Trailering a car...?

[coullstar 0]

Might be trailering my Corrado ~400miles next week and Ive never done this before. Ive got a shot of a trailer from a friend and hiring a van to tow with however im not sure if there are any legal requirements as to how the car must be secured.

 

I was just going to leave it in gear, handbrake on, possibly wheel chocks and ratchet straps front and rear to the towing eye's.

 

Is this sufficient as I cannot think of anything else?

[coolrado 0]

All the AA do is put the hand brake on and put straps over each wheel, although new cars are also strapped down by the towing eyes to stop them bouncing up and down and hitting the deck of the upper row of cars on the transporter.

 

I would strap around the wheels or wishbones, as if you use the tow eyes the car has a tendency dip a little over bumps and can cause the straps to become loose.

 

Make sure you dont strap over the brake lines.

 

Always use more straps or ropes than you need though, better to be safe than sorry

[corozin 0]

You need to check that the trailer is rated correctly to carry the weight of the car. The trailer should have a manufactuer's stamp on it somewhere showing the total weight you can put on it.

 

There are also rules relating to what the total combined weight of towing car + loaded trailer can be. This is done to ensure you're not trying to tow (and particularly brake) a large trailer with a small car.

 

If you're trailering within the UK you are less likely to fall foul of the Police as regards these rules, but if you are going into Europe you need to be very confident that you are in line with the rules, and have all the necessary paperwork for both vehicles.

 

As for securing it on the trailer, ideally strap the towing eye down, strap all four wheels (front axle & rear axle one strap each, & looped through the trailer eyes in front of each wheel), use the handbrake and leave it in gear as well. Also because trailered vehicles can "settle" a bit it's a good idea to pull over after 10-15 miles and recheck the tensions on all the straps quickly.

 

Good luck.

[corozin 0]

All the AA do is put the hand brake on and put straps over each wheel, although new cars are also strapped down by the towing eyes to stop them bouncing up and down and hitting the deck of the upper row of cars on the transporter.

 

I would strap around the wheels or wishbones, as if you use the tow eyes the car has a tendency dip a little over bumps and can cause the straps to become loose.

 

Make sure you dont strap over the brake lines.

 

Always use more straps or ropes than you need though, better to be safe than sorry

 

The AA use specialist wheel straps but even without those they will always strap over the wheels, rather than the wishbones or axles as it speads the load across the much larger area provided by the tyre surface. The tyre also provides a bit of "give" & helps the tension.

 

By all means loop the straps through the axle but don't put any heavy tension through them. Wishbones are not that strong.

[shaung60 0]

And load the car engine first so the main weight goes towards the towbar/front of the trailer.

[coullstar 0]

Thanks. Its UK only. I take that you need pretty hefty straps then to tie down? Hiring a van as I was aware pulling the trailer with the Golf would not be on.

[tonedef 9]

And although it may sound stupid, check you have trailers on your driving license. Surprising how few people realise that the law changed a good few years ago requiring you to take a trailer test.

[corozin 0]

Thanks. Its UK only. I take that you need pretty hefty straps then to tie down? Hiring a van as I was aware pulling the trailer with the Golf would not be on.

 

You really should use proper ratchet straps to tie the thing down with. They're not hugely expensive (around £7-£10 each from recollection) and I think you can even get them in Halfords if your desperate. Failing that if you're on friendly terms with a garage they may lend you a pair of straps for a weekend in exchange for a beer.

 

Good point about the relevant licence endorsements made above - be careful of that.

[KurtD 10]

Towing requires, first and foremost, a vehicle that can handle it. Exceeding towing capacity could do significant damage to your vehicle, so pay close attention to that rating. Using your automobile could be an easy way to haul, but make sure to do the math before making a choice. More information here: Doing the math of towing a trailer.