Tow Hooks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
Likes: 45
From: Houston Texas
Tow Hooks
Just read the tech tip over on the C4Guru site about the location and painting of the tow hook areas of the C4. As I look at the location of the front hooks on my own 96, they are directly behind, and at the same level as, the lower A-arm.
With the car so low to the ground, it appears that any chain (leading to the front of the car---the apparent direction that the car would be towed or dragged up on a flatbed) attached to the front tow holes can't help but put enormous upward force on the rear portion of the lower arm.
Not only would I like some clarification on where I may be wrong, but I recently bought a 18-foot car-hauler and have started to wonder where to attach and what pattern to use for the haul-down straps I intend to use.
Note to the Moderator: If this post should be over in the racing section, go ahead and move it.
With the car so low to the ground, it appears that any chain (leading to the front of the car---the apparent direction that the car would be towed or dragged up on a flatbed) attached to the front tow holes can't help but put enormous upward force on the rear portion of the lower arm.
Not only would I like some clarification on where I may be wrong, but I recently bought a 18-foot car-hauler and have started to wonder where to attach and what pattern to use for the haul-down straps I intend to use.
Note to the Moderator: If this post should be over in the racing section, go ahead and move it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
well... beings that it is a C4 Guru tech tip... 
I wrote that.
To start with, most flat beds use a steel cable, not a chain.
I suspect that if this would cause a problem for the car, GM would have relocated them. I only can report what is given to me, in this case, it's the fixed location of the tow hooks.
To be honest, I doubt it would hurt much, the tension would be right where the lower control arms attach to the chassis, their strongest point.
As for haul straps, I would attach them to the tow hooks, or, wrap them around the tires.
I wrote that.
To start with, most flat beds use a steel cable, not a chain.
I suspect that if this would cause a problem for the car, GM would have relocated them. I only can report what is given to me, in this case, it's the fixed location of the tow hooks.
To be honest, I doubt it would hurt much, the tension would be right where the lower control arms attach to the chassis, their strongest point.
As for haul straps, I would attach them to the tow hooks, or, wrap them around the tires.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 41
From: Corinth TX
Whenever I have had to move a car, C5 or C6, I used the straps over the tire method. In fact alot of the trailors from the rental places use the tire strap method. You just have to make sure you tighten that baby down.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
Likes: 45
From: Houston Texas
I don't have the mesh strap to go over the tires. What I'm thinking is to do a "X" with the straps UNDER the car as opposed to a criss-cross set of straps in front of the car and another set of straps criss-crossed again behind the car.
In other words, 1 strap would attach to the tow hook by the driver's foot well and attach to the trailer close to where the rear passenger tire would be. The other front strap would attach to the tow hook by the passenger foot well and to the trailer near where the driver's side rear tire would be.
The straps that attach to the rear of the car would be attached to the trailer near the front tires.
I would also assume that blocking the tires is a given, as well as having an automatic in neutral (instead of park) to eliminate damage to the parking pawl while the car is rocking back & forth during the trip.
I haven't towed the car yet, so I'm looking for advice from those who know.
In other words, 1 strap would attach to the tow hook by the driver's foot well and attach to the trailer close to where the rear passenger tire would be. The other front strap would attach to the tow hook by the passenger foot well and to the trailer near where the driver's side rear tire would be.
The straps that attach to the rear of the car would be attached to the trailer near the front tires.
I would also assume that blocking the tires is a given, as well as having an automatic in neutral (instead of park) to eliminate damage to the parking pawl while the car is rocking back & forth during the trip.
I haven't towed the car yet, so I'm looking for advice from those who know.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,835
Likes: 30
.......a year and a half ago, i blew a rear wheel bearing and had to be flat-bedded home. i watched as the FEMALE tow truck driver placed a board (more like a miniature railroad tie) between the undercarriage and the tow cable. she then hauled it up on the flatbed w/o incident....
