Tie downs on a trailer

[lou-q]

We ordered a new trailer that our Caddy will fit in and was wondering what your input would be.
How would you tie down the front end of 39 coupe in a trailer. There are 8 D ring on the floor of the trailer. The rear should be no problem, I'm not sure where to tie the front from.
Thanks,
Lou

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Tie down the front axle, so that as the body bounces up and down, it won't loosen the ties.   But, tie it down with the ropes angling forwards, and the same thing at the rear, tie down the diff, but with the tiedowns angled to the rear..

Bruce.

[76eldo]

Make sure that the d rings are through bolted with a plate or large washers backing them up.
If they are just screwed into the floor with wood screws you hay want to modify that setup.

Brian

[Dan LeBlanc]

I also crisscross mine. Right gets tied on left and vice versa.

[lou-q]

Thanks,
The D rings are from the factory (Featherlite), and are rated to hold a car, the floor is all aluminum and reinforced at the tie downs.
My main question is what part on the front end can I strap it to so I don't damage any of the steering components.
For the rear end I can use axle straps on an angle to rear D rings.

Thanks again,
Lou Quirch

[Roadmaster75]

In addition to the excellent tie down advice….
My suggestion is this:

When loading or unloading valuable old cars onto or into a trailer, I prefer
to winch them in in a slow, controllable manner.  The times I REALLY needed to trailer
an old car were not always for "fun",  like a car show…

Taking it to a shop for some service or getting it safely home due to some
mechanical or electrical problem is when you need the nice new trailer the most!

It's tough getting 5000 pounds of dead weight up those ramps & down again safely!

I use a SuperWinch 3500 bolted flat on the front floor of the trailer. 
(Easily pulled a 6000 pound Rolls into the trailer
and eased the old girl down when the starter went south)

You don't need a helper & you don't
have to contemplate crawling into the car through the window or in tight quarters.
Lurching it up and down ramps under its own power is a hazard that can be avoided.

my 2 cents

[lou-q]

Thanks Mike,
A winch is a must. We also show hit and miss engines and have to use a winch or a lot of help to load them.
We are having a winch box installed at the factory that is flush with the floor when not in use and will hold up to a 9000lb winch.
What part of the front end would you use to winch the car in and where would you tie it down from/.
Lou

[harry s]

Lou, Sounds like a really nice trailer. I was looking at the Featherlite website recently and really like the quality of their trailers. I also like that they are about 800# liter than their steel counter part.  I usually attach the front tie downs to the A frame and extend them straight out front then attach the rears over the spring just ahead of the axle being watch full of the brake lines and criss cross them. There is a lot of motion at the rear of the trailer and some folks secure the rear frame to eliminate the bounce. Two other things to be mind full of are keeping the running board trim pieces away from the wheel wells and also to check the tie downs after about 50 to 100 miles as they stretch and usually need to be tightened again. Also, I love those hit "n" miss engines.     Harry

[76eldo]

You can pull down on the control arms or frame. Avoid hooking to a tie rod or sway bar.
You should see something under there to get a hook on.

[KD]

I use over the tire straps that has a ratchet strap and hooks at both ends and never had any problems.
KD CLC#26801

[lou-q]

KD,
This trailer does not have the set/up for tire straps, even though it would be ideal.
Harry, they make very nice trailers. We have a gooseneck horse trailer and love it.
So we bit the bullet and ordered a 32' toy hauler with an 8' gooseneck with a QUEEN BED. up front.
Can't wait to see it.
Lou

[harry s]

That sounds really nice. Show us a picture when you get it.     Harry

[lou-q]

I just received an e mail from our Featherlite dealer saying that they can install aluminum A Track, they are welded in and should hold any car.
If we use the A Track we would be able to use wheel nets. I think that the wheel nets that tie down along the sides would be better and easier to use than the ones that tie in line with the tires.
With that said I was thinking of spacing them about 72" which is wider than any track of any car I might load (67 convertible has a 62.5 track).
Any input is welcomed!

Thanks,
Lou

[harvey b]

Lou, I have a similar trailer I use to move my old caddys in too,i only use the floor tie downs,i tie the rear axle with the little tow straps and run chains to the rear hooks nd on the front I criss cross them from the lower control arms.In my trailer I think it would be tight to use the wheel nets,there isn't a lot of room on the sides to wiggle in there to put them on properly,i would definetly get the E-track on the side walls,it is great for holding stuff in place when moving,Also an awning is a great think to have,i love mine. What are you using to haul it,Diesel power is the only way to go,my F250 moves mine along real nice,cant even feel it when you get rolling.,i also use it to store the car in when it is at home,i would be lost without it. Harvey

[lou-q]

 Harvey,

Is your  trailer  8' 6" wide? How long is your trailer without the gooseneck area?
Ours will be 32' but only has two axles (8000 ea).
Our Caddy is just over 5 feet wide, so that's why I was thinking of running the A track on the side.
Thanks for the input.

Lou

[harvey b]

Lou,i think it is 8.6 wide,it is a 2006 Haulmark, the floor is 24 feet with 8 overhang,i put my 37 and 38 in it easily,however the inner fenders do protrude inside,i have about 5 inches on each side of them when the car is perfectly centered,i can squeeze out over the fenders as my doors are higher,it is tght in there.are you getting the mid side door?,one that opens so you can open the car door and get out that way,if not you may have to do it dukes of hazard style?.These trailers look huge,but when you put the car in it is a lot tighter,also keep a pair of coveralls handy for tieing the car down,it is a dirty job.I put a driveway marker on my rear fenders on the inside to help me park the car in the trailer,it gives me a guide when parking by my self,the first time you load the car have a spotter to watch you.My trailer has a beavertail on the back to make it easier to load,it isn't as high on the back.Also the first time try and do it alone,i hate an audience for these type of things,it will help your patience,nothing worse then a bunch of "experts" telling you what to do. I cant get you any pictures of my "guidepost" as the trailer is snowed in and I cant get the rear door down/.Another thing is make sure you have ample clearance between the truck and the front of the trailer when making a sharp turn,I found that out the hardway,busted my rear window and damaged the rear cab corner on the truck,have since moved my hitch back an inch,that was all it took . Good Luck with your trailer,you wont regret having one. Harvey

[lou-q]

Thanks Harvey,

Ours has a side door in front of the wheel wells. The garage part is 20 feet, with the living quarters 12 feet and the gooseneck overhang 8 feet for the bed.
With our car inside we should have around 16" on each side.
I won't be seeing this trailer until sometime in April.
 
Thanks again for your input.
Lou Quirch

[harvey b]

Lou, my trailer is 32 long,is yours going to be 40 feet long? Wow,thats a big trailer.You better practice backing that up in tight quarters. I wish mine had "living quarters",we could crash in the overhang,but have never had the chance yet,i am not real comfortable hauling it around,as I only use it 2-3 times a year and do not have the practice to feel confident with it yet. Harvey

[lou-q]

Harvey,
Ours will be 40' including the 8' for the gooseneck.
The garage will be 20" and the living quarters 12' plus the 8' for the overhang, with a queen size bed in the overhang.
Our old toy haulers are 26'X 8'6" and the other is 28' X 8' but they are bumper pull. We have one at our farm in Indiana and the other one is in Florida. We presently use them at antique tractor and engine shows for hauling our hit & miss engines, They are both too small for hauling our antique cars, so we have them both for sale now. I can't wait to see how much easier it will be towing with a gooseneck instead of the bumper pulls. Our horse trailer is a Featherlite gooseneck and I love the way it tows (don't even know it's back there).
Lou Quirch