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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Found a better way to tie my car down on the trailer
Posted by: JStroud Sep 26 2014, 07:32 PM
When my car broke down at parade I had AAA tow it home, the tow truck had these straps he used with a normal ratchet strap tie down that turned it into a wheel tie down.
When I got home I searched for the straps, the driver didn't speak very good English, if your thinking... Why didn't he just ask the tow truck driver....couldn't find them.
Finally talked to a guy who owns a tow company.....found the straps. 
They are axle straps with loop ends, the with loop ends was the hard part, most are made with metal D ring ends, with the soft loop ends they won't damage your rims.
You just thread the ratchet strap end through one loop end then put it behind the tire then back through the other loop end, then hook each end and tighten, clamps around the tire....no more crawling under the car....no more cutting straps going through the wheels. Makes me want to trailer my car somewhere. 
Now I just need to weld a few D rings on the trailer. 
Posted by: JRust Sep 26 2014, 09:42 PM
Most people are trying to figure out how to keep their car off the trailer 
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Posted by: RobW Sep 26 2014, 09:47 PM
A loop around the rear trailing arm works well too. 
Posted by: JStroud Sep 26 2014, 10:30 PM
A loop around the rear trailing arm works well too.
That's true......but then your crawling under the car, what I was trying to avoid.
Ya Jamie, I strive for that too.......but for some reason I keep having to trailer it.
Posted by: RobW Sep 27 2014, 12:00 AM
A loop around the rear trailing arm works well too.
That's true......but then your crawling under the car, what I was trying to avoid.
Ya Jamie, I strive for that too.......but for some reason I keep having to trailer it.
Not really. If the loop is on the back of the trailing arm its really easy on a trailer.
Posted by: JRust Sep 27 2014, 10:06 AM
A loop around the rear trailing arm works well too.
That's true......but then your crawling under the car, what I was trying to avoid.
Ya Jamie, I strive for that too.......but for some reason I keep having to trailer it.
Those are a cool setup. I'm no stranger to trailering. Certainly not opposed to it for those long hauls either. I just sold my 914 trailer though. Really been liking the flat tow setup. Only used my trailer once or twice a year. Which was usually to bring another 914 home. By selling it hopefully I have cut down on my madness
Posted by: stugray Sep 27 2014, 11:21 AM
WHere did you get them?
I planned on buying the tie downs that go on the shock mount bolt, but this looks good too.
Posted by: 02loftsmoor Sep 27 2014, 11:52 AM
Doesn't some one make a tire web/strap ???
Posted by: altitude411 Sep 27 2014, 12:03 PM
Doesn't some one make a tire web/strap ???
Yep, even color choice's....
http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Towing-Auto-Hauling/Wheel-Nets-Auto-Car-Tie-Downs?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Tire%20Strap&utm_content=751935781&utm_campaign={BING-USCC%20Car%20Trailer%20&%20Auto%20Tie%20Downs}
Posted by: Larmo63 Sep 27 2014, 12:05 PM
914s don't break down. 
Posted by: JStroud Sep 27 2014, 12:21 PM
WHere did you get them?
I planned on buying the tie downs that go on the shock mount bolt, but this looks good too.
http://www.truckntow.com/p-27246-vulcan-proseries-22-inch-eye-eye-axle-strap-with-wear-pad.aspx
They do offer a less expensive version for around $8.99 ea, the heavier duty $13.99 Ea
I went with these rather than the tire tie downs because I use my trailer to haul other things besides cars, so I already have a lot of 2" ratchet straps, these just add to them, and were cheaper than the tire hold downs. Plus I figured I'd probably come up with other ways to use these.
I'm not trying to persuade anyone from changing what they like.....just sharing what I found that works well for my situation.....take from it what you will.
Posted by: RobW Sep 27 2014, 04:50 PM
How do you flat tow legally in CA.
Posted by: JStroud Sep 27 2014, 05:40 PM
How do you flat tow legally in CA.
I see motorhomes flat towing cars all the time, I think if the towed vehicle is registered and you have working tail lights your good.
Posted by: RobW Sep 27 2014, 06:00 PM
How do you flat tow legally in CA.
I see motorhomes flat towing cars all the time, I think if the towed vehicle is registered and you have working tail lights your good.
Anything over 1500 lbs requires an aux brake system for 4 down. You get into an accident and your insurance may bail on you...
Posted by: type2man Sep 27 2014, 06:18 PM
Trailers are for boats! 
Posted by: VG-914 Sep 28 2014, 11:16 AM
As long as this thread got started.. I'm hunting for the perfect trailer for my 914. Who likes what they have, why, and what is it? (Under $3K would be nice...).
