Trailing
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 8
From: Southboro MA
Trailing
Need to rent a trailer (open) to transport car(C2 coupe) and am looking for advise. What is the best type of anchoring system and positioning (drive on or back on)when trailing ?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: Trailing (9t6t7)
Definitely go on "frontwise", not backwards. You need about 200 lbs of tongue weight. If the trailer is tail heavy, it will fishtail, and you run the risk of actually popping the trailer cup off the ball. I use ratchet nylon tie straps, two on the front wrapped around the lower A frames and one on the rear axle/half shaft. Put the car in gear, and use the parking brake. Use a tow vehicle with enough "guts" to do the job. Hope this helps. Chuck
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Re: Trailing (9t6t7)
I rented an open trailer (car transporter) from UHaul to pick-up a Coupe w/ sidepipes. Drove the car onto the trailer front end first. You do need a little bit of a slope to load the car and have the sidepipes clear.
For towing, you'll want to load the car front first! Keeps the majority of the weight forward of the trailer axles. Don't back on!
Cost was reasonable (I think about $45 for 24 hrs) and it worked fine for a 250 mile trip.
For towing, you'll want to load the car front first! Keeps the majority of the weight forward of the trailer axles. Don't back on!
Cost was reasonable (I think about $45 for 24 hrs) and it worked fine for a 250 mile trip.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Vegas Baby
Re: Trailing (9t6t7)
I recently used one of U-Haul's " Auto Transporters " to haul my 67 with sidepipes about 1000 miles round trip. I was a little skeptical about the battered appearance of the rig, but functonally it was sound and my Expedition towed it like it wasn't even there. ( That feeling in itself kept me checking my mirror! ).
Heed the advice about getting it on the proper grade when loading as it will scrape, and be very careful to not open the door to get out after you get it loaded. I found this out the hard way.
:smash:
I also threw on a couple of extra chains on front and rear, just in case.
Heed the advice about getting it on the proper grade when loading as it will scrape, and be very careful to not open the door to get out after you get it loaded. I found this out the hard way.
:smash:
I also threw on a couple of extra chains on front and rear, just in case.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Gibsonia PA
Re: Trailing (9t6t7)
I hope this isn't too late for your needs, I do a lot of trailering with my other cars. I would also recommend pulling the car on for proper wieght distribution. Another thing I do is cross two tie down strapes in the front and rear. In the rear cross around the pumkin. I've had them slide sideways and that can give you a real challenge getting it off. Another thought is to back your tow vehicle on a two by four ( maybe a couple ) before loading, it will greatly help the angle perventing drag. Don't go too far though.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 26
From: Florida
Re: Trailing (8notenough)
The U-Haul's tow super and have great tie down at the wheels, like tow dollies do. If you use a flatbed style open trailer, especially one with an open center then you need to X tie down front and rearends to keep the car from bouncing to one side or the other.
Please check your straps within the first couple of miles and then again within the 1/2 hour or so then the car should settle for the rest of the tow.
Hope this helps.
Andy
Please check your straps within the first couple of miles and then again within the 1/2 hour or so then the car should settle for the rest of the tow.
Hope this helps.
Andy
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 0
From: Naples, Fl. USA
Re: Trailing (9t6t7)
9t6t7,
All very good advice, except I would add something trailering 'experts' and experience would advise- you need to have between 10 and 12% of the total gross trailer weight (trailer and load) on the hitch of your towing vehicle. If doing this drops the rear of your towing vehicle too low- you need one with a heavier rear suspension. Too light of a hitch load can result in severe swaying which can be disastrous. :eek:
All very good advice, except I would add something trailering 'experts' and experience would advise- you need to have between 10 and 12% of the total gross trailer weight (trailer and load) on the hitch of your towing vehicle. If doing this drops the rear of your towing vehicle too low- you need one with a heavier rear suspension. Too light of a hitch load can result in severe swaying which can be disastrous. :eek:
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