Trailering a 911

[Jackson63]

New Porsche owner here. I bought a 1978 911SC Targa that I need to trailer home. Should I put it on the trailer backwards because of the engine weight?

[DLK]

Yes!

Check the Uhaul video on YouTube About weight distribution on a trailer

[76FJ55]

I would say it is dependent on you towing setup. the critical issue is weight distribution of the trailer. if it is long enough or the axles are far enough to the rear you can load it front first towards the forward end of the trailer. If it is a short trailer, it may dictate that you load it rear first in order to achieve the correct tongue weight.

[LUFTKUL]

If the Targa has a wing/spoiler I wouldn't load it backwards. The Uhaul or Penske trailers are heavy duty trailers and I wouldn't worry about the weight bias with the engine in the rear, but I would pull the 911 as far forward as possible. If you are using a lightweight trailer and/or undersized tow vehicle then you may have some tail wagging the dog issues.

[David]

The center of gravity is pretty close to the square jacking hole in the side. Place the car forward or backwards depending on where the hole lines up with the centerline of the trailer axles. I don't know the exact location, but a foot or two in front of the axle center line should work.

[175K911]

It depends on the trailer, tow vehicle and hitch system. In 30 years of trailering 911's I have never loaded backwards. I've seen people load a 911 onto a rented UHaul trailer backwards and end up with a dangerous even illegal amount of tongue weight. Unfortunately the inverse of that is not enough tongue weight if not loaded properly.

Jackson- if you have a sufficient trailer that you can move the car fore and aft, get the center of gravity of the trailer (roughly where the jack mount is on the rocker) just slightly forward of the center between both axles.

On the old aluminum R&R open trailer I had, this was about 1 foot forward of that center between the 2 axles, or roughly a foot behind the centerline of the front trailer axle. Total weight of car and trailer on a certified scale was just over 3600# (2600 car, 950 trailer and 50# of miscellaneous tie downs and straps), with a tongue weight of 300# or 8%. Putting the car on backwards changed the tongue weight to more than 700# or 19% which is way beyond the safe weight and would void any manufacturer's specs.

[SalParadise]

I hauled my 911 2000 miles - I decided to load backwards. I had no choice as it was parked in a garage nose first with an engine placed in (not running, not hooked up). It was actually the best way to do it, as again, most cars would have the engine in the front. The back hangs over the end a little bit, but the trailer seemed very well balanced with the engine at the front near the hitch. I would do it again this way if it were running.

[wachuko]

I load it normally... back to the rear...





The only one I did with the back towards the front was the 1981 project and that was just laziness on our part since we did not wanted to turn it around as we took it out of the PO garage...



And be sure you check those securing straps often (do not ask me how I know!!!) I would take additional straps and secure it using those as well.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by 175K911

It depends on the trailer, tow vehicle and hitch system. In 30 years of trailering 911's I have never loaded backwards. I've seen people load a 911 onto a rented UHaul trailer backwards and end up with a dangerous even illegal amount of tongue weight.

How could this really, ever be? It's impossible. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Of course it depends on the trailer, tow vehicle, and hitch. But even using a SUV to tow a UHaul trailer with a 911 on it loaded backwards, it would be perfectly fine.

Most, if not nearly all car engines are in the front. People pull their cars up with the engines in the front near the tongue. Most engines certainly weigh more than a 911 engine which weighs what, 500 pounds? Most people with UHaul car trailers always pull on frontwards.

This is what UHaul states:

"U-Haul auto transport trailers are car trailers that are ideal for long-distance moves and have a maximum load towing capacity of 5,290 lbs. Our auto transport trailers are equipped with an easy-access loading ramp, security chains and ratchet-operated tire straps to transport your car safely and securely with ease. All U-Haul trailers and towing are wired with a 4-way flat light connector. Must weigh at least 3,500 lbs. (curb weight), and must equal or exceed 80% of the combined weight of the trailer (2,210 lbs.) and the vehicle being towed (up to 5,290 lbs.)."

So unless you are hauling a Porsche 911 with a Porsche 911, I don't see it. Most people have at least a SUV or the UHaul truck to begin with.

No way someone puts a 2500-pound 911 on one of these UHaul trailers, back-wise, and it goes over the tongue weight of a medium-sized 3500 pound SUV pulled on forward.

