Putting Charger on Trailer....Best way to strap down?

[MoparMotel]

I just ordered a 20' Car trailer today to take the Charger to a few shows. The trailer is a 20' Flat bed dove tail with about 8-10 D-rings around it. What is the best way to strap a 1968 Dodge Charger onto a trailer to take to the show? I will be transporting it 160 miles one way. Any advice?


Thanks!

[ACUDANUT]

DRIVE IT. Well, okay...I tie around the K-frame and the rear axles. Some prefer to latch onto the frame with big S-hooks. It's all about preference, but they both work fine. 

[no318]

I always tie a car to 4 corners with 4 straps.  Over the rear axle (careful of the brake lines) and around the lower control arms.  Around the K member is fine, too.  I would not use hooks in the frame rails as I tore the hole larger one time by doing that. 

[MoparMotel]

I would like to drive it but where I live it's going to be around 105-110 and its a black on black car no A/C.....I think i'm just going to pull it too hot for me

DRIVE IT. Well, okay...I tie around the K-frame and the rear axles. Some prefer to latch onto the frame with big S-hooks. It's all about preference, but they both work fine. 

[skip68]

NEVER tie onto the frame.       Only the K-member and rear axle.      A trailer will flex and you don't want your car to become the shock absorber for the trailer.    

[ITSA426]

I run a chain through the bottom K frame openings into stake pockets on each side of my open trailer.  I run a strap from the front spring perch/torque box to the opposite side ring on the trailer and use the straps to position the car where I want it on the trailer. 

Everything is already adjusted for the length for a b body mopar so it just takes a few minutes to rig it on.  I've got a few inches of moving room but once it's in place it pretty much stays put for the ride.  I've towed several hundred miles at a time that way.  I check after about the first 25 miles and at each gas stop to be sure everything is riding OK.

It may not be the best, but never had a problem and it works fine for me.  I can move a little forward or back.  If the car is heavy, like the hemi car, it rides a little further back.  A lighter car, or a car with no motor can ride a little more forward and it makes for a better ride in the half-ton, short box, Rumblebee

[1969chargerrtse]

   Don't chain it to your frame points! 

You can thank my ebay shipper, and I asked them not to chain it. 

[ITSA426]

I wouldn't do that either. 

[MoparMotel]

Alright I'll give that a shot. One strap around the k frame and one strap around the rear axle. Leave the car in park with the e-brake on?

Also what would be a good way to prevent rock chips? maybe put some kind of cover on the car and try and strap it down so it doesn't blow off? My tow vehicle is a Chevy 2500HD Duramax with a 6" lift and 35"s. Might throw some mud flaps on it to prevent rocks hitting the car.

[skip68]

Allow the cars suspension to keep doing its job on the trailer by letting the cars suspension absorb the bouncing of the trailer from the road.     That will keep the trailer from stressing the body of the car.  You want the tires to be planted firm to the trailer by tire straps, (like the U-haul trailers) k-member and rear axle. 

[ACUDANUT]

Allow the cars suspension to keep doing its job on the trailer by letting the cars suspension absorb the bouncing of the trailer from the road.     That will keep the trailer from stressing the body of the car.  You want the tires to be planted firm to the trailer by tire straps, (like the U-haul trailers) k-member and rear axle. 

I have never seen any cars ON FLAT bed trailers with straps around the tires. Only on tow dolleys.

[hemigeno]

put some kind of cover on the car and try and strap it down so it doesn't blow off?

Do yourself a favor and never put a cover on a car to be towed very far at all.  No matter how you try to strap it down, it WILL flap around while you're out on the road and really screw up your paint job.  If you think rock chips are bad...   

About the only way to protect the front end of your car (with your particular tow vehicle) may be to retrofit a stoneguard to the front of your trailer.

[mauve66]

you can also get some heavy film to cover the front end but its expensive from what i have seen and when you peel it off you can't use it anymore, they make wind/debris deflectors for the front of the trailers , they are expensive but stay with the trailer forever and help gas mileage supposedly

[skip68]

I have never seen any cars ON FLAT bed trailers with straps around the tires. Only on tow dolleys.

The U-haul trailers have the straps that go over the tires.   They are the only ones I've seen like that.   

[dstryr]

I use the tire straps with my 18' dovetail trailer.  I like the way it holds the car with the load spread over the deck & frame of the trailer plus I don't have to crank the heck out of the straps to hold the car steady and it doesn't get bouncy on me.   I got the straps at an RV shop in Colorado Springs...should be able to get them just about anywhere.  I think they work great.

 

[ACUDANUT]

 To each thier own.