I had this 20 foot car trailer built should be done next week in time for the nationals. Do most people tie their car down with the front and the back straps in an X pattern or just straight off the back and front of the car? Also, should I load the car as far forward or more in the center.? granted, it’s a 17 foot car on a 20 foot trailer so there’s not a whole lot of wiggle room on how it’s loaded. Thanks see you at the nationals
I cross in the back but usually not the front. I try and center the weight onto the trailer axles. You want a little tongue weight for stability but not too much. Let the trailer carry the load.
Spend a little time doing some test runs before hitting the highway. You want to be sure the loaded trailer is balanced to your tow vehicle. I always cross both ends.
Your probably going to get all kinds of opinions about strapping it down. I strap the front straight to the D rings. Rears I cross. Note- be very careful that the rear straps and/or the hooks don't rub against the gas tank and rub a hole in it. They get very close
I was told to measure the hitch height of the unloaded trailer on level ground. Then when you've loaded your car on, pull forward until your hitch height drops 1" from your unloaded height, and that's where your car should be strapped down. I criss-cross front and rear. The fronts over the frame rails using axle straps, and the rear around the axle center section with axle straps where the axle tubes go in. Not on the axle tubes, but on the center section casting. Be sure not to strap over the brake lines on the rear axle and crush them. That should give you enough tongue weight to not sway, but not so much that your steering on your tow vehicle is too light.
Once you figure out the sweet spot on where the car goes on the trailer, you can mount a tire chock on the runway. In my case, I trailered all kinds of cars but I made a line in paint where the front tire of a GS should be
I do just the opposite, but it's easier to cross in the front of the Model T; the rear is tied down just to keep the car from moving foreword if I have to brake hard.
Get a pair of axle straps go go over the axle, run the hook and strap through the loop ends to minimize friction potential to car components.
I would say that GS Fred hit it right on! We hauled the Cutlass in my avatar all over the country; ALWAYS crossed front and rear to prevent fore and aft and side to side movement. First time out, going through Atlanta in rush hour, was a "white knuckle" experience. We had the car a little too far back and it was "waggin' it's tail" all the way through. When we had a chance to stop and adjust, we moved it forward just a few inches and you didn't even know there was a trailer back there.
Thanks for all the input! It'll be nice not having to run back and forth to Uhaul any more! I was debating on getting a 24' box but I figured lets see how much racing I do locally. Both of the 1/4 mile tracks are 90 minutes or so in opposite directions. Silver Dollar Raceway to the west and Carolina Dragway to the east! A little farther than I was used to in AZ, but I'm sure once I get back to running on a decent basis, it wont be a bad tow.
General rule for tongue weight is 10-15% of the total load. You will know when it's not enough, tow vehicle will sway all over. Also watch your tire pressure too much is no good you will also feel the sway.
