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Just curious as to why you recommend anchoring to the suspension and not preloading using the frame? I've had better luck that way. The suspension tie down method has always given me problems. Plus the military tie down book says to use the frame and block the suspension if possible.
I'm not arguing with you, just trying to understand why you do it that way.
Also to T_R, you can load a car forwards or backwards, what matters is the center of gravity placement of the vehicle. I've done both several times depending on the vehicle I was towing with no swaying. Load position is critical when hauling loads for me.
Tie to the suspension because it is the lowest point thus minimizing loosening of straps due to suspension movement. Tie low and have as horizontal a strap as possible, thus negating suspension movement changes to the straps. This is why they make axle wrap straps. Also, it is the strongest point on the vehicle while frame holes can easily be torn open in emergency situation. Ask a tow truck driver what he would prefer to hook to, the frame or a suspension point.
Other than blocking the suspension, which can fall out, you will never pre load the suspension enough. Think about the amount of weight a vehicles suspension is designed to carry, what would you use to compress this that could possibly equate to what it is designed to carry?
On another note, contrary to some posts, ALWAYS cross both front and rear straps to avoid side to side movement. It may work fine otherwise in normal driving but not be enough in an emergency situation.
As to vehicle placement, also put the heavy end toward the front, otherwise you are going to need to move the vehicle very far forward to balance the load properly. In general, vehicle should face forward on a trailer. The other issue you run into is that many vehicles, especially older cars, are longer past the rear wheels than the front, meaning you have a lot more vehicle past the wheels toward the front if the vehicle is on backwards. This leads to the possibility of hitting your load during a tight turn.
You do not want to take the chance that the load is back heavy on the trailer. You may not know it until it is too late. It can and will tow fine at low speeds but can sway dramatically and without warning as you get to high speeds. If it happens like this it can be almost impossible to control.
I have had the misfortune of this occurring due to poor trailer design. I picked up the trailer and towed home empty fine, loaded the car and it was fine in town. I hit the highway and almost lost it just as I hit about 80 km/h. I was almost crawling and it was still swaying all over. Had it not been for on coming traffic pulling over there most certainly have been an accident as I used the entire highway to regain control.
We moved weight into the tool box on the front to get to the race and later moved the axles back to make it tow better.
If anyone is interested, the empty trailer, at least 1.5 hours of stop and go traffic in Seattle, my Max Tow and 3.73 twin Turbo averaged 15.9 MPG with speeds kept at or below 65 for the entire trip.
Coming home we had about 20 minutes of NASTY rain and hail ( slow driving ) , loaded 2700 lb car and again 65 mph plus a couple of creeps to 70 we averaged 14.6 mpg!
Way better than our travel trailer! Yeah I know it is just a box on wheels but still the car and trailer were so much more comfortable and easy to tow.
The 280Z is reasonably straight, not running, and needs an interior. My son is considering an LS motor for it! LOL! That would be a hoot! If the original motor is in serviceable condition, he will keep it and restore the car. Otherwise . . . . . He has even considered selling his Miata Drift car for the Z!
Also to T_R, you can load a car forwards or backwards, what matters is the center of gravity placement of the vehicle. I've done both several times depending on the vehicle I was towing with no swaying. Load position is critical when hauling loads for me.
Wrong, you do NOT want to put a car on backwards. No way you are going to hang 1000 lbs of engine and transmission on the back of an open car trailer and pull it with a half ton truck on the highway. It will be all over the road and you will be lucky not to lose it. The trailer HAS to be heavy in the front.
I've towed all sorts of cars on a 15 foot open trailer with half ton trucks close to 100,000 towing miles all over the country. I know I am right.
Wrong, you do NOT want to put a car on backwards. No way you are going to hang 1000 lbs of engine and transmission on the back of an open car trailer and pull it with a half ton truck on the highway. It will be all over the road and you will be lucky not to lose it. The trailer HAS to be heavy in the front.
I've towed all sorts of cars on a 15 foot open trailer with half ton trucks close to 100,000 towing miles all over the country. I know I am right.
Were going to have to agree to disagree. I've loaded both ways and driven at highway speeds. Never had a problem.
OP congrats on having a smooth towing experience. Glad you got the car back safe and sound.
