How To Strap Down A Car On A Trailer

You probably have lots of questions when it comes to strapping down a car on a trailey, like should I be using nylon straps or chains? Should I be crossing straps? How do I know if my car will be secure?

These are all good questions and strapping down a car for the first time can be a daunting task but the process is actually fairly straightforward once you know what you're doing.

Safety is, of course, the priority and you should take your time to make sure that you're carefully following each of the necessary steps to minimize the risk to you, your car, and other drivers.

In this guide, we'll give you a complete breakdown of how to successfully strap your car down on a trailer so that you can do it safely every time.

Choosing The Right Tie Downs

Before you begin the process of strapping down a car to a trailer you'll need to make sure that you're using the right ratchet straps for the job. To do this, you need to make sure that the ratchet straps you choose can properly secure your vehicle's weight.

You need to first find out what your vehicle's gross weight is to identify the working load limit of the ratchet straps you plan to use and make sure that they're suitable.

This is the best way to make sure that your load is safe and that the risk of causing damage to the trailer, vehicle, or other drivers is as low as possible.

Strap Tie Downs or Chain Tie Downs?

The two most popular forms of tie-downs for transporting a car on a trailer are chains and straps. Both of them do a good job but which is the best choice?

Chains

Chains are made from high-strength steel and are generally thought to be stronger than straps. One of the main benefits of chain tie-downs is that they don't rip or stretch in the same way that straps do. This is one of the reasons that they are used by professionals.

However, there are also some negatives to using chains that you should always bear in mind.

Their rigidity means that they can damage the frame of the vehicle on the trailer if they're not secured properly. As damage to the frame of a car is structural this can lead to the car being salvaged.

Another downside of using chains is that they must be hooked directly onto the frame of the vehicle. As chains are so rigid this means that the hooks can pull heavily on parts of the frame.

Also, if the chains are attached to the frame using the wrong type of hooks then they may come free and the vehicle could even fall off the trailer.

Straps

Strap tie-downs can often be just as strong as chains and as they're made from polyester webbing there is very little chance of them causing any damage to the vehicle whilst it's strapped to the trailer.

They make the securement of the vehicle easy as their soft webbing means that they can slide around axles or over the wheels.

The only real negative of using straps is that during use they can stretch by up to 3%. This can cause the vehicle to become loose and start to move around on the trailer. Due to this, if you're using strap tie downs you should give them a thorough check every time that you make a stop.

Both chains and straps are a good option for hauling vehicles on a trailer and the one that you choose will ultimately come down to preference, the type of vehicle you're securing, and the laws of the states that you'll be hauling through.

For the purpose of this guide, we'll be focussing on securing a car to a trailer using strap tie downs.

4 Simple Steps To Strap Down A Car To A Trailer

If you've never strapped down a car to a trailer before then it may seem like a slightly daunting task. However, with the right equipment, it's fairly straightforward and shouldn't cause you too many issues.

So, let's take a look at the best and safest way to tie down a car to a trailer.

1) Load the vehicle

park the trailer

The very first thing you'll need to do is to find some level ground and park your trailer. Be sure to avoid any slanted ground such as driveways. Then, put the towing vehicle in park and activate the parking brake.

To be on the safe side, it's always best to place some wheel chocks behind and in front of the front and rear tires.

extend the ramps

Trailers that are specifically designed for hauling cars will have two heavy-duty ramps that extend from the rear. If this is the case for your trailer then fully extend them so that they're secure and parallel.

For trailers without extendable ramps, you'll need to buy some yourself and connect them to the rear of the trailer. Never try and create your ramps as this can be really dangerous.

If you have an enclosed trailer you need to open the rear doors and then either extend the ramps or attach the ramps that you have purchased.

line up the car

Now, position the car behind the trailer so that its wheels are in line with the trailer's ramps. You should always try to avoid reversing a car onto a trailer as this could lead to issues such as swaying and whipping.

drive up onto the trailer

Next, you need to put the car into drive and drive slowly up the ramp until the car is fully on the trailer and its weight is evenly distributed. Make sure that the steering wheel is straight as you do this so that you don't drive onto the ramp at an angle.