... and, if it would fit in a 20-22 ft garage!
Posted by: campbellcj Sep 29 2014, 09:53 PM
As long as this thread got started.. I'm hunting for the perfect trailer for my 914. Who likes what they have, why, and what is it? (Under $3K would be nice...).
... and, if it would fit in a 20-22 ft garage!
I have a steel twin-axle Carson with electric brakes and slide-out ramps. I paid somewhere between $1500-2000 around 10 years ago when it was very lightly used. I figure a used one now would be in the same ballpark. Tires are a key thing to check as just like car tires, for safety reasons they need to be replaced every few (5?) years regardless of treadwear. Aluminum trailers are nicer but 2X or more the price, and our cars are so light that any reasonable tow vehicle can pull a steel trailer + a 914 (or early 911). The total weight is only about 4,000 lbs.
Posted by: RobW Sep 29 2014, 09:59 PM
+1 on the Carson open deck tandem, with a single axel brake. Get the drop axel and longest ramps you can get. 16-18 ft is standard.
Posted by: Racer Chris Sep 30 2014, 07:29 AM
Strapping a car to the trailer at the wheels allows the chassis to move up and down on its suspension.
This is actually a bad thing in terms of the trailer's suspension dynamics.
For short hauls it probably is no big deal but I wouldn't advise using that tie-down method for long trips.
Posted by: MoveQik Sep 30 2014, 08:59 AM
How do you flat tow legally in CA.
I see motorhomes flat towing cars all the time, I think if the towed vehicle is registered and you have working tail lights your good.
To be totally legal, you also need an auxiliary braking system on the vehicle being towed. The weight at which that system is needed varies a little from state to state.
Posted by: JStroud Sep 30 2014, 09:14 AM
Strapping a car to the trailer at the wheels allows the chassis to move up and down on its suspension.
This is actually a bad thing in terms of the trailer's suspension dynamics.
For short hauls it probably is no big deal but I wouldn't advise using that tie-down method for long trips.
That's a good point, hadn't thought of that. No long trailering for me though, just short trips......mainly to Marks shop.
maybe to paint someday. Or if it breaks down....but that rarely happens.
Posted by: RobW Sep 30 2014, 11:54 AM
How do you flat tow legally in CA.
I see motorhomes flat towing cars all the time, I think if the towed vehicle is registered and you have working tail lights your good.
To be totally legal, you also need an auxiliary braking system on the vehicle being towed. The weight at which that system is needed varies a little from state to state.
There is a hitch mount system by wire that is similar to a UHaul compression brake. Don't ask me able the efficacy. I've been doing all kinds of research on flat towing because of our RV but haven't figure it out yet.
Posted by: RobW Sep 30 2014, 12:00 PM
Here it is...
http://blueox.com/p-1552-autostop-universal.aspx
Posted by: jcd914 Sep 30 2014, 09:27 PM
How do you flat tow legally in CA.
I see motorhomes flat towing cars all the time, I think if the towed vehicle is registered and you have working tail lights your good.
To be totally legal, you also need an auxiliary braking system on the vehicle being towed. The weight at which that system is needed varies a little from state to state.
California law specifically requires brakes on any trailer over 1500 lbs.
There is no actual requirement for vehicles being towed.
Something light (like a 914) behind something big & heavy with good brake (like an RV or big truck) I would be OK with but something heavy (like my Audi A6) I would want aux brakes on it.
Jim
Posted by: campbellcj Sep 30 2014, 10:08 PM
Strapping a car to the trailer at the wheels allows the chassis to move up and down on its suspension.
This is actually a bad thing in terms of the trailer's suspension dynamics.
For short hauls it probably is no big deal but I wouldn't advise using that tie-down method for long trips.
For the rear, the tie-down loops that bolt to the lower shock mounts work really well. I loop thru the A-arms at the front. The tie-downs that bolt to the torsion-bar cover mount points are too low, at least for lowered trailered cars.
Posted by: r_towle Sep 30 2014, 10:18 PM
Eehh
Attached image(s)
Posted by: messix Sep 30 2014, 11:19 PM
Strapping a car to the trailer at the wheels allows the chassis to move up and down on its suspension.
This is actually a bad thing in terms of the trailer's suspension dynamics.
For short hauls it probably is no big deal but I wouldn't advise using that tie-down method for long trips.
so how would one tie down a 914 to a trailer by the chassis?
Posted by: campbellcj Oct 1 2014, 10:26 PM
so how would one tie down a 914 to a trailer by the chassis?
I assume you'd have to weld some eyes to the tub
My car is so stiff that I sure don't worry about it moving around much. My normal tows are <100 miles each way.
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