Trailering a C3

[Charles P.]

I am considering trailering a 1973 from North Carolina to Florida on this 16 foot trailer. There are tie downs on the extreme front and back of the trailer. I was wanting to get some tips on the proper way to secure/tie down the car for the trip. The trailer is new as are the tires. The car is a 4-speed so getting it up there will be a challenge. I drove the front wheels up onto the trailer and did not have any clearance issues in the front with regard to the spoiler.




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[Tom D.]

Re: Trailering a C3

Do you have some alternate (more smooth) ramps? On the other hand, don't try to simply place something on top of these existing ramps... without securing the something.

[Rob V.]

Re: Trailering a C3

Hi Charles--

I would strongly recommend renting a car hauler from UHAUL. They are obviously designed to move autobiles, and have specifically designed tie down systems. In the past 5 years I have "moved" a 1972 big block El Camino; a 1979 Porsche 930; and a 1969 Corvette wth no problems using this type of rental trailer. Additionally, each move was in excess of 1000 miles. No sense taking a chance and damaging your beautiful car trying to move it with ill-suited/improper equipment. Best of luck with your move.

Rob

[Richard M.]

Re: Trailering a C3

It looks like you may not be able to open the doors when it's loaded. It doesn't look like the fenders are removable.

You may want to measure clearances before you drive it on the trailer.

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailering a C3

To answer your original question, I would find four straps with the T hooks (same thing that was used to tie the car down when it was delivered to your dealer). Use the factory tie down points, the rear being slots in the frame immediately in front of the rear frame kickup, and the front, slots in the side of the frame in front of the control arms. Personally I cross the straps to keep the car from moving laterally. Check the straps after the first twenty five miles and every hundred miles there after.

I have hauled many cars, many a mile on trailers similar to what you have. I would not worry about the ramps, less chance of slippage with that style, even though they are a little rough when driving on them. Just make sure that you can get at least 10% of the total trailer weight on the tongue. Equalizing bars and sway control make towing a lot easier.

I have attached a photo of the straps that I use. Made by Vulcan and I found them at www.truckntow.com Not the cheapest straps but high quality.

[Terry M.]

Re: Trailering a C3

To answer your original question, I would find four straps with the J hooks (same thing that was used to tie the car down when it was delivered to your dealer). Use the factory tie down points, the rear being slots in the frame immediately in front of the rear frame kickup, and the front, slots in the side of the frame in front of the control arms. Personally I cross the straps to keep the car from moving laterally. Check the straps after the first twenty five miles and every hundred miles there after.

I have hauled many cars, many a mile on trailers similar to what you have. I would not worry about the ramps, less chance of slippage with that style, even though they are a little rough when driving on them. Just make sure that you can get at least 10% of the total trailer weight on the tongue. Equalizing bars and sway control make towing a lot easier.

I have attached a photo of the straps that I use. Made by Vulcan and I found them at www.truckntow.com Not the cheapest straps but high quality.

I more or less agree with Dick, however, I use R-hooks (almost visible on the ring in Dick's photo link), and the front hook holes on early (1968-1972) C3s are on the bottom of the frame about where the lower control arms bolt to the frame. I am not sure about their location on your rubber bumper Corvette, and that energy absorbing front assembly may have caused a change in the location. They might even have been changed to where Dick says. Get under there and look. The oval holes with turned down edges are not hard to find once you know what to look for.

And now we will take a time out while the debate about frame tie-downs and wheel nets rages. My 2 cents is you tie your car the way you want and I'll tie mine the way I want, and I'll see you at the meet.

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailering a C3

Made an error on the hooks, I use the T hook

[Ed N.]

Re: Trailering a C3

Dick, I use the Vulcan straps and they are great!

[Dan A.]

Re: Trailering a C3

This is an "R" or GM style hook. Also a photo of an R hook located in the factory provided hole in the #3 crossmember. I think Terry M. sent me the one photo for the rear tie down location some years back. I have not met anyone yet that can tell me the factory locations on a solid axle car.

[Charles P.]

Re: Trailering a C3

I may take your advice and go with another trailer. The overall measurement of this trailer is 16 feet from lip to lip. Withe the ramps up I would have to move the car forward towards the tool box which wouldn't leave enough clearance for movement both forward and back and lateral for my comfort.

