Towing on a trailer: Dos and Don'ts?
12-17-2013, 05:59 PM
#1
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Towing on a trailer: Dos and Don'ts?
Aight, I'm moving on Friday and will be towing the Bizzenz on a trailer behind the moving truck. Anyone have some lessons learned from previous towing excursions?
-Suspension: raised or lowered?
-Tie-down points: Wheels only, or hooked to the frame or suspension?
-Disabling alarm... how?
-Which are cooler, cats or dogs?
Anything else I'm missing?
-Suspension: raised or lowered?
-Tie-down points: Wheels only, or hooked to the frame or suspension?
-Disabling alarm... how?
-Which are cooler, cats or dogs?
Anything else I'm missing?
12-17-2013, 06:30 PM
#2
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Aight, I'm moving on Friday and will be towing the Bizzenz on a trailer behind the moving truck. Anyone have some lessons learned from previous towing excursions?
-Suspension: raised or lowered? raised
-Tie-down points: Wheels only, or hooked to the frame or suspension? both for safety. if I remember right you need 4 straps down on any car when towed
-Disabling alarm... how? tow hook button on the top light
-Which are cooler, cats or dogs? cats
Anything else I'm missing?
-Suspension: raised or lowered? raised
-Tie-down points: Wheels only, or hooked to the frame or suspension? both for safety. if I remember right you need 4 straps down on any car when towed
-Disabling alarm... how? tow hook button on the top light
-Which are cooler, cats or dogs? cats
Anything else I'm missing?
12-17-2013, 06:32 PM
#3
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Be careful with the Uhaul built-in straps that go over your front tire. They tend to work themselves loose, and that chain is back is not much good. Some additional tie-downs are recommended. I had those tire straps come loose once, after exiting the highway and leaving the traffic light..I accelerated and felt a big lurch, and watched in horror as the car on the trailer rolled backwards..off the trailer!! It had a manual trans... I punched the gas and it rolled off and drifted towards the car behind me...stopping within a few feet. The lady gave me a nasty look LOL...
12-17-2013, 07:06 PM
#4
You can remove the uhaul lips at the front of the trailer if you need extra clearance. The wheels straps can come undone. As long as the weight of the vehicle is centered properly on the trailer, you should be fine. I usually wrap the chain provided around the rear subframe.
Get 2x4s and use them to load the car up on the ramp so you can clear the departure angle. You can cut the 2x4 pieces 4' long.
Get 2x4s and use them to load the car up on the ramp so you can clear the departure angle. You can cut the 2x4 pieces 4' long.
12-17-2013, 09:10 PM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
ALARM- unlock the car and open and close the driver door. The alarm will not go off. Just make sure you lock the car when ever you stop.
I've used a UHaul trailer every time. I've gone to ATL to race with chawkins and even taken it all the way to MIR. I've taken it to PBIR on a regular basis and never had any problems. I've only used the front straps that wrap around the front tires. It's all in how you drive, PERIOD!
I've driven trucks with trailers since I was 16. If you drive like an a$s, you will have problems. Remember, you are pulling your baby, so think of it like it's your child. You wouldn't drive like an a$s while your infant is on board, right. Just my 02!
I use my Navigator since I don't have a truck and I also used it to tow my boat.
I've used a UHaul trailer every time. I've gone to ATL to race with chawkins and even taken it all the way to MIR. I've taken it to PBIR on a regular basis and never had any problems. I've only used the front straps that wrap around the front tires. It's all in how you drive, PERIOD!
I've driven trucks with trailers since I was 16. If you drive like an a$s, you will have problems. Remember, you are pulling your baby, so think of it like it's your child. You wouldn't drive like an a$s while your infant is on board, right. Just my 02!
I use my Navigator since I don't have a truck and I also used it to tow my boat.
Last edited by RedBullJnky; 12-17-2013 at 09:13 PM.
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12-18-2013, 02:05 AM
#8
Junior Member
If you tie it down to the subframe and wheels, it won't matter what position the suspension is in. Suspension just raises the body of the car.
