Ken Dahman wrote:
Listers,
Hello from a once and now again lurker. We are having a trailer built for
towing our '59 TR-3A to winter in Bonita Springs, FL with us, going to the
2001 VTR in CO, attending the TRF summer thing, etc.
For those of you who trailer your TR-3's, would you share with me how you
tie down your cars. Where are the best points to attach the tie downs to the
TR-3? (most secure, most easy to reach...; Do you use wheel web tie down
straps, is that little thing that is welded to the radiator support L bar
and looks like a hook attachment point, OK to use, etc.)
Ken
Listers will have many varied opinions - and all of them sound in a variety of
ways. This
is how I tow a Triumph (or any other car) on a trailer and it closely follows
how they
were transported from the factory on trucks to the docks for shipment.
Four spindle ratchets 2 x fore and 2 x aft with hooks attached to chains. The
chains wrap
around the front lower wishbones and rear axle tubes and then pass through the
eye of the
hook. Tighten the ratchet to take out all chain slack but not enough to distort
items
already mentioned. You could have small eyes for the hooks welded to the
chassis itself
and while this may tread on the toes of those obsessed with 'originality' -
keeping your
TR firmly in position is far more important. Select first or reverse gear and
it's your
choice whether to engage the handbrake - or not. Finally, wide nylon straps,
each with
another adjustable integral ratchet go around each tyre. These types of straps
are often
used on trucks. In the UK, they cost about $15 each. You'll need to position
the car
carefully on the trailer before deciding where to finally mount the hooks at
either end of
the strap should be fitted. It's no good getting locating eyes sorted out for
the straps
if the point of balance with the car on the trailer is wrong. Aim for about 130
- 150lbs
trailer nose weight on the pulling car's towball and a good solid jocket wheel
to easily
cope with that load.
Jonmac
Jonmac
IN THE SHADOW OF MY FATHER http://www.toolbox.ndirect.co.uk/triumphbook
THE CROCUS AND A CORNFLOWER http://www.toolbox.ndirect.co.uk/crocus
The SLOW progress with 'Canley Girl': http://www.toolbox.ndirect.co.uk/
|