Towing the track car

[redlined600]

Originally Posted by CedN

You guys seems to load the towing hitch alot over there. In general here the tow hitches are normally rated to around max 80kg (about 175lbs, some have up to 220 lbs ).

I would agree that many likely overload the tongue but it's easier to err on the side of caution.

Probably most have seen this but it's a good demonstration.

[Kelse92]

Another side note on towing. Straps.
Don't cheap out, and make sure they are tight and good quality. I like the Mac's brand ones personally. I use Rennline 90deg angle hooks to mount the straps to the rear of the car.
https://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/c...32334634647626

https://www.rennline.com/Rennline-Ti...ctinfo/E04/90/

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by CedN

You guys seems to load the towing hitch alot over there. In general here the tow hitches are normally rated to around max 80kg (about 175lbs, some have up to 220 lbs ).

Are you talking a hitch on a truck or a hitch for your twin? Trucks like mine typically have a Class 4 hitch rated for 10klbs and about 1klbs of tongue weight. Safety wise it is better to cheat it forward if you are not sure. Just make sure the nose of the tow rig isn't pointed to the moon and the rear on the bumpstops. It is also important to take into account what you throw in the bed of the vehicle. I usually have another set of wheels/tires, tools, and 6 gas cans. My truck is bagged for extra capacity, it's a really nice addition.

[redlined600]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

Another side note on towing. Straps.
Don't cheap out, and make sure they are tight and good quality. I like the Mac's brand ones personally. I use Rennline 90deg angle hooks to mount the straps to the rear of the car.
https://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/c...32334634647626

https://www.rennline.com/Rennline-Ti...ctinfo/E04/90/

Does this mean we can get into whether or not to cross straps now?

[Kelse92]

Originally Posted by redlined600

Does this mean we can get into whether or not to cross straps now?

LOL I have my methods, but I definitely don't feel like going down that road today

[CedN]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Are you talking a hitch on a truck or a hitch for your twin? Trucks like mine typically have a Class 4 hitch rated for 10klbs and about 1klbs of tongue weight. Safety wise it is better to cheat it forward if you are not sure. Just make sure the nose of the tow rig isn't pointed to the moon and the rear on the bumpstops. It is also important to take into account what you throw in the bed of the vehicle. I usually have another set of wheels/tires, tools, and 6 gas cans. My truck is bagged for extra capacity, it's a really nice addition.

Interesting, in general people don't have tow rigs like you guys, and the trailers seem to be neater and less agricultural/lighter. They use like a subaru forester, Volvos, some other SUV or a Land rover. The 50mm ball is by far the most common for everything up to 7700lbs, there used to be a 60mm ball but you rarely see that, for heavier loads there is instead a kind of heavy truck coupling, but that is pretty much larger commercial vehicles. But its interesting to see that the approved tounge weight here is so drastically lower than what you guys use, i would guess its also due to running smaller cars in general, or else the tounge weight uses upp all loading weight of the car. But its like this even on heavy vehicles like my camper van.

I once borrowed a preloaded trailer with way rearward weight bias, definitely brown underpant moment, until i went and moved the weight around

[redlined600]

Originally Posted by CedN

Interesting, in general people don't have tow rigs like you guys, and the trailers seem to be neater and less agricultural/lighter. They use like a subaru forester, Volvos, some other SUV or a Land rover. The 50mm ball is by far the most common for everything up to 7700lbs, there used to be a 60mm ball but you rarely see that, for heavier loads there is instead a kind of heavy truck coupling, but that is pretty much larger commercial vehicles. But its interesting to see that the approved tounge weight here is so drastically lower than what you guys use, i would guess its also due to running smaller cars in general, or else the tounge weight uses upp all loading weight of the car. But its like this even on heavy vehicles like my camper van.

I once borrowed a preloaded trailer with way rearward weight bias, definitely brown underpant moment, until i went and moved the weight around

I suspect it's a combination of lawyers and highways. It's not unusual for people to tow 70-80 mph in the US.

[CedN]

Originally Posted by redlined600

I suspect it's a combination of lawyers and highways. It's not unusual for people to tow 70-80 mph in the US.

Wow, that would save me alot of time when towing through the country 😂 over here the max limit is about 50mph,both for cars or heavy trucks if they tow anything. Not that everyone obeys to that on long runs, but the laws are a bit more safety oriented here some times...

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by redlined600

I suspect it's a combination of lawyers and highways. It's not unusual for people to tow 70-80 mph in the US.

Screw that. Fuel mileage drops off hard on my truck over 65, towing or not. I'll take the turtle approach.

[evanescent03]

Originally Posted by thomasmryan

if you will be using ratcheting type straps, be sure to have at least two turns/wraps around the spool mechanism.



friction is a thing.

Good point … I wonder if this is why I’ve found an occasional strap slip off the side .. luckily the car didnt seem to budge but seems like an easy thing to do for improvement!

[evanescent03]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

Screw that. Fuel mileage drops off hard on my truck over 65, towing or not. I'll take the turtle approach.

Going fast isn’t hard .. evasive maneuvers or hard braking gets significantly messier as the speeds go up, too. “Everything is fine until it’s not.”

[racer01]

Lots of good responses here. I always moved my car around until I got desired tongue weight (~10% or more) and then taped the spot so I could hit it every time.
Just for reference this is my 86 on a Uhaul.....idiot proof so they force you to pull all the WAAAY up to the front to strap down.
Soft suspension of the TRD Pro exacerbates the extra tongue weight but makes for a good illustration. I'd have preferred to be able to move the car back a touch but it towed well.

[Breadman]

if this is a regular thing for you id recommend a weight distributing hitch. your front looks about 2" higher than your back, which while most likely still safe probably cuts down on the margins for turning and braking

[MacSpeed]

Originally Posted by Breadman

if this is a regular thing for you id recommend a weight distributing hitch. your front looks about 2" higher than your back, which while most likely still safe probably cuts down on the margins for turning and braking

Cant on a uhaul trailer. Their really shitty and weight 2000-2500# empty and force a ton of tongue weight for "Safety"

When I would tow my S2K with one of those an my Tacoma it was the same deal. Borrowed a friends Trailx one time and was able to load it properly and the Taco sat flat no issues.

If sticking with uhauls, best bet would be one of those nice adjustable hitches that you can raise up vs the drop that hitch has.