Trailer Tie-Down... Which Method to use?

uncc civilengineer

uncc civilengineer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2006
Location
Pfafftown, NC
I've read posts back to early 2005 and wanted to see what everyone's feelings are now..

Strap to the Axles or to the Vehicle (D-rings, etc.)

Also, how do you feel about sucking the vehicle down a little w/ the winch.. in addition to strapping it down?

What the safest and most effective to really turn the trailer/vehicle into one solid mass?

Finally... what to use Chain? or Straps?

Thanks
Chris
 
I had very good results strapping the axles to the trailer, then cinching down the body with 2 more straps. really kept the body roll to a minimum.
 
I run straps crossed in the front to the chassis and straight back from the axle in the rear.

Minimal roll if any.
 
I have D-rings at all 4 corners of my rig and run the front 2 straps straight forward and "X" the rear two. pull the whole rig down to the bumpstops

I first hook the winch up in the front and pull a safety chain tight from the rear axle.
 
Rich said:
I had very good results strapping the axles to the trailer, then cinching down the body with 2 more straps. really kept the body roll to a minimum.
Click to expand...

Rich... when cinching the body down is it (1) front, (1) back or what? Basically I could accomplish up front w/ my winch?

greg slade said:
I run straps crossed in the front to the chassis and straight back from the axle in the rear.
Minimal roll if any.
Click to expand...

Greg, so you're not strapping to the front axle at all... just the body up front and just the axle out back?


Im just wondering what it's going to do to the springs, axles, etc. to put them under "load" on the trailer..

Also... staps or chains... I think straps allow for a more secure fit but chains seem to have more longevity and less chance of breakage..
 
OK.. seems like there's going to be an unlimited amount of combinations out there...

I'm thinking (4) straps on the axles, winch up front (slight pressure), and same out back w/ an additional strap..

Just curious but what's the benefit to crossing the straps?

And pulling down to the bump stops would absolutely kill the springs in my XJ.
 
I've tried quite a few ways and strapping the axles in an X front and rear has worked the best for me.

With 14" of travel front and rear I've never really felt or saw the need to suck the suspension down. On the other hand I totally understand why someone would want to do that .

Maybe Greg will chime in. I'm not sure if he sucks his suspension down on his buggy or not but I've followed him down some sickening curvy roads this year and never noticed it rolling much. Then again, it is a buggy:rolleyes:
 
3/8" G70 chain around rear axle & single strap looped around front axle is what I've done for the past few years...

OTOH, I'll be going to a dedicated (read: all the @#$%! excess strapping cut off) set of straps with axle straps as soon as get an extension made for the welder (so I can get it outside to weld the new D-rings on)
 
I have an old-school CJ, not too soft or flexy. Axle straps front and rear, 2" ratchet straps on front, 3/8" GR70 transport chains in back. Worse case, I want to protect against a sudden stop like in a t-bone wreck and having the CJ come thru my back glass...for strength, I'd rather have chains in back than straps. Rear chains are fixed length, and I use the screw-type chain couplers (like a carabiner) to hook the chain to the axle strap at one end and to the tie-down point on the trailer. If the Jeep isn't pretty well centered on the trailer, one chain will have a bit of slack when I pull up, so I have one ratchet binder to tighten up the loose side.

To load, I pull up tight on the chains, leave it in gear (m/t, ign off) to set the front ratchet straps, then put in N for the ride.

This has worked good for me for several thousand miles towing.
 
Four straps. Two in rear are axle strapped inside the springs, run at an angle to the outside of the trailer rear, The two in the front also to the inside of the springs to the front outside corner.
I kill my springs enough on the trail, so don't wanna bind them down on the trailer.
 
Caver Dave said:
3/8" G70 chain around rear axle & single strap looped around front axle is what I've done for the past few years...
OTOH, I'll be going to a dedicated (read: all the @#$%! excess strapping cut off) set of straps with axle straps as soon as get an extension made for the welder (so I can get it outside to weld the new D-rings on)
Click to expand...

