Jacking and Towing
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36
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Jacking and Towing
I have read the service manual and it suggests points for jacking in priority. It also requires the plugs for lifting the rails. Is it safe to let a shop lift it using a lift that supports the entire rail without the plugs?
It occurred to me this weekend that a wrecker could really mess up my car towing it. I could see insisting on the ride on top wrecker but where should he tie his winch to????? What about chains in the rear to secure it? Should it be loaded nose first or rear first?
It occurred to me this weekend that a wrecker could really mess up my car towing it. I could see insisting on the ride on top wrecker but where should he tie his winch to????? What about chains in the rear to secure it? Should it be loaded nose first or rear first?
Wil Cooksey #256
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,814
Likes: 24
From: Sacramento Kalifornia
The problem with the lift that supports the entire rail is that the rocker panel extends below the rails, that is the reason for the pucks. The place that does my tire work has a lift that would support the entire rail except they put rubber blocks on the lift so it lifts the rails and does not touch the rocker panels.
I have never had my '03 Vette towed, had my '79 towed and he ended up putting a dolly under the front wheels. Took him 30 minutes to figure out how to hookup to it. Since then I have requested a flatbed. Still don't know how they would hook the winch up. I would be interested in the answers.
I have never had my '03 Vette towed, had my '79 towed and he ended up putting a dolly under the front wheels. Took him 30 minutes to figure out how to hookup to it. Since then I have requested a flatbed. Still don't know how they would hook the winch up. I would be interested in the answers.
Last edited by 50 4Ever; Nov 8, 2004 at 07:58 PM.
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From: King George VA
Originally Posted by Jaegerhuhn
It occurred to me this weekend that a wrecker could really mess up my car towing it. I could see insisting on the ride on top wrecker but where should he tie his winch to????? What about chains in the rear to secure it? Should it be loaded nose first or rear first?
Given a choice, I'd wrap a strap around the rear cross member and pull it up backwards. Hopefully, you'll never be in that situation.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 356
From: Northville, MI
Originally Posted by Jaegerhuhn
I guess I should buy a set of pucks and make sure the shops use them. Towing still bothers me.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,874
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From: Fishing Somewhere Cold
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15
Had to have mine towed a year or so ago and the guy wanted to wrap a strap around the crossmember and pull it up to the flat bed that way. I did not like this and made a few calls and was told that the way to tow it or pull it up the ramp to the flat bed is to use the same holes where the jacking pucks go and run the chains from under the front of the car and insert these shaped links (driver had them, seems they are normal to have) into the holes and then center pull from front.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,710
Likes: 2
From: Southern California
Originally Posted by sweetcharity
...the way to tow it or pull it up the ramp to the flat bed is to use the same holes where the jacking pucks go and run the chains from under the front of the car and insert these shaped links (driver had them, seems they are normal to have) into the holes and then center pull from front.
I had my 2002 flat-bedded a coupla weeks ago (un-pluggable cut in left rear), and this is exactly how it was done.
Other jacking observations: My Harbor Freight low-profile "racing" jack wouldn't fit under the car with the flat. I jacked the car from the rear crossmember instead.
If I had gotten a flat on the front, I would've had to use a combination of jackstands and jacks to raise the front, that is, if I didn't have a spare F-body scissors jack. The F-body scissors jack collapses to about 1 & 1/2 inches, and it'll easily fit under my lowered C5 with a flat. Not as light and elegant as the MB little jack that Frederick offers, but the notched saddle does sit more securely against the A&A rocker rails that I have, and since it has a large base and is beefier, I feel a little better with it under my car.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 19,105
Likes: 2
From: Paducah KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by sweetcharity
use the same holes where the jacking pucks go and run the chains from under the front of the car and insert these shaped links (driver had them, seems they are normal to have) into the holes and then center pull from front.
Hadn't thought about using them for winching but sounds like a great way to safely pull it on a flatbed hauler. I'll try this if I ever have to winch it on one in the future.
Here's a link to where I bought mine. It's probably a good idea to have a set of these around for an emergency.
http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/cat...ion&linkid=110
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2004
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Thanks guys! I ordered the hooks. I don't want to depend on a wrecker to have them even though they probably do. For $20 incl shipping it is cheap insurance.
As for the pucks? Where do I get them for $25?
