Hey,

With Hay just around the corner, im in the process of getting everything ready, including thet trailer... I was wondering what the best way to strap the mini down to it is? do most people install tow hooks to their minis and tie to these? The trailer i've got has a tie down point at each corner of that car.
Any ideas / pics would be great, i dont really want to have to slam on the brakes and end up with a mini up my bum

Thanks

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'78 LS 1275

I've always found that a rope/chain/tie-down off each radius arm (I think that's what It's called) at the front - the diagonal arms - right at the front where they meet the chassis, and one or two at the back over the sub frame is more than enough. MIne made it all the way to Hay and back like that no probs (touch wood) last year!!

If you have a welder or access to one, I've seen a few cars that have a single chain link or hook of some sort welded to the rear subframe. If you can do that and then weld the same on the trailer near it, then turnbuckles are the best and easiest way of securing the car. Just make sure the one you use is of a suitable strength, and NEVER rely on one type of fixing - Have a chain or tiedown or something as a backup

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

duck tape is the only answer!

There are numerous way's to tie your car down on a trailer. The most secure is to run a chain thru all four corner subframe holes. then turnbuckle it to the trailer. Then lock the turnbuckle with extra nut's so they don't vibrate loose. easy.

What i do is run chains thru the rears, then a rachet strap with hooks on each end attched to the tie rod's right up against the subframe a the front. I also run a chain at the front just in case.

No photo's but i could take a few on the weekend when i have the car on the trailer again for the Hay practise. (NSW)

I am sure Doogie will also pip in at some point on how he does it, but his is similar to mine as i got the idea from him.

Cheers
Aaron

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SAFETY SAFETY and then more SAFETY

The only way to tie down a car on a trailer is with chains !!!!!!!!!!!

Its not hard to manufacture or buy eye bolts that screw into the front lower mounting bolt holes on the subframe. Then as suggested - manufacture eye bolts that weld onto the rear subframe. Use appropriate quality chains and and turn buckles so that the car cannot move forward or backwards and sideways.

Dont tie it down so the suspension is loaded. Let the cars own suspension do it own work but you do limit all forward, backward and sideways movement.

You will almost never jerk a car off backwards but its not hard to have one end up in the bum.

NEVER NEVER USE cheap tie down straps or expensive ones that have been UV affected.

My advice - sorry for the heavy handedness of it.

you could do that orrrrr


get the straps which only strap down the wheels, so only the wheels are attached to the trailer adn they let the suspension of the car do all the work wen u go over bumps, jus make sure the straps are done up tight lol

if u were unsure bout this way jus put some safety chains through like they said above bit loose as like a last chance if the straps break



in this pic as i said all that is holding the car down is the straps round the wheels, but they are bloody strong, by far the best way

I put a chain through the rear subframe, in front of the rubber cone & link it together with a D shakle, the i attach a 2000KG ratchet strap the the castor bars & run it around a 1 inch square peice of tube on the front of my trailer, and ratchet it tight, it pulls the car forward & locks it solid.

3 trips to Melbourne, 1 to Brisbane, 8 to Hay & hundreds of trips round Sydney & the car has never moved a milimetre, i recently tried strapping over the wheels to allow the cars suspension to work to absorb the bump, big mistake as the trailer got light over bumps & wanted to sway at 110kph, i crap basically.

Saying all that it depends on how the trailer you are using is equiped with mounting points.

Here's a few pics of how i attach cars to trailer





Doogie

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I won Hay once, here's the pic to prove it..


Hay, it's not about the car, it's not about the venue, it's about the people that come here. Peter Dwyer, Mayor of Hay NSW.