Do you trailer your mustang?

[RavenBlack1970Mach]

If so, can you tell me what has worked for tie-downs? If the good lord is willing and the creeks don't rise I plan on being finished after 5 yrs of work on my '70 Mach in a couple of months. I plan on making some events that I would prefer to tow to and would like to know what has worked for you.

The trailer is an open Big Tex 20 ft full deck dovetail with those weld-in flip-up D-rings at each corner in deck. Car is all stock, 351C '70 Mach 1. Thanks!

[Greg'66 5.0]

I have a Big Tex 20' flatbed with pipe rails & no dovetail. When I trailer a car, I use several heavy duty straps along with chain. I use big straps (2.5-3" wide, about 10,000# rating, I think) at the back and I cross them so that the strap that is connected to the right rear of the car runs to the left side of the trailer and the strap on the left side of the car runs to the right side of the trailer - my though is that it will keep the car from potentially moving left to right on the trailer deck. I usually just run a chain from the front of the car to the front of the trailer and then use the large ratchet straps to pull the car to the rear to tighten up the chain. The chain keeps the car from rolling backward. I also like to run a safety chain from the rear of the car to the rear of the trailer. If you have to hit the brakes hard, the car may slide forward on the trailer - the chain will catch the car and keep you from running the bumper into the front of the trailer (although the straps should prevent this - I just want to play it safe). As some added insurance, I will sometimes screw some blocks to the trailer deck to act as tire chocks.

[RavenBlack1970Mach]

I appreciate the help. Until now, anything that I have had on the trailer got cinched down with steel binders and logging chains. The mustang, however, will require alot more care and less damage!! I was thinking of a Summit 4-strap kit as the <$140 is great... as long as I find some decent tie down points on the car itself. Everything is painted/detailed, so I am trying to be careful. The rear should be no problem - axle straps around the axle. The front though - strap to the lower A-arms? I also believe that in my state (PA) that they require the criss-cross method at front and at rear as well to secure side-to-side movement. Would like to figure out before I buy straps. Thanks again!

[65since88]

I use chain and binders with axle straps. I forget what the axle straps rating is but its up there. I need to get some shorter chains for the old 16 ft car trailer. But it is one with the trailer and I can really rip around with no movement.

[Roddster]

I use 10,000 straps. In the rear, I use the Fomoco factory tie down brackets. Yeah, the dealers were supposed to remove them. They didn't and good for me.
In the front, I threaded the straps over the two angled strut supports. Been using this for years but I think I'm going to buy two set-ups that just go over the front tires and tie down from there. Also, I'm going to bolt a chock to the steel ramps to stop the car from moving forward at all. Gives you something to bump against when you drive it up the ramps and onto the trailer.

One last thing: It's YOUR car, if some think you need to be driving it, over the pot holes, getting cut off by the few who think it's funny to do that, road debris. Well "F" them........

[tooponies]

I've been hauling car's (mostly mustangs) locally and long distance for years on numerous car trailers and never had a problem. I've never used chains or the crossed or X pattern thing that I see others use. All you need is 4 10,000# rated straps hooked to the D rings. Not much chance of them loosening up or falling off letting the car come off the trailer. I recently bought a set of straps off ebay from some company that has axle staps made on one end and ratchet on the other that are fantastic. Seems like they were around $60 or so. I just got back from hauling my car to Florida on a new featherlite trailer and these same straps worked great on that trailer also. I've been using a 16' steel deck dove tail with the straps mentioned and will be selling that trailer soon if anyone's interested. Only selling due to having bought the featherlite. These are the straps and this would be the trailer that is for sell.

[bartl]

One of these in the front...

...two of these in the back, crossed to prevent "walking" from side-to-side...


Don't skimp on the width and thickness of the straps webbing. The heavier it is the less stretching.

[mymachone]

I use the over the wheel straps in front , I sure like them. Then i used the 10,000# nylon straps in back. I have not had any issues yet and a lot of my driving is on a gravel rd to get onto the hwy. But I do stop ever couple of hrs and check every thing.

[tooponies]

The blue straps in the last pic I posted are the one's I was referring to on ebay for $66.00. (350673204826 Item number) I like the axle strap made on the strap itself and the ratchets work better than some I've had. do not work for have any onnection to these folks other than having used their product. Now with that said it also has to do alot with the length of the trailer and the tie down area's on the car. I'm working on the idea of reinstalling the factory tie down brackets on the rear of my cars and coming up with something for the front so I don't have to go under the car to hook up the straps.

[bartl]

Originally Posted by tooponies

The blue straps in the last pic I posted are the one's I was referring to on ebay for $66.00. (350673204826 Item number) I like the axle strap made on the strap itself and the ratchets work better than some I've had. do not work for have any onnection to these folks other than having used their product. Now with that said it also has to do alot with the length of the trailer and the tie down area's on the car. I'm working on the idea of reinstalling the factory tie down brackets on the rear of my cars and coming up with something for the front so I don't have to go under the car to hook up the straps.

How about these.... FAYS2 Tie Down Plates

[Blue Oval Man]

Been trailering cars for years and always cross the straps, front and rear. Also it is a good idea to strap to the cars chassis rather than wheels/suspension parts. Stock Ford tie downs in the rear work well, Mustangs to Fear as well as possibly others have these available new.On the front of a mustang I ofter use the slotted hole on the bottom of the frame rail in front of the tire with a "T" hook on the end of the strap.
Those Fays 2 tie down plates look like a nice but I don't like that they attach to suspension points rather than chassis.
I just recently bought a nice set of "Mac's" straps from summit with the "T" hooks and they are super quality.
There are many opinions on the best way to tie a car to a trailer, this is how I do it and have never had a problem over thousands of miles of towing.