Trailering Tie Down Information

[zulu3pat]

Hi:
Need to haul/trailer my new Smart Car home to Bismarck from Bloomington. Anyone have information on how best to tie down the car to the trailer. Thanx

[Smartfor2guy]

Other than using the one front hook with the two rear hooks, tie down the rear to the frame tubes on both sides. On the front i would use the hook. The hook is located under the carpet on the passenger side. The dealer can sell you the two for the rear

[Dunerunner]

When my smart was towed to the dealership, the driver used wheel straps and strap tensioners at all four corners to keep the car from rolling around. I would not trust the tow hooks to secure a vehicle that is pitching around on its own suspension while being towed.

[scdaf]

The best and safest way is to rent a U-Haul auto transport in Bismark for a round-trip rental. smart secures easily with wheel straps already on trailer. We've transported ours twice this way and it's a piece of cake. The trailer costs $49.95/day this way and is safe and secure.

Won't hurt to check 1-way rates from Bloomington to Bismark, but round-trips are generally less expensive, sometimes by a HUGE margin. Either way, MAKE A RESERVATION ahead of time.

U-Haul towing insurance is inexpensive also, should you feel more comfortable that way.

[kannonvaggon]

We haul our Smart in the garage of our motorcoach often, and far. We use wheel straps and heavy duty ratchets from Mac's Custom tiedowns out west. No problems with the little bugger trying to escape, at least so far anyways...

Just be sure if yer using plain through the wheel straps that you use a "cross" plan to all four corners. This keeps the car from moving at all. I would NOT tie the car down using the axles or even the suspension arms or the tow ring. These are not built for long term compression loading and might get loose or bend a component?

I also would not use " motorcycle " tie-down straps if was a long haul. They are not built for maximum loading that might be put on them in some particular situation of bumps or a hard stop or stuff like that.

just a thunk

YMMV

[Karl Roth]

The tow hooks as they are called are tie down points when our cars are transported on the RO RO ships that bring them over the pond.
They are more than strong enough.
karl

[Dunerunner]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

The tow hooks as they are called are tie down points when our cars are transported on the RO RO ships that bring them over the pond.
They are more than strong enough.
karl

Does this also mean you can't travel any faster than 18 knots (20 mph)?

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

Does this also mean you can't travel any faster than 18 knots (20 mph)?

if you want to feel real power take on the sea
karl

[Dunerunner]

I agree Karl, some a ship can make very rapid changes in direction; anything not secured for rough seas moves. I wonder if it is enough to make for safe trailering should someone have to stop suddenly or change direction at freeway speed, 55 mph? Do you think they use a special eye bolt, say one bent 90 deg, for the tiedowns on the transport?

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by Dunerunner

I agree Karl, some a ship can make very rapid changes in direction; anything not secured for rough seas moves. I wonder if it is enough to make for safe trailering should someone have to stop suddenly or change direction at freeway speed, 55 mph? Do you think they use a special eye bolt, say one bent 90 deg, for the tiedowns on the transport?

I was thinking the same thing Dune but didn't say it. Not sure how many ships out there decelerate from 60mph to 0 in a few seconds.

I had almost thought that a strap had been placed through the wheel's spokes at one time to transport my car as one of my drums is very scarred up from something.

Haven't had a chance yet to tow my Smart on my trailer so I don't have any honest real world input and besides, we should see what the owners manual says. When the time comes though, I'll most likely go through the wheels with my straps or tie down to the suspension, haven't looked hard enough to see a good point yet.