Loading an ERA on a rollback

Bobcat · #1 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 05:53 PM

Well ... it finally happened . Coming back from a cruise in this afternoon , the car just shut off . Pulled to the side of the road and saw smoke coming from under the hood . Looked and it was electrical .... seems like the starter cable is partially melted . I`ll find out tomorrow exactly what happened .
Used my AAA Gold card ... if you don`t have one ... get one ! When the rollback came , we had a problem as the chains would hit the front bodywork and the straps would do the same . After much looking , and head scratching , the front quick jacks jumped out at me . Looked at them and figured that since everything would be in tension and there were two 7/16" bolts per side and the mount was pretty solid , we would try them . Ran a strap behind each quick jack and then attached the chain to the straps , put some boards down to clear the bed and SLOWLY started the winch .
Long story short ... the quick jacks in tension worked great for loading the car and also for unloading . The tow-truck operator and I both agree , we don`t want to try this on a car that is stuck or over an embankment .
I guess Bob will now chime in and say I did WHAT ??? And someone else will say I exceeded the tensile strength of the bolts by 3,000% .
Anyway , the car is home and looks like an electrical problem somewhere as I have no power to anything .

Kramer · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 06:32 PM

Good to know that they can handle some tension. I always wondered if those jack pads could handle any strength. From time to time, I load my Cobra in the trailer but I usually use two straps around the A arms and then connect them to the winch line. I am sure there is a better way.

strictlypersonl · #3 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 07:00 PM

You did WHAT?

As long as you're pulling fairly straight, they should be OK*.

(*You didn't hear that from me.)

The safest way to load the car is backward, with the winch connections to the rear suspension and some padding under the rear frame and body. If I were really serious, I'd make some loops from 1.5" nylon webbing that were long enough to go from the rear suspension connections all the way past the edge of the body.

Trueoo7 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 07:32 PM

As a side note...I have AAA but I don't think it is the Gold version. Whats the difference?

MaSnaka · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 07:43 PM

I think the reg AAA service gives you a 7 mile tow for free but the upgrade gets you a 100 mile tow for free. I unfortunately have had my car towed a few times. It always breaks on a Sunday (cause that is the day I most often drive it) and so I tow it home and the Monday to the shop. Not all operators are the same. I hate telling a guy how to do his job but when I see it will cause harm to my car I will speak up. The first operator I had really knew how to baby the car up on the truck ( so I learned from watching him) and he strapped the front chassis and used a 4x4 across the frame rails to hold the strap below the fiberglass and built ramps to help clear the trucks bed as it was transitioning from the road on up. Of course I tipped him when I got home. He was on his radio telling all his compadres what he was towing, he was having a day, I was not.

John

dcdoug · #6 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 07:47 PM

Patrickt - anything to add to this? Don't you know your way around a rollback?

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Patrickt - anything to add to this? Don't you know your way around a rollback?

I drove mine up on the rollback using the starter motor only... and then killed the engine before plowing in to the cab, thank you very much. Because of where I was stuck, we couldn't get up from the rear. BUT, I have heard stories that if you are towed on a flatbed with your nose pointing backwards, make sure the tow driver goes very slowly so that your windshield doesn't end up on the highway.

FIA-ERA · #8 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010, 09:13 PM

I would heed Mr Putnam's warning on this!! Those quick jacks, while they look sturdy, they are not very supportive. I'm surprised you didn't bend the quick jacks down ward. After making and assembling mine there's no way I would even stand on them! Awesome looking but as effective as .... well you know. I would send the boy's at the shop a big Thank You for this one!

cobrajeff · #9 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 05:41 AM

I actually flat-towed my FIA home once using the quick-jacks! I threaded an axle strap through each of the front quick-jacks, and linked them together with a nylon tow strap. It was a short trip, only about three miles on back roads. No damage to the car or quick-jacks. Not recommended, but worked well in a pinch.

Another benefit with the AAA Gold - if your tow vehicle breaks down (picture your Cobra loaded in an enclosed trailer, you're on your way to an out-of state car show, when you burn up the tranny in your SUV), they say they will haul your SUV AND your trailer up to 100 miles. Haven't tested that yet, but it does give me a little extra peace of mind (especially since now that I'm retired, I'm towing with a five year old SUV, instead of a brand-new company lease vehicle).

Jeff

Excaliber · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 06:54 AM

I had a friend pull me with his car, short distance, by using a rope tied around the quick jacks. It did bend one of them slightly, but I was able to straighten it out no problem. I also have AAA with the longer mileage and have used it several times over the years (always a Cobra

).

The FIRST time they sent a regular tow truck and he picked it up from the back. Cracked the fuel tank!!! I got an estimate from ERA (thanks Bob) for a $1,000. AAA paid the full amount. I was going to replace the tank but ended up having it repaired. Cracked along the seam. I always request a flat bed, of course, since then. Sometimes it takes longer for a flat bed to respond, but I'm OK with that.

So, we are anxiously awaiting more information of what the cause of this mysterious electrical failure was/is. Update today?

ack fia · #11 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 07:41 AM

I converted my quick jacks to include a tow "eye" (required at track days) by attaching the quick jack with a forged eye bolts on one of the positions (both front and back)

Bobcat · #12 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 08:07 AM

FIA-ERA ... If the quick jacks had to be used for lifting ... they wouldn`t hold up . In my case , it was a straight pull and everything was in tension with no bending moments at all . Excaliber is 100 % correct ... always specify a roll back and that they have nylon straps and some boards when you call AAA .
The driver asked if there had been a car show as he had just finished towing a street rod back to Columbia ... which is about 65 miles up the road . As Cobrajeff says , the upgraded card will get you 100 miles at no charge .
Ernie ... I`ll get under the car this afternoon , but so far , it looks like a wire to the starter melted . Thought I had plenty of clearance , but I`ll find out later today .

dcdoug · #13 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 08:43 AM

I haven't had any breakdowns yet, but I now always carry two nylon tow straps in my car just in case.

Mooch · #14 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 08:55 AM

I have a set of these in the trunk, just in case:

http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/product/221/All

Don · #15 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 09:19 AM

Mooch:

From the Mac web site:

"They feature 36" long legs and are available with either twisted snap hooks or combination loops"

Did you get the hooks or loops ?

........thanks for the tip

dcdoug · #16 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010, 11:36 AM

I bought a pair of these and keep them in the trunk:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ms_ohs_product