VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 How to tie down my 33 Master Coupe on a trailer?

I will be moving from California to Arizona soon. I'm renting a U-Haul car haul trailer. Not an enclosed trailer, the open type. I am wondering what would be the best way to tie down a 1933 Chevy Master?

On our cars I use 4 of the short padded straps around the axles. These straps are about 2' long and have D rings on each end. Then I use 2" ratchet straps secured to heavy floor mounted anchors at all 4 corners. Some people will cross those so it doesn't bounce around. Make sure the short straps go under the rear end brake shafts or you will bend them and probably damage them.

What part of AZ are you moving to? We just closed on an acre to build a house and shop on Monday. There is a chapter in Glendale we know a few members from.

The U-Haul car trailers I am familiar with have a built-in tie down system. There is a nylon strap device that goes over each front wheel and the wheel is held against the front of the trailer. They do not use D-rings and the traditional ratchet straps that most of us use with regular car trailers.

I used one this fall to take my ”˜37 to the Southern Fall Tour. The store I rented from was very helpful to show me how to properly secure the car to the trailer. I was very please with the way it towed.

It is certainly better to tie the car down by a strap from the trailer floor close to the tire and around the tire back to the floor close to the tire at all wheels. The next best is from trailer floor forward of the axle, around the axle and to the rear of the axle again at four corners. Tying the body down tends to end in tears.
Tony

One other note is ALWAYS check all your straps tension for looseness after about 15 miles plus the trailer tires and wheels and bearings for excessive heat on the first part of your trip! Plus make sure that you have 10%-15% tongue load on your truck hitch! For the most part I only use my enclosed trailer in the winter months or if one of my old cars brake down! Rory

I want to thank everyone for their input on my question. It certainly puts my mind more at ease towing my car out there. I believe in paying attention to the people that know how to do things.

Dennis Jones

Never strap the frame, body, or bumpers. The car should be allowed to move freely as if driving it, and let the shocks and springs do their job to absorb the energy. Strap only the unsprung areas of the car. Axles, A-arms, wheels, etc. Make sure the edges of the straps are not rubbing any sharp edges on the car.