Trailering questions...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
Trailering questions...
Hey all...
Early next month I will be helping my folks move from WI to AR (goodie) and we need to tow the 86. Dad rented a flatbed trailer to be pulled behind the 24' rent-a-truck (should be strong enough
). This is through Budget and they said the trailer will be fine for a C4...I hope they are right. We were going to just do a dolly but the cost difference is not worth it.
Anyway, what is the recommended way to strap one of these puppies down for the 1k mile trek? I am also kinda worried about rock hits etc but I dont think there is much I can do about it. We are also towing a Buick Century too (same trailer) so any tips there would be helpful.
I noticed that there are little "ears" welded to the frame in the front and back. Are they strong enough to use for tying down? If not, then where else should we go to?
Any tips would be appreciated...Thanks!
Dale
Early next month I will be helping my folks move from WI to AR (goodie) and we need to tow the 86. Dad rented a flatbed trailer to be pulled behind the 24' rent-a-truck (should be strong enough
). This is through Budget and they said the trailer will be fine for a C4...I hope they are right. We were going to just do a dolly but the cost difference is not worth it.Anyway, what is the recommended way to strap one of these puppies down for the 1k mile trek? I am also kinda worried about rock hits etc but I dont think there is much I can do about it. We are also towing a Buick Century too (same trailer) so any tips there would be helpful.
I noticed that there are little "ears" welded to the frame in the front and back. Are they strong enough to use for tying down? If not, then where else should we go to?
Any tips would be appreciated...Thanks!
Dale
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
I would start by using the "eye'' holes plates that are already on the frame. In the front they are on the frame rails just behind the front tire. In the back they are a little harder to see , but on the frame rails ahead of the rear tire (if memory serves). I would use a quality tie down with ratchet ends either heavy duty nylon straps or the chain type. Make sure you have the car on trailer with the weight being somewhat balanced (I would go a little more forward with the weight). Get some "equalizing'' bars on the hitch to the trailer, that will help with handeling and the ammount of tongue weight on the hitch. Do not put a car cover on it, as that will beat the paint to death. Good luck with the move 
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
From: Downriver Mi.
Must be a big trailer If you put the weight in the rear of the trailer you will be all over the place with the trailer,put most the weight toward the front.
If you put the weight in the rear of the trailer you will be all over the place with the trailer,put most the weight toward the front.
Last edited by MR NICE; Mar 12, 2006 at 10:26 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Did you ask at the rental place if they have suitable ratcheting straps? The rings you see in the front were used for holding the car on the transport when it was shipped to the dealer so those will work in the front.
In the rear, the slots in the frame corners will work; just remember to cross the rear straps: left side of the car to the right side of the trailer and vice-versa.
Don't know about the Buick but there should be some place where you can attach chains or straps to its body or subframe. The rear straps should be crossed too. How long is this trailer?? Towing two cars on a single trailer is a fair amount of weight to pull. It sounds like you will have about 7000 lbs of cargo on the trailer!
The trailer tongue weight should be 10% of the total trailer weight. The trailer should have a plate that shows the unloaded weight. Add the car weight to that and take 10% of that amount which will be the tongue weight. You also have to add the total towed weight to the trucks total weight (including your cargo) I would not put anything inside the car(s).
Don't use a cover on the car. The truck body will shield it from most road debris especially if the Vette is the forward car.
In the rear, the slots in the frame corners will work; just remember to cross the rear straps: left side of the car to the right side of the trailer and vice-versa.
Don't know about the Buick but there should be some place where you can attach chains or straps to its body or subframe. The rear straps should be crossed too. How long is this trailer?? Towing two cars on a single trailer is a fair amount of weight to pull. It sounds like you will have about 7000 lbs of cargo on the trailer!
The trailer tongue weight should be 10% of the total trailer weight. The trailer should have a plate that shows the unloaded weight. Add the car weight to that and take 10% of that amount which will be the tongue weight. You also have to add the total towed weight to the trucks total weight (including your cargo) I would not put anything inside the car(s).
Don't use a cover on the car. The truck body will shield it from most road debris especially if the Vette is the forward car.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
Oops...I should have mentioned that we are taking the cars on two trips... first the buick then the vette a few days later (or something like that). It is just a normal 1 car flatbed trailer.
I'll have to check on the tie downs they provide. If they don't have anything good, hopefully some of the local stores have some.
Thanks for the well wishes! Hopefully this all goes smoothly. I am closing on my first house about a week before all this so I get to store some of their stuff for awhile in my house/garage. HeHeHe...I get his Vette and his van along with all the tools/air compressors/MIG welder/etc.....It's tough helping family
I'll have to check on the tie downs they provide. If they don't have anything good, hopefully some of the local stores have some.
Thanks for the well wishes! Hopefully this all goes smoothly. I am closing on my first house about a week before all this so I get to store some of their stuff for awhile in my house/garage. HeHeHe...I get his Vette and his van along with all the tools/air compressors/MIG welder/etc.....It's tough helping family
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,175
Likes: 2,511
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
The straps you want should look something like this..
Pep Boys has em.
Pep Boys has em.
No - those straps will not fit into the factory "eyelets"
Go to Summitracing.com and order two sets of their ratcheting straps made for this, rather than a mickey mouse alternative - cheap insurance!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,426
Likes: 4
From: Heidelberg PA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Is th etrailor a 4 wheel one? If it is you should balance the weight. Measure your hitch height before car and it should drop an inch and a 1/2 for proper tongue weight. The weight distribution is very important for safety and handling.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Originally Posted by Paul G
If the trailer is a car hauler rented from Budget it should come with a set of tie down straps. Usually they have the type that wraps over the front tires.
I've trailered my vette on a uhaul carrier from AR to TX and from MT to IL with no problems. Probably the only worthwhile piece of equipment uhaul rents.
