Open Trailer Towing

or with wireless winch control you can be in the car at that critical time and out of the car for final positioning...or that's what wives and GF's are for.

 

Nope. Or rather I wouldn't risk it. Be in the car when the trailer tilts.

 

You do it your way I'll do it mine after 35 years of towing thanx.

 

Lol. Sounds good. There's nothing wrong with what you suggested. No reason to take offense.

Lots of ways to skin a cat. However I would not have a rookie load of car backwards onto a traile. And physics is physics... No argument the placement of the weight on the trailer is what's most important and also what you and I are both arguing. However position the car too far forward or too far backwards will have a greater effect on the weight distribution of the trailer then parking the car forwards your backwards when the cars are close to a 50-50 weight distribution no more than 60/40. In that case 100% unequivocally placement of the vehicle on the trailer is more important than forwards or backwards.

However what you're saying in the core of it is exactly true the balance of the weight on the trailer is crucial for his safety and that's what you're getting at and that's what I'm getting at.


I also have about the equal amount of time towing cars and I transport cars at least every other day.

 

I have only been towing racecars for 25 years so not as experienced. Neither of you guys are wrong. The goal is to have about a 60/40 weight distribution on the trailer platform which equates to about 15% tongue weight.

Real bad things happen if you are too light on the tongue or too heavy on the tongue. Oversteer and understeer are bad in a car but oversteer is worse. having too light a tongue is worse. Simon's way almost guarantees the error will be on the better side. Tech's way makes life way easier on newbie.

The real solution is to get close to the 15% tongue but have a tow vehicle that can overpower what you tow. It is like if you weight 200lbs you don't want to swing from a rope that is only rated for 200lbs. You want head room. My 1st question when I hear someone with an aluminum open trailer is "what are you towing with?" Too often people buy light aluminum trailer because their tow vehicle is too limited. Put the odds in your favor the more marginal you are. Go on the heavy side of tongue weight to reduce trailer sway. Use weight distribution hitches. consider 5th wheels if using a pick-up truck. My diesel truck can tow around 25,000lbs but I never tow more than 10,000. My diesel hardly knows it is there even on the steepest hill or biggest wind. When I first towed with a 1/2 ton suburban I did not know any better but well within it's limits. When I grew to a 3/4 ton suburban and then a diesel Ram....as Eddie Murphy says "you ain't ever going back!"

To the OP newbie tower, don't tow your ferrari as the 1st car. All kinds of gotchas happen. You hit the door on the trailer fender because you forgot. You tie off on a control arm and bend it. You strap down on your wheels on a hot day and the soft clearcoat on your wheels drags and is now destroyed. You drive under low hanging trees and bushwack your roof. If new to towing plan for 3 weekend short outings load another car tow it around on your errands and see what it is like to tow through the home depot parking lot. See how hard it is to merge on the freeway. See how your brakes work with the load. Learn to adjust your trailer brakes as the load changes. Try backing up and getting gas. You have plenty of things to worry about and the ferrari can only distract you.

 

That’s a nice winch. I spent around $250 for mine. I also put a battery in a battery box in front of the winch.


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Completely agree Un necessary.

I've towed 308, mondial's, 348's. Lotus esprits' all forward facing 1000' of miles and never and issue.

60/40 weight distribution towards the front of the trailer. On level ground your tow vehicle will have a slight squat to it. The more you tow the more you will know what that looks like.

Cars are designed to go through the air forwards. I've heard of instances where wings and other things get ripped off with the car on backwards.

 

Yes a simple wedge for the front wheel will work as a stop. Preferably rubber so it doesn't skid on the trailer deck. Just go slow

 

I actually knew of an old classic car that the window blew out because the rear window/aero wasn't designed to go backwards at 80mph lol. But that could also have been the way that the car was restored etc... On a modern car I wouldn't worry about it unless it was a convertible. And then I would never ever do it backwards.

 

As a matter of curiosity, how do you determine weight distribution?

 

Eyeball. Just dont get too far forward or back.

YouTube has some great videos.

 

BTW, one YouTube video taught me the secret for backing up a trailer. Just place your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel instead of the top. Works like a charm.

 

This trailer that showed up to move my car was pretty cool
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futura around 13k

 

I love good trailers and that's a good trailer.
Just get a running start and you'll be fine!

I always load with the foot on the tongue jack down. You can also find a bit of a downhill spot to take some slope off the trailer.
All good suggestions above. Just buy good rigging and check it after 10 miles or so. The car is going to ride nice on that rig.

 

I thought there would be a ram.
I think I would still find a place with some slope to back the trailer up to and raise the tongue 3" or so to get the trailer as flat as possible. If you need a spotter for the first time let me know and I'll help. It's easy after the first time.