[Shop-talk] which tie down best for car hauler

[David Hillman]

On Sun, 15 Jul 2012, Mullen wrote:
> The only time I've even known someone who preferred to tie down the chassis
> was an old buddy with a formula race car.  The shocks were way too expensive
> (and hard to get) to let it bounce around on the suspension.

    There seem to be two different schools of thought on shocks.  One says 
they wear excessively while the towed car bounces around on the trailer. 
The other says they wear excessively being put under load when the chassis 
is tied down.

    I don't know which is right, or maybe both are.  I don't care... for 
me, I keep it simple.  What is the method least likely to cause the 
trailer to acquire a mind of its own?  If I'm transporting a ton or so of 
car amongst people who can hire lawyers, that's my only concern.  Even if 
it meant annual shock replacements, I'd still do it the safest way 
possible, and I think that's securing the load.  Basically, it's a 
less-severe case of the same reason you never move a liquid tank 
while half-full.  When that mass sloshes over to one side, you are along 
for the ride.

--
  David Hillman