Towing question - Page 2

Eman · 10-14-2022, 10:53 AM

Ever notice no one has a problem....until they do? I use 4 straps not crossed, all have safety style hooks fronts don't have ratchets only the back.
I have seen someone open the trailer door to find their car against one wall because 1 strap failed. OP is correct about the rough roads and the car bouncing. Slicks have a lot of give so for insurance I'll pump my tires up a little high before loading. If going any distance I'll stop and check my straps and tighten the ratchets. I used the D part of weld on D rings and welded them onto the car to tie down with.

Demon340 · 10-14-2022, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Briglio

Turnbuckles and support under front frame

Than you racers for your ideas..

It's not so much as the car moving side to side, but more of the suspension loading and unloading while strapped down. I am pulling the car's front forward and the rear backwards with the total of 4 straps.
My concern is the shocks and leaf springs.

I have heard horror stories of broken leaf springs because of the suspension is still going up and down. Can you explain more of the turn buckle and block idea Glenn?

Glenn Briglio · 10-14-2022, 02:39 PM

I used a railroad tie piece of wood under my front crossmember. The turnbuckles hook into the frame and pulled down against the railroad tie. The frame will have 2 areas that the factory uses when transporting vehicles from the factory to the dealers. I haven't used any wood under the rear suspension as of yet. You can use chains with the turnbuckles if that helps. If you want pics send me your email. And yes it's a learning curve when you have to always travel the roads thru NYC.

4543 · 10-14-2022, 05:10 PM

I add air to all four tires, cross ratchet straps and tighten my shocks full tight. Also balance trailer tires. Big difference. Mike McMahan 2543 H/SA

SGSST109E · 10-15-2022, 06:46 AM

I cross the back straps and the fronts. I put the car in the trailer at running air pressure. I then add air to the slicks to a count of 15 to 20. The last thing is to snug the winch cable and I am done. Car has never moved. My typical tows are several hundred miles and my long ones are 1,000 to 1,500 miles.

Greg West · 10-17-2022, 01:57 PM

If you tie your car down at the rear axle housing, try touching your shocks on the car after towing for an hour or so. The shocks are very hot. I don't know how this affects the life of the shocks or their function but I don't think it can be a good thing.
Years ago several of us stocker guys with open trailers left Bowling Green for Indy together. I couldn't believe how much the race cars were bouncing on the trailers.
I often wondered why car trailers don't have shocks.

Shaun Quill · 10-20-2022, 05:28 PM

On my Camaro I use “t” hooks that hook in the side of the subframe and in the rear I drilled a hole in the bottom of the frame rail and use a miniature “J” hook. I drilled the hole probably a foot from the rear valance.I can hook it while standing up and it doesn’t budge going down the road.

brett3533 · 10-21-2022, 11:23 AM

Have heard of door car using a chassis bladder under the front sub frame. after the car is fully strapped down then use place the bladder and pump it up to help keep it from bouncing in the front end I would think you have to be careful not to over load the bladder due to strap pressures could be hard on tie downs in trailer floor and frame of car.

btrc · 10-24-2022, 05:14 PM

This summer I left the track for home and 22 miles later I felt a bump from the rear when I stopped for a stop sign. A couple blocks more and another bump and stop. Decided to look into trailer and all 4 straps were broke. I know they were tight when I left the track. The front straps from the outside into the center of the front crossmember under the engine and the rear ones were one on each side from the axle straight back. The winches were both in front with no adjustment at the rear. I can’t figure out how all 4 could break but it happened.
I don’t have a solution but I bought very high quality straps to replace the destroyed ones. All the straps broke where strap is looped around her hook and sewed together. The sowing thread is what broke.

GTX JOHN · 10-24-2022, 09:36 PM

We have been building and selling trailers for 30 years or
more. I have seen a real quality difference between straps
that are rated the same breaking weight.
Some of the stuff at harbor Freight and the swap meets scare
me.
Be sure you D Rings are heavy enough and plated and welded
to crossmembers securely. I have seen trailers that I would not trust
my Grandkids bicycles on.

