Trailoring s2k Behind Uhaul

[Bigpappaholt]

i purchased my s2k in texas this summer while i was here for an internship and im headed back to indiana next week. Just wanted to see if anyone had any tips for me, ive never straped down a car to a trailor. also i have coilovers, is there anything i need to do with them ( soft or stiff). What about covering the car? Im renting a 17' truck and a auto transport trailor, the one where both wheels are off the ground.

[Vezna31]

I've attached a U-Haul trailer to my wife's Toyota Sequioa on a number of occasions to take the S to the racetrack. I've never had a problem except once when the straps came loose...(another story in itself). Make sure you stop a few times to check the tightness.

My S is stock height. I would say not to cover it unless you are tying the cover down just because the wind can definitely lift it at highway speed and the last thing that someone behind is going to want is your car cover getting caught on the front of their cover or on their windshield and blinding them.

[s2k 4 me]

I would also say dont cover it, if theres any place where the cover is loose, its just gonna beat the hell outa your paint job. If your dropped you'll also wanna watch the clearance onto the trailor.

[Java Junky]

Make sure yuh know whu'cher strappin' to. (There'z lots'a placez beggin' fer a hook whut're only gonna make yuh regret not payin' more attention)
More strapz than you think're necessary'z alwayz better'n less, especially from the back of the trailer to the back'a the car. Even the most aggressive'uv us're pretty reasonable when acceleratin' with a trailer in tow, but stops, especially emergency stops, can come up sudden n' hard'n're the real test'a how well yuh di'jer job.

Strap'er down'z tight'z yuh can'n then go back over it'n tighten it up.
Get on yer way'n give'er some miles to jiggle-in'n then pull over'n take all the looseness out'a the straps.
After that one, eyeball checkz'uv yer straps everytime you hit'a rest-stop should doo'yuh.
Get home safe pappa.

[satisaii]

My lowered Miata is a pita to get off and on a U-haul trailer. The frame rails drag on the trailer bad enough to get stuck.

[Bigpappaholt]

Originally Posted by satisaii

My lowered Miata is a pita to get off and on a U-haul trailer. The frame rails drag on the trailer bad enough to get stuck.

really? ya my s2k is lowered, not super low but pretty low, bought the car already lowerd so dont know what the drop is. someone told me im gonna need to get some thin pannels of wood to help get the car on and off.

[satisaii]

I have tried 2*8's on the trailer (under the tires), marginally better. The car drug on the wood, though. And then the boards shot out when I gave it some gas.

Either the rear wheels of the tow vehicle need to be raised on a ramp (tip the trailer down), a jack can be used right at the ball (tip the trailer down), or ramps used under the trailer ramps (extend the length of the ramps.) Basically the angle between the ramps and the trailer is too big. This causes the frame to drag when the fronts are on the trailer and the rears are on the ramps.

[Bigpappaholt]

what about taking the air out of the trailor tires, thus lowering the height of it, pull the car up on it, then pump the trailor tires back up

[Java Junky]

If you can find some local spot with a high curb/lawn/parkin' lot that allows the trailer to sit on the lower street, the high curb'll allow less of'n angle difference between the rampz'n the trailer, which izz whutz givin' you that peak that'll hang a low-rider up.
Back end'a the trailer perpendicular ta the curb n' make sure there's enough ramp-meat on'a curb so'z not'ta slip off durin' the proceedinz.
You're likely already passin' a few prospective hopefulz in yer travelz, ya jus' ain't been lookin' ad'em'z such poppa.
Havin' a spot like that makes the loadin'n unloadin' a whole bunch easier.

[flyingarmadillo]

I've rented Uhaul transports twice and I'm going to make a general suggestion. Make sure you inspect the trailer carefully before you drive away from the lot and go to load your car. Both times I've rented I've had to refuse the first trailer they gave me. Look at the axle shackles and shackle bolts and make sure they're there and that the axles are aligned more or less properly. I've found broken or missing shackle and/or bolts both times I've rented. People will back them or run them into/over curbs and knock the axles out of alignment and break the shackles. Also check the tires and make sure they're not worn to the cords. I had one trailer that had 4 out of 5 tires (3 of 4 plus the spare) that where either showing or worn through the first layer of steel belts.

[Java Junky]

Talk about fergittin' about the basicz!
Damned good point dillo.

[Neil]

Just make sure you have lumber to raise the front tires before they enter the trailer and some 2" x 6" for the front tires again when its on the trailer as it needs clearance to project the nose of the car forward to get the correct alignment for the front wheel tie downs. If you don't raise the front wheels the spoiler will not clear.


Neil

[lonestarbuzz]

Originally Posted by flyingarmadillo

I've rented Uhaul transports twice and I'm going to make a general suggestion. Make sure you inspect the trailer carefully before you drive away from the lot and go to load your car. Both times I've rented I've had to refuse the first trailer they gave me. Look at the axle shackles and shackle bolts and make sure they're there and that the axles are aligned more or less properly. I've found broken or missing shackle and/or bolts both times I've rented. People will back them or run them into/over curbs and knock the axles out of alignment and break the shackles. Also check the tires and make sure they're not worn to the cords. I had one trailer that had 4 out of 5 tires (3 of 4 plus the spare) that where either showing or worn through the first layer of steel belts.

Great advice!

[Bigpappaholt]

thanks for all the great info so far, picking up lumber today and i will def. inspect the trailor. what are some good tie down points? also is there any need to soften or stiffen my coilovers?

[Neil]

U ahuling my car there was only the front over the tire restraints. Hand brake on and watch when you open the drivers door that the door clears the side rail when the cars on the trailer.......don't forget !

Neil

[lonestarbuzz]

Originally Posted by Neil

U ahuling my car there was only the front over the tire restraints. Hand brake on and watch when you open the drivers door that the door clears the side rail when the cars on the trailer.......don't forget !

Neil

this sounds like advice learned the hard way. did you forget, Neil?

[Neil]

Originally Posted by lonestarbuzz

this sounds like advice learned the hard way. did you forget, Neil?

No I did not forget thank goodness, just got a good eye for clearances. But the side rail did look a little high on the door, but it clears ok. The s2000 has a low clearance and trailers vary in specifications due to year of manufacture. you need an extra pair of eyes outside when you load the car.
I just find the front of the car hard to judge when parking sometimes. i scratched the underside of my front bumper a little when I first had the car...........the front is just a lot longer than the vehicles I'm used to driving, it takes a little practice to get good judgement.

Neil