Wrong, you do NOT want to put a car on backwards. No way you are going to hang 1000 lbs of engine and transmission on the back of an open car trailer and pull it with a half ton truck on the highway. It will be all over the road and you will be lucky not to lose it. The trailer HAS to be heavy in the front. I've towed all sorts of cars on a 15 foot open trailer with half ton trucks close to 100,000 towing miles all over the country. I know I am right.
What about mid engine/rear engine configurations? To say always is a bad thing. It's all about load placement not which way the vehicle is pointed.
Were going to have to agree to disagree. I've loaded both ways and driven at highway speeds. Never had a problem.
OP congrats on having a smooth towing experience. Glad you got the car back safe and sound.
Doing something incorrectly and getting away with it does not make it right.
Telling people that doing it the wrong way is fine and safe is reckless to say the least.
Trailering 101 is weight placement. Can you load a car backwards and get good weight distribution? Yes, under the right circumstances like having a long enough trailer to move the vehicle more forward.
However why would you chance it? Why not just do it right and make it far easier?
You may have never had to deal with bad trailer sway but when you do it will mean a good scare in the least and a bad accident at the worst.
Again, why would you come on here and tell people that you did it wrong and it worked so that's fine?
While the rest of us are trying to make sure people tow in the safest manner possible, you are telling them to ignore our advice because you have been lucky.
RES4CUE
Mid engine takes a little finess and know how to ensure good weight distribution. Rear engine, usually load backwards but most rear engine cars have excellent weight split so either way should work fine.
A simple test is their should be a little squat in the tow vehicle, not tons and certainly not none. This usually tells you that you have some tongue weight that is reasonable given the weight of the load.
Doing something incorrectly and getting away with it does not make it right.
Telling people that doing it the wrong way is fine and safe is reckless to say the least.
You may have never had to deal with bad trailer sway but when you do it will mean a good scare in the least and a bad accident at the worst.
And yet you're saying to hook to suspension parts and that you don't need preload on the vehicle being towed. The few times I've had trailer sway is because i let somebody else tie down the car. They tied to suspension and the vehicle bounced to the side. I use the frame only as the whole vehicle is attached to it.
And yes load placement is trailering 101, yet people still forget. I've been hauling normal everyday things on trailers and heavy haul items for the military for years. Guess what the military says in the books? Hook to frame, criss cross straps/chains, and preload/block suspension.
Another thing is not all cars are equal. Some need to be backwards for whatever reason. You obviously are the sole towing master, so I'll step out.
Sorry this thread went in a different direction OP. Unsubbing.
And yet you're saying to hook to suspension parts and that you don't need preload on the vehicle being towed. The few times I've had trailer sway is because i let somebody else tie down the car. They tied to suspension and the vehicle bounced to the side. I use the frame only as the whole vehicle is attached to it.
And yes load placement is trailering 101, yet people still forget. I've been hauling normal everyday things on trailers and heavy haul items for the military for years. Guess what the military says in the books? Hook to frame, criss cross straps/chains, and preload/block suspension.
Another thing is not all cars are equal. Some need to be backwards for whatever reason. You obviously are the sole towing master, so I'll step out.
Sorry this thread went in a different direction OP. Unsubbing.
Let me explain where I agree and where and why I disagree.
Criss cross - always! this is the only way to eliminate side to side movement
hook to frame and preload/block suspension - excellent idea and completely functional in the military. All military vehicles sit up high. This allows a downward pull. On a car or normal height pick up the straps will be far more horizontal, not allowing a good downward pull to load the suspension. In addition the military uses ratcheting binders which will allow the pre-load to be done. This is excessively difficult with normal ratchet straps if not impossible. The military will also have the right equipment to block the suspension while the average guy will not. I don't disagree with pre-loading with blocked suspension but this is not the best case with the average vehicle as noted above.
So on a normal height vehicle using ratcheting straps the best case is to hook low and to a spot that moves the least, the suspension or in the case of a solid rear axle no movement at all. A low and close to horizontal strap will be affected very little by suspension movement.
As for not cars being equal, agreed. Rear engine cars can easily be loaded backwards however most have a good weight split so can be loaded either way.
We agree that weight distribution is towing 101 so with a front engine vehicle why would you not use that to your advantage and load it frontwards instead of backwards and hope to get it right?
Does your military book say loading backwards is acceptable for weight distribution? I don't personally have said book but every picture I can find of the US military towing a vehicle it is facing frontwards.
Last edited by Dirttracker18; 12-17-2015 at 10:09 PM.
12-09-2015, 09:39 PM
