I have a 1929 chevy 2 door sedan. I want to take it to California from Arizona. My trailer is 12 feet tandem axle. The car will load if you back the car on. Too much over hang in rear if loaded facing forward. Anyone know of any problem pulling the car backwards at about 60 to 65 MPH. Tire straps hold the car to the trailer. Thanks Any help would be appreciated.
Not till I have done and seen it all will I go peacefully.
Want to thank everyone for their response. Yes a longer trailer would be nice but this is what I have. The tow vehicle is a Chevy Silverado 1500 double cab. I have pulled the car on a test drive to 60 with no problems. Main concern was how the car would do pulling it backwards. I will be careful as this car is a good friend. Pretty much all original except for the burgundy 1976 ford color. Never been restored just painted in 1976 and the upholstery done. I bought several years ago put on a head, brakes, new roof, some wood work, drive it every day. Actually leaves my garage about 400+ times year. My job is to maintain it in running, driving condition. Hey All Have a Great Day and again THANKS
Not till I have done and seen it all will I go peacefully.
When we take the 28 on tours I load it backwards, I have heard of the sun visor coming off at high speeds. I agree you need a longer trailer to get the weight balanced better.
Dens Chevys 1927 Speedster 1928 coupe 1941street rod 1947Fleetline 4 door 1949 1/2 ton Pickup (sold) 1954 210 4 door 1972 Monte Carlo 2003 Corvette convt..
Putting the car backwards will put the majority of the weight on the rear axle of a 16' tandem axle trailer. It will also put the big, blunt area of the rear roof line forward making more wind resistance. There is a high chance of a lot of sway problems towing it that way. You will definitely need a sway bar on the trailer. I asked my brother tonight about this as he used to drag race a 70' Chevy Nova and towed it on a 16' open trailer. The Nova is probably 1000lbs heavier but more aerodynamic. He said he tried towing it backwards but it swayed a lot. Now his tow vehicle was a short wheel base K5 blazer so I'm sure that didn't help either. I would say to take a test tow but do put a sway bar set up on your trailer, it won't hurt for sure.
Put the vehicle on the trailer frontwards....it will tow better. Too much chance of swaying with the car on the short trailer backwards. Myself, I would never trailer a car that long of a distance on such a short trailer. It is just to dangerous. If your car is a "good friend", then it deserves a longer trailer.
I agree JYD and I'm not advocating his idea. That is why I also gave the example of my brother's experience. The OP said it's the trailer he HAS to use. I personally, if I absolutely had to use that trailer, would put the car facing forward. The tires should come to the front stops, and the weight will be over the front of the trailer where it belongs. If the rear body of the car overhangs the trailer that shouldn't be a issue as long as all four wheels are secure on the trailer and nobody comes too close to his rear. I suggested he try what he wants as it's his choice to try it and then he can decide if he wants to chance it. Even with the car forwards, on that short of trailer, I'd still use a sway bar set up. For about $50-$75 dollars, they're worth it. I just realized that the trailer my brother used we used to use for our Model T huckster truck. The T was not that heavy nor as long I don't think. We did put it facing forward for sure though.
First verify the trailer capacity and the weight you will be putting on. With the car facing forward the front tires will be close to the trailer end. The weight will need to be centered or slightly forward of the center of the trailer axles to properly distribute the weight. A weight distributing hitch with load levelers and sway control should be used. If you do not have that set up then I would suggest renting a proper trailer. With what you describe for equipment I would not go over 50 MPH.
No matter how a person tries to justify, using this set up with or without a equalizer tow bar.This is a accident waiting to happen. You are better off just driving the car to California. Best of luck.
It really is about having more weight on the front of the trailer than in the rear. I load Lurch backwards on the trailer because he weighs 1300 pounds on his front axle and 1700 pounds on the rear. The cattle cage made of oak makes up all that extra weight on his rear axle.
I drove him onto a truck scale just to find out his weight distribution.
Cheers, Dean
Dean 'Rustoholic' Meltz old and ugly is beautiful!
Pretty obvious problem created with car backwards on a short trailer.
Larger trailer could be setup to work ok with car backwards if car can be loaded towards the front and tongue weight maintained at 15%+ of loaded trailer weight or whatever the trailer manufacturer recommends.
1938 Canadian Pontiac Business Coupe (aka a 1938 Chevy Coupe with Pontiac shaped front sheet metal - almost all Chevy!) 1975 4-speed L82 Vette
