Pulling a Fusie home this weekend...

[MrMoparCHP]

The average american car of this era was about 60/40, in my experience I needed to put the car till the front bumped something just to get it to fit. Now if you have a long trailer, center the car over the wheels and you probably be fine.


Alan

 

[polara71]

Just load it up and run with it. If you have that much room on the trailer th hen Chris is right

 

[azblackhemi]

Level trailer, 3 hour drive from Kingman AZ to home 70-80 MPH and didn't even knew it was back there. Never had problem even with big Chrysler's and Imperials.

 

[commando1]

Level trailer, 3 hour drive from Kingman AZ to home 70-80 MPH and didn't even knew it was back there. Never had problem even with big Chrysler's and Imperials.

I would have been tempted to back the car onto the trailer. Get the engine sitting closer to the trailer axles.

 

[azblackhemi]

I would have been tempted to back the car onto the trailer. Get the engine sitting closer to the trailer axles.

I'm pulling it with an 04 Dodge 3500 Cummins diesel long bed so tongue weight isn't a problem. Frontwards, backwards doesn't mater as long as the trailer is level.

 

[commando1]

I'm pulling it with an 04 Dodge 3500 Cummins diesel long bed so tongue weight isn't a problem. Frontwards, backwards doesn't mater as long as the trailer is level.

I still have semi on the brain and see everything in terms of 5 axles and 80,000 lbs. GVW. Like said above, I'm probably over thinking it too.

 

[tallhair]

I would have been tempted to back the car onto the trailer. Get the engine sitting closer to the trailer axles.

Recipe for disaster if pulling over hills ... not enough tongue weight. Especially for a big block car.

Maybe not for a long car hauler trailer but certainly for shorter utility trailers and the like from U-haul

 

[mr. fix it]

Thanks for the trailing tips here. I plan to nose it on front end first.

 

[commando1]

Recipe for disaster if pulling over hills ... not enough tongue weight. Especially for a big block car.

Maybe not for a long car hauler trailer but certainly for shorter utility trailers and the like from U-haul

Gotta disagree with ya.
The center of gravity of the cargo goes over the trailer axle.

 

[tallhair]

View attachment 83418

Gotta disagree with ya.
The center of gravity of the cargo goes over the trailer axle.

I agree. I was just warning against having more weight behind the axle than over it or in front ... bad juju

 

[commando1]

I agree. I was just warning against having more weight behind the axle than over it or in front ... bad juju

Yes. Ask the donkey. lol

 

[300rag]

Backed in and towed beautifully for a cross-country return trip., and I still had about 10% tongue weight (850 lbs).

 

[MrMoparCHP]

I'm not a fan of trailers like Chris'. I like to see the wheels midway on the deck, The added length for the tongue and the typical distribution of most cars puts the right amount of weight on the hitch. I'm sure that trailer tows great, the wheels being further back reduce the chance of fishtailing but you need to muscle it with a bigger truck, not sure I'd want that trailer behind a F-150.

I think equally important is the hitch ball offset, not all trailers have the same ball height, the proper ball mount offset is needed for the tow vehicle trailer combo. Trailer should be level, they sell the ball mounts in different offsets, I have three so I'm covered depending on the trailer.

I guess I'm just overly cautious when towing. After I'm loaded I go around the block with left and right turns, check everything, after 40-50 miles stop and check everything and again at every stop for gas or food and again when leaving motels.


Alan

 

[commando1]

I'd want that trailer behind a F-150.

Depends.
I have an F150 V6.
I've towed everything from Formals to Power Wagons locally using 20' car cariers to U-hauls.
45 mph on secondary roads is it's max.
Above that it definitely gets scary.
Below that, you're a portable road block.
Long haul? No way.

 

[bluefury361]

Backed in and towed beautifully for a cross-country return trip., and I still had about 10% tongue weight (850 lbs).

View attachment 83419

Loading and towing a car, (with the engine in it), backwards is something I have done in the past but certainly would not recommend for anyone with just basic towing experience. The trailer can become very unstable at highway speeds, even with adequate tongue weight. Once the sway starts your pretty much along for the ride.

 

[detmatt]

I used a buddies trailer when I brought the Imp home and had I known how badly it was going to tow I would have pulled the tool box off so I could have gotten it further towards the front. I'm glad it was a relatively short trip.

 

[300rag]

Loading and towing a car, (with the engine in it), backwards is something I have done in the past but certainly would not recommend for anyone with just basic towing experience. The trailer can become very unstable at highway speeds, even with adequate tongue weight. Once the sway starts your pretty much along for the ride.

As you can see, when put in nose first, the forward weight bias is substantial on my trailer. Tail first gives pretty good distribution for a C body. In both instances, the car was about 12" from the rear door. I would really have liked my trailer axles to be about a foot farther forward, but that would have made the tongue weight too low on an empty trailer.
Now back to Tom's regularly scheduled programming.

 

[Dobalovr]

As you can see, when put in nose first, the forward weight bias is substantial on my trailer. Tail first gives pretty good distribution for a C body. In both instances, the car was about 12" from the rear door. I would really have liked my trailer axles to be about a foot farther forward, but that would have made the tongue weight too low on an empty trailer.
Now back to Tom's regularly scheduled programming.

View attachment 83424

We really need to talk about a trailer rental contract you and me sir.....;)

 

[commando1]

Were those access doors located specifically for C-bodies?

 

[300rag]

Were those access doors located specifically for C-bodies?

Yes. I measured up the car and gave the specs to the dealer. I gave him the centreline for the back wheel opening, the rear edge for the escape hatch (for a two door) and the centre for the front wheel. I wanted to use wheel straps and had no desire to crawl around. The full length E-track is a godsend. The back bumper is 12" from the ramp, and I have a little over 2' in front of the car. I waited 8 weeks for it to be built and shipped.