It can be helpful to ask someone to guide you onto the ramp to make sure that the car is straight.

park the car on the trailer

Once the car is fully on the trailer you need to put it in park, turn off the engine and put its parking brake on. Then, get out of the car and check that it is properly aligned on the trailer.

2) Secure the car

securing the car with tire straps

Using tire straps to secure the car is most suitable for newer vehicles that were made after 1990 and for small cars. If the car has very large tires then they won't be able to be fitted.

Tire straps won't cause any damage to the car's mechanical parts or body if they're attached properly and they use the weight of the trailer to keep the vehicle steady.

start securing the front left tire

Pull the open end of a lasso strap through the other, looped end. Place the lasso strap over the top of your front left tire, pull it down halfway so that it covers the hubcap, and then pull it tight.

add a ratchet strap

Now, take a ratchet strap and start pulling the exposed end of the lasso strap through the center hole of the buckle of the ratchet strap. Be sure that you leave a small amount of slack.

Then, give the ratchet strap's handle 3 or 4 cranks to connect the straps together.

attach the ratchet strap to one of the d-rings

The D-rings are small rings that are fixed with bolts in each corner of the trailer. Of the four D-rings, you need to find the one in the front left corner. Then, take the ratchet strap and hook the open end onto this D-ring.

tighten the lasso and ratchet straps

Once you've checked that the lasso strap and ratchet strap are connected and secure you need to crank the handle of the ratchet until the lasso strap is squeezing into the sides of the tires.

If the lasso or ratchet straps come into contact with the body of the car at any point simply loosen them, move them to a different position and then carry on tightening them.

secure the other wheels

If the first wheel is securely strapped down then it's now time to repeat the same process for the remaining three wheels. Make sure you check each of the wheel straps individually at the end of the process for any errors.

3) Using axle straps

securing the car with axle straps

Axle straps are best used for large vehicles like trucks or older cars that were made before 1990. Axle straps keep the vehicle in place by using its suspension and weight. They're not suitable for newer or smaller vehicles as they can quite easily damage them.

secure the rear axle

Take an axle strap and wrap it around the rear axle bar of the car on the left side. Then, secure the axle strap by shutting the metal clip. Some axle straps have a padded section and if yours does then be sure that this is the part that makes contact with the rear axle.

In case you're unsure, the rear axle is the horizontal bar that runs in between the two rear wheels of the car.

use a ratchet strap

Take one of the ratchet straps and make sure that it has a metal clip on the end of it. Find the D-ring in the rear left corner of the trailer and clip the strap onto it. Firmly tug on the strap to make sure that it holds in place.

connect the ratchet strap to the axle strap

Take the ratchet strap and then thread the free end of the axle strap through the center hole in the buckle of the ratchet strap and leave a little slack. Give the handle on the ratchet 3 or 4 cranks so that the strap is locked in place.

tighten the straps

Once you're certain that the straps are fully secure you need to crank the handle on the ratchet until the straps are nice and taught. If you notice the straps starting to twist, loosen them up and straighten them out and then continue tightening them.

If you notice that the straps are straining you should slightly loosen them to avoid any damage to the axle. Also, tie up any loose strap ends with cable ties or bungee cords.

repeat the process

Now, take another one of the four ratchet straps and one of the axle straps and repeat the process for the right side of the rear axle. Remember, you'll need to attach the straps to the D-ring in the rear right corner this time.

secure the front axle

The process for the front of the vehicle is the same as the rear only this time you're using the front axle as the securement point.

Pull the axle straps around the left and right securement points on the front axle and attach them to the front left and front right D-rings and then simply repeat the process that you used for the rear.

You can also attach the front straps to the car's chassis rail or A-arm but make sure that you don't attach them to either of the lower control arms, steering racks, steering arms, or sway bars.

