For instance, if the car’s weight is not evenly distributed
across the trailer, the trailer could sway all over the highway and put you and
other motorists at risk. In a case that a car is not strapped properly, it
could break free and roll off an open trailer. Both of these scenarios don’t
even begin to cover all the possibilities of things that could go wrong. Not
loading the car onto a trailer properly can result in damage to the car, the
trailer, or, even worse, other motorists. The best way to prevent any serious
damage is to use an enclosed trailer and to properly load it.
You want to take all the precautions to ensure that the car
– as well as you, the trailer, and the towing vehicle – arrives at the
destination in one piece. The following 6 practical steps delineate the best
way to load a car into an enclosed trailer.
Step #1: Set up the ramp.
Make sure the ramp you use is sturdy enough to support the
weight of the car. Also pay attention to the angle of the ramp. A steeper angle
may cause damage to the body of the car, as well as the trailer itself, as the
car moves from the ramp to the trailer.
Step #2: Drive into the trailer.
Keep the car straight and as centered as possible. Go slow and
put it in nose first, if you can.
Step #3: Move the car to the front of the
trailer.
You want to put more weight in the front of the trailer to
keep it from swaying on the highway. A good way to distribute the weight across
the trailer is to put about 65 percent of the weight in the front and 35
percent of the weight in the back.
Step #4: Put the parking brakes on.
The parking brakes will help keep the car from sliding all
over the trailer. Park the car, put the parking brakes on, turn the car off and
then exit it.
Step
#5: Check the trailer for any loose items or paneling.
The last thing you want is for anything to fall on the car
and harm it during transport. Check the trailer for any loose items or
paneling, and if you find anything, secure it well or remove it from the
trailer.
Step #6: Strap the car to the trailer.
Remember to only use heavy duty straps. Be sure to loop the
straps around the strongest point of the car, which would be the control arms.
Tie the other end of each strap to the closest anchor on the trailer and then
tighten it.
Additional Tips:
- Since the average car weighs four tons, you want
to tow with a vehicle that can pull at least nine tons. A large pick-up truck
or a conversion van would do the trick.
- If you’re loading a new car, be sure to
deactivate the alarm first.
- Invest in a winch. It can come in useful if
you’re transporting a car that doesn’t run.
Chiara Fucarino is a guest who writes about
transportation-related subjects, including those pertinent to GMC Conversion Vans.