How To Properly Load a Car Into an Enclosed Trailer

Anyone who has ever transported a car can tell you that it can be a tricky. One false move could cause hundreds of dollars in repairs.When it comes to transporting a car, there are many things that could go wrong.

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: 

Always measure the trailer first before loading the car into it.

-         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.