How to tie down vehicle to open trailer?

NSX13 · 03-05-2007, 04:39 PM

Hi All,

I'll be taking my STi to Summit Point next month for my 1st track event with it, and was wondering if anyone has tips on tying down the vehicle. I have an open aluminum trailer with 4 D-rings, trailer bed is completely flat and there is no gap in the middle. Granted, I haven't really looked underneath for any hooks except for the rear towhook I had to take out when I installed the diffuser, but the rear I usually just strap the rims. Looking for tips on tying down the front of the vehicle. Thanks.

rasetsu · 03-05-2007, 04:42 PM

I've been doing research on auto transports and it looks like the pros strap by the tires or wheels. The crappy ones strap or chain by suspension components which can lead to lots of damage.

yellowducman · 03-06-2007, 04:53 AM

There are 4 anchor points under my car (2 in the front behind the wheels, and 2 in the back next to the frame. These are the ones I use inside my enclosed trailer and works fine. I assume that Subaru put them there to tie the car down on the boat when they floated it over from Japan. Mine a 05 and I'm not sure about a 04 though.

NSX13 · 03-06-2007, 07:43 AM

Thanks! I will take a look for these points when I do all the fluids and change out the brakepads.

molehill84 · 03-07-2007, 03:24 AM

Good luck man...All I know is that you should obviously stay away from the lateral links...When my STi was delivered to my house by flat bed about a month ago the transporter had hooked onto the lateral links and he snapped one in half...

Albanianimpreza · 03-07-2007, 07:04 AM

or you can do alot of bungee chords! lol, one said to put it on the hooks where they tow which is a good idea. i was thinking on the axle or something, though i have no experience, that to me makes the best sense.

spazegun2213 · 03-07-2007, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowducman

There are 4 anchor points under my car (2 in the front behind the wheels, and 2 in the back next to the frame. These are the ones I use inside my enclosed trailer and works fine. I assume that Subaru put them there to tie the car down on the boat when they floated it over from Japan. Mine a 05 and I'm not sure about a 04 though.

+12345

you cant miss the hooks if you look for them. They are on every corner of the car, and I've used them on more than one STi and never had a problem.

when are you at summit?

Apro1 · 03-07-2007, 07:16 AM

Yeah just make sure you leave the car in neutral if its a standard

yellowducman · 03-07-2007, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apro1

Yeah just make sure you leave the car in neutral if its a standard

I've heard that but have never done it. I always leave the car in gear and the parking brake on on the way to the track and just leave it in gear for the ride home (rear rotors usually are still hot). I've never had a problem and I don't think the car rocks back and forth.

spazegun2213 · 03-07-2007, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowducman

I've heard that but have never done it. I always leave the car in gear and the parking brake on on the way to the track and just leave it in gear for the ride home (rear rotors usually are still hot). I've never had a problem and I don't think the car rocks back and forth.

I never put a hot car up on the trailer, i always let it cool down before i strap it up. If you use the E-brake as well as leaving it in gear, thats ok, but for cars with no e-brake, i never ever leave it in gear. I figure transmissions are expensive.. and i dont want to have to pay to fix one.

yellowducman · 03-07-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazegun2213

I never put a hot car up on the trailer, i always let it cool down before i strap it up. If you use the E-brake as well as leaving it in gear, thats ok, but for cars with no e-brake, i never ever leave it in gear. I figure transmissions are expensive.. and i dont want to have to pay to fix one.

I realize that it's bad for a car to rock back and forth against the gear lash of the transmission but honestly if my car is strapped down so loose that the car can shift back and forth I'm going to go back and re strap it. To me, leaving the car in gear is an extra security against braking a strap.

I agree that the car should be cool before loading it up on a trailer but I usually am ready to load up and get out of dodge after my last session and don't want to wait for the car to cool down before loading.

spazegun2213 · 03-07-2007, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowducman

I agree that the car should be cool before loading it up on a trailer but I usually am ready to load up and get out of dodge after my last session and don't want to wait for the car to cool down before loading.

agreed about leaving after the last session! but i normally have a metric fook ton of gear that goes into the truck, so i load that up first.

ur2s2pid · 03-07-2007, 02:11 PM

I drive a tow truck for a living and I leave all of the cars in gear just in case any of the chains do snap. You can tie the car down at all four courners with the wheel straps but you can also look underneath the car and you will see 2-3" oval cut outs at every corner those are the holes that are built into the car for straping it down with chains. If you do strap it like that make sure that you have enough room between the chains and the front bumber so that if the car bounces during transport you wont crack your lip. (sorry got into that one first thread I could give usfull knowledge in

)

Apro1 · 03-07-2007, 05:53 PM

That's not the transmission you should worry about or your brakes. I seen it before, more than once, cars arriving on trailers with their timing belt slipped as much as 6 teeth. And they all look very tightly tied down.

