Question on trailering a GTS

[agentf1]

I have access to a 22' open trailer. Has anybody trailered a GTS with an open trailer successfully? By successfully I mean can you get out of the Viper without having to climb out the window and leave the window open? Is there any clearance problem getting the car up onto the trailer? If anybody has done this I would love to hear about your experience. I may be able to get an enclosed trailer but not right away.

 

[GotA350ZTT]

Not sure about a GTS but I've had two RT/10's open trailered before. With stock height, they JUST clear the ramps (either longer ramps or using some wood to extend the ramps). Hope that helps!!

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[CANTDRIVE55]

Hi,

I use the Sloan Kwik-Load trailer with my GTS and have no problems with clearance or loading/unloading.

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

I have access to a 22' open trailer. Has anybody trailered a GTS with an open trailer successfully? By successfully I mean can you get out of the Viper without having to climb out the window and leave the window open? Is there any clearance problem getting the car up onto the trailer? If anybody has done this I would love to hear about your experience. I may be able to get an enclosed trailer but not right away.

Does this mean??!!

 

[PittsburghRT]

Buy some R-hooks to tie the car down. The R-hooks let you tie the car down directly from the chassis to the trailer.

 

[agentf1]

Buy some R-hooks to tie the car down. The R-hooks let you tie the car down directly from the chassis to the trailer.

Thanks, will do. Where can I find these at?

 

[C O D Y]

Did you find a car?

 

[agentf1]

Did you find a car?

Yes, I think so. I will post pics and details as soon as it is official. Bringing a trailer so if it checks out I will bring it home.

 

[Gus Strakes]

As long as the fender on the trailer is no higher than 11 inches from the bed, you should have no problem opening the door to get out. For trailering, I use 4 10,000 pound ratchet straps with r hooks connecting to the oval slots in the frame. In the front they go straight from the frame to the D Rings on the trailer. In the rear I cross them to the rear D Rings. If you're hauling long distance, check your straps after the first 50 miles, then every 100 miles thereafter, as they usually need a little tightening.

 

[agentf1]

As long as the fender on the trailer is no higher than 11 inches from the bed, you should have no problem opening the door to get out. For trailering, I use 4 10,000 pound ratchet straps with r hooks connecting to the oval slots in the frame. In the front they go straight from the frame to the D Rings on the trailer. In the rear I cross them to the rear D Rings. If you're hauling long distance, check your straps after the first 50 miles, then every 100 miles thereafter, as they usually need a little tightening.

Thanks Gus, thats EXACTLY what I needed to know.

 

[Matt M PA]

agentf1...I hope you found a car.

About trailering, I have been trailering for over a decade with various showcars. AN old timer told me when I started out that you should never cross the straps. He said it raises the center of gravity of the load.

When I have reason to trailer my Viper, I do use those special R hooks in the frame holes...and the straps come straight to the tie-downs in the trailer floor. Mind you, it's not straight back...they come to the tie-downs at a bit of an angle. (Sort of drawn and quartered)

Crossing the straps with those R hooks could cause damage to the welded in plates in the frame.

 

[Gus Strakes]

agentf1...I hope you found a car.

About trailering, I have been trailering for over a decade with various showcars. AN old timer told me when I started out that you should never cross the straps. He said it raises the center of gravity of the load.

When I have reason to trailer my Viper, I do use those special R hooks in the frame holes...and the straps come straight to the tie-downs in the trailer floor. Mind you, it's not straight back...they come to the tie-downs at a bit of an angle. (Sort of drawn and quartered)

Crossing the straps with those R hooks could cause damage to the welded in plates in the frame.

I think the wizard cross ties both front and rear as denoted in this thread:
http://forums.viperclub.org/showthread.php?t=561637&highlight=cross+straps

The old timer that told me to do straight on one end and cross tie on the other was JonB. I don't remember why, I just know to do it that way. Maybe he'll chime in.

 

[agentf1]

Is this what I need?

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[Matt M PA]

Frank....this is what you want.

http://www.surfcitygarage.com/detail2.php?product_id=159

I did not buy from them....but that's what I use with the Viper. Mine did not come with that extra ring on them. (And since you are likely are particular as me...I sprayed mine with that tool tip stuff as an extra bit of caution against scrapes)

I also bought 4 ratchet straps so each corner may be tightened.

As far as crossing the straps...I cannot see how it helps. I mean, by pulling on those hooks at that angle, it would seem to me that it could put more pressure on those plates than by pulling straight. I have never crossed straps on any car I trailered.

From another site....[FONT=Arial, Arial, Helvetica] A common practice is to cross the tie-down straps for greater tension. Tie down straps only carry proper load weight if they are in line with their mountings. A 25 to 35 percent angle from vehicle to trailer retains their strength, and gives the best front-to-rear restraint. Of course, the obvious is important also. Be sure to use D-Rings or trailer hardware with load ratings that are equal to or exceed the strap ratings.[/FONT]

 

[JonB]

The old timer that told me to do straight on one end and cross tie on the other was JonB. I don't remember why, I just know to do it that way. Maybe he'll chime in.

Gary Lashinsky and I co-wrote a long story in Viper Quarterly about towing Vipers bothe open and closed, in mountains and flatlands. I could tell ya some scary stories of Vipers arriving at early VCA events simply PARKED on rented trailers with NO STRAPS !!!!!

If you X the tie-down straps at both ends, and the trailer gets seriously off-kilter-tilter, BOTH sets of straps will simply yield to the downward vector. If only ONE set is crossed, the other set resists the 'urge' to be crossed. I X the longest pair and straighetn the shortest pair.

P.S. Those hooks are available from a long-term VCA supporter and advertisor as well

 

[agentf1]

P.S. Those hooks are available from a long-term VCA supporter and advertisor as well

Who would that be?

 

[PittsburghRT]

I bought mine from www.awdirect.com . The R-hooks were cheap... about $7.25 each. Many other Viper owners ordered the hooks from them and that is how I found out about the company. Buy them from JobB if you can since he is a site sponsor... I was in a hurry for the hooks and he was out of town when I called to order.

 

[agentf1]

Are these R hooks unique to a Viper or might the trailer guy already have them? If not I will be giving Jon B a call today.

 

[PittsburghRT]

The R-hooks are not unique to the Viper. The towing supply company I bought mine from said they are used offen by other vehicles for towing. The part number and double check was CC1.

 

[Kmrumedy]

Hey Frank - Did you buy the car?? What did you finally end up getting?

 

[C O D Y]

So.... how did the trip go? Did you get it on the trailer?

 

[SoCal Rebell]

I towed my 2000 Viper for years on a 16ft. open trailer. I made sure it was dovetailed, used 6' ramps, had 4 "D" rings on the corners and had a tilt fender to exit the car. I used "r" hooks because they are the most secure and 4 10,000 lb. ratchet tie straps which I crossed front and back. No problems loading, 10s of thousands of miles of trouble free towing.

 

[agentf1]

So.... how did the trip go? Did you get it on the trailer?

Ended up getting a different one. The guy was a real @$$%^&* and would not let me have the car looked at by a Viper Tech. It also had not ever had any fluids changed since it was built in 1999. After about the third time when the guy forgot about our arrangement/conversation about taking the car to a dealer to have a viper tech look at it and saying to me, whats the problem, its a new car, I told him he could keep it. He was obviously hiding something.