SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Question for those who have trailered an R230
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 111
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From: San Antonio, TX
2008 SL55
Question for those who have trailered an R230
How did you strap it down? There is not much to strap to and I don't want to run the straps through my wheels. I asked a M B Tech and he recommended not using the lower control arms. The car will be on a 20ft car hauler for about 1500 miles. thx
Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 241
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2005 SL55 AMG
If I were going to load my SL55 on a trailer I would strap around the lower control arms. I've been loading and hauling both modern race cars as well as vintage cars for decades. In both cases I always strap around the lower control arms.
I perform all my own work on my SL55 and have had the lower arms out of the car for bushing replacement. I see nothing that would prevent me from strapping a R230 from it's lower control arms.
Did the tech give a reason as to why they did not recommend strapping to the LCA's?
I perform all my own work on my SL55 and have had the lower arms out of the car for bushing replacement. I see nothing that would prevent me from strapping a R230 from it's lower control arms.
Did the tech give a reason as to why they did not recommend strapping to the LCA's?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 111
Likes: 8
From: San Antonio, TX
2008 SL55
Thanks Brian, that is what I wanted to hear!
His concern was bending the LCA's or possibly causing damage to those high dollar struts. The LCA's looked strong enough to me.
His concern was bending the LCA's or possibly causing damage to those high dollar struts. The LCA's looked strong enough to me.
Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 241
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2005 SL55 AMG
In the front I would go around the steel lower control arm, not the aluminum track control arm.
It is always advisable to strap the car down by the wheels or suspension if at all possible. This way the body can ride/move freely on it's suspension as you travel down the road but, since the suspension arms and wheels don't move with the suspension it is much less likely the car will work the straps loose.
If the car is strapped down by the body as you travel down the road the body is moving on it's suspension so the straps are trying to fight the movement of the body and this increases the likelihood of a strap coming loose.
I hope my explanation makes sense.
On the odd occasion that there is a car that the suspension arms are not strong enough to strap to (Subaru STI rear's are like this) I run a strap around or, hook into a hole in, the subframe. But, as mentioned the arms on the R230 are more than beefy enough to strap to.
It is always advisable to strap the car down by the wheels or suspension if at all possible. This way the body can ride/move freely on it's suspension as you travel down the road but, since the suspension arms and wheels don't move with the suspension it is much less likely the car will work the straps loose.
If the car is strapped down by the body as you travel down the road the body is moving on it's suspension so the straps are trying to fight the movement of the body and this increases the likelihood of a strap coming loose.
I hope my explanation makes sense.
On the odd occasion that there is a car that the suspension arms are not strong enough to strap to (Subaru STI rear's are like this) I run a strap around or, hook into a hole in, the subframe. But, as mentioned the arms on the R230 are more than beefy enough to strap to.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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SL65
I don't see why you cannot hook to the LCAs, be mindful of the ride height sensors though! My car is very low and to be honest it is just a pain to get to the lower points on the car so here is what I did:
Installed e-trac and bought strapping from Macs tie downs to allow me to go over each wheel. Simply hook to the e-trac behind each wheel, go over using the rubber blocks slipped over the strap to keep the strap aligned with the tread, bring it down in front of the wheel through the roller clevis and then flat out from underneath the car.
Very easy to do and allows the car to bounce on the trailer as needed, not putting any strain on the suspension components. Check my two pics closely in this other topic:
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...c-cambers.html
Installed e-trac and bought strapping from Macs tie downs to allow me to go over each wheel. Simply hook to the e-trac behind each wheel, go over using the rubber blocks slipped over the strap to keep the strap aligned with the tread, bring it down in front of the wheel through the roller clevis and then flat out from underneath the car.
Very easy to do and allows the car to bounce on the trailer as needed, not putting any strain on the suspension components. Check my two pics closely in this other topic:
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...c-cambers.html
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 111
Likes: 8
From: San Antonio, TX
2008 SL55
Thanks everyone, all it takes is one tech's bad opinion to start a thread! LOL
Mayhem, you have one very nice trailer and car-thanks for the pics. Do you notice much back and forth motion with that tie down system?
Mayhem, you have one very nice trailer and car-thanks for the pics. Do you notice much back and forth motion with that tie down system?
