Motorcycle tie-downs in bed

Can anyone comment on using the factory Toyota tie-down anchors in the floor of the bed for hauling a lightweight dirt bike? Are they strong enough to use normal tie-down straps and compress the bike's suspension some to keep it in place...or will I need an accessory rack for the headwall to hold the tire and secure the straps to?

 

Do not use the bed cleats, only the tie downs on the floor as you stated...but yes, they are fine...haul my two race bikes around all the time. I have added two to the front of the bed though so I can pull them in (facing forward) and use canyon dancers to tie them down.

 

What he said. I wouldn't use the cleats. I added D-rings to the front of the bed and haul a 750 sport bike without any issues.

 

Thanks, guys...appreciate the help!

 

I added d-rings to the front and use those. They work good. I had tried to use the bed rail system, but it just bends up and is not good enough.

I do take the bed rail cleats though and set them up to hold the bike tires.

That works pretty well, because other wise the bed is so narrow that when you haul 2 bikes the tie down points are too close and the bikes tend to turn the wheel and then topple.

With this setup I haul two full size dirt bikes no problem all over.

You can use a fork brace if you are climbing some elevations and are afraid to blow a fork seal out. That used to happen on my 80's and early 90's bikes, Ive never seen it happen on a newer bike.

 

Did a dry run last night and the bike fits perfectly in the bed on a diagonal with the front wheel straight and the tail gate up. It can't roll forward or back...not even a fraction of an inch. All I need to do then is keep it upright which I can do with tie-downs to the cleats, compressing the front forks just an inch or so. It's rock solid in the bed and there's no undue stress on the cleats. I'll get a Tuff-Hook or a Bed Buddy and mount it more securely, but for this weekend (first time out in the Tacoma) it will work fine.