A few towing & tie down questions

[JonB]

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone. I'll be loading it up this afternoon, then driving from Milwaukee, WI to South Haven, MI for a track day at Gingerman, then on to South Bend, IN for an autocross at Tire Rack.

Have Fun, and Be Safe!

ex MKE meeself!

 

[viperbilliam]

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone. I'll be loading it up this afternoon, then driving from Milwaukee, WI to South Haven, MI for a track day at Gingerman, then on to South Bend, IN for an autocross at Tire Rack.

With all the confusion here, what did you end up doing? It's hard to post a question on this website without a debate among the responses! I think it depends on the situation you run into. If the result is adverse, then you will say I should have used the other method!

 

[GTS Dean]

I cross them front and rear. I use R hooks on the front, and carefully wrap axle straps around the inboard pivot of the lower rear A-arms - right against the frame. A lot of how you tie down is dictated by where your trailer anchor points are, and how much room you have left to work the ratchets.

 

[witz323]

My trailering attempt was a complete cluster F%&#. The car hauler I had rented had way to steep of a ramp, and there was no way to drive my car up the ramp without severe damage. The trailer itself was pretty high off the ground. The renter didn't want me using additional wood planks in fear that they might snap, or the tires would skid them back off the steel ramp, causing a crash condition. His proposal was to try a different trailer that tilted. It was kind of like a giant snowmobile tilt trailer. I got the car on it just fine, but could not open the door (trailer fender in the way) once the car was on. I could climb out the window, but there was not way to close the window, and since this was going to be a 4 day journey, i needed the windows closed. So next we added about a half inch of ply wood under the front tires to hopefully get the door above the trailer fender. It wasn't quite high enough, and the renter didn't feel comfortable lifting it up any higher. So after a couple hours of screwing around, i drove the viper to Gingerman and then on to the Tire Rack, and back to Milwaukee. Just like last year. It was a great weekend regardless. This trailer thing is going to have to be a winter project or something. I'd like to have one custom made to some personal specs. Thanks for all the input though, sorry i couldn't have put it to better use!!!

 

[Viper X]

I've towed my Viper dozens of times to and from the track, I've done trips as long as 3,000 miles round trip. I used "R" hooks in the frame slots and 4 10,000 lb. tow straps. I crossed both of them and the car always towed perfectly, not a single incident, even when I blew a trailer tire the car didn't budge.

Agree with So Cal Rebel,

Thousands of miles towed in enclosed trailers using R hooks, 4 10,000 lb tow straps and crossing front and rear. No incidents and have lost multiple trailer tires.

DO make sure you get at least one "wrap" on your ratcheting tow straps or the straps can work their way loose on long tows.

Dan