Only way would be someone with some homemade or Harbor Freight trailer hooked to their Honda or Toyota sedan hauling a 911. This I would not do any anyway, front or backwards.

[DLK]

I think there is a distinct difference between US and European trailers. The ones you guys use are HUGE! The ones we use over here are a lot smaler.

You have the possibility to load a relatively small car all the way to the front of the trailer and get enough weight over the axle of the trailer for it to be OK to load it facing the front.

Here in Europe, with much smaller trailers I have seen more than a few examples of trailers jackknifing with a 911 loaded facing forward.

My conclusion would be that you have to have enough weight on the trailer hitch, if the trailer is long enough to get enough weight to the front you are OK. if it's not, please load it backwards.

I own two 911's (1994 993 and 1987 3.2) and both got home safely loaded with the rear first on a normal trailer.

[175K911]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

How could this really, ever be? It's impossible. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Of course it depends on the trailer, tow vehicle, and hitch. But even using a SUV to tow a UHaul trailer with a 911 on it loaded backwards, it would be perfectly fine.

Most, if not nearly all car engines are in the front. People pull their cars up with the engines in the front near the tongue. Most engines certainly weigh more than a 911 engine which weighs what, 500 pounds? Most people with UHaul car trailers always pull on frontwards.

This is what UHaul states:

"U-Haul auto transport trailers are car trailers that are ideal for long-distance moves and have a maximum load towing capacity of 5,290 lbs. Our auto transport trailers are equipped with an easy-access loading ramp, security chains and ratchet-operated tire straps to transport your car safely and securely with ease. All U-Haul trailers and towing are wired with a 4-way flat light connector. Must weigh at least 3,500 lbs. (curb weight), and must equal or exceed 80% of the combined weight of the trailer (2,210 lbs.) and the vehicle being towed (up to 5,290 lbs.)."

So unless you are hauling a Porsche 911 with a Porsche 911, I don't see it. Most people have at least a SUV or the UHaul truck to begin with.

No way someone puts a 2500-pound 911 on one of these UHaul trailers, back-wise, and it goes over the tongue weight of a medium-sized 3500 pound SUV pulled on forward.

Only way would be someone with some homemade or Harbor Freight trailer hooked to their Honda or Toyota sedan hauling a 911. This I would not do any anyway, front or backwards.

No worries, we each have our own preferences. I've towed probably 70,000-80,000 miles with a 911 on or in a trailer. Just sharing my own experiences. I've towed with everything from a Chevy Caprice station wagon (70's) to 3/4 ton turbodiesel pickups. Most recently with a BMW X5 (factory hitch), GMC Yukon Denali, and two Jeep Grand Cherokees- Hemi and Turbodiesel.

Much of towing is what the vehicle is rated for. BMW X5 with FACTORY hitch and a brake controller was rated to 6,000# and 500# tongue weight but only with a weight distributing hitch. Dead weight it's limited to 3500 and 300 as I recall. My current Grand Cherokee is 7,200 and 700 with factory tow package and weight distributing hitch. No factory tow package (not just as hitch) or WD hitch and it's 3500 and 300. These are all US specs. Why is an Audi Q7 rated at 6,600# in the US but 7716 in Europe?

Sorry but I get sensitive with towing and rental trailers. My sister lost a close friend who was killed because of equipment failure due to improperly spec'd hitch and trailer tongue weight. She had an aftermarket hitch put on her SUV by the rental place, hooked up a rental trailer (not going to say the name but U can figure it out), loaded a car onto the trailer, was told that she was good to go. She was towing 5000#, hitch was rated for 3500 dead weight (no weight distributing) and 350 tongue weight. Hitch broke at 65mph late at night in the rain, she rolled down an embankment and was killed. Investigation showed that the tongue weight on the trailer was in excess of 700# so neither Ford nor the hitch manufacturer were determined to have any liability.

