What is the proper way to secure my Jeep to the trailer before towing? Are ratchet straps best, or are chains advised? Thanks.
Oh boy, grab some pop corn and get comfortable... opcorn: That is a heated topic. I and many others much prefer ratchet straps and there is always the die-hard chain guys who won't consider anything else. I use 4 10k ratchet straps in a sort-of asymetric star layout with axle straps, kevlar wear pads/protectors, and heavy 5/8" 1028 CR bar stock in double shear piercing the trailer frame and welded on both sides. Best suggestion I can offer is make sure you have plenty of head room on the ratings, secure attachment points, and secure it in all directions, particularly from going foward if you have a hard collision...
when im out with the wrecker, i just toss one chain aroudn the rear axle, or J hook hook it into the frame rail,. then winch it tight and use the winch to hold it in front and just throw it in park. when towing my junk i use 2 racthcets front, 2 rear.
I just use 2 chains and 2 binders. wrap the chain around the rear axle and binder it tight, then I wrap the second chain around the front axle and pull on it tight with the binder. The two chaines pull against each other. Works for me, I just have to readjust after a few miles to re tighten the chains. I always rubber snubber the binders closed to make sure they don't pop open.
Depending on how far you are towing and over what terrain really affects how you bind. For me personally I use a combination of chains and ratchet straps. I use chains and binders on the axles. Then, due to the fact that in PA I am often towing up and down some twisty mountains I use 4 ratchet straps, 2 in front and 2 in back crossed in an X pattern to load the suspension. This keeps body roll to a minimum and makes the trailer more stable when going around curves.
Well I guess I will be the guy that everybody fears the most. If I am only towing around town I sometimes just set the line locks and let it ride.opcorn: Longer distances I just use one ratchet strap around the rear axle and One around the front. Before I destroyed my 10' tree saver I used it around the front axle and let the buggy idle in reverse agianst the tree saver that I wrapped around the axle and then tied down the rear. I personally don't belive in tieing the body down only axles. I don't like chains because I have seen them eat into our axle housings since we tend to tow cross country more than anything.
On my fairly light XJ I use 3 rachet straps. One on the front hooked to both tow hooks, looped around the tongue of the trailer, so it pulls foward and down, and cranked to slightly compress the suspension. I use another on the back hooked to the trailer, over the reciever hitch, and back to the trailer, cranked again to compress suspension. I use the third around the rear axle and hooked to the back of the trailer to keep the Jeep from moving foward if I have to slam the brakes on.
I do 4 chains, two crisscrossed at each axle like this XX from above. Then a single 10k ratchet strap on each side of the body holding onto the inner cage down to the sides of the trailer to keep the body from swaying. My truck is heavier than most so I like the security of the 4 chains and my suspension is super soft so I get alot of body lean around corners. I've broken 4 straps so far that are just holding the body so I don't trust them to hold my truck.
1 Big Chain on the rear axle, tightened by pulling the truck forward. Then I put 2 10klb straps (1 on each axle) and tighten the winch on the front down to suck the suspension down on the truck so it doesn't float as much.
like Russ said.. this is a heated topic. im a paranoid bastard so i use 9 12k rated aircraft chains to the frame and take the load out of the suspension. two on each corner one going to the front and to the other side, the other going to the back on the same side. the 9th chain isnt needed at all but it keeps the tiny tires on the trailer and also keeps the blazer from rolling backwards. k, so now you have the argument of chain the axles or chain the suspension snug... when i was driving tow truck i noticed that most cars it didnt matter. on trucks i found it was best to chain the truck frame down to the trailer or the truck bed in this case. with the suspension on the truck being bale to move i had a lot bouncier ride. i noticed this as well on my soft sprung lightweight for now K5. i will always chain the suspension down. my trailer is built with 16 inch centers and is very ridgid. it can handle the bumps being a tripple axle as the extra suspension can soak it up easier. Grant
i can agree with that!!! i have to chain this one by the axles as the all the frame things where filled up with mud and crap, plus the fact that its so freaking heavy.... that chevy weighs about 12k by itself..... when i was on a ruff road it led for a VERY nerve rackign ride. with this laod also you can now change all 6 tow truck tires without a jack.... to do the rears just put the stinger down, to do the front just roll the bed back about 1' and the tires are in the air
he he, yeah.. i had to do that on the side or the road once. not change a tire, but off load the car on the stinger, raise the back end up remove the lug nuts, remove the huge rock in between the dualls then inspect the tires and put it all back together. didnt have but a small car on the flat bed though... Grant
