Towing???

[R&B]

After three years I am finished, and would like to take the car out of the neighborhood. But before I drive off into the sunset, I need to have the car towed to an inspection station for registration. I am told anyone driving to the inspection station gets a ticket.

I am almost scared to ask this, but does anyone have experience getting their ERA towed? I have the 427 style if that makes a difference. I was going to get a flat bed truck versus the standard “just lift the front” type.

Thanks for any info.

Chuck

[Chaplin]

Congrats on getting it finished. As far as towing goes, I would not even think about towing it on anything other than a flat bed. Might cost a little more, but don't have to worry about damaging it along the way.

[coosawjack]

Rent a U-Haul car hauler and do it yourself.

I towed mine on a U-Haul from Birmingham to Beaufort and it worked great except for I-20 trough Atlanta...Ha-Ha!!!!

Good Luck,
Jack

[Bob Putnam]

Chuck,

Don't try to lift the front!

You will need a flatbed truck. A couple of 2'-3' long 2"x10" boards will help in the transition from road to bed. It's safer to load the car backward too.

[NeedAntiVenom]

Chuck,

Absolutely, use a flatbed. A round trip is $100-150. Also, make sure they have moved exotics around before. Pulling it on backwards works well. Make sure they use a strap and not a chain to tie on. Make sure the strap does not bite into the body as they are pulling it on (or letting it off). Tie the vehicle at all four corners.

Insurance - make sure either you or they are covered or you could wind up with a complete loss.

Hope this helps and congratulations!

Jim

[Traveller]

$150 for a flatbed? Why?

U-Haul car trailer - $39.

[Jim Holden]

If you go the flat bed route and pull the car on backwards, WATCH THE OIL SCOOP!!! You may need some extra boards to put under the front tires (as the car backs up the ramp) to get another inch or two clearance.

J

[GeorgiaSnake]

Chuck if you are in Atlanta and want to flatbed your car call Ronnie Meyer Towing.

Randy

[stuck]

Ticketed going to the inspection station???? in TX you can get a pass from the registration office...but hell, I didn't even do that...another $10 bucks in their pocket...whatever!!!

[Bart Carter]

In Nevada you can get a 10 day permit to drive for registration/title.

I would think that most states would have this kind of provision.

[Back in Black]

Don't tow it. Flatbed tow truck, rent a trailer, or get a moving permit.

[ERA 626]

use AAA !!!
Free Flatbed just tell them it does not start. LOL

[R&B]

Thanks for all the good info. I like the UHaul idea, however fixing the clutch on my truck is my post-Cobra project, not sure my Escort can tow it. I will go get some 2x10s and watch the oil scoop since it took a while for the body work on that area.

Randy, I will give Ronnie Meyer a call, assuming the weather looks good.

Thanks again.

[Bill Wells]

R&B....all good points, and Bob's idea of backing on makes sense too..whiile i do not have a ERA, i have had experience with flatbeds and u-hauls :

I have both towed with a U-Haul and been flatbedded twice when i had an engine malfunction. My SPF has only 3.5 inches of clearance at the bellhousing bottom and a prominent low oil cooler / scoop as well.

U-Haul...tow vehicle is critical to match the specs required by U-Haul re capacity.Their trailers are good , but they are heavy too, galvanized steel on the ones i rented. Load angle was ok with adequate clearance on front and at bellhouing provided i raised the front of the trailer slightly (Navigator tow vehicle) and removed the license plate on the trailer (otherwise plate would hit the car...looked like others had the same problem as the plate had been bent over several times it appeared ). with proper tow vehicle car towed fine at highway speeds for several hundred miles. Trailer i recall weighed about 2,000 pounds.

Flatbed ...fortunately for me the flatbed operator had experience with low slung cars and had straps as well as some 2x10's for ease of entry angle. The tow cable however was troublesome and we tied some towels around the tow cable in front and under the oil cooler area to ensure the cable would not hit it. MOST IMPORTANTLY as the car was being eased on (and off) the flatbed one person STOOD on the cable to keep it low to the flatbed decking and not allow it to drift up into the oil cooler or oil cooler scoop. This was quite easy to do and worked great as the cable never touched the car. However, without standing on the cable, it would have hit the car . It did not take alot of weight to keep the cable DOWN to the decking and the cable moved slowly so the person standing on the cable could stay in position in front of the car as it was being moved on / off. Keep in mind that the SPF's come with welded on TOW RINGS front and rear (used in shipping from So Africa). These rings are centerline under the car and provide easy attaching of a two cable hook. Not sure what you have on your car, but makes it easy for a SPF hook up.

goodluck....sounds like a couple hundred bucks now for a flatbed tow is pennies as a % of what ya got into the car now, and is necessary in your quest for plates. enjoy the tow, pass the inspection and then get out slithering...bill

[NeedAntiVenom]

Bill,

The operator who flatbedded mine solved the cable problem by placing block of wood between the nylon strap and the frame to drop the cable down enough.

A flatbed AND a skilled operator was worth it to make sure it from A to B with no damage. He had done it all before and had everything he needed.

Regards,
Jim

[Bill Wells]

wood would work, but not on mine since the tow hook was on the frame, centerline so only place for the wood would be under the oil cooler and scoop...not a good move, hence the 'standing on the cable' procedure. hhhmmmm....but next time ( hopefully NOT) i need a flatbed i will take a closer look for where a block of wood might work..thx for the tip. bill.

[NeedAntiVenom]

Bill,

That is one of the reasons pulling it on backwards is easier - you can tie the strap to the rear suspension.

Regards,
Jim