As for the pucks? Where do I get them for $25?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio Texas
We had to have ours towed once..... A car of teenagers signaled they were turning right and pulling off the road, then they suddenly turned left in front of us 
Ours was towed by using a "tire lift" tow truck (don't know the correct technical term for it). It has two parts to the lift assembly; the truck backs the front part until it touches the front of the tire - then a second part is connected to the rear of the tire (like how a car dolly normally works). Hydraulics lift the whole assembly, lifting the care by the wheels/tires. A sling-type strap hold the wheels to the lifting assembly and a way you go.
Didn't have any problems hooking it up (only took about 10 minutes), or towing it in to town.
Ours was towed by using a "tire lift" tow truck (don't know the correct technical term for it). It has two parts to the lift assembly; the truck backs the front part until it touches the front of the tire - then a second part is connected to the rear of the tire (like how a car dolly normally works). Hydraulics lift the whole assembly, lifting the care by the wheels/tires. A sling-type strap hold the wheels to the lifting assembly and a way you go.
Didn't have any problems hooking it up (only took about 10 minutes), or towing it in to town.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,116
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From: Alhambra Calismognazifornia, in the country everyone comes just to complain but won't go back home!
Hey subdriver, where/how was the tow hook installed??
i just started going to the Speedventure events and they "strongly" recommended having tow hooks.
i'd sure appreciate any info.
i just started going to the Speedventure events and they "strongly" recommended having tow hooks.
i'd sure appreciate any info.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 19,105
Likes: 2
From: Paducah KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by cmeflyby
Hey subdriver, where/how was the tow hook installed??
It sounds like they might be permantly installed?
If so, what did you attach these to and how are they installed?
Last edited by Z06-JIM; Nov 9, 2004 at 07:33 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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There is a picture of the tow hooks above under Z06 Jim. I ordered them just in case. I was glad to hear it can be towed with a standard hydralic wrecker. I was told it would mess up the front end.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: King George VA
I use those t-hooks pictured above to anchor my car to my trailer. I didn't realize tow truck drivers carry them. Nice to know.
The tow hooks they are referring to on my car were permanently installed by Phoenix as part of my T1 install. The front one is bolted to the bottom of the bumper and comes out the driver's side screen mesh in the nose. The rear one is bolted to the bottom of the rear bumper and comes out the muffler slot on the drivers side. My tow hooks took a beating at the Runoffs as I had to get towed in twice, once for the harmonic balancer bolt coming out, then again shortly thereafter when the motor gave way totally. I noticed that the tow hooks had a couple of the bolts that hold it to the bumper break. I also know Phoenix has started welding them to the bumper. I will either replace my bolts with grade eight this winter, or learn to weld.
Here is a picture that sort of shows where it comes out. You can see a little white decal with a red arrow pointing down to the tow hook coming out the driver's side screen:
The tow hooks they are referring to on my car were permanently installed by Phoenix as part of my T1 install. The front one is bolted to the bottom of the bumper and comes out the driver's side screen mesh in the nose. The rear one is bolted to the bottom of the rear bumper and comes out the muffler slot on the drivers side. My tow hooks took a beating at the Runoffs as I had to get towed in twice, once for the harmonic balancer bolt coming out, then again shortly thereafter when the motor gave way totally. I noticed that the tow hooks had a couple of the bolts that hold it to the bumper break. I also know Phoenix has started welding them to the bumper. I will either replace my bolts with grade eight this winter, or learn to weld.
Here is a picture that sort of shows where it comes out. You can see a little white decal with a red arrow pointing down to the tow hook coming out the driver's side screen:
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 19,105
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From: Paducah KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Thanks subdriver, I think I understand now.
The tow hooks you had installed are mainly only for race cars that might need towing to the pits/trailer on a more frequent basis or to remove car quickly off the track for safety reasons.
I doubt if they would be very desirable for street cars, right?
The tow hooks you had installed are mainly only for race cars that might need towing to the pits/trailer on a more frequent basis or to remove car quickly off the track for safety reasons.
I doubt if they would be very desirable for street cars, right?
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
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From: King George VA
Originally Posted by Z06-JIM
Thanks subdriver, I think I understand now.
The tow hooks you had installed are mainly only for race cars that might need towing to the pits/trailer on a more frequent basis or to remove car quickly off the track for safety reasons.
I doubt if they would be very desirable for street cars, right?
The tow hooks you had installed are mainly only for race cars that might need towing to the pits/trailer on a more frequent basis or to remove car quickly off the track for safety reasons.
I doubt if they would be very desirable for street cars, right?
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Originally Posted by Jaegerhuhn
I guess I should buy a set of pucks and make sure the shops use them. Towing still bothers me.
