Trailering Question

SRISER · 03-28-2004, 04:55 AM

I am moving from Northern Virginia (Bye NoVA gang...sniff sniff) to the Pacfic Northwest (hello Quelleians!...www.quelle911.com) this summer. I plan on trailering my car. It will be pulled by a Discovery on a UHAUL trailer.

The question is to put the car on front first or backwards. I am concerned about all of the weight on the trailer behind the trailers axles and causing a high polar moment of inertia when I brake or take a corner.

Can a 911 with a tail travel backwards without damage? The Disco is a pretty high boxy vehicle so it will block quite a bit of wind. Or should I take the tail off for transportation?

ttweed · ttweed's Garage

The key issue is tongue weight. The loaded trailer should have 10-15% of its weight on the tongue. Whether you should load the car tail first or not will depend on the axle position and weight distribution of the trailer.

The best thing to do will be to actually measure the tongue weight with your load in place. If you don't have a high capacity scale available to set the tongue down on and measure directly, go to a recycling center or moving and storage place with truck scales. Measure the total for the trailer while it is attached to your tow vehicle (with your tow rig wheels off the scales, however). Then unhitch the trailer and crank the front pad down onto the scale to measure the full weight of the trailer and load while unhitched. The difference in the two measurements is your tongue weight. Calculate the percentage of the total weight and reposition the load on the trailer as necessary. I would try to tow it front first if possible on an open trailer.

TT

304065 · 03-28-2004, 06:34 AM

Tom has it right. Just to amplify that, it depends on the trailer you are using. My trailex has the axle set at 66" from the back of the trailer, which is the magic position for a 911 with rear engine. Most other trailers have the axle set forward, because they are designed for a front engined car. So with a 911, you would load the car on backwards. I wouldn't think the tail is that big of a deal, we spin at high speeds all the time and it doesn't come flying up although your experience may vary.

10% tongue weight at the right ball height is your goal- you should be able to roll the car fore and aft a little to get the tongue weight right. Then you use different drawbars to get the ball height correct-- my trailer likes between 19-22".

Good luck!

s2per · s2per's Garage

Excellent advise above, but if you have to haul your 911 backwards like I did on a friend's 14' trailer years ago, it'll pull just fine. No need to remove the tail, just make sure it's latched securely.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

I have hauled mine cross-country on a u-haul trailer twice, both times, facing forward. You have to pull the car as far forward as possible to secure it. Since the engine is in the rear and the car is relatively short, it effectively centers most of the weight. The Uhaul trailers have a built-in, mechanical braking system to prevent problems.

SRISER · 03-28-2004, 09:24 AM

Excellent. Thanks guys.

becky'sdroptop · 03-28-2004, 10:30 AM

UHAUL trailers are prone to being JUNK - make sure you personally check the trailer bearings for looseness and sound (roughness when spun), check that the brake system is working properly, and, above all, check the tires for wear patterns, bulges, flat spots, etc. Also, do not let the in-duh-vidual at the UHAUL place connect the trailer plug to the vehicle. Check that the connections are compatible with your plug and that the trailer wiring isn't grounded out (I know of several people who have had extensive wiring damage from bad wiring on a UHAUL and lot attendants that are worse than clueless).

Just remember, the Discovery has a soft rear suspension compared to a leaf spring truck and a shorter wheel base. Also, it is your baby on the trailer and you are talking about a long haul. If you get any wag going from loose bearings or hitch play the Disco is not going to be a fun ride to handle and there is the possibility of really bad things happening. Proper tongue weight will keep most of this from happening, but not always.

Good luck and god speed.

03-28-2004, 11:25 AM

Sam,
It's sunny and 62 today!

SRISER · 03-28-2004, 05:28 PM

I will check the trailer closely...the Disco tho has a solid axle, leaf spring, with panhard rod suspension...it is very stiff...rated for 7,700 lbs towing...little confused (or uninformed) about your statement...

Mark...why do you tease me so? It's just wrong. WRONG I tell you.

becky'sdroptop · 03-31-2004, 05:50 AM

My mistake on the Discovery - I was thinking of a different manufacturer's SUV. 7700 pounds is a respectable towing capacity but, unless you are familiar with the braking and handling characteristics of the vehicle while in tow (after this trip, you will be intimately familiar), trailering can be an unnecessary "adventure" - and not necessarily a happy one.