Hi Charles--

I would strongly recommend renting a car hauler from UHAUL. They are obviously designed to move autobiles, and have specifically designed tie down systems. In the past 5 years I have "moved" a 1972 big block El Camino; a 1979 Porsche 930; and a 1969 Corvette wth no problems using this type of rental trailer. Additionally, each move was in excess of 1000 miles. No sense taking a chance and damaging your beautiful car trying to move it with ill-suited/improper equipment. Best of luck with your move.

Rob

[Terry M.]

Re: Trailering a C3

This is an "R" or GM style hook. Also a photo of an R hook located in the factory provided hole in the #3 crossmember. I think Terry M. sent me the one photo for the rear tie down location some years back. I have not met anyone yet that can tell me the factory locations on a solid axle car.

That last photo does look familiar.

I remember some previous discussion over which hook to use for tie-down. Several will work, but we can debate which is more correct and not reach a conclusion that will make everyone happy. Just like some prefer not to tie-down to the chassis, and tie to the wheels. FWIW: Most recently the contractors for new car Corvette delivery are using wheel tie-downs. I know even C6s have chassis tie down points -- where the lifting pucks are placed -- but the carriers don't use them any more.

Dan, I have been looking for C1 tie-down points without success for some time. I once intended to do a Restorer article on the subject. I have given up on both.

[Charles P.]

Re: Trailering a C3

Nice picture. That looks like a hook selection on a chain. Are these available and where. Also what is the best rear tie down point?

This is an "R" or GM style hook. Also a photo of an R hook located in the factory provided hole in the #3 crossmember. I think Terry M. sent me the one photo for the rear tie down location some years back. I have not met anyone yet that can tell me the factory locations on a solid axle car.

[Terry M.]

Re: Trailering a C3

Nice picture. That looks like a hook selection on a chain. Are these available and where. Also what is the best rear tie down point?

In Dick's first post yesterday at 9:59 Am he gave a link to www.truckntow.com, but any search engine will find other locations.

http://www.truckntow.com/c-147164-car-tie-down-hooks.aspx

http://www.truckntow.com/c-147036-frame-hook-clusters.aspx

When I was looking I found a supplier to the towing and recovery industry about 25 miles from me and I called first to be sure they would sell retail. They had a host of equipment for me to chose from in their catalog and sold me whatever I chose. Don't scrimp on the tie-down straps, and monitor them for wear. Like a seat belt, when you need them you want them to be in top shape. When I had spare time at meets I used to cruise the trailer parking lot, and was appalled at some of the poor equipment I found there. Equipment to haul you Corvette is no place to settle for second best.

Edit add: I forgot to address your question about the best rear tie-down point. AssUming you mean the on-car tie down and that you are asking about a C2 or C3 --- the frame crossmember in front of the rear wheel has an oval shaped hole with the edges turned down toward the ground. I can find them by feel easily. The hook (R or T) will go into that oval and turns 90* to lock in place so that the hook must be turned 90* to remove. This is the hole that GM designed into the frame for that purpose, and the turn-down metal reinforces the hole. A J-hook will also fit into that hole, but it does not take advantage of the 90* locking feature designed into the hole.

C4 and newer also have a rear tie-down oval hole (a front one too) but they are located a little differently than the earlier cars. If you have the car in the air it is very easy to see these factory engineered tie down points. And they can also be felt by reaching under the car. In these cases it is almost essential to locate the holes by feel since they are so low to the ground. On C6s the hole edges are not turned down (I think they are turned up into the frame) and so feeling for them is more difficult. I don't have enough experience with C4 & C5 to be familiar with the holes in them -- I just know that they are there. On C4s the front ones can easily be seen just behind the front wheels when looking in from the side.

[Monte M.]

Re: Trailering a C3

You have been given some great advice by some well respected people. The only thing I will add is an additional idea.

The idea of cross strapping is an excellent idea. The only issue is if a strap comes loose, it can cause a lot more trouble.

What has worked for me is, I now strap the car in the traditional way with my four heavy straps, but in the front I use an additional strap to cross strap with. The additional strap is a smaller strap that most of us typically would use with cargo, but I find this combination does the job quite well.

As Dick mentioned, double check them after a few miles.

Best of luck,

Monte

[Dick W.]

Re: Trailering a C3

I used to cruise the trailer parking lot, and was appalled at some of the poor equipment I found there.

As in motorcycle tie down straps that have a rated working load of probably 1,000-1,500#