Fwiw, if you have really long straps, you can cut off a little bit of the excess but pull it through the ratchet to the length you need then roll the rest up tight and put two zip ties around it (the rolled up portion). That way it's not all over the place being a pita, and you can still use your straps to hold down that couch when you move. :flipoff2:
 
Caver Dave said:
OTOH, I'll be going to a dedicated (read: all the @#$%! excess strapping cut off) set of straps with axle straps as soon as get an extension made for the welder (so I can get it outside to weld the new D-rings on)
Click to expand...

Dave many times I have thought about doing that, but didn't, and when I haul something and need the length, I am glad I didn't.
I roll up my excess and use those little bungee's with the ball and just tie it to the strap to keep it out of my way.
 
IMHO........

I would strap it down on the tires. Keeps pressure off that high dollar suspension you spent time and money on.
Then 2-4 cheapie rachet straps to control the body roll.

I drug a racecar all over heck and half of Georgia...well, NC that way. ( except no body roll)


Matt
 
I use four axle straps and that's it. I used to suck down the front suspension (when I used a Uhaul trailer they had a D-ring in a perfect spot) with my winch. I decided it wasn't worth risking the winch to limit some body roll. That's a lot of potential shock load. If the body roll ever gets too bad I'll just get a couple extra straps to tie to the bumpers. For now it's no problem.
 
I tow alot and always use two straps x'ed to the front and rear axles. I don't like seeing the jeep move at all on the trailer and this is the only way I have been able to accomplish that. I don't strap or winch the body down, and haven't really seen the need for it. Oh, and I probably towed my jeep 50,000 miles in the past 2 yrs.
 
I use 4 axle straps to secure the axles in place, then use a strap in the front and another in the back through my bumpers d-rings to control the body roll. Works great. I don't feel the need to strap it all the way down to the bump stops to control the body roll, but I will cinch the suspension about half way down. I figure if that setup will hold my heavy as hell full sized Bronco in place on Hanging Dog road it'll hold down most any trail rig.

On the subject of winches, I don't like having to depend on the winch to secure my vehicle to the trailer because we all know that bad things can happen to winches sometimes like snapped winch ropes and burnt out solenoids. You'd feel pretty silly if you couldn't properly secure your rig to the trailer because your winch crapped out on you.
 
upnover said:
Dave many times I have thought about doing that, but didn't, and when I haul something and need the length, I am glad I didn't.
I roll up my excess and use those little bungee's with the ball and just tie it to the strap to keep it out of my way.
Click to expand...

Oh, I'll keep the 2 20-something footers for strapping all the "oddball" stuff, but will chop a set specially for the Moss...

What doesn't get used will stay in the toolbox mounted on the tongue...

On the subject of body roll, when I crank the 9000s up to "fawkin covered wagon" setting, there's almost ZERO body roll and I've found it a great replacement for the sway bar it never had when riding on the road.
 
Axle straps and ratchet straps to axles at 4 corners. No criss-crossing.

Pics:

ai21.photobucket.com_albums_b285_flatriveroffroad_Trailers_fujitest046.jpg


fujitest044.jpg
 
I use four straps X in front and rear, connected to the control arms. For the excess free end of the straps, I used a couple of zip ties.

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With crossing straps, you need to keep them from contacting each other. They will wear into each other.
 
BlackSheep said:
I use four straps X in front and rear, connected to the control arms. For the excess free end of the straps, I used a couple of zip ties.
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Click to expand...
OMG!!! You are going to kill everyone with that setup!!!:shaking: Straps touching, hooked to pansy sized angle iron up front, axle straps pressing into the sharp metal jobbies on the trac arms, are the rear straps hooked to the tail light guards?
Just flaming, but most of it doesn't look right to me. Of course the only thing I've towed a lot was a jon boat.:flipoff2:


School me on your set up:popcorn:
 
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