Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

[John F.]

Just bought a Tundra V-8 pickup and had hitch,etc installed. Not a better way to spend a Sunday pm with a 100* temp to do a trial run on tieing down the 62. Put it on the trailer then balanced the weight, used a level. Then marked the front tire position w/Sharpie. Using heavy 2" ratcheting straps I cross-tied the front end thru the "A" arms and to the "D" rings. Went to the rear and cross-tied over the axle near the center section back to the "D" rings. Be sure to go under the brake lines with the straps. then for safe-keeping/overkill I used 1" tie-downs thru the "A" arms and to the side of the trailer. On the rear used 1" tie-downs up over the box-end of the frame and to the side of the trailer. Anyone foresee any problems with this procedure? I will be taking the car to Roamer Cruise Night in Streator, IL (pop 14000) on Saturday night of Labor Day weekend. They pretty much close down the whole downtown that evening. Last year there were 644 registered cars of all kinds. The next day there is a carshow in the city park. If you are anywhere near there stop by and say "hello". Look for the red 62.

John

[Joe R.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

John,

You may get several suggestions but for my vote it looks great. That Corvette will be attached to that trailer even upside down. Oops, didn't mean to say that!

Car looks great! Have a wonderful time at the show!

JR

[Chuck W.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

For what its worth.... A hauler once told me to not cross straps if possible. His logic was that if one side were to come loose, the other strap would pull the vehicle sideways and loosen. Made sense to me so I've always tried to run the straps straight back to the eyelets.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

For what its worth.... A hauler once told me to not cross straps if possible. His logic was that if one side were to come loose, the other strap would pull the vehicle sideways and loosen. Made sense to me so I've always tried to run the straps straight back to the eyelets.

I was advised to cross the straps. Didn't listen..and the car moved sideways..causing some grief. After crossing the straps I never had the problem again. Probably makes a differance on the length of strap from car to tie down.

Might be better to use axle straps than wrapping your tie down as shown in your picture. Axle straps usually have protective sleeves.

Joe

[Art A.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

For what its worth.... A hauler once told me to not cross straps if possible. His logic was that if one side were to come loose, the other strap would pull the vehicle sideways and loosen. Made sense to me so I've always tried to run the straps straight back to the eyelets.

If you use the GM provided FRAME tie down locations and the correct "R" hooks their is very little chance that they will come loose.
I do cross the rear, but have the front straight forward and a little out board.

[Scott S.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

Nice job. I try to put the rear straps over the rear spring ahead of the axle. The car will always try to move forward. Check your tie downs after the first few stops. They will loosen up.
Scott

[Wes S.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

I recently read about someone having problems with crossing staps, one broke and the other pulled car sideways. I like the short axle straps, you can easily slip them over the end of the axle housing and though the lower A-arm in the front. Thas the short strap with eyes on each end.

I know this probably doesn't mean much to most, but I pull a trailer a lot. Tag-a-long 24 ft flat bed and a 36 ft goose neck enclosed aluminum Sooner. When I first started pulling a used a single-rear wheel chevrolet, along the way I purchased a dually. Love the dually would never pull a trailer with anything less. You don't even know you have a trailer is behind you.

[John F.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

If you use the GM provided FRAME tie down locations and the correct "R" hooks their is very little chance that they will come loose.
I do cross the rear, but have the front straight forward and a little out board.

Where exactly are the GM tie-down locations on a 62? Can't find them in any manuals or any threads. Pictures always help us guys that can't follow directions in three languages. That's why I posted, to see what works best in real life.

John

[Art A.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

I don't know exactly where the 62s are located, and they are not in any manuals that I know of, hope fully someone will chime in with the locations. I would look on the side of the front frame rails and maybe on the bottom of the rear cross member. The holes will look like an oval, about 1 inch X 1 1/2 inch . If you stick your pinky finger in one you will feel a reinforcement plate welded inside the frame.

Where exactly are the GM tie-down locations on a 62? Can't find them in any manuals or any threads. Pictures always help us guys that can't follow directions in three languages. That's why I posted, to see what works best in real life.

John

[John F.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

I don't know exactly where the 62s are located, and they are not in any manuals that I know of, hope fully someone will chime in with the locations. I would look on the side of the front frame rails and maybe on the bottom of the rear cross member. The holes will look like an oval, about 1 inch X 1 1/2 inch . If you stick your pinky finger in one you will feel a reinforcement plate welded inside the frame.

No such holes that I can find!

John

[Jack H.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

"You don't even know you have a trailer is behind you."

Don't worry about 'forgetting' about the trailer...you'll get a reminder each time you stop to re-fuel!

[Wes S.]

Re: Towing/tie-down of 62 Corvette

Thats the beauty of my 2002 F350 it gets 17.5 MPG pulling and 19 MPG not. That 7.3 liter turbo is fanastic. Wanted to buy a new one, but can't stand that 50% plunge in mileage.