Towing on an open trailer. In neutral or in park even though it is strapped down? What say ye?

[fullmetaljacket]

I've towed on an open trailer here and there over the years and wondered if any of you are concerned with the transmission being in park gear or neutral.
As you all know so well, even though the four straps keep the car stable somewhat, the car still rocks back and forth and I was thinking perhaps that's not so good for the park gear? I could be wrong.
By the way, I am towing this weekend interstate and wanted to see what y'all think.

 

[6872n73]

Parking brake also.

 

[fine69]

Can’t imagine not using park. The trans can handle it. And as the comment above, use the parking/emergency brake as well.

 

[ruffcut]

Drag cars over 30 years all in park! No problem! ruffcut

 

[33 IMP]

Park here too. Four straps, in line, to an axle strap or a welded hook on the chassis, plus a tight winch cable.

 

[dvw]

I've always towed in park. Until I bought a winch. Now I just leave it in neutral.
Doug

 

[QuickBpBp]

Never in nuetral… Years back had a friend of mine do what I did while waiting in line to get my car teched in. it was a busy night so I unstrapped my car on the trailer as they were busy and teching in as you arrived… Well needless to say he forgot and pulled forward and the car rolled
off the trailer front tires hanging and the trailer jack broke his fiberglass front bumper… Had to get two jacks under the tires with wood and drive it back onto the trailer…

 

[QuickBpBp]

Park here too. Four straps, in line, to an axle strap or a welded hook on the chassis, plus a tight winch cable.

Never with straps in line either, always crossed. Reason is I have seen many cars bounce over and end up riding the trailer fenders on the doors and rockers once they got to where they were going…

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Park here too. Four straps, in line, to an axle strap or a welded hook on the chassis, plus a tight winch cable.

Thank you guys. I thought so. Aside from the four straps that I use, I also add a rubber chuck at the wheels that are themselves chained to the trailer just to keep the rocking to a minimum. Thanks guys.

 

[fullmetaljacket]

Thank you guys. I thought so. Aside from the four straps that I use, I also add a rubber chuck at the wheels that are themselves chained to the trailer just to keep the rocking to a minimum. Thanks guys.

I always cross my straps, my heart and my fingers whenever I'm towing. There's a lot of imbeciles out there.

 

[RemCharger]

I always strap with the ratchet buckles on the pass side. Why?
I had one come loose, strap caught a tire, and fired the ratchet into the other lane. Scary ****.

 

[3white74]

Always cross the straps in an x.....both my trailers open and enclosed have winches....I leave the winch cable tight on front suspension ..... extra insurance!!!

 

[R413]

Have you ever towed a forward look mopar? No park on them at all. And how about a roller, no park there either.

Tie it down correctly and the rest doesn’t matter.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

In Park or in gear. E brake on. Strapped tightly. The more secure, the better. Can't have too much, but you can sure have too little if something fails or breaks....

 

[33 IMP]

Never with straps in line either, always crossed. Reason is I have seen many cars bounce over and end up riding the trailer fenders on the doors and rockers once they got to where they were going…

To each his own . I'll never cross strap again. If the law requires it (some states do) I'll put some toy 1" harbor freight straps on it crossed, and use my good straps in line.
If you wanna see why, check out "why I don't cross strap" videos on you tube.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

A few years ago, I sold our old Grand Cherokee to an old guy that showed up with a nice heavy duty car/equipment type trailer with proper D rings. etc. Well, this guy opened the front door windows of the Jeep, tossed a smallish ratchet strap through the car, and hooked to either the fenders or trailer frame. Snugged that strap down and took off for his approximately 50 mile trip home.
I'm pretty sure he had put the Jeep in park first.......

 

[33 IMP]

A few years ago, I sold our old Grand Cherokee to an old guy that showed up with a nice heavy duty car/equipment type trailer with proper D rings. etc. Well, this guy opened the front door windows of the Jeep, tossed a smallish ratchet strap through the car, and hooked to either the fenders or trailer frame. Snugged that strap down and took off for his approximately 50 mile trip home.
I'm pretty sure he had put the Jeep in park first.......

That is some shaky s#!t right there!

 

[66Satellite47]

For about 25 years and many, many thousand miles I have used one tie in the front (either strap or chain) and cross strapped in the back, tied down on the shocks, in N. No E brake on any of my cars. It worked for me.

 

[dadsbee]

Always in Park or gear and I've never stuffed in the park brake, but for a long haul I throw in a tire chalk. Haven't lost a car YET>..

Circa 1990 picture, but I hauled these this way for years with nothing but a single flat strap ratcheted around each tire.

 

[QuickBpBp]

To each his own . I'll never cross strap again. If the law requires it (some states do) I'll put some toy 1" harbor freight straps on it crossed, and use my good straps in line.
If you wanna see why, check out "why I don't cross strap" videos on you

Saw way to much damage over the years at race tracks and shows from in line strapping. If you use junk to strap your car down anything is bound to happen and if you don’t know where to strap that is even worse.. I have never broken a strap or D ring in over 35 years of towing cars and equipment over the road.. I did however see damage done by in line strapping in person (with out the trailer being overturned).