No matter how tempting it might be, driving that beloved project car on public roads isn't a great idea. Transporting your baby requires careful planning and consideration. Whether you're headed to an auction, a car show, or a new storage location, ensuring a safe journey is paramount.
Thankfully, with the right auto transport solutions and know-how, you can navigate the process confidently. In this guide, we'll cover essential tips for safely transporting classic cars, from choosing the right trailer to proper loading and towing techniques. Let's ensure your cherished ride arrives at its destination in pristine condition, eh?
Choosing a Trailer: Open vs Closed Transport
When it comes to towing your vehicle, the trailer you choose is crucial. In most cases, vehicle owners will want to choose between an open or enclosed trailer, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. (While flat towing and dollies are options in some cases, they're less suited for towing collector or race vehicles due to the increased risk of damage, limited support, and potential strain on the towed vehicle's components.)
To determine the best size trailer, you’ll need to take note of a few basic details. First, ensure the trailer is long enough to accommodate your car and can support its weight. Additionally, check that the track width of your car matches the ramps on the trailer. This is especially important for race vehicles that may be wider or narrower than what’s typical on road-vehicles.
An open trailer has the advantage of being more affordable and providing easy accessibility for routine checks during transport. Unfortunately, this style trailer exposes the car to the elements, making it less popular for classic or collector vehicles. An enclosed trailer solves this problem, while also providing maximum protection and storage space for tools and spare parts. However, this style comes at a higher cost and can be heavier, impacting towing capacity.
Safety Gear to Avoid Problems
Equipping your towing vehicle with the right safety gear is just as important as selecting the right trailer, especially when transporting valuable cargo like classic cars. Ensure a smooth and secure journey by investing in the necessary safety equipment.
Below is a checklist of components you may want to add or upgrade on your truck before hauling a car.
- Trailer Brake Controller: Essential for trailers weighing 3,000 pounds or more, a trailer brake controller synchronizes the trailer's brakes with your truck's brakes for safe operation.
- Better Brakes: Heavy trailers require robust braking systems. Consider aftermarket brake pads and rotor packages designed for towing applications to enhance braking performance.
- Trailer Sway Control: An invaluable addition to any towing application, trailer sway control devices prevent dangerous trailer sway, stabilizing the trailer and ensuring a safer towing experience.
- Load Levelers: As the tongue weight of a trailer compresses the rear springs, the front springs decompress and gradually reduce the grip of the front tires. Load levelers can help restore balance – and control – by correcting the issue.
- Safety Chains: A fail-safe in case the trailer coupling lets go, safety chains will keep the trailer attached so you can avoid it running away and harming other motorists.
Tips for Securing That Prized Ride
Loading your car onto the trailer may seem daunting at first, but it's actually a simple and straightforward process once you break it down. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and secure loading experience:
- Check your straps and anchor points to ensure everything is in good condition—before loading up. If anything looks damaged or worn down, replace it before attempting to secure the car.
- Apply the 60/40 rule when balancing the load in the trailer. That means ensuring that 60% of the weight is in front of the axle and 40% is behind it. This is critical for retaining control and avoiding trailer sway.
- Secure the vehicle with four anchor points—two at the front and two at the rear. It's also wise to make use of security chains for backup if your trailer is equipped with them.
- Chock the wheels of the car on the trailer to ensure it remains securely in place during transport. Position the wheel chock blocks snugly against both sides of the tire tread (on the downhill side if there's any slope) to prevent any forward or backward movement.
- Secure any and all gear within the trailer to ensure nothing can move freely. Anchor down tool boxes, spare parts, and anything else that may shift during transport. Be sure to also lock tool box drawers as they may slide open as the trailer moves.
Safe Driving Tips For Transporting Classic Cars
Escorting your car is going to be nerve-wracking, to say the least. After all, one mistake can cost you thousands of dollars! Take a deep breath and rest assured that we have yet another list of tips that will help keep you and your car out of trouble. These auto transport solutions are designed to ensure a smooth and safe journey.
- Check Your Lighting: Make sure all your trailer lights are working before leaving. Brake, turn, and hazard signals all must be functional to ensure safety.
- Obey the Speed Limit: Both the trailer and the state have separate speed limits. Always stick to what the trailer suggests, as anything more than that is dangerous, regardless of what the posted speed limit for the highway is.
- Take Turns with Care: A trailer greatly impacts the towing vehicle's ability to turn. Always slow down and proceed with caution in tight turns to avoid a rollover.
Give More Follow Room: Even with upgraded brakes, your vehicle will need more room to stop when towing. Therefore, you should always increase your following distances to avoid an accident. - Check Your Trailer Regularly: You should periodically stop and check your connections to make sure your car and trailer are secure. Every 25 miles is generally recommended.
- Take the Night (If Needed): Harsh winds, heavy snow, or rain, and any other poor weather conditions are made far more dangerous when towing a trailer. It's best to pull over and find a place to rest until the weather clears up in these situations.
What to Do When You Arrive
You've made it to your destination! (Or maybe just to the end of this long overview.) Either way, you're almost through. There are only a few more steps to ensure you get that prized car off the trailer without banging it up just moments before showtime.
- Park on level ground to ensure both the trailer and your prized ride remain steady during the unloading process.
- Set the parking brake in your tow vehicle for extra protection before climbing out and approaching the trailer.
- Check the trailer coupling and ensure the trailer is still securely connected to the tow vehicle. The last thing you need is for it to tip up as you attempt to unload the car after it’s come all this way.
- Chock the trailer wheels for added safety before you climb aboard, as your added weight could cause shifting.
- Remove the tie-downs that are holding your classic car in place, starting at the rear. Do not remove the wheel chocks yet, as the vehicle could still shift inside the trailer.
Extend the ramp(s), being sure to take them out all the way to reduce the severity of the angle. A sharp angle can cause the car to bind on the trailer or the ground. (Lowered vehicles and race cars may benefit from additional ramps or boards at the end of the trailer to even further reduce the angle.) - Remove the wheel chocks and slowly back down the ramps. Don't use engine power; rather, let gravity do the work as you operate the brakes and steering wheel to avoid any mishaps.