wrxpappy

Where do you guys prefer to tie down your cars when you tow them on a trailer? I have an SS/TC 2 door.

keiserX13

iTrader: (3)

Tow hook?

alleycat58

On a trailer??????

OP, I've never trailered mine but I'm sure there are plenty others on here that would know. The trailer we used for my Cavalier had the straps that went over all 4 tires, but I don't think that's the case with most trailers.

rever3nce

iTrader: (3)

My SS/TC was shipped from out of state. Here is a pic of how the driver did it. IDK if this will help you but here ya go .....

alleycat58

^^^ That's the same way my Cavalier was secured in the front. I was thinking there were similar tie downs in the back though. I could be mistaken, this was 13 years ago.

scottherbert

I trailer my 09 SS regularly. I cut out some of the plastic undercarriage junk up front and use 10,000 lb tie down straps wrapped aroung the frame horns - I cross tie to my trailer -- left front to right side of trailer -- right front to left side of trailer.

Rear is a much bigger challenge, nothing to tie down to... But in my case I have a trailer hitch on my Cobalt so I tie the straps to the trailer hitch -- problems solved.

I have an all steel, dual axle, 20'+ car hauler, with trailer brakes, etc. It has a capacity of 7500 lbs -- my Cobalt is only 3000 lbs. The trailer's a bit heavy (1500 lbs+) but it's solid and tows very well - straight, no wobbling, brakes on one axle (I may add a second set -- it's not hard), internally stored steel ramps.

It's a very solid tie down -- my tie down loops (on the trailer itself) are 10,000 lb hooks bolted directly to the steel deck.

BTW, if you want to 'save' your struts/shocks, put wood blocks under your car and pull the car down on them with the tie-downs -- that way the car doesn't bounce up and down constantly (wearing the shocks/struts) while you're trailering.

Scott

wrxpappy

Thanks for the ideas. Could I tie off in the middle of the rear beam axle for the back? It seems solid. Front almost seems impossible unless I tie off on the wheels ( I hate pulling on the suspension like that).

LS6Rally

iTrader: (14)

when towing most cars i use at least 3 tie downs and my winch. one up front that crosses (right car to left trailer or vice versa) and cross the rears as well. on the Cobalt i would just tie down to the rear axle beam, and up front i typically use the sway bar

padlock

iTrader: (9)

I'd personally tie down around the rear rims by going through them ( but only if you have the proper straps for it), then around the lower control arms in the front..

thats how we have strapped down all of the cobalts we have run on the dyno here on campus and it works great then, so on a trailer I'd imagine it would hold fine.

gotboost?17

iTrader: (46)

good info, im towing mine to the track, i hate being so far from a track lol

Powell Race Parts

iTrader: (3)

padlock has the best idea. Tie to the wheels. Using a tow hook with a vertical pull will fail. gotta have a horzontal pull for that.

Wangspeed

iTrader: (2)

A pair of T hooks in the rear with straps running straight back should do the trick. In the front, I prefer to cross. I'm with Scott on tying down the chassis, not the wheels. Less wear on shocks, and less bouncy trailer.

T Hook | Truck n Tow.com

You could get one of the combo hooks they have, like a J and T combo, just in case the J works better, but I suspect the T will be the best fit into the little oval openings in our frame rails.

wrxpappy

I've seen those holes. I have some t hooks left over from an 04 Z06 that I never towed. That looks like a good solution to the rear.

wrxpappy

I was under the car two days ago and had an idea that goes along with the t hooks. There are two oval holes just in front of the rear tires on the frame (or unibody box) that I think that Wangspeed was talking about. There are also two more oval holes just behind the front wheels, just inside the front jacking points. I think (haven't tried) a t hook in those to the front tie downs would stay under the front spoiler. I wonder if that's how the factory ties them down for shipping?

Wangspeed

iTrader: (2)

Good chance that is the case.

FasterIsBetter

Yea, I was gonna say that the other day, tieing it to the wheels with a ratcheting tow strap/cargo strap(not the kind you use to strap things down in your truck, but the heavy duty ones used for cargo/carrying material on trailers).

madcitySS

iTrader: (4)

i have a hitch on my cobalt

stangetr

there are holes in the front subframe, use the small forged J hook, cross them in an x pattern, same in the back, oval holes under side just in front of rear wheels, allways use a x pattern, or you could use the lasso straps throught hte wheels but if the car moved and end up on top of the strap you could have problems,

i have been all over the east coast with my cobalt using the first method mentioned, works great, quick and easy to load and unload

Powell Race Parts

iTrader: (3)

nice in theory but the fact is tying to chassis ends up wrecking the attachment points. on an occasional "deliver the new car to the dealer" it is not so bad. All the time its fatal for the frame.

I always tie the wheels let the car move. The trailer should be real easy on the car. The theory on tying it down so the shocks are wearing out, is kinda hokey when u think about it.
Go ride in your trailer. Its not like you think, or shouldnt be...lol

Edubs

I strapped the front wheels down and used some ratcheting straps in the rear off the TWB...