NSX13 · 03-08-2007, 03:36 AM

I'll be there 4/16 and 4/17 for the NJ Chapter BMWCCA Advanced Driving School and Instructor Training School. Will be my first time at this track - heard lots of great things about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazegun2213

+12345

you cant miss the hooks if you look for them. They are on every corner of the car, and I've used them on more than one STi and never had a problem.

when are you at summit?

03-05-2007, 04:39 PM	#1
NSX13 Amateur STI Driver Car: 2004 HarmanMotive St Location: Bedminster, NJ Posts: 47 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (6)	How to tie down vehicle to open trailer? Hi All, I'll be taking my STi to Summit Point next month for my 1st track event with it, and was wondering if anyone has tips on tying down the vehicle. I have an open aluminum trailer with 4 D-rings, trailer bed is completely flat and there is no gap in the middle. Granted, I haven't really looked underneath for any hooks except for the rear towhook I had to take out when I installed the diffuser, but the rear I usually just strap the rims. Looking for tips on tying down the front of the vehicle. Thanks. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-06-2007, 07:43 AM	#4
NSX13 Amateur STI Driver Car: 2004 HarmanMotive St Location: Bedminster, NJ Posts: 47 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (6)	Tying down car on trailer. Thanks! I will take a look for these points when I do all the fluids and change out the brakepads.

03-05-2007, 04:42 PM	#2
rasetsu Spec C Club Car: 05 Subaru WRX STi Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 2,270 Join Date: Nov 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	I've been doing research on auto transports and it looks like the pros strap by the tires or wheels. The crappy ones strap or chain by suspension components which can lead to lots of damage.

03-06-2007, 04:53 AM	#3
yellowducman Silver Member Car: 05 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Sways Location: Concord, NC Posts: 254 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (2)	There are 4 anchor points under my car (2 in the front behind the wheels, and 2 in the back next to the frame. These are the ones I use inside my enclosed trailer and works fine. I assume that Subaru put them there to tie the car down on the boat when they floated it over from Japan. Mine a 05 and I'm not sure about a 04 though.

03-07-2007, 03:24 AM	#5
molehill84 Amateur STI Driver Car: 05 Subaru CGM STi Location: PA Posts: 45 Join Date: Jan 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Good luck man...All I know is that you should obviously stay away from the lateral links...When my STi was delivered to my house by flat bed about a month ago the transporter had hooked onto the lateral links and he snapped one in half...

03-07-2007, 07:04 AM	#6
Albanianimpreza Grassroots STI Racer Car: Something Bloody Fav Mod: E85 Location: Nyish Posts: 591 Join Date: May 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	or you can do alot of bungee chords! lol, one said to put it on the hooks where they tow which is a good idea. i was thinking on the axle or something, though i have no experience, that to me makes the best sense.

03-07-2007, 07:16 AM	#8
Apro1 Lurker Fav Mod: LoL Location: N-O-T-L Canada Posts: 4 Join Date: Feb 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Yeah just make sure you leave the car in neutral if its a standard

03-07-2007, 02:11 PM	#13
ur2s2pid Amateur STI Driver Car: Blue 04 Subaru WRX Fav Mod: I love my TBE because the sound of the STi engine is like nothing I have ever heard. Posts: 48 Join Date: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	I drive a tow truck for a living and I leave all of the cars in gear just in case any of the chains do snap. You can tie the car down at all four courners with the wheel straps but you can also look underneath the car and you will see 2-3" oval cut outs at every corner those are the holes that are built into the car for straping it down with chains. If you do strap it like that make sure that you have enough room between the chains and the front bumber so that if the car bounces during transport you wont crack your lip. (sorry got into that one first thread I could give usfull knowledge in )

03-07-2007, 05:53 PM	#14
Apro1 Lurker Fav Mod: LoL Location: N-O-T-L Canada Posts: 4 Join Date: Feb 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	That's not the transmission you should worry about or your brakes. I seen it before, more than once, cars arriving on trailers with their timing belt slipped as much as 6 teeth. And they all look very tightly tied down.