Towing A Car Without A Windshield

[LocuMob]

So I'm going to tow back a car without a windshield, what's the best way to tow it? I plan on putting a tarp over the opening, should I use some cardboard behind it? I can get some thicker pieces at work, I'm just wondering if that will make any difference. Should a crack the windows so there isn't as much pressure building up? I've got to go 1835 miles and don't want to screw anything up. Thanks in advance!

 

[75LandYacht]

IMO. If it’s only missing the windshield, you could load the car backwards on the trailer with the windshield facing the rear that would alleviate the pressure issue and you could still Tarp the car and should be OK. Or if you have to tow it facing forward I would open some of the other windows to relieve the pressure as you stated. And you should still be able to Tarp it with minimal flapping..

 

[66/440]

Don't tow it backwards if it still has the drive train in it! You will not have enough tongue weight on the trailer and the trailer will dog walk. Put something behind the plastic to support it, 1/4 plywood or a piece of masonite, this time of the year you are going to drive through rain somewhere so covering the windshield is imperative.
Disregard all above if it is just a parts car and you are flat towing it 1800 miles then you are a bad *** and don't need advice from anybody!!

 

[LocuMob]

It's got the drivetrain in it, so it's going on as it normally would.

 

[66/440]

You might consider using shrink/stretch wrap like they use for shipping. Get one of the 2ft wide rolls, open both front doors and start wrapping. Finish it off by using duct tape on the edges.

 

[LocuMob]

You might consider using shrink/stretch wrap like they use for shipping. Get one of the 2ft wide rolls, open both front doors and start wrapping. Finish it off by using duct tape on the edges.

Too bad I can't bring my spare windshield with me.

 

[66/440]

Do you already have a replacement windshield for it? If you do then you could always take it with you and duct tape it in place if you don't want to permanently install it yet. If you don't have one and are going to have to purchase one I doubt it would be any cheaper than in the LA area.

 

[66/440]

Too bad I can't bring my spare windshield with me.

Just saw this after my post. Why cant you take it??
PVC pipe & fittings + closed cell foam insulation ,make a great glass rack.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Just cut some cardboard (maybe two layers) like a windshield and tape it down good. Paneling might be better.
I.d run a couple ratchet straps across it into the interior hooking to itself.
I tapped a 67 Barracuda front and rear windows in, no straps on front, just the rear, no door glass. No problems over 200 miles haul.

Alan

 

[LocuMob]

Just saw this after my post. Why cant you take it??
PVC pipe & fittings + closed cell foam insulation ,make a great glass rack.

I might have a full cabin, small box with no tailgate. But if I could get one in LA, I could bring it up with me. The one I have is a "just in case" windshield, like if the car was closer and no passengers.

 

[cantflip]

I might have a full cabin, small box with no tailgate. But if I could get one in LA, I could bring it up with me. The one I have is a "just in case" windshield, like if the car was closer and no passengers.

Just cut some cardboard (maybe two layers) like a windshield and tape it down good. Paneling might be better.
I.d run a couple ratchet straps across it into the interior hooking to itself.
I tapped a 67 Barracuda front and rear windows in, no straps on front, just the rear, no door glass. No problems over 200 miles haul.

Alan

You might consider using shrink/stretch wrap like they use for shipping. Get one of the 2ft wide rolls, open both front doors and start wrapping. Finish it off by using duct tape on the edges.

All good ideas. Why not combine them? Load the car, closed windows, cover the windshield cavity with stiff cardboard or lauan and then use a big roll of shrink wrap to hold it all in place and provide weather protection... once loaded, you can wrap half the car if you like and a little packing tape will let you hold down the edges of the wrap to minimize the air getting under it.

It should be easy to do rest stop repairs to the wrap along the way too... 1800 highway miles is asking a lot of any cheap tarp job... but I bet you could get most of what you need from the loading dock at work.

I'm also a big fan of duct tape...

 

[commando1]

Tarp

 

[65 500]

A couple of thoughts:

Those hardware store tarps are not water proof.

If you just lay a windshield in the opening with nothing to keep the edges from coming in contact with the metal, I'll bet you end up with a busted windshield. If you happen to have one that is already broken(or am I the only person that keeps a broken windshield?) you can duct tape it in place, or use some heavy cardboard, or some thin plywood as mentioned, but if you use cardboard I would definitely stretch some heavy plastic over it.

Whatever you decide to use try to keep it tight so that it doesn't flap or it will probably be trashed pretty fast.

Good luck.

 

[66/440]

I might have a full cabin, small box with no tailgate. But if I could get one in LA, I could bring it up with me. The one I have is a "just in case" windshield, like if the car was closer and no passengers.

Your seller may have already checked around for a windshield and have a line on someone you can buy from locally and could possibly install it before you arrive. If the price is right, calculating in the PIA factor for trying to tow without the windshield it might be worth it and preserves the interior. Also does seller have the original gasket, if so is it good enough to reuse?

 

[66/440]

BTW, don't know how often you have made that drive on I70 this time of the year but pulling a tandem trailer with a car on it in western Colorado can be an E ticket ride that I have become too old for. 40 is longer but a lot less weather and grades. JMHO

 

[LocuMob]

E ticket?

 

[66/440]

E ticket?

E ticket - Wikipedia

In 1983, astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, when asked about the experience of a Space Shuttle launch, famously described it by saying: "Ever been to Disneyland? …That was definitely an E ticket!"

 

[1978 NYB]

I would not put a vehicle on a trailer backwards that still has the drivetrain it it. I would go to a marine storage place and get some of that white shrink wrap that they use on boats. I have seen thousands of boats being towed on the East Coast and never seen a boat with that white shrink wrap coming apart or flapping in the wind.

 

[66/440]

I would not put a vehicle on a trailer backwards that still has the drivetrain it it. I would go to a marine storage place and get some of that white shrink wrap that they use on boats. I have seen thousands of boats being towed on the East Coast and never seen a boat with that white shrink wrap coming apart or flapping in the wind.

I agree with the white shrink wrap. There a lot of the insurance salvage yards that use this product on the higher end salvage but, it is not cheap to buy the equipment in the first place and most places charge $250 to $400 to do the job professionally. I did not think he wanted to spend that kind of $. But then maybe it is just me being cheap

 

[1978 NYB]

I agree with the white shrink wrap. There a lot of the insurance salvage yards that use this product on the higher end salvage but, it is not cheap to buy the equipment in the first place and most places charge $250 to $400 to do the job professionally. I did not think he wanted to spend that kind of $. But then maybe it is just me being cheap

He'll need an accurate weather forecast and dodge the rain, sleet, and snow at some point or rent/borrow an enclosed trailer.