tie down straps

[Highbanked Hauler]

 Anybody use the single strap type that goes around the tread of the tire ? I am getting tired of crawling under the car  to install and remove tie straps as I grab the lower control arms and rear springs so the suspension still works freely.

2 CAR HAULER AUTO HAULER CAR TRAILER RATCHET STRAPS 3WH
7 Photos
   
2 CAR HAULER AUTO HAULER CAR TRAILER RATCHET STRAPS 3WH

[bill440rt]

I do. 
I installed an E-track system in my trailer a few years ago. No more crawling around under the car. Very easy to strap down. Worthwhile upgrade.
My straps also have a large cross strap that goes across the top of the width of the tire as well.

[Highbanked Hauler]

I do. 
I installed an E-track system in my trailer a few years ago. No more crawling around under the car. Very easy to strap down. Worthwhile upgrade.
My straps also have a large cross strap that goes across the top of the width of the tire as well.

DO you have a pix  or name as that was what i was looking for ??

[Troy]

I used them on U-Haul trailers before and liked them much better than the ones I ended up with when I bought my trailer. If I ever get to the point of towing regularly again I'm going to install some D-rings and find some of those straps. Crawling under (or laying under) the car on a hot trailer trying to adjust straps sucks at any age!

Troy

[Ghoste]

Thats pretty much all they use in Europe.  As for any the professional dedicated classic car haulers in North America, a tiny handful trust wheel straps.  They are likely fine for individual use but a big hangup for the pros (here) is that they want the car tied down.  They don't want them to be able to move around on their suspensions and bang into anything.

[bill440rt]

Exactly, Troy!  
Crawling around under the car was becoming a painful experience. Can't tell you how many times I banged my head on those darn exhaust tip clamps.     I think I have a permanent scar on my forehead.  

I do.  
I installed an E-track system in my trailer a few years ago. No more crawling around under the car. Very easy to strap down. Worthwhile upgrade.
My straps also have a large cross strap that goes across the top of the width of the tire as well.

DO you have a pix  or name as that was what i was looking for ??

I just did a quick Google search:
http://www.etrailer.com/p-e19148.html

I got them at my local trailer outlet, along with the tie downs. The bolts they gave me to install them were not long enough to go thru my floor, so I just had to buy a bunch of longer hardened bolts. I also made sure that the bolts passed thru the trailer frame crossrails for added strength.

[bill440rt]

Thats pretty much all they use in Europe.  As for any the professional dedicated classic car haulers in North America, a tiny handful trust wheel straps.  They are likely fine for individual use but a big hangup for the pros (here) is that they want the car tied down.  They don't want them to be able to move around on their suspensions and bang into anything.

Really? When Pilot transported my car he had an E-track system in his trailer. 

[Ghoste]

Trust me, I just spent the last five years of my life travelling the globe taking care of inventory for the biggest classic car auction house in the world.  I've been in hundreds of trailers and helped tie down thousands of cars.  Literally.

[bill440rt]

No worries Ghoste, I trust you. 

[Highbanked Hauler]

Trust me, I just spent the last five years of my life travelling the globe taking care of inventory for the biggest classic car auction house in the world.  I've been in hundreds of trailers and helped tie down thousands of cars.  Literally.

   For a paid professional outfit I can see the reason for immobilizing a car,same with new car carriers but on a rough road I have seen the suspension on my car move a lot.

     Thanks, I have seen the E track used before but the only"net" type strap I've seen wouldn't cover a 12 in. wide tires. Thats why I was looking at the single strap type.

[War wagon]

Princess auto here in Ontario sells everything you need to set up your trailer. I highly recommend it.

[69rtse4spd]

The one thing about the over the tire straps is, you better make sure you don't have an air leak, strap gets lose, car moves around. . 

[Troy]

The one thing about the over the tire straps is, you better make sure you don't have an air leak, strap gets lose, car moves around. . 

Uh, isn't that the case with any tie down system? If tires lose pressure then the straps go loose no matter where you attached them!

My current straps go on the rear axle and front suspension. That is essentially the same thing as strapping down the tires as the body can still move on the suspension. To make it solid you have to attach to the frame using those awesome T clips that always rip holes in the rails. On a commercial carrier with cars stacked 2" apart it's a necessity but, on my single trailer with me driving, I'll do it the way I am now.

Troy

[Highbanked Hauler]

The one thing about the over the tire straps is, you better make sure you don't have an air leak, strap gets lose, car moves around. . 

Uh, isn't that the case with any tie down system? If tires lose pressure then the straps go loose no matter where you attached them!

