I know...here I go again. I was wondering if you guys use those straps that cover the wheel/tire or if you just strap it though the suspension? I am very new to this so sorry for the dumb questions. I would like know what you h\guys do...and pros and cons too

Thanks Gang!!

 

I use the tow hooks on the CRX. Two straps in back. Two more crossed over up front.

 

Well, my trailer originall came with a string through the suspension setup..

But it sucks, and is ghetto, and I hate it.

So I'm putting on the over the wheels type tie down.

 

Scott, where on the front do you strap the crx down?

 

Is the over the wheels setup as safe or safer than through the suspension. It looks like it should be easier and safe, but you never know. I only want to buy this stuff once, and I want to do it right!

Thanks

 

I have tire bonnets but they are a pain in the *** to try to put them on. Instead, I just go through the wheel...no problems here!

 

you should hook it onto the chassis somewhere. Thats what the steel hoops are for.
Break down and buy at least 2 come-alongs

 

Depends on who you talk to and how much you like your suspension. The "theory" is (say theory since this has been on numerous discussion threads, magazine write-ups, etc) that when you tie down your car using the tow hooks or something else connect to he chassis, it causes undue stress on the suspension system. For example, say you hook your car to your tow hooks, then you crank'er down (now the suspension is compressed), now you go down I-77 (note: Interstate they are always doing road work on...pretty rough road), everytime you go over a pretty big bump, the suspension can't rebound (already compressed due to the tie down method), now it compresses even more, bottoms the suspension out, whatever. If you connect it to the wheels, the suspension can travel the way it was designed to.

Note: I'm not saying one way is better than the other, nor am I saying that what other people are doing is wrong. Me, I go through the wheel to tie the car down. Why? There's just something about having to pay $600 and waiting 8 weeks to have my shocks revalved I don't like. My $.02!

 

Since I'm planning on towing soon, I'm reading these responses with a bit of interest.

I agree with J28S about the wear on the suspension. Look at a car carrier, those cars look like they are broken, and many of them come off needing an alignment.

On the other hand, the thought of having a car swaying on top of a trailer doesn't appeal to me either (I supposed if the car is stiff enough, this is less of an issue). The thought of going up an entrance ramp with my load swaying back and forth isn't very appealing at all.

Scott

 

Steve, I'll take some pictures of mine in a little bit. I do crossed straps to the tow hooks up front, and straight ones to the rear wheels. Jon's comments are interesting though, and make me wonder about going to the wheels.

You can still go through the wheels with conventional straps BTW - I think the straps are certainly the most flexible option. Go ahead and buy 4 and be done with it.

 

Racer Wholesale has some tie-down products you might be interested in lookig into. A "track" that bolts to the trailer deck that recieves the wheel bonnet tie-down behind the wheel and a ratchet on the front end...

 

Hmmm. After you've just spent $2,000 for magic shocks on your track car, do you really want the added wear of them jouncing during a 8 hour towing trip? I've always tied the body down with criss-crossed ratcheting straps at the frame loops to limit suspension movement. With the suspension 1/2 compressed, the car hardly moves at all, the trailer suspension absorbs most of the road shock. If you strap at the tires, the car and trailer suspensions are both working and I think it's just too floppy!

 

The CRX has two tow hooks in front. I cross the straps in front from the tow hooks to D-rings in the trailer floor.

 

On my old ITB scirocco, I tied it down via the hooks. I would compress the suspension as much as possible. The man I purchased the car told me it limits trailer movement, and that makes sense to me!

When I put my new Civic on the trailer, I didnt compress it all the way, and I hated the feeling, it was bouncin all over the place and made me very un-easy.

 

That's exactly what I'm doing with my trailer. It seems like the most versatile option.

I had never thought about the load on the suspension because of using the tow hooks to tie down, but it makes a lot of sense.

I still have to weld together a tire rack for the trailer, and then grind off all the surface rust on the trailer, and give the whole thing a repaint.

Has anyone used any of that truck bed liner stuff on thier trailers?

 

Thanks for all the input. I just brought the traile home today, and I will be getting the tie downs delivered on Friday I hope. I'll post a few pics when I get a chance!

Thanks!

 

oh hey, another quick tip.. If your car is a straight up race car, when you store it or are trailering it, support the car.. dont let it sit on the suspension... This will prolong the life of hte suspension..


say you a trailering it for 100 miles or what not, if its on the trailer are sinched down, or bouncing around, its undue stress you dont need on your beautiful new suspension.... They actually sell airbags you can put under the car, raise it up a bit off the suspension and then strap the car down.


just an idea....