I just picked up a new trailer that happens to have stake pockets that exactly match the wheelbase of the 318ti I will be towing most of the time. Does anyone have experience with wheel lasso style wheel and tire tideowns? I already have a set of stake pocket ratchet ends and a set of these lasso straps is pretty cheap: https://www.uscargocontrol.com/products/side-mount-wheel-net-w-ratchet-and-flat-hook. The lasso straps look to me like they put a weird load on the wheel hub, pulling it out towards the top. Is that something to worry about?
In the past, I have used body hooks which have worked great. The only real negative is you have to cross the straps on both ends of the car to keep the hooks in the chassis. I haven't had a problem but I understand that a single strap snapping could lead to a bad time. They will certainly work on the new trailer but I would love to avoid crawling around under the car at the end of the day.
dan0
HalfDork
2/27/24 3:41 p.m.
I've never used that style myself but I understand your concern. If I was outfitting a trailer especially to mainly tow one vehicle I'd be looking at the over the top style.
https://www.uscargocontrol.com/products/car-carrier-strap-deluxe-w-etrack-fittings-3-rubber-blocks
buzzboy
UltraDork
2/28/24 11:53 a.m.
We use these exclusively and have for 10ish years. I love not crawling around under the car to get them attached. We've towed plenty of 10+ hour trips on bumpy roads with no problems.
dan0
HalfDork
2/29/24 8:23 p.m.
Just saw this style in a Reddit post.
When I sold my '65 Mustang to a guy from Indiana, the trucking company that he hired to move the car used those, but the driver had them pretty much perpendicular to car like in your link, rather than running to the corners like in the Miata photo. He pulled so much positive camber that I took pictures of all four corners before he left my house and contacted the buyer. The suspension on the car was brand new and I was concerned that all four wheel bearings would be ruined, or at least the alignment would be all screwed up, by the time the car got to the midwest.
rb92673
New Reader
3/1/24 1:20 p.m.
I have used the tie downs the OP linked for years, but I put them through the wheels, not lasso'd around them. I also cross strap. No problem with alignment or wheel bearings. I tow at least 2000 miles a year.
I am interested in recreating this setup on my trailer. The wheel lasso tie downs mean I can build the front box a little bigger. Pulling straight down on the wheel with the ratchet strap feels better and the stake pockets lineup with my wheelbase.
I have used wheel lassos with a big angle in a pinch. I am not a fan unless the tiedown point is in line with the wheels. I can't tell if this is worse or if it is all in my head.
Used them to haul the Supra. Instead of stake pockets, this trailer had L-track around the perimeter though.
I got this style that pulls front and back simultaneously and not just straight down. It seems that it would help hold the car front-back better.
I'm not concerned about pulling the top of the tire out as the straps connect to the trailer close to the wheel and are pulling nearly straight down
maybe I should be, but this is replacing straps I ran through the wheels and pulled front and back which I felt was putting a pretty strong load on the suspension the whole trip