You could pull the fuse for the alarm if you need to have the car locked.
Oh, and dogs lol
You could pull the fuse for the alarm if you need to have the car locked.
Oh, and dogs lol
Last edited by Quick55; 12-18-2013 at 02:13 AM.
12-18-2013, 02:59 AM
#9
MBWorld Fanatic!
Two ways to tie down a car on a trailer.
1) rachet straps to tow points front and rear. This relies on tension pulling forward and rearward and allows a small amount of chassis float and makes for a very stable trailer
2) Tire/wheel hold downs. All four wheels must be tied down, don't just do the fronts. This is a full float method using both the trailers and the chassis suspension to provide a very smooth ride for the car at the expense of a very stable trailer.
I am not a fan of a hybrid tie down (Two wheels and the opposite end tow hooked)
12-18-2013, 03:03 AM
#10
Junior Member
Incorrect. The Subframe rises and lowers with the body. Lower control arms are relatively motionless but will still move when raising and lowering the car.
Two ways to tie down a car on a trailer.
1) rachet straps to tow points front and rear. This relies on tension pulling forward and rearward and allows a small amount of chassis float and makes for a very stable trailer
2) Tire/wheel hold downs. All four wheels must be tied down, don't just do the fronts. This is a full float method using both the trailers and the chassis suspension to provide a very smooth ride for the car at the expense of a very stable trailer.
I am not a fan of a hybrid tie down (Two wheels and the opposite end tow hooked)
Two ways to tie down a car on a trailer.
1) rachet straps to tow points front and rear. This relies on tension pulling forward and rearward and allows a small amount of chassis float and makes for a very stable trailer
2) Tire/wheel hold downs. All four wheels must be tied down, don't just do the fronts. This is a full float method using both the trailers and the chassis suspension to provide a very smooth ride for the car at the expense of a very stable trailer.
I am not a fan of a hybrid tie down (Two wheels and the opposite end tow hooked)
You're right, it's late and I'm not thinking lol.
12-18-2013, 06:54 AM
#11
Super Member
Before U-haul stole it out of my driveway, I actually used to legitimately own a u-haul car hauler and now own an enclosed trailer to haul my toys.
I have a couple of tricks to save you some of the pain that was described earlier of the car rolling off the trailer.
First, raise the car to give yourself a little extra clearance. The front lip on my trailer was not removeable. Some u-hauls are, but most aren't. Some are also taller. Mine was.
When using the wheel straps, after you have ratcheted them down and secured the safety chains, put the car in neutral and tighten them more to take out any remaining slack between the wheels and the trailer lip you may have missed. Then put the car back in park and make sure you have the e-brake engaged.
Absolutely positively use the safety chains!!!!!!!!! When used properly, they work. Axle, sway bar, arms are fine to wrap it around. The chain can be hooked back into it's loop if you can not get it to hook onto the opposing side. The point of it is the give the car a chance to not fly off the trailer and kill someone should you have pulled a bonehead maneuver and left the car in rolling fashion.
I have a couple of tricks to save you some of the pain that was described earlier of the car rolling off the trailer.
First, raise the car to give yourself a little extra clearance. The front lip on my trailer was not removeable. Some u-hauls are, but most aren't. Some are also taller. Mine was.
When using the wheel straps, after you have ratcheted them down and secured the safety chains, put the car in neutral and tighten them more to take out any remaining slack between the wheels and the trailer lip you may have missed. Then put the car back in park and make sure you have the e-brake engaged.
Absolutely positively use the safety chains!!!!!!!!! When used properly, they work. Axle, sway bar, arms are fine to wrap it around. The chain can be hooked back into it's loop if you can not get it to hook onto the opposing side. The point of it is the give the car a chance to not fly off the trailer and kill someone should you have pulled a bonehead maneuver and left the car in rolling fashion.
12-18-2013, 01:57 PM
#15
Super Member
Bought a used U-haul car hauler, had it parked in my driveway. U-haul for some reason came by my house, decided it was theirs and seized it damaging the side of my house in the process. To avoid prosecution, they "bought it back" and paid for the damage.
