How to secure bikes in a container

[ColinD]

Hello,

Looking for advice from anybody who has done "DIY" container shipping of bikes. How did you secure the bikes inside the container? i.e. how to you lock them down so they can't tip over when the container is handled?

thanks

[Livotlout]

Hi Colin,

Back in 2001 when my bike was shipped to Oz, they skew nailed timber cleats to the floor of the container, to stop wheels moving as well as hold down tie down straps.

Alec

[mannikwhois]

Hiya Colin,

Here is my little experience of shipping a bike in a container. I recently shipped my bike to Iceland from the UK. It got strapped by the chaps on the Immingham docks. I put the bike on it's centre stand and then it was strapped down with four straps to keep it in place. Then they secured a strap in the ceiling and through the passengers handholds to hold the bike up, if any of the other straps would come loose. Therefore the idea would be to have the bike dangling, hopefully three straps still attached, so it wouldn't fall over and move inside the container. Then finally they put a short 2x4 under the back wheel, to preventing it to rock backwards and forwards. I put all my luggage on a pallet which was also strapped down in the corner of the container. When I picked the bike up nothing had moved, and everything was in order, even the luggage had stayed in place. I was quite pleased with it and like I say it looked and felt solid. But mind you it was only a short haul as it only took five to six days in shipping. I have attached a picture I took of the bike in the container.

All the best.

Cheers,

M.

[RTWbyBIKE.com]

From what I red b4 "never use the center stand..." and I used always 4 of this strips with a radget on... wind them down mostly till the end of the feaders, secure the wheels if you can, and thats it... We did it like that always... no problems... but everybody how they like it...

[martheijnens]

Hi Colin,

I shipped my bike several times. I always crated the bike. A crate you can get or buy from a bikedealer.

Matthew

[ColinD]

Originally Posted by mannikwhois

Hiya Colin,

Here is my little experience ...

M.

Oh my, you are travelling in style! I plan to have 6 bikes in a 20 ft container. They will be across the container.

[ColinD]

Originally Posted by martheijnens

Hi Colin,

I shipped my bike several times. I always crated the bike. A crate you can get or buy from a bikedealer.

Matthew

Hi Matthew,

I did put it in a crate last time but I didn't enjoy the experience Too much work to compact the bike for my liking. Plus I had to cut the cable for the heated grip as the handlebar could not otherwise be turned around (not that I needed heated grips in the tropics, but still...).

[ColinD]

I'm thinking I may make up a set of 6 "racks" (for want of a better word). Each one would hold the bike securely in place, and get lifted into the container with a trolley. Then I would bolt then racks together as each one goes in.