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Towing and ratchet straps

TimC - 1/3/08 at 08:51 AM

Hi All

Collecting my car this weekend and would like some advice on how best to tie-down the car with ratchet straps. I've not had to do it for ages and never before on a car with no brakes!

Thanks in advance.

lsdweb - 1/3/08 at 09:14 AM

Tim

Use good quality ratchet straps! I always use wheel straps and always use three if I can so that if one breaks or comes loose you still have two!

Also, I always stop and check everything's secure after a few miles (usually before I get on the M4!)

Great news about bringing the car home! Looks like he (Steve?) has done a great job on it!!

Have you registered for the Welsh Championship yet?

Regards

Wyn

Hellfire - 1/3/08 at 09:24 AM

If they're the one's with the tyre/wheel straps, buy 4 and secure each and every wheel down by looping the tyre strap over the wheel/tyre (front and back) then tightening down.

That's how we do it, to and from trackdays and we've never had a problem.

Steve

RazMan - 1/3/08 at 09:24 AM

I normally put the straps through each of the wheels and tighten them against each other, the fronts bracing forward and the rears bracing rearward (if you see what I mean). Be careful not to put too much strain on your spokes though as you can exert a LOT of force with these things.
Obviously use the handbrake too.

*edit* Forgot to add - leave the winch connected to the chassis after you have stapped it all down. It can be a safeguard if anything else comes loose.

[Edited on 1-3-08 by RazMan]

owelly - 1/3/08 at 10:08 AM

If I havn't the luxury of wheel loop straps, I secure one end of the chassis to the trailer with a couple of straps/ropes and then ratchet the other end of the car with ratchet straps so the car is pulled down on its suspension. Not tight enough to pull the suspesion on to its bump stops but enough to stop it bouncing!!
If it's a smallish trailer, get under the car and attach the straps/ropes to keep them as level as possible and obviously, pulling in opposite directions!!

omega 24 v6 - 1/3/08 at 10:55 AM

ALWAYS connect the straps to an UNSPRUNG area of the car. If you don'r as you go over bumps and the car rises and falls on its suspension the straps can become loose. Wheel straps are the way to go but I've never used them myself.

owelly - 1/3/08 at 01:31 PM

Lashing to an unsprung part of the car leaves the car to bounce around on it's suspension. With the combined bouncing of the car and the trailer, it's easy to get a really bouncy trailer.
I've trailered many cars many times and even when I have wheel loop straps on, I always pull the car down on its suspension. Even if it means using a strong strop on the rear of the car and trailer and using the trailer winch to pull down on the front.
But that's just my opinion of course......

omega 24 v6 - 1/3/08 at 03:10 PM

quote:

But that's just my opinion of course......

I should add that it's a good point you've made Owelly. As usually my load is a low centre of gravity race car with very hard suspension. And we always screw the shocks up to the hardest setting as well to stop the bouncing.

lsdweb - 1/3/08 at 07:15 PM

Tim

Just remembe that the car is moving all the time. Your suspension is wearing as your trailering the car so even mileage on the trailer adds to the wear and tear on the car!

Best of luck!

Wyn.