Sort of a towing question here. I'm moving some Triumph sport cars in about a week. I'm basically dropping off a TR7 (about 2500lbs) 150 miles away and picking up a Spitfire (about 2000lbs). I have a set of 4 nylon racheted cable straps that are rated for 800lbs each.

My question is, are these strong enough? The straps aren't holding the weight of the cars but a combination of the aerodynamic load and the "bounce" load of the trailer as it rolls over the pavement. I have no clue how to come up with a number for those loads.

Thanks

I'd go bigger myself. Depending on rolling resistance and how fast your stopping (panic situation), you could easily exceed the capacity of the car. The straps I use in the toybox are rated at twice the car weight.

Yep 800# straps are good for go carts and motorcycles, not cars. Bigger in this case is better.

i would get heavier straps

Home Depot has cheap rachet straps that will do the job.

Are you quoting the max holding strength or breaking strength of the straps. I'm not sure what it is but the breaking strength is usually a set % above max holding.

I agree with the rest, find yourself some min. 5,000# breaking strength straps and feel secure.

Depends on how many of those straps you have and how you use them. Still, you are taking a chance. If one or two of them "slip" or loosen up in the breeze, can the rest still do the job?

I'll go with everyone else's advise. Get the right tool for the job and never have to wonder or worry about it again.

RF

with the torsional loads you put on it starting and stopping, i would not do it. i got the 3 inch straps in a set of two from costco or sams,same price for one at walmart that carry a high load rating and the hooks and ratchet system are beefier as well. I used one at the front and one at the rear, probably will get another set in the future

I'll even go one step higher up on the safety chain and suggest chains! We used to tow around a 2100 lb race car with 6k lb straps at each corner, then at one race a fellow competitor told us this story of some unfortunate folks that got hit head on and tho they survived the initial crash, they were both decapitated by the race car off the trailer, that after breaking the straps, vaulted through the back of their pick up's cab. Ugh :(

By the next race we had HD chains for the rear axle corners! We used the ratchets up front still to tighten the whole rig up. This may sound extreme for the project you have in mind, but we were towing all the time, up to a couple thousand miles a weekend -- so the safety vs. risk factor for us was important.

If you do end up going with straps, you might consider some safety chains, just in case (they don't have to be super tight to help...

Good luck with whatever you decide on.

:eek: get more straps or chains ASAP
There is no such thing as over straping or tie downs ! if you get the load moved and you don't loose it, You did the job right.
But -:t if you loose it in a panic stop or something, that's will SCensoredK big time!
:grd: :grd:

Thanks, I saw the straps at Home Depot and will pick up a set of 4. I used the chains that came with the trailer when I hauled the Spitfire out to the shop and the problem I had was the tie points on the Spitfire frame make it very difficult to get the chain fed threw and tight. I was 1/2 way there before the chain was actually tight, stopping every 10-15 miles to adjust it. I was hoping the straps would solve this problem by feeding through the frame locations freely during the initial ratcheting.

The rental trailer comes with a chain so I'll use it as a backup for the straps to keep the car from launching if the straps fail during a panic stop.

I also recommend beefier straps, mine are 10,000 lb rated "DOT" straps which I bought at Sams or BJ's or somewhere like that. I much prefer straps because they give just a little and are nicer for hauling the car or tractor. Can't beat the security of good chains but my straps are overkill for my needs.
Be very careful about wrapping a strap over anything that could wear through or cut the webbing. I only use the hooks at the ends when I secure a car or tractor. You might have to be creative with a loop of chain or something to allow you to hook your strap to your cars. Keep that in mind when you buy your straps. There is a lot of variety in the shape, size, and style of those end hooks.
My two cents, and then some.
Jim