slewthy Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 I have a date I need to deliver my car for bodywork to be done at Lotusbits. They need shell and chassis. They would prefer no engine, so would I if it potentially keeps down labour costs. However, that means no handbrake available, so the question is... Can a car be safely transported on a car transporter with the ratchet type wheel straps only? Quote "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 110% safe. Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon350S Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 (edited) Agreed, straps only is fine. Infact the boys transported mine with no engine/box and I've done it before as well. Edited March 5, 2010 by Simon350S Quote Chunky Lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPx Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Yep ..... agreed. Straps are fine. Just make sure you use four straps and not two that some people try. Occasionally one will come loose... and while three works just as well as four, one doesn't work nearly as well as two!! Quote Loving Lionel and Eleanor......missing Charlie and Sonny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slewthy Posted March 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Thanks guys. Like the definite response. Just worrying as things draw to a head. Quote "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydclements Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 Handbrake only has any effect if the rear wheels are in good contact with the surface they're on, can you imagine how ineffective they are if the car is on a trailer bouncing away, thus the straps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slewthy Posted March 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 Just hired a car transporter with 4 proper straps for £45. Not bad. Quote "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ads_green Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 Ooo - where from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slewthy Posted March 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 Um, its from a marina near nantwich in Cheshire - nantwichhire Quote "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x6gas Posted March 8, 2010 Report Share Posted March 8, 2010 Yep just had my X180 trailered 90 miles down the motorway, no brakes, strapped down securely with four wheel straps, no problems. Big thank you to Mike for sorting me out! Quote Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit350 Posted March 8, 2010 Report Share Posted March 8, 2010 Simon give me shout if you need any help on transport day, I only live down the road in Madeley Quote The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. Friedrich Nietzsche find me on Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvis...mbers/espritguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slewthy Posted March 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2010 Simon give me shout if you need any help on transport day, I only live down the road in Madeley Thanks Howard, The actual transportation bit should be OK - the trailer has a winch! My main logistical problem lies with getting the shell back onto the new chassis without damaging either them or us! I used an engine crane across the front last time, 2 of us at each rear corner and another guy pulling out the chassis with a tow rope and car. The new chassis runs very easily now but guiding it in will be a fiddle. Any help for that bit would be gratefully received. Don't want anyone to get a hernia though! Quote "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hylandmotorsport Posted March 8, 2010 Report Share Posted March 8, 2010 (edited) Completely agree, wheel straps are 100% safe and are the best choice for securing the car being transported. I've trailered multiple cars for thousands of miles having competed in rallying for years. Wheel straps are by far the best way to secure a car to a trailer as they allow the trailered car to still benifit from it's own suspension rather than being compressed and stressing suspension mount points for miles and miles. One other tip, I know this won't effect you this time Simon but while we are on the topic of trailering a car, if you have a car on a trailer always always leave the car out of gear. Reason: repeated rocking of the car back and forward on the same gear in the gearbox will cause damage to that gear. And one final tip, balance the trailer! Too much weight to far back lifts the rear of the towing vehicle and will leave it prone to pushing the rear of the vehicle and a jack knife in extreme cases. Too much weight to far forward on the trailer will lift the front wheels of the towing vehicle and leave it very prone to understeer, dangerously so when braking, weight on the trailer goes forward and stops the towing vehicle leaning forward and reduces the amount of braking the front wheels can do before locking. Sorry to hi-jck the thread with tips on securing cars on trailers!I hope it helps someone. Edited March 8, 2010 by hylandmotorsport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slewthy Posted March 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2010 Hijack welcomed! You are right - I once transported a Citroen DS engine in a trailer and had the weight too far back because I didn't know otherwise. Nightmare! Still dont know how we made it back in one piece. I sold the engine and had it transported by the Pros(to Malta in the end!) Quote "Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit350 Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 Any help for that bit would be gratefully received. Don't want anyone to get a hernia though! just give me shout when you need a hand Quote The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. Friedrich Nietzsche find me on Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvis...mbers/espritguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bibs Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 How not to do it! Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. I will aim to respond to emails/PM's Mon-Fri 9-6 GMT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger 912 Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 When I need to transport any of my cars, I use a commercially made "Y"bar that I obtained many years ago. It is fully adjustable to fit any vehicle with the exception of the Lotus Super 7 as the wishbones are not strong enough. With the Y bar, I just use a trailer chevron board with lights, indicators etc. One problem with the Esprit is that the centre section of the Y bar is about 2 inches above the ground as I have had to make an extention to my tow bar to drop it by some 4 inches to tow the Esprit. I have towed in this manner with trips over 500 kilometres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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