10-14-2022, 10:53 AM	#11
Eman Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: E TN Posts: 473 Likes: 16 Liked 133 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Towing question Ever notice no one has a problem....until they do? I use 4 straps not crossed, all have safety style hooks fronts don't have ratchets only the back. I have seen someone open the trailer door to find their car against one wall because 1 strap failed. OP is correct about the rough roads and the car bouncing. Slicks have a lot of give so for insurance I'll pump my tires up a little high before loading. If going any distance I'll stop and check my straps and tighten the ratchets. I used the D part of weld on D rings and welded them onto the car to tie down with.

10-14-2022, 02:39 PM	#13
Glenn Briglio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Massapequa Park,NY Posts: 1,281 Likes: 1,895 Liked 969 Times in 307 Posts	Re: Towing question I used a railroad tie piece of wood under my front crossmember. The turnbuckles hook into the frame and pulled down against the railroad tie. The frame will have 2 areas that the factory uses when transporting vehicles from the factory to the dealers. I haven't used any wood under the rear suspension as of yet. You can use chains with the turnbuckles if that helps. If you want pics send me your email. And yes it's a learning curve when you have to always travel the roads thru NYC. __________________ 1989 Camaro Iroc-Z I/SA B&B Auto Machine Shop.

10-14-2022, 05:10 PM	#14
4543 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 639 Likes: 58 Liked 634 Times in 139 Posts	Re: Towing question I add air to all four tires, cross ratchet straps and tighten my shocks full tight. Also balance trailer tires. Big difference. Mike McMahan 2543 H/SA

10-15-2022, 06:46 AM	#15
SGSST109E Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 351 Likes: 62 Liked 126 Times in 61 Posts	Re: Towing question I cross the back straps and the fronts. I put the car in the trailer at running air pressure. I then add air to the slicks to a count of 15 to 20. The last thing is to snug the winch cable and I am done. Car has never moved. My typical tows are several hundred miles and my long ones are 1,000 to 1,500 miles. Last edited by SGSST109E; 10-15-2022 at 07:40 AM.

10-17-2022, 01:57 PM	#16
Greg West Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 63 Likes: 26 Liked 52 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Towing question If you tie your car down at the rear axle housing, try touching your shocks on the car after towing for an hour or so. The shocks are very hot. I don't know how this affects the life of the shocks or their function but I don't think it can be a good thing. Years ago several of us stocker guys with open trailers left Bowling Green for Indy together. I couldn't believe how much the race cars were bouncing on the trailers. I often wondered why car trailers don't have shocks.

10-20-2022, 05:28 PM	#17
Shaun Quill Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hockessin DE Posts: 228 Likes: 32 Liked 105 Times in 26 Posts	Re: Towing question On my Camaro I use “t” hooks that hook in the side of the subframe and in the rear I drilled a hole in the bottom of the frame rail and use a miniature “J” hook. I drilled the hole probably a foot from the rear valance.I can hook it while standing up and it doesn’t budge going down the road.

10-21-2022, 11:23 AM	#18
brett3533 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: maysville Posts: 118 Likes: 15 Liked 41 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Towing question Have heard of door car using a chassis bladder under the front sub frame. after the car is fully strapped down then use place the bladder and pump it up to help keep it from bouncing in the front end I would think you have to be careful not to over load the bladder due to strap pressures could be hard on tie downs in trailer floor and frame of car. __________________ Brett McFarland A/S

10-24-2022, 05:14 PM	#19
btrc Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 253 Likes: 286 Liked 84 Times in 42 Posts	Re: Towing question This summer I left the track for home and 22 miles later I felt a bump from the rear when I stopped for a stop sign. A couple blocks more and another bump and stop. Decided to look into trailer and all 4 straps were broke. I know they were tight when I left the track. The front straps from the outside into the center of the front crossmember under the engine and the rear ones were one on each side from the axle straight back. The winches were both in front with no adjustment at the rear. I can’t figure out how all 4 could break but it happened. I don’t have a solution but I bought very high quality straps to replace the destroyed ones. All the straps broke where strap is looped around her hook and sewed together. The sowing thread is what broke. __________________ Bob Tilton 568 FS/H

10-24-2022, 09:36 PM	#20
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,732 Likes: 2,798 Liked 2,482 Times in 697 Posts	Re: Towing question We have been building and selling trailers for 30 years or more. I have seen a real quality difference between straps that are rated the same breaking weight. Some of the stuff at harbor Freight and the swap meets scare me. Be sure you D Rings are heavy enough and plated and welded to crossmembers securely. I have seen trailers that I would not trust my Grandkids bicycles on. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock