How to strap rig to trailer?

[MattS]

After reading the chain vs strap thread I was wondering how everyone ties down their rigs. I have always gone over the axles. Anyone use a frame mount to compress the suspension? Is there a right or a wrong way?

[That Mick]

I go over the axle. It seems to me that causes less strain on the suspension, and nothing I've trailered has been extremly flexy.

OTOH, If I did have a really flexy rig on the trailer, I'd probably go to the frame and compress the suspension. The last thing I need is to have 4,000 lbs of steel be-bopping around behind me.

[smurfsdad]

I do both. Chain the axles and one strap lightly over the radius arms to keep it from swaying.

[Tx4x4Fun]

I always strap it to the suspension. Let the body bounce with the flow...

When I had my Hummer, you could find many "hardpoints", for lack of a better word, where the military straps them to skids or any other form of transportation. All of the hardpoints were on the frame. So the Mil compresses the suspension, just in case anyone has ever wondered...

I looked around my site for pictures of the aforementioned hardpoints but couldn't find any.

[AzWebMan]

My plan is to chain the axles -- chain the rear axle solid and a kind of safety chain on the front axle, not real tight but secure. And then to use two ratchet straps (10,000lb each) to each corner of the front bumper.

I figure this way if the straps break, the chains should hold it until I can get stopped.

Maybe I'm just paranoid since I've never towed my rig before....

[TODDK]

I strap to my frame two in rear two in front.
if I stap the right side of the frame i go to the left of the trailer..
hope this helps

[RustoleumWhite]

No "towing master", but 4-straps to the axles.


The fronts get crossed, and the rear strait. Even with my (becoming more) flexy, and HEAVY ASS Scout.. I never once felt uncomfortable.

If I had a light and super flexy buggy.. I may be tempted to go to the frame and compress it....


FYI, I cross the front straps to limit the posibillity of the rig sliding sideways on the trailer. Depending on where your tie-down points are, with stait straps a rig *can* slid side to side...

[kickinasphalt383]

i always do both: one from the rear axle to the front of the trailer, one from the front axle to the rear of the trailer, then one on the front shackles and one on the rear shackles to compress the suspension. holds the truck down real good

[camo]

in the front i use one rachet strap to the axle and one chain ( no binder ) to the axle. in the back i use two rachet straps to the axles. i also keep the rig in low low since i have no parking brake.

[85 rocrnr]

two straps to each axel snug up winch to front of trailer

[TEX]

Tried it both ways, prefer over the axle & preferably with chains.

TEX

[KYcrawler]

i haul 2 at a time on a gooseneck trailer i go to the axles on each 2 straps in front and 2 in the rear of each then i run a log chain around the axle to a tie down point on the trailer and leaving it slightly lose i snap a d ring or carabiner on it so it cant come unhooked that way there are 4 straps and 2 chains holding each rig if you think it is overkill just consider how much time and $$$$ you have dropped into the rig you are towing

[rockmutt]

cross bind them!! go around the axle tube where the spring attaches, then to some D-rings, the Jeep cant go forward, backward, sideways, bind them down hard enough to get a good footprind, its the only way to go

[flexlarson]

Hello Matt How are ya ?
I personally take a chain and run it over the front axle and strap to the front of the trailer. I then back the truck up to pick up the slack. Then I do the same for the back but running the chain over the third member and to the back of the trailer and use a chain binder to hold it down.

I have had no problems (knock on wood)
I just towed a 79 scout II on 33s from KC to SD that way with no problems.

I personally trust chains more than straps for this application.

[jonscj7]

I don't tie mine at all!!

It fits so nice over the fenders it can't go far!

Since I do tie it sometimes i chain the rear axle then pull the chain tight to where a axles might snap then I tie the frame in the front with a chain and binder, towed it thousands of miles this way without a problem with speed excess of 90mph.

Jon

[tsm1mt]

Originally posted by The Mick
I go over the axle. It seems to me that causes less strain on the suspension, and nothing I've trailered has been extremly flexy.

OTOH, If I did have a really flexy rig on the trailer, I'd probably go to the frame and compress the suspension. The last thing I need is to have 4,000 lbs of steel be-bopping around behind me.

ONCE I hooked my springs/shackles to the trailer.. The Mick was on that trip when I cheated death.

Rig was too flexy (among too many other problems) and flexed itself right off the trailer..

So.. I hook a chain around the front axle, between the spring and knuckle, making a big loose "loop".. which I then hook a load binder (one per side) to, and secure to the front/center of the trailer deck.

In the rear, a chain goes from one corner of the trailer OVER the axle, under the diff, OVER the axle, then a load binder down to the other corner.

So the front is pulled forward an in, rear is pulled rear and out.

No problems this way. Even with the flexy rig moving around.. I haven't noticed any problems.

But then, I use an IH to tow with.. 4dr long-box tonner.. which weighs in at 6,000lbs empty.. it doesn't seem to care what I do with the rig on the trailer.

[Rudezuk]

So far ive just used 2 ratchet straps per axle...and then bump up the 9000's all the way...(tried it all the way down, and it got kind of scary)

But im thinking of sticking some D rings on the bumpers and strapping to those??

[YELLER BLAZER]

I ALWAYS USE 2 10,000# STRAPS CROSSED OR ANGLED, OR 2 GRADE 70 CHAINS PER AXLE (I PULL ON MULTIPLE TRAILERS) MY BLAZER WAYS IN AT 7000#'S AND IT HAS NEVER SO MUCH AS FLINCHED, AND THIS IS OVER KILL ANY ONE OF THESE TIE DOWNS BY IT'S SELF, PER AXLE, IS ENOUGH TO SECURE THE VEHICLE TO THE TRAILER.

[GhettoRig]

Here's a vote for both. For very short pulls (<50 miles) I'll just strap down the axles, but for long pulls, or if I'm gonna be driving on especially curvy roads, I strap down the axles, then strap down the frame, to take the sway out of the suspension, then I go back and tighten the straps on the axles, cuz they loosen up a bit when the suspension is compressed.

[Insayn]

I just ratchet strap to the axles, 2 on each end. I tried the frame method once, hit a few bumps and it broke loose by popping the binder open. I would imagine allowing the suspension to flex relieves some stress on the trailers suspension acting as one big spring.

[CrazyCraig]

I think that trying to compress the suspension is not a good iea, you would have to compress the suspension to the bump stops and in doing so you are creating a lot of tension, just waiting to break free. If it does break free look out. Car carriers do compress the suspension, put I have seen some tie-downs ripped out of cars. I would tie the axles down tight and the vehicle isn't going to move, unless the tie down slips or breaks.


Craig

[dog walker]

All's I do is use one ratchet strap in the center of each axle. If it's a real trip I might pull the winch out and hook it to the front of the trailer too.

As for the comment about pulling over 90mph, thats probably not the smartest thing a man could do!

Jeff

[offroadr35]

Originally posted by dog walker
All's I do is use one ratchet strap in the center of each axle. If it's a real trip I might pull the winch out and hook it to the front of the trailer too.

As for the comment about pulling over 90mph, thats probably not the smartest thing a man could do!

Jeff

i use one on each axle too and haven't had a problem. Scott@Rockstomper also does it the same way and hasn't had a problem.

-Steve

[BillaVista]

btt

[woody]

two chains on the front around the knuckles, not crossed....single rear strap around the axle, center located. Never one problem.