Thread: Tie down

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Thanks for your inputs guys ! Here's what I'm going to do. Because this is a dedicated trailer for my truck, I'm changing the angle of the stop plate and going to 3/4 inch grade 8 bolts that bolt down through the 5" c-channel frame. Looking at the e-track pictures I don't see much difference except my stops in the front which I'm changing the angle to be less of a ramp. I'll post new pictures after the redo and will look forward to more input.

Hows the balance when hooked up? Set nice and level? WHAT DO YOU USE FOR BRAKES? eLECTRIC? Surge? one axle or two? I have a triple axle featherlite with electric brakes on all 6 wheels-I believe that I should be able to stop combined rig better than truck alone. Will you be using a winch for load/unloading?

[QUOTE=Navy7797;558307]Thanks for your inputs guys ! Here's what I'm going to do. Because this is a dedicated trailer for my truck, I'm changing the angle of the stop plate and going to 3/4 inch grade 8 bolts that bolt down through the 5" c-channel frame. Looking at the e-track pictures I don't see much difference except my stops in the front which I'm changing the angle to be less of a ramp. I'll post new pictures after the redo and will look forward to more input.

An excellent idea.
Some fella in Auckland (NZ) was loading a car on to his trailer just the other day, with the trailer on a slight nose-down grade.
As the car came onto the deck it overran the winch, and by the time it reached the front of the trailer it had gained enough momentum to go straight over the stops too.
He got crushed between the car he was loading and the back end of his tow vehicle.
He didn't survive.

The difference in the E track is that the track is bolted down (every 8 inches in the case of my last enclosed trailer) over the course of 6 feet, spreading the load, and increasing the force needed to rip it out of the floor (times 4 six foot sections). True, I have (had) multiple cars, along with millions of dollars of other peoples vehicles in the trailer, so rebalancing the trailer needed to be accomplished for those different vehicles. But when you towed as much as I did (racing, sometimes coast to coast), it became old hat.

While you are using the trailer for one dedicated vehicle, you still need to take the stresses of a panic stop into account. What I'm seeing with your set up, clearly does not allow for such forces, so you are doing yourself a disservice by not expanding your mounting pad front/rear, and side to side. Same goes for the lack of gussets for your stops. Won't even get into the tie downs yet (10,000lb minimum), as we have yet to see that in your pictures.


Bill S.

You'd be surprised how often your"dedicated" trailer would find an alternate use, if your tie down system is flexible.
A buddy of mine has an enclosed trailer with the etrack system on floor and walls, it's the cat's meow for anything from boxes to bikes.

Anyway, it sounds like most everyone is trying to help you prepare for the worst case scenario: just looking out for your best interest.
I don't know the cost of the etrack system, and although I am certain your method will be cheaper, I am equally certain you would not have buyer's remorse.
Good luck.

Well while I'm having my first cup of coffee for the day-------and I did mention earlier about air loads from passing semi trucks--------on an open trailer, don't forget( and I know that from your aircraft work) about the drag from the air around the car at speed-The tiedowns will have to hold the car against that load also.

Just yesterday I was over at a premium level type collector car place and a guy brought in a late model Corvette --------He had a Caddy Escalaid? for a tow vehicle, a box trailer (more like maybe a landscaper/carpender than a vehicle trailer) wood floors, horrible conglomeration of a ramp door-----Front of Caddie up about 10 inches, rear squashed down til the hitch almost drug the ground (even after unloading-probably had 1000 lbs stuff in nose of box) and brakes only on one axle but no apparent wiring or surge system to operate them

And I won't even get started ( until after 2 or 3rd cup) about the guys who'll load a car backwards.