Having always had 3/4 ton or better pickups and trucks to pull trailers with I do not consider most (not all) SUVs or less-than-full-size trucks as desirable tow vehicles. Did you know that UHAUL will not rent a trailer of any sort to be pulled by a Ford Explorer? I personally would add a bunch more vehicles to that list, but then I am a certified towing snob who happens to consider a gas-powered tow vehicle as the wrong tool for the job

Good luck on the trip. One good thing about UHAUL is that, being a national company, if you do have any trouble with the trailer (blown tire, brake problems), there will be a UHAUL not too far distant that can help you out.

Make sure to run the Discovery's rear tires at max sidewall pressure - that will keep the heat down and alleviate much of the squirm from towing a tag-along trailer.

porschenut · 03-31-2004, 05:57 AM

I have a Jeep Wrangler and U-haul rents trailers to me all the time. Why wouldn't they let an Explorer drag a trailer? I see regular cars pulling trailers all the time too.

mudman · 03-31-2004, 06:09 AM

Sam, one thing I would like to add: I tow a trailer(s) every day, and last year we had to rent a traler during the busy season when on of ours broke down. Our trailers have quad drums and brake well even with an 8000# + load. The trailer we rented (and I am pretty sure this will be the case for almost all rentals) had inertia triggered brakes. These take some getting used to and if not perfectly adjusted they will only apply force if you jump on the pedal in the Disco. Slow braking won't cause the trailer to help out with its brakes. My advice (if you will have the storage area at new res.) is to spend <$2000 on a trailer, brake control unit and tiedown stuff. You will be suprised at the use you will get out of the trailer other than moving/towing car. Also, in my area aluminum trailers are becoming popular, the wieght reduction wil keep your disco's trans happy! Good luck!

mudman · 03-31-2004, 06:11 AM

Dave, the trailering thing w/Explorers is a tire/rollover/liability thing.

-Jeremy

porschenut · 03-31-2004, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mudman
Dave, the trailering thing w/Explorers is a tire/rollover/liability thing.

-Jeremy

Ahhh. Thanks.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

I towed mine cross-country twice with a 6-cyl toyota 4-runner with auto. trans...tough pulling over the mountains...mostly because the older uhaul car haulers are very heavy...guess they are made for abuse. It actually weighed more than my Porsche. If you get a newer one, they are a lot lighter. It would probably be worth the effort to shop around for a dealer that had the newer ones.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I have a cross-country move coming up too, but had planned to sell my 4 cyl., gutless Mazda truck beforehand and tow my 993 with a U-Haul truck. Will they rent me a truck and a trailer? Anyone ever do this?

mudman · 03-31-2004, 07:07 AM

Richard, yup
My neighbor just moved his parents back to his house, and a 20' box truck and 16' tandem axle trailer were in the drive all weekend. They both had 'UHAUL" plastered all over.
-Jeremy

Groesbeck Hurricane · 03-31-2004, 07:09 AM

Mudman is right on. Splurge for the aluminum car hauler and have the Discovery properly equipped with electric brakes. The Discovery is designed to tow, you just need to add the brakes as a safety item. The trailer will come in more handy than you could guess! All your friends will be jealous, you'll be invited to parties, girls will honk at you as you go by with the trailer, ... :-)

Dantilla · 03-31-2004, 07:13 AM

I tow the 911 facing forward on my tandem-axle flatbed trailer.

While weighing actual tongue weight is a good idea, I use a different way. I know the rear ride height of my truck when empty. I pull the car forward until the rear springs start to compress. Then I know I have positive tongue weight. Not too scientific, but it's quick & easy.

becky'sdroptop · 03-31-2004, 09:19 AM

With all of the different things I put on my gooseneck I do as Dantilla does - watch for the truck to start squatting. If the springs are loaded but not overloaded the spring compression and rebound is in the linear portion of their rate and is much more predictable.

As for rented trailers being pulled by whatever - I have seen a Jeep Cherokee pulling a mini-backhoe with the tongue almost gouging the pavement. Not what I want to see behind me in traffic - bet that his insurance agent didn't know about it.

Lots of liability issues with towing stuff. You mess up and your insurance company will help the DOT pile on kindling around the stake the will burn you on. Talk to a hot-shotter about the various state DOT agencies and what they can (and will) do to you if they think you are unsafe.