Trailering a Car

[LRcobradreamer]

"Was it enclosed? Thanks for the tip! I'll give them a call tomorrow"


Yes it was enclosed. Trailered well. Going to LCS got 8 mpg trying to keep up with the group at 70 to 75 + mph. On the way back we went the back roads and got 9.5 mpg. Usually get 14 to 15 non-towing and about 11 to 12 towing the 23 foot boat. Aerodynamics suck. Oh, can I say that????

Like others have said, tow in neutral with e-brake on after you get the tie downs adjusted. Tie down in a way to keep some movement of the springs so the Cobra suspension still absorbs some of the bumps. He installed additional tie down points in the front which better fit the Cobra, if you get the same trailer.

Lee

[capteddie]

Originally Posted by McD00

Boy does that remind me of my towing nightmare. I never towed before, I borrowed a old jeep cherokee. Turns out the back brakes didn't work...I was toeing a old trailer and no one told me about putting the load so the weight was right on the hitch.
It started to whip back and forth, I panicked and jammed on the brakes it jackknifed and I had the wrong size hitch ball. The trailer came loose and took out 60ft of my neighbors fence. Good thing I was only going 30mph or it could have been a lot worse. Another lesson learned

McVette

OK McDOOOOO....

You need to get some help. First you wreck your car in a parking lot of all places and now your telling stories about jack knifing trailers. Maybe you should stick to golf carts in Sun City

[DAVID GAGNARD]

As for tying down the car in the trailer, I originally posted this back in September 2005....

I tie my Cobras (along with every other car I tow) down as follows (all using 10,000lb rated tie downs, ratchets, and axle straps as you can never be too careful/cautious):

Front: Short padded axle strap around the outside of the lower control arm closest to the wheel assembly. Front left to Front left tie down loop, front right to front right tie down loop.

Rear: Short padded axle strap around axle tube as close to the center section as possible. Crossed in the rear to prevent movement of the car once strapped down. Left rear to right rear tie down loop, right rear to left rear tie down loop.

I do pretty much the same thing with a few exceptions..... I have a set of straps made the correct length for my car/trailer for the front and use rachet straps in the rear, I also winch my car on and off the trailer... I put both the front and rear straps in the X pattern, keeps the car from moving side to side and after all is done, I leave the electric winch connected and pull the cable up real snug for added insurance....I never leave my car in gear, although I know plenty that do.... I've towed different cars for over 10 years now all over the country and using this method I've so far, never had any problems....

One other thing I do: once I get on the road, I stop after 5 to 10 miles and get out and check the straps and also put my hand on the axle hubs of the trailer just to check for excessive heat....doesn't hurt to be too careful..........

David

[sharpe 1]

Setting the e-brake is a good safety practice.If tied down properly car will not move and e-brake set is a little insurance. Putting in gear is optional but would not hurt.
I would not put any type of wrap on my car,hard on paint,it will move around in the wind and scratch scuff paint.

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by sharpe 1

Putting in gear is optional but would not hurt.

I disagree. You can damage things in the drivetrain as the car rocks back and forth if you do a lot of towing. Strap the car down securely in neutral and use the e-brake.

[vettestr]

The ring and pinion gear sets for our funny car have a warning enclosed in each set to Never transport car in gear. I admit they are not the average street used materials but I think the same reasoning would apply.

As a foot note to being able to attach the front tie downs in a enclosed trailer because of limited space. I have tied down using a crossed pattern on the front with D-rings by using a much longer strap. Get it all ready (hooked to front of the car) and pass other strap end through the D-ring with tail going under the car and to the rear where it hooks to an anchor Ring behind the car. Hook up as needed on the front while you have room out of trailer and pull the slack out after car goes forward. You need a 20 + foot strap but it works pretty slick. PS.... put a little duct tape around the front strap hook so it does not jiggle loose when moving car forward - learned the hard way!!!

[Bobcat]

Back in another life when I used to race , we always used to tie down the left front and right rear with straps over the tires and also used wheel chocks ( could also be right front and left rear ) . The theory was that it allowed the suspension to work and not take a "set" as it would if the car was tied down by the axles/frame or whatever . Don`t know how true that is , but some very serious racers in NC told me that . Also used a hydraulic lock valve in the rear brake circuit so the rear brakes could be locked for towing ( race car had no E brake ) . This was very secure as I was hit from behind when towing , the tow hitch on the trailer was broken loose from the tow vehicle ... the trailer was completely sideways before I got stopped and the car was still in place .... but I did ruin the upholstery on the seat !
You never want to leave a car in gear towing as the vibrations do strange things to the tranny and the ring gear and pinion .