My current straps go on the rear axle and front suspension. That is essentially the same thing as strapping down the tires as the body can still move on the suspension. To make it solid you have to attach to the frame using those awesome T clips that always rip holes in the rails. On a commercial carrier with cars stacked 2" apart it's a necessity but, on my single trailer with me driving, I'll do it the way I am now.

Troy

   Exactly what you said Troy-------..    OTC makes a set of engine hoist brackets and I THINK I can bolt them to the rear end U bolts and the front lower shock bolts and just reach in and hook the strap hooks into the chain link rather than fighting with axle straps. Obviously you wouldn't do it on a high point show car but my sled is a driver with a paint job not a 100 pointer.
   Al

[bill440rt]

Someone out there was offering tie down D-ring brackets that would bolt to the bottom of the rear shock plates. I've seen them on a few cars now. It was an easy clamp point.
There's probably something similar you could fab up for the front suspension somehow.

[Highbanked Hauler]

Item picture
   
OTC Tools 7100 4,000lb Capacity Engine Lifting Brackets
Member id jbtoolsales02 | Feedback Score Of 104758 | 99.4%

   thats what these are if the pix comes through. They are $40 a set.

damn pix doesn't come through......

[Troy]

Item picture
   
OTC Tools 7100 4,000lb Capacity Engine Lifting Brackets
Member id jbtoolsales02 | Feedback Score Of 104758 | 99.4%

    thats what these are if the pix comes through. They are $40 a set.

damn pix doesn't come through......

Here you go.

Honestly, I rarely (if ever) trailer my cars once they are drivable so putting in semi-permanent tie downs isn't really something I'd do. A winch would be higher on my priority list since project cars rarely load themselves.

Troy

[Highbanked Hauler]

  Thanks Troy,

    I've put 18+000 on it since I put it together in 96 and now it needs a bunch of maintenance/upgrades. I think we put about 400 mi.this year and if there were more mopar cruises around it would be driven more..

[Ghoste]

The one thing about the over the tire straps is, you better make sure you don't have an air leak, strap gets lose, car moves around. . 

Uh, isn't that the case with any tie down system? If tires lose pressure then the straps go loose no matter where you attached them!

Except that if an axle strap gets loose, it's still strapped.  It will move, a lot, and cause damage but its still somewhat strapped.  If a tire strap comes off, its now a free bird.
Truth is both of those scenarios are pretty unlikely and either one would see damage.  In my experience, I've never seen a tire lose enough air in a trip to make the tie downs go loose.  A responsible driver, whether pro or not, is going to check the load frequently anyway.
I saw a tire strap come off a Mercedes SSK on an open trailer in Europe and the car rolled off the back (I have a photo somewhere).  And I saw another case (it wasn't our car) where a car was loose inside a seagoing container.  Forget whether it was improperly strapped or the strap broke but I do remember the car was very banged up.
But of all the cars I've seen transported, incidents are pretty rare.  Straps should be physically inspected and periodically replaced and you should have more than one tie down on a vehicle.  Other than that, keep them tight.

[Troy]

There are several styles. The type that goes over the circumference of the wheel (like a stripe) would hold the car even if the tire went flat. Unless the track/mount was off to the side - in which case you've chosen the wrong design! The type with a web across the top but still mounting front to back would be similar but give you more leeway in mounting locations as it wouldn't need to be exactly aligned with the tire. The type I had looked at for my trailer have a web but ratchet from the side. Now that we're discussing it, I see that this style, while convenient, is probably the least secure in this scenario as the loose strap would likely just slide off the tire when it rolled. However, don't you guys use the parking brake and have the car in gear when towing? Maybe I'll add some wheel chock mounts to the trailer...

Troy

[Troy]

This doesn't look safe at all...

Troy

[bill440rt]

My straps are similar to the center picture you posted Troy, except it has a "tail" like the bottom picture with a turnbuckle clamp. The strap goes thru the turnbuckle to the ratchet, this places the ratchet parallel with the E-track and makes for easier ratcheting. It also provides three points of anchor for each wheel. I check each strap after a few miles of towing. Once tight, the car doesn't move. Yes, parking brake stays on and the car remains in Park.

[bill440rt]

This doesn't look safe at all...

Troy

Neither does this, although it is simple! 

[Highbanked Hauler]

This doesn't look safe at all...

Troy

  I agree, the only way I have seen that type used is 2 on each tire tied to the front and rear together. At this point I think I am going to use the engine bolt plate idea on the rear end and weld a set of lower control arm reinforcement plates on the front and hook to them.

[Highbanked Hauler]

This doesn't look safe at all...

Troy

Neither does this, although it is simple! 

  All he needs to do is cross tie it and I think it would be fine. Cross tying does wonders to hold a car in place.