  • Weather window: monsoon cells leaving AZ and afternoon storms in SD—reduce speed in gusts; don’t push into dust.

  • Overnights: choose well‑lit hotels; park under cameras, back the ramp to a wall, and use extra locks.

Departure‑day checklist

  • Tongue weight at 10–15%; even left/right balance.

  • Brake controller gain test at 20–25 mph.

  • Lug nuts torqued; PSI set cold (truck + trailer).

  • Straps staged, chocks tight, doors secure and locked.

Quick weight worksheet

Item

Trailer GVWR (from sticker)

Trailer empty weight (from sticker)

Max cargo allowed (GVWR − empty)

Four bikes (e.g., 4 × 850 lb = 3,400 lb)

Chocks + straps + gear (estimate)

Total cargo (bikes + gear)

Under GVWR? (Yes/No)

Also confirm: truck tow rating (GCWR), hitch rating, payload (tongue wt.), and brake controller readiness.

Use this Tow Guide to determine your vehicles Towing Capacity - https://rv.campingworld.com/towguide

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Four bikes ride better when the straps share the load—not when the forks are slammed solid.

Headed to Sturgis? Reserve our 20' Enclosed Car Hauler and ask us to stage four chocks, soft loops, and extra straps—we’ll help you lay out the 2×2 pattern at pickup.

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Website: https://copperstatetrailerrentals.com/

Phone: (623) 624‑6255

Author: Scott — Copper State Trailer Rentals. We are a customer service company… that just happens to rent trailers.

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