Strapping Down a Car to Trailer

[64frdpwr]

I will be hauling a 1998 Ford Taurus (this weekend) on my 16 foot 7000 lb capacity trailer.
What is best way to strap car down to trailer???
Is the cross X method on front and rear the best???

thanks for any advise
64

[Mr_Roboto]

The best way to do a Taurus is basket straps over all 4 wheels. But I assume you want to use something you already have, i.e. load straps or chains.

The hard part with the Taurus is the rear tie down, because the rear control arms are very thin and fairly weak. On a tow truck, the rear is usually secured by T-hooks inserted into special slots in the frame.

What works well for me using straps is to run the straps over a few coils of the coil spring. I would use redundant tie downs in the rear, one at each coil spring and backups at the control arms. The front control arms are strong and 2 tie downs are fine.

X pattern or straight out depends on your preference. Either way is fine.

[64frdpwr]

thanks for the info, you are correct i have will be using straps with hooks. thanks again
64

[Dualie]

[ QUOTE ]
The best way to do a Taurus is basket straps over all 4 wheels. But I assume you want to use something you already have, i.e. load straps or chains.

The hard part with the Taurus is the rear tie down, because the rear control arms are very thin and fairly weak. On a tow truck, the rear is usually secured by T-hooks inserted into special slots in the frame.

What works well for me using straps is to run the straps over a few coils of the coil spring. I would use redundant tie downs in the rear, one at each coil spring and backups at the control arms. The front control arms are strong and 2 tie downs are fine.

X pattern or straight out depends on your preference. Either way is fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with the above. if you look under enough of that vintage You will see plenty of them with torn slots where "tow truck drivers" have used them to winch a car up or pulled to hard on them and ripped the rear T-slots where you can no longer insert a T-hook.

in the front i prefer tying down on a car trailer in an X fashion. when there tightened down this still leaves them with a little more give to let the car find its sweet spot on the trailer. I usually check the straps after the first 5-10 miles.

for the rear Basket tie downs over the wheels are the best option. But the coil springs with a redundant tie down else where are good also.

For the RIGHT information look here.

TOW SPEC"S

[64frdpwr]

Great info thanks Dualie
64

[KVOM]

When I tow my Jeep I cross my straps over the diff pumpkin in the rear. In the front I just go straight ahead. The straps in the rear need to be strong to keep the vehicle on the trailer and not in your truck bed in case of an accident. The front straps won't get significant load in most conceivable circumstances. Tightening after a few miles is an excellent idea, as is checking for stretch if the straps get wet.

[olddieseldude]

I have two grade 70 chains that I use to secure the rears with by crossing them, I use axle straps to secure them to the car, with a pinning point in a stake pocket at the rear sides of the trailer, lets me adjust the length of the chain (and the location of the car) by putting the pin through the appropriate link in the chain.

I have ratcheting straps that I secure the front with by crossing again using axle straps to secure them to the car, hooking the other ends to the front side stake pockets. I use the front ratchet straps to tighten both the chains and ratchet straps at the same time.

[neepsjeeps]

FYI Northern tool sells those hooks like the tow trucks use, i bought mine at the store in nashville, im not sure if you have a store there but a tractor/ ranch type supply store might have something too, i also have the straps that wrap the tires that might be easier too, 4 corners is the way to go..

[64frdpwr]

Got back yesterday trip went well no issues to report. At the rear of these Taurus's there is really nothing to strap to.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img].I did stop after about 5 miles once i was loaded up and wreched the straps about 2 clicks tighter , great advice here....thanks again for the info guys.
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[olddieseldude]

On my daughter's front driver, I put an axle strap around each drag arms just ahead of the rear knuckles to secure the rear. It's a substancial piece of steel with no sharp edges to cut a strap with.

My trailer is a multipurpose trailer so my style of tieing down is based on needing to get to the hook points on the trailer which are along the sides not directly beneath or behind the car like a dedicated car hauler might be. Crossing allows the tie downs to get from the car to the trailer without the tires being in the way. I would probably use a different style if using a different trailer.

[Mr_Roboto]

Yea, the Taurus' can be difficult to secure to a bed, even for professional towers. Fortunately they tow just fine with a regular wrecker!