Hauling jeep

For you folks that transport your jeeps on car haulers, what have you found to be the most secure? I have been using g-70 chains and binders and was wondering if straps may be the way to go. I only transport maybe four times a year.

 

24" axle straps and ratchet straps are simple & effective. Mine are rated for 20,000 lbs, but thats overkill. Tranny in neutral, ratchet either front or rear first. Then finish off the other end. Then place her in gear with E-brake on. I check straps at every gas stop. The trick with strap ratchets is to make sure enough strap is in the ratchet to give enough friction to hold it. Mac's has some good quality stuff- www.macscustomtiedowns.com

 

My trailer has 4 D rings. I use a chain that is about 25 feet long and run it front to back on one side and fasten to spring shackles. Then I use a good come-along to the other D-rings. Tighten these, and you eliminate bounce.
Nest step is chains around axles to D rings, tightened with ratchet straps that have forged hooks. Takes a while to do, but so far no problems.
Eliminating the ability to bounce, which will allow the vehicle to move sideways, is the secret.
I have seen someone hauling a Packard worth about $75,000 fastened with a strap front and rear, no chains. To each his own.

 

i use chains at both ends. one is more or less adjusted as tight as i can get it. the opposite end gets the binder, and tightens the vehicle by pulling it back against the front chain. chains are around the axles, and secured to the trailer hardware.

 

I use binders on Both ends. 2 up front and 1 rear.

I run the chain through the rear hitch from one side to the other, and bind it. Then I put a chain to either front tow point or around the plow frame on each side and a binder on each side. Then I tap the clutch to take the pressure off of the driveline (no working ebrake right now). The jeep dosent bounce or move during transport, and its made many trips without problems. I have had a chain binder open up once in a while, so I'm thinking of using exhaust clamps with wing nuts on the handle's of htebinders to keep them from opening. Usually it only opens up early in the trip, and after that one time, they generally stay shut, but I still check them at every stop.
-Dante

 

I've heard a lot of debate about tying down axles versus body...I like letting the jeep ride on its on suspension...what do you like about snugging the body down?

 

Some recommend leaving it in neutral. This will prevent any pounding on your ring & pinion.

 

I figure the trailer has suspension, and the less the body of the jeep sways around the better. Also there is the added benifit of the springs keeping tension on the chains. Thats just my $0.02

 

I found this issue and since then I take the excess chain and wrap it around the binder handle. Then a simple piece of mechanic's wire or safety wire to hold the chain in place. This keeps the excess chain from bouncing/flapping around and doubles the safety of keeping the handle from popping open. Just what works for me. Nickmil

 

I also use chains exclusively after having a ratchet strap hook break. I also only tie down the axles. I've been pulling a competition level rock crawler around for a couple years that has a suspension that cannot be bottomed readily for towing. I never had any problem letting its suspension work even as soft as it was. I'd prefer to tie to the frame on a vehicle that doesn't have a lot of suspension travel, but the chains must be tight enough to bottom the suspenion as a bouncing frame and body will snap a grade 70 chain.

 

I chain to the axles using a predetermined length of chain for the rear And then I use, I'm not sure what they're called. (they are ratcheted screw type with hooks at either end that semis use.) in the front. I like the idea of chaining down the axles because when you hit a bump The trailer does not have to handle the whole load, and also if you hit a bump, chaining to the body. Your straps or chain will loosen as the Jeep comes down
I have gone coast to coast, with no problems
Doug/Tucson

 

I just do like I do with my Motorcycle.

Nylon binding straps with ratchets.Tension the suspension down against the springs with the ratchets. No problems. I use four of them, one on each corner.

 

I used to drive a 10 car auto transporter, and all the auto manufacturers supply transport hooks/holes on the frame of the vehicles, not the suspension. Kinda makes you think, don't it?
Transporters come with a chain and winch set-up as factory, also. AFAIK, only hot-shotters use ratchets and capture-style straps.
I personally use 1 chain and a binder on the rear of anything I haul, and a pair of chain and binders in the front, often with a safety chain as well. The tranny is in gear and the e-brake is on.
I have pics of a guy with his Jeep in the bed of the hauling truck, after the 20K ratchets he was tied down with failed during the wreck. Luckily it stopped after the bumper went thru the supercab's rear window. I just don't trust straps anymore.

 

Think about if you towrig can throw a vehicle backward with acceleration, not very likely and if you can you probably won't do it. Now think of braking, it is a sure thing that you can stop fast enough to throw a vehicle forward, if you can't you need better brakes. Just one of those thoughts I think about whenever I see someone tie their vehicle off and think about it rolling backwards and not forwards.

 

I use two on the front because i have more leaves up front to support the plow and winch. So i need two binders up there just to get enough compression on the springs.
I also chock the wheels and leave it in gear. Its been fine so far.

 

Thank you all for your input. I will continue to use my chains and binders, but, after this discussion I may chain a different way.

Thank You !!!!

 

One thing I do not think anyone mentioned is that after you tie it down, do leave it in gear. But hop inside the jeep and push the clutch in one time. That way, your vehicle has the extra security of being in gear, but the gears are not bound or preloaded in one direction.

 

I guess there isn't to many powder coated differentials in this crowd. Ha Ha !
mike s.

 

Don't worry, if your diff is powder-coated, just use an axle strap around the axle with a chain as a tie-off. Or use a J-hook like the tow professionals do.

 

PACKRAT, I wasn't worried, been doi'n this stuff before most of these guys were born.Just had to laugh about the chain and binder deal.to each his own,just seems a little crude. mike s.