Trailering an air-cooled Porsche - backwards?

[SilberUrS6]

At some point in the future, I will be relocating. While it might be great fun to drive to the new location, I doubt Mrs. Eric will look on that particular use of time with anything resembling patience.

So, probably a trailer will be involved, and a rented one at that. I notice UHaul rents car trailers, so I went and looked. (I'm a planner).

OK, they look like they'll work fine, EXCEPT.

The angle the ramps make with the ground is a poor fit for my low spoiler height. I could embrace my inner McGyver and rig up something with some wood to reduce the angles.

Or, I could back the car up the ramps instead. Hmmm, what could go wrong?

[insert your tale of disaster here]

As a P.S., where would you attach the tie downs on the car? Torsion bar, somehow?

[1QuickS]

I backed my 911 onto a U-Haul to tow it from Dallas to Chico, CA. Check the tongue weight to be sure you have 10% of vehicle weight (approx 240 pounds) on the tongue to assure stable towing.

You may need to adjust position of car on trailer to get the tongue weight you need but the long trailer length and rearward weight bias of the 911 makes this easy.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by 1QuickS

I backed my 911 onto a U-Haul to tow it from Dallas to Chico, CA. Check the tongue weight to be sure you have 10% of vehicle weight (approx 240 pounds) on the tongue to assure stable towing.

You may need to adjust position of car on trailer to get the tongue weight you need but the long trailer length and rearward weight bias of the 911 makes this easy.

Excellent! That's what I wanted to hear, thanks!

Where on the car did you attach the tie downs?

[porsche930dude]

there has been stories of the spoiler being ripped off. doesnt work so well in that direction

[Scott Douglas]

What size truck you going to be towing with?
Big box truck from U-Haul?
Or pickup truck?

This worked for my buddy and I when he bought the Carrera from my brother. Took some work to get it on the trailer but towed perfectly.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

there has been stories of the spoiler being ripped off. doesnt work so well in that direction

I have a naked butt.

Ummm, on my CAR. No rear spoiler. Only chin spoiler.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

What size truck you going to be towing with?
Big box truck from U-Haul?
Or pickup truck?

This worked for my buddy and I when he bought the Carrera from my brother. Took some work to get it on the trailer but towed perfectly.

Pickup truck. Probably.

Thanks for the tie-down pics. That's helpful.

The picture shows me something else interesting - if the car is loaded on the trailer to give a ~200lb tongue weight, how the hell do you open the door to get out of the car? Or do you use the window, "Dukes of Hazzard" style?

[dipso]

When mine is on a flatbed it gets tied down through the spokes on the Fuchs.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by dipso

When mine is on a flatbed it gets tied down through the spokes on the Fuchs.

Another excellent suggestion. Thank you.

[Scott Douglas]

SUNROOF!





Just kidding.
I think the door actually cleared the fender. My brother was driving and I really don't remember. I don't think he used the window though.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

SUNROOF!





Just kidding.
I think the door actually cleared the fender. My brother was driving and I really don't remember. I don't think he used the window though.

LOL, nice.

[Scott Douglas]

Checked my other pics and it looks like the fenders were quick release. Couple of bolts and a bungee.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Checked my other pics and it looks like the fenders were quick release. Couple of bolts and a bungee.

Wow, now that's a nice touch. I didn't notice when I looked at UHaul about that, so I will look more closerer when the time comes.

Thanks for the info, I very much appreciate it.

[surfdwn]

I recently moved two Porsches with a U-haul. The '70 911 did not have any problem, but the '99 Boxster did. The tire guides on a U-haul stick up and are ready to catch anything low. I ripped off the return A/C line loading it ( a $300 mistake). Loading and unloading on a driveway slope helps. It has been a struggle to get some of my lowered 911's from the past on one of these trailers.

Having a spotter is a must to look out for interferences.

David Nolen
'70 911T
'99 Boxster

[rattlsnak]

its actually better to tow a 911 backwards. Several stories of trailers jack-knifing because of too much weight aft of the trailer axles.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by surfdwn

I recently moved two Porsches with a U-haul. The '70 911 did not have any problem, but the '99 Boxster did. The tire guides on a U-haul stick up and are ready to catch anything low. I ripped off the return A/C line loading it ( a $300 mistake). Loading and unloading on a driveway slope helps. It has been a struggle to get some of my lowered 911's from the past on one of these trailers.

Having a spotter is a must to look out for interferences.

David Nolen
'70 911T
'99 Boxster

Another excellent suggestion. Thank you.

[mreid]

I just towed my 84 from PA to TX. You have to put the wheels (front or rear) against the front wheel ramps of the trailer. No other position works with a Uhaul trailer. The wheel tie downs are built in and have ratchets to secure it tight (check them when you pick it up. Some prior jackrabbit cut one on the straps and then pushed the stub into the ratchet. I didn't notice until I got the trailer home). The fenders are hinged and swing down to provide plenty of room (lower them before you put the car on the trailer!). The trailer hitch has a built in trailer brake making towing a breeze with my ML63. Good luck Jed Clampet!

Just prior to load up and hopefully the last snow ever!

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by mreid

I just towed my 84 from PA to TX. You have to put the wheels (front or rear) against the front wheel ramps of the trailer. No other position works with a Uhaul trailer. The wheel tie downs are built in and have ratchets to secure it tight (check them when you pick it up. Some prior jackrabbit cut one on the straps and then pushed the stub into the ratchet. I didn't notice until I got the trailer home). The fenders are hinged and swing down to provide plenty of room (lower them before you put the car on the trailer!). The trailer hitch has a built in trailer brake making towing a breeze with my ML63. Good luck Jed Clampet!

Just prior to load up and hopefully the last snow ever!

I see about the position of the car on the trailer. I'll be using a Ford F150 for the towing, so the load will actually be less than the boat that I normally tow. But the weight distribution might be a problem. But dang, PA to TX is a long way, and my tow will be about 350 (or so) miles. Hardly anything.

[lin7310948]

i would find a suitable depression to place the trailer wheels and drive up in the normal position. the tiedowns are placed for this orientation. also the passenger side fender cover on the trailer are made to remove to allow the car door to be opened to enter and exit if necessary. not a porsche but just towed this on a uhaul trailer about 500 miles at interstate speeds with no problems!

[theclaw]

I just towed mine back and forth to Gingerman. I drove nose in first. That puts the weight of the motor closer to the axles. It towed fine. I did have to cut two 4ft lengths of 2x10s to make the transition to the ramps at an angle that wouldn't hit the front spoiler.

There are two stops at the front of the bed of the trailer that are too high. I had to remove those (an impact wrench helps) so the spoiler could clear them. Also, the ratchet for the tie downs is also too high. You need to slide that out of the way when you drive up. Slide it inside the front valence when the car is loaded. My car is lowered so I once tied down, the ratched didn't clear the spoiler. I just jacked it up from the side an inch or two, released the ratchet and was in business.

I did have an near miss though. I was unloading downhill, did not have the ramps out and did not have the parking brake set. as I released the second ratchet the car rolled back. Luckily it stopped on the metal rod that holds the tie downs. I could have had a real problem.

Jeff