4) Check the safety of the car

attach the trailer's safety chain

Check to see if your trailer has a rear safety chain. If it does, then take the safety chain and pull it around the car's A-arm or chassis rail. Give the chain a twist and then attach the chain hook to one of the chain loops. The rear safety chain doesn't need to be tight as long as it's secure.

The chain's purpose is to secure the vehicle in case any of the straps were to break.

strap checks

Next, you need to do a thorough check of all the straps to make sure they're fully secure and are not pressing down on the brake lines, oil lines, or the body of the car.

To find your oil and brake lines look underneath the car. They're the thin lines that look like cords.

stow the ramps

The last stage of the car tie-down is to fold the extendable ramps back into the rear of the trailer. For external ramps, remove them and stow them somewhere safe.

take the trailer for a test drive

Once you've finished the car tie down you should take the trailer for a test drive in an empty parking lot or a quiet neighborhood. Use this time to make sure that the vehicle is secure and also practice taking wide turns, braking, and reversing.

stop and check

Once you set out on your journey, you should stop after 10 to 25 miles and double-check all of the straps to make sure that they're still secure. This is particularly important for securing heavy cargo like trucks as they're more likely to come loose.

If at any point you have to come to a sudden stop or take any sharp corners you should stop and check that the vehicle is still secure.

FAQs

What's the best way to stop tie-downs from breaking?

One of the ways to stop tie downs from breaking is to make sure that they're not rubbing against any sharp edges when you secure a vehicle to the trailer.

The way in which you store tie downs when not in use is also key to avoiding breaks. You should neatly coil them up and then secure them with a rubber band after you're finished using them and store them in a bag so that they're not exposed to sunlight and moisture.

How much do tie downs stretch?

Tie downs made of polyester stretch to 3% of the total length of the tie downs once they've been secured. This is one of the main reasons you should be stopping every few miles or so to check that the tie downs are still holding the vehicle in place.

This will also give you the opportunity to see if any of the tie-downs have burn marks, frays, or damage from sharp edges.

How can I tell if my vehicle will be safely secured?

The simplest way to work out if your tie-down method will be enough to safely secure your vehicle is to start off by finding out how much your vehicle weighs.

The weight of your vehicle may be displayed inside the driver's door or in the owner's manual. If not, just give it a quick Google search.

You'll then need to find out what the working load limit is for each of the straps you intend to use and make sure that your vehicle is safely inside this range. If it is, then your vehicle will be safely secured using these tie-downs.

If not, you'll have to purchase new ones that have the right working load limit.

What is the difference between tow straps and car straps?

Tow straps are designed for towing cars and recovering vehicles that have become stuck in things like mud, sand, or snow. Car straps, or tie downs, are designed specifically to keep a car secure when it is being hauled on a trailer.

Some tie-downs, such as certain brands of ratchet straps, can be used to tow cars but it's usually best to stick to using them for securing vehicles to trailers.

Final Thoughts

If you're new to towing cars on trailers, or just don't have much experience, the process can seem a little overwhelming at first.

There's a variety of different straps and procedures to get familiar with and it can be hard to remember certain details that may seem trivial but are actually pretty important.

Fortunately, if you follow the simple steps we've laid out in this guide you should get to grips with it pretty soon. The main thing to remember is to always double-check all of the wheel straps are secure and to make regular stops during your journey to make sure nothing has come loose.

If you do this, you shouldn't have any issues with safety and you can rest assured that your car will be secure every time that you strap it down to a trailer. So, now you're up to speed, all there's left to say is bon voyage!

Sources

https://www.motortrend.com/features/proper-trailer-tie-down-techniques/

https://www.ratchetstraps.com/the-complete-beginners-guide-on-car-tie-downs-straps

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/how-do-you-tie-down-your-car-to-the-trailer-and-with-what/176778/page1/

https://www.wikihow.com/Tie-Down-a-Car-on-a-Trailer?amp=1

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