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Towing 1978 on flat trailer, help.

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Old Jul 17, 2014 | 10:08 AM
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Default Towing 1978 on flat trailer, help.

I will be towing a 1978 on my flat bed trailer. I do not have over wheel straps so how should I tie the car down?

Thanks,

Stephen
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Old Jul 17, 2014 | 10:12 AM
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If you own the trailer, I'd invest in the over wheel straps as they are best.. IF you are renting it, I'd go somewhere else. Uhaul had the straps when I rented my flatbed.

IF you absolutely don't want the wheel straps, I'd suggest a heavy duty tie down through each hole in the rim (assuming your rims have one) and ratcheting it down tight In addition use a chain or 2 heavy duty ratchet ties securing the car from the rear axle.

Good luck

Last edited by 72C3Vette; Jul 17, 2014 at 10:15 AM.
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Old Jul 17, 2014 | 10:16 AM
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Depends on how far you are hauling and how often. I tie to the front A arm and around the rear drive shaft. Usually block the wheels as well if going short distance. If you are going to be hauling often get the wheel straps. Careful of the nose when loading up the ramps.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by donnie1956
Depends on how far you are hauling and how often. I tie to the front A arm and around the rear drive shaft. Usually block the wheels as well if going short distance. If you are going to be hauling often get the wheel straps. Careful of the nose when loading up the ramps.
As said before, straps are the best - but in their absence, I would tie down:

Front crossmember,two in the front on to the front corners of the trailer, , transmission crossmember on both sides, rear axle on both sides to the rear of the trailer , and then the a-arms/control arms.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 06:53 PM
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You can get "T" hooks which fit in the frame also... they have rings to tie to ...https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...vid=1769050861
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 08:48 PM
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I usually use 8 straps without any issues so far.

Two on the front crossmember in the two smaller holes on each side of the centerline to the corners of the trailer:


Frame holes on each side just below the doors and criss-cross the straps to the sides of the trailer:



The smaller holes just inside of the exhaust pipes to the rear corners of the trailer:



You can kinda see how I strap her down here:


The ramps that came with the trailer were not long enough, so were at too steep of an angle. I bought some rhino ramps and use both sets to be able to drive up onto the trailer. No problems except that it's still not a low enough angle when i have my chin spoiler on. I have to remove it to put the car on the trailer.

Last edited by TurboStitchCW; Jul 18, 2014 at 09:02 PM.
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Old Jul 18, 2014 | 09:37 PM
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I use four - through the A arms up front and I use axle straps over the trailing arms in the back. I'm not real fond of tying down the frame, just unsuspended parts so the car can float over bumps. If you think about it, tire straps do the same thing. If you keep the wheels stationary, the car isn't going anywhere.
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Zoomin
I use four - through the A arms up front and I use axle straps over the trailing arms in the back. I'm not real fond of tying down the frame, just unsuspended parts so the car can float over bumps. If you think about it, tire straps do the same thing. If you keep the wheels stationary, the car isn't going anywhere.
Thanks for this thread. I'm about to move from Baltimore to Charleston... I understand the theory, I've tied transported many motorbikes over the years... Do you have a picture of your recommendation?

I was thinking about using axle straps through my rally wheels, at the 4 corners of the car.

Last edited by gluvnaa; Jul 19, 2014 at 07:25 AM.
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 08:09 AM
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As gluvnaa posted, use straps thru the ralley wheels. That way the cars suspension will allow movement when the trailer hits bumps. Harbor freight has some 3000# straps for about $10 each.
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 08:17 AM
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Tied my 78 like this for a 240 mile trip & then a friend used the same method to travel from RI to Florida the same way with his 74. No problems encountered by either of us:


Last edited by BKarol; Jul 19, 2014 at 08:20 AM.
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 08:51 AM
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This old thread covers it pretty well. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...the-wheel.html
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 11:33 AM
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Thanks for all the advice. I went with through the wheels sraps and got the car home yesterday.

Stephen
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by gluvnaa
Thanks for this thread. I'm about to move from Baltimore to Charleston... I understand the theory, I've tied transported many motorbikes over the years... Do you have a picture of your recommendation?

I was thinking about using axle straps through my rally wheels, at the 4 corners of the car.
That will work great too.

This is the best pic I could find:



I tie down to the opposite corner of the trailer when using this method to keep the rear end from bouncing to one side.
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Old Jul 19, 2014 | 08:14 PM
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Best way is grabbing the car with ratcheting tie downs with hooks on the ends. Just attach a hook to a hole in the frame. I would never tie down a car from any of its suspension components. There is more often than not somewhere on the frame that you can tie it down from.
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Old Jul 20, 2014 | 10:50 PM
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Holes in the the frame under the doors (as per post #6 above). Rear hole on ds to d-ring on pass side of the trailer.

Never had the car move a bit.


Dodosmike



Ps. Trailer in above pics is for sale if anybody is looking for one.

Last edited by Dodosmike; Jul 21, 2014 at 12:24 PM.
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Old Jul 21, 2014 | 06:48 PM
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Post #5 has the "T" hooks that go in the frame.. then straps onto them ...
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Old Jul 21, 2014 | 09:37 PM
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Hooking to the frame s the best test I can think of to see if your frame is thin or not. With the body bouncing up and down your straps are going to stretch and get loose.

Your mileage may vary.
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