why trailer a car backwards?

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Maybe it's me, but what's the point?  Towing or trailering, I have always loaded a car, nose first 

[red69superbee]

i always haul cars forward un less theres no other way.If its a junker and has to be drug out in the open, i still do this.Its a personal preference i suppose, but i think it looks silly to haul one backwards on the trailer

[Aero426]

You need a certain amount of tongue weight on the front of the trailer.   If there is an engine in the car, towing backwards like that is asking for trouble.    

[Ghoste]

That is exactly what I was thinking, it's a great way to lose a trailer and car.

[red69superbee]

i agree.

[Aero426]

The blue car is also an inadequate setup with only one (!) tie down on the rear of the trailer.   

[Ghoste]

Here is why a single tie down is not good enough.

[chargerboy69]

The blue car is also an inadequate setup with only one (!) tie down on the rear of the trailer.   

And I see dopes doing this all the time.

[69 OUR/TEA]

Why,because the person towing is an idiot!!!! If it has no eng/tranny thats one thing,but a complete car is a disaster waiting to happen.Had a friend lose a car/trailor cause a truck cut him off,started swaying back and forth,ripped off the hitch,spun around ,slapped the side of the truck,trailor with car on it flipped over down an embankment,and totaled.

[Ghoste]

And yes, the Charger in the second pic looks to be stripped out and sitting high in the front but the blue one looks like a dressed out car.

[bull]

Probably because the car was nosed in to the garage when they backed the trailer up to it and never thought beyond the convenience of the situation.

[nvrbdn]

im assuming that the blue charger is missing its windshield and they didnt want the draft damaging anything.

[Ghoste]

Is it missing?  It still has wipers.

[nvrbdn]

you can see the metal lip around the top of the window opening. no rubber gasket, no chrome trim

[Ghoste]

I see that, some spots in the photo it looks like there is one and others not.  In any case, if there isn't then you need to take some other measure in my opinion.  All the weight on the back makes the trailer unstable to pull and puts a risk of the hitch coming apart as well.  No matter how you slice it, it just isn't a smart thing to do.

[nvrbdn]

i agree entirely. i was just trying to figure why the idiot was hauling it backwards.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Probably because the car was nosed in to the garage when they backed the trailer up to it and never thought beyond the convenience of the situation.

The last non-op car I hauled, I pulled out of my garage (it was nose-in) onto the hauler, then brought it to the road, took it off the hauler, turning it around the "right way" on the truck   Agree on weight issues from hauling backwards, plus it looks goofy when backwards  

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

From U-Haul:
http://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/121/Auto-Transporter-User-Instructions

Auto Transporter User Instructions

U-HAUL HOTLINE
1-800-528-0355
24 HOURS - 7 DAYS A WEEK

Safety alert symbol - This safety alert symbol precedes all the safety messages in these instructions. Safety messages alert you to possible hazards and instruct you on how to avoid or reduce the risk of injury.

WARNING

Read and follow all of these instructions and safety messages before operating the auto transport trailer. Death, dismemberment or serious injury to you, your passengers, and others on the road may result if you do not follow these instructions. Make sure all drivers read and understand all these instructions.

See the Connecting your auto transport trailer section for auto transport trailer hook up instructions. A U-Haul representative can assist if you require assistance.

Important towing information

Prevent whipping by properly loading the auto transport trailer. The vehicle-in-tow must be loaded facing forward (front wheels on auto transport trailer). Loading the vehicle-in-tow backwards can cause the tow vehicle and the auto transport trailer "combination" to begin whipping, which is violent and uncontrollable sway.

Side to side motion (sway) that begins as you reach a certain speed, will likely become whipping at higher speeds. If you notice sway beginning slow down immediately by letting off the gas pedal. Then stop to check the auto transport trailer and vehicle-in-tow as soon as possible.

If whipping or sway occurs, do not steer, do not apply your brakes and never speed up. Let off the gas pedal and hold the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position.

A "combination disturbance" is improper handling, whipping, sway, over-steering or other deviation of the tow vehicle or auto transport trailer from their intended path, due to one or more causes (improper loading, steering inputs, excessive speed, cross winds, passing vehicles, rough roads, etc). If a combination disturbance occurs, do not steer or brake. Steering or braking during a disturbance can cause a loss of control or crash.

If a wheel goes off the paved roadway, do not steer sharply and do not brake. Let off the gas pedal and slow down below 25 mph. Then steer gradually back onto the roadway. Proceed with caution entering traffic.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Seems Porsche (911) and VW Bug owners load backwards, but that's them... And on Rennlist, there isn;t even a consensus.  

[41husk]

That's how you are supposed to haul Chevys and Fords.  I'm sure I read that some place

[Troy]

I've hauled cars backwards before. If you have a long enough trailer to balance the weight who cares? Both of those cars look unfinished (both sit high in front, neither has glass, and the green car doesn't appear to have an interior). On the U-Haul trailers, they're so short that a Charger only fits in exactly one spot. I have found that cars with a big block put way too much weight over the tongue. Flipping them around puts most of the weight right on the axles - but the rear of the car hangs so far out over the tongue that you still have plenty of weight there. The green car is on a trailer long enough to put the car anywhere. If you happen to be missing the hood latch hardware, there's less of a chance of damaging anything if the car is backwards. I strap mine down pretty good but wind at highway speeds can be much more powerful than you imagine (think parachute). If you tow it backwards the hinges do all the work and a bungee cord will hold the hood down.

On the other hand, some doofus in a tow truck decided to haul my Mach 1 backwards causing the rear window louvers to rip out of the bottom and smash into the roof. Make sure you're aware of things like that...

Troy

[moparguy01]

ive pulled that way before when there was no engine/trans. I loaded it the normal way first, but the tongue weight wasnt right so i swapped it and all was good.

[Cooter]

It all has to do with the positioning of the axles on the trailer. I know with my own Converted "Boat" trailer, the wheels cannot be moved foward enough to distribute the weight properly(Rear engine boat), therefore, if I tow with the car pulled on, the tongue weight is enormous. Not saying ALL the cars you see loaded backwards are being done for this reason, but I know in my own experience, I HAVE TO load it backwards to even out the load.

[Lennard]

The blue car is also an inadequate setup with only one (!) tie down on the rear of the trailer.    

I see that the Blue/Green U-haul tie down that is attached to the trailer on the right side is tied over the Charger wheel so we can assume that the other side is tied down also which makes 3 points tied down. I would do it like that without an engine in the Charger.

[Cooter]

Plus, alot of today's half ton pick-ups aren't up to all that tongue weight either. I know my own 1983 Dodge Ram 150 half ton truck SUCKED.
Now that I have a 1999 Ram 2500 3/4 ton, it's like it ain't even back there.