Yes people pull trailers all the time successfully. Maybe I'm overly sensitive, but I never pull now without a weight distributing hitch, 4 wheel trailer brakes, Class 3 receiver minimum, 2-5/16" ball, factory tow packages, and 1,000# of margin between towed load and rating. But that's just me.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by 175K911

Sorry but I get sensitive with towing and rental trailers. My sister lost a close friend who was killed because of equipment failure due to improperly spec'd hitch and trailer tongue weight. She had an aftermarket hitch put on her SUV by the rental place, hooked up a rental trailer (not going to say the name but U can figure it out), loaded a car onto the trailer, was told that she was good to go. She was towing 5000#, hitch was rated for 3500 dead weight (no weight distributing) and 350 tongue weight. Hitch broke at 65mph late at night in the rain, she rolled down an embankment and was killed. Investigation showed that the tongue weight on the trailer was in excess of 700# so neither Ford nor the hitch manufacturer were determined to have any liability.

Yes people pull trailers all the time successfully. Maybe I'm overly sensitive, but I never pull now without a weight distributing hitch, 4 wheel trailer brakes, Class 3 receiver minimum, 2-5/16" ball, factory tow packages, and 1,000# of margin between towed load and rating. But that's just me.

Ed I completely understand, and it's a very sad story. It always amazes me that all you need is a credit card and a driver's license to rent a Penske 26-foot truck and a trailer. It can be challenging to drive for even me. Amazing that they hook a trailer to your car and only check the signal lights -- when they should be checking everything you said, not to mention the ball, frame, and bolts of the hitch. Sad story.

I was once in Mongolia of all places when a trailer broke loose from a Russian UAZ jeep - and the pendulum effect tore us off the road.

I would just be safe, and do whatever you need to to be safe, which Ed's point is the most important. I would probably drive it straight on to if I could have. If it ran. If it will ever run.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Just a tip on dual axle trailer center of gravity for SAFE towing, center the rear axle of the 911 with the rear axle of the trailer.

[MichiganMat]

I always come back to this video when I think of towing my 911:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2fkOVHAC8Q

[Bill Douglas]

And don't leave it in gear. The rocking back and forward wears the oil off the gears, then starts to wear the metal.

[Bill Verburg]

Don't know about rental trailers but mine is set up for 911. The CoM of the car is just ahead of the wheels, right where the older cars had the t-bar cover. That wants to be positioned between the 2 trailer axles

[evan9eleven]

See the video link above. You guys are either worried about overloading or underloading the tongue. BOTH of those things are dangerous. As someone wrote at the top of this thread, the weight distribution is key.

Where I live, you need a special drivers licence to pull a trailer over 750kg, requiring a class and a short driving test, part of which is about how you load the trailer. So to haul a 911 you're going to use a double axle trailer and have the correct licence. And the tongue weight? about 100kg give or take depending on the trailer, this information is on the trailer's registration documents. I wouldn't really want 300lbs plus of tongue weight regardless of the tow vehicle. I want my trailer loaded evenly under all circumstances, end of story, 'cause thats what counts.

So at the end of the day, the bottom line is that the load must be centered over the trailer's wheels. If the load has an engine on one end, then it needs to located accordingly. Front or back will depend on the trailer itself and where the car can be placed for even distribution. My $.02

[evan9eleven]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

Don't know about rental trailers but mine is set up for 911. The CoM of the car is just ahead of the wheels, right where the older cars had the t-bar cover. That wants to be positioned between the 2 trailer axles

Pic worth 1000 words Bill, that sums it up. Weight evenly distributed over the wheels.

[VFR750]

I have towed my 911 backwards since 2008, and about 50+ times, 20,000 miles ?? since then.

Yes, tongue weight is the reason. I measured it and found towing backwards worked best

This is based on the trailer design. I should have ordered it with the axels mounted farther forward. So instead I back the car on to a fixed point I had previously marked when I measured tongue weight at 500 lbs which is ~ 12% the total trailer weight

Yes, I have a wing. It has not blown off.

Yes, I tape the exhaust pipe so dirt doesn’t blow into the one or more open exhaust valve

Yes I tape the vent holes over the top of the rear window to keep rain out.

Yes, I fold the mirror forward.

But, I am glad the trailer has the axels where they are. Had to recover a broken Hyundai Sonata. Drove it straight on, and was a nice easy tow for ~400 miles.

[175K911]

Here’s a really good pic for reference- one of Mark White’s Accumoto cars ready to tow 1,000 miles to a race. Note the jack cover is about centered between the axles, but that’s because he has about 500# of tires and tire rack up front. Otherwise the car would be slightly forward, about 2ft.