Open Trailer Towing

What car are you loading and what transmission.

If it's an F1 car and it's your first time loading a car... I'd probably winch it.

If it is a stick or dct. Drive it on.

Just have people watching and spotting. Have a plan. It's stressful. Don't yell. Be clear with what you want or don't want to happen.

Take your time.

Make sure you balance the weight on the trailer. Do not give it all tongue weight.


Most of all... If you have a friend who had done it before... Ask him to come help you.

Also where are you? Maybe a forum member can help? If your in my area I'd be happy to assist.

 

The biggest problem will be ground clearance. Most trailers are too low. Be prepared with wooden shims.


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Bring wood and if this is going to be a more than once thing..m buy some race ramps. Worth their weight in gold in these situations.

As another thing if you can get the trailer say in the street and the ramps extended into the parking lot or drive way you can get some height out of that to ensure your approach angle is less.

Triple check everything. Take your time. Make sure you have the correct ball on your hitch. Triple check. Make sure it's right. It's always worth it.

How long are your ramps?

 

And triple check your tie downs again. Don't ask me why this is a good idea.

 

Buy a winch with a wireless remote. I load solo all the time and have for years. With a winch and wireless remote you can walk all around the vehicle while you’re loading and have much better control. I have this setup in my open and enclosed trailers.
If you zoom in on the picture you can see the winch and battery box in the front.

 

Beautiful set up.

 

And if it's a convertible make sure the top is latched... Don't ask me how I know...

 

Right answer! There is no other. Life is about doing stuff but reducing risk.
Trailer
lumber
wireless winch
4 real tiedowns at 4 corners no crossing
2 metal wheel chocks (the more expensive the car the more you want wheel chocks placed fore and aft of 1 tire)
2 bungie cords for each side of chocks and a retaining strap or chain for the chocks.
tow out of gear/E brake on

If you a 1st timer watch driver's door when you open it will hit trailer fender.

 

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned:
Front engined car put on forward.
Rear/mid engine car put on rearwards..unless you have Cottons setup which allows the R/M car to go on forwards.
As you've said it's an open trailer and a 430 I suggest you cover,VERY very well, the rear screen with heavy duty cardboard or the like!...1 Aussie didn't on his 355 and paid the,expensive,price.

 

Putting a mid engine Ferrari on backwards in unnessecary. They are balanced enough to make this not a concern.

More important is where you place the load on the trailer and that is over the axles vs behind the axles vs all tongue weight.

Balancing the trailer by positioning the car more forward or rear is more important than placing it backwards on the trailer.

 

You'll be just fine!

 

you'll start with the winching and then just drive it up later when u get comfortable doing it. i can drive mine right up just looking out the drivers side as i know exactly how the car needs to be positioned

 

The winch cable will be at an angle, so how do you winch the car up without damaging the bumper? Remove the bumper first? Or is there a tow hook that mounts in the bumper?

 

u have the tow hook that screws into the front?

 

The best part about winching is that it can be done very slowly and you can walk around the car and trailer and look at everything during the process. If you are driving it on yourself, you won’t be able to do that. Definitely use Race Ramps. Harbor Freight has some great winches that are inexpensive. I use one to winch my formula car onto an open trailer.


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No, I have a 328 where the tow hook is under the car. Obviously not relevant to this thread though, since I would guess the more modern cars have tow hooks that screw into the front bumper.

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Just be careful onna tilt trailer because if your not in it and it tilts............

 

Just if you are not in the car and the bed tilts down. The car will roll forward due to the inertia. You need to have the brake on or be in it when the trailer tilts forward/level again or else the car is going to drive/roll into the stone guard by itself.

 

use ferrari screw in tow eye. That's what is is for