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Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
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Author:  abclarke [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:27 am ]
Post subject:  Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Hey guys im need of urgent help. Im picking up my sierra finally tomorrow from nowra and ive hired a car trailer from campbelltown. Problem is i was meant to be having my dad helping me out, but after tonights event (dont ask, long story) hes no longer able to do shit for me being the hopeless drunk he is.

So ive got my V6 auto commodore and a car trailer going on a 3 hour drive down the coast and no experience what so ever towing a trailer. Never even used the tow ball for towing anything!

I assume i need to buy some ratchet straps (which dad was meant to bring with him) and say a big chain and shackle to go around the front axle?

What else am i going to need besides balls of steel to make it a safe and uneventful towing event on the way back from down the coast?

Any help is appreciated guys!
Author:  Rhino [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Make sure you get decent rated straps not those pissy little 450kg ones.
Chuck one over each tyres and you should be fine for the drive home.

Also when towing keep in mind the car isnt going to stop as quickly due to the extra wieght. :wink:
Author:  buzbox [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Is it that white WT hardtop with no rego? I was looking at that, It looks like a very good buy.

Towing a car and trailer is pretty straight forward, the main thing you have to remember is to go slow down the mountain and through Kiama bends, you might want to put it into 2nd gear going up and down hills when loaded, don't overwork the car too much, give yourself plenty of braking space and yell at anyone that cuts in front of you.

As for the tow car, I hope that you have the heavy duty towbar setup on it. An oil cooler would prevent the auto from overheating. Last time I brought up a car from Nowra I just hired a ute and went somewhere else for the trailer. At least that way you won't stuff up your own car.

When you hire a trailer they should give you dog chains and show you how to use them.
Author:  abclarke [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Ah sweet thanks mate, just looking at the ones i can buy from supercheap to get me out of trouble. Just hoping i can pull into a store with the trailer on the back :P

So you think 450kg+ would be sweet? So does it work like say 4x450kg because ive got one on each wheel? Just making sure because its gonna have to be a run in and buy something job tomorrow. Ive only got the trailer for 6 hours :(
Author:  abclarke [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
buzbox wrote:
Is it that white WT hardtop with no rego? I was looking at that, It looks like a very good buy.

Towing a car and trailer is pretty straight forward, the main thing you have to remember is to go slow down the mountain and through Kiama bends, you might want to put it into 2nd gear going up and down hills when loaded, don't overwork the car too much, give yourself plenty of braking space and yell at anyone that cuts in front of you.

As for the tow car, I hope that you have the heavy duty towbar setup on it. An oil cooler would prevent the auto from overheating. Last time I brought up a car from Nowra I just hired a ute and went somewhere else for the trailer. At least that way you won't stuff up your own car.

When you hire a trailer they should give you dog chains and show you how to use them.


Yeah mate the white 1989 hardtop, i saw it and made the jump (with the mrs permission that is)

Yeah im not going to rush it at all, anyone beeps me for going slow ill go off at them :lol:
Author:  buzbox [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
You could pull into the side street near the Super dooper in Nowra, there's plenty of room there.

If you have any issues give me a call, i'll pm you my number.
Author:  abclarke [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Yeah i have no idea of the area, GPSing it up lol.

Thanks so much for the help mate once again!
Author:  Rhino [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
abclarke wrote:
Ah sweet thanks mate, just looking at the ones i can buy from supercheap to get me out of trouble. Just hoping i can pull into a store with the trailer on the back :P

So you think 450kg+ would be sweet? So does it work like say 4x450kg because ive got one on each wheel? Just making sure because its gonna have to be a run in and buy something job tomorrow. Ive only got the trailer for 6 hours :(


I'd go for somthing a little stronger then the 450kg straps, to me they just seem to thin and weak. I normaly use at least 2t straps just to be sure.
It might be overkill but you don't realy want a car jumping off your trailer at 110..
Author:  abclarke [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Haha excellent point Rhino, yeah ill go as far as my budget can stretch lol. Only on my greens so i can only legally go 100kms, but trust me ill be getting no where near that :P
Author:  buzbox [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Oh and just to be on the safe side, when you get the car on the trailer, rip up the handbrake as much as you can, and put it into gear.
Author:  abclarke [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Thanks for more help buzbox! Yeah and i was thinking i have some stainless chain from work so ill use some of that and a shackle where ever i can. Should i really put it in gear? Just 1st? Ive read elsewhere not to put it in gear?
Author:  buzbox [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
putting it in 1st gear will prevent it from moving, I do that when I park on a hill when the handbrake isn't working properly ;)

oh just another tip, when you load the car on the trailer, make sure that the weight is evenly distributed, you will notice either the drawbar lift up if it's too far back, and the drawbar will go down if it's too far forward, you'd want the weight to be central with the trailer wheels taking the full load. The drawbar should be level with the car. When you load it up you'll know what I mean.
Author:  93zook [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
make sure you put it on the trailer properly. not too far forwards and not too far back. get out and have a look if the trailer is sitting level with the car on it. i usualy use 1 strap around the front diff and 1 around the rear with the car in low range, hubs locked, handbrake on and in 1st gear. also with the trailer winch (if it has one) onto the factory tie down piont on the front. try not to drive any differently but just a bit slower and more careful. and check the straps haven't loosend themself as well.
Author:  lump_a_charcoal [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
If the trailer starts doing the death wobbles, don't apply the brakes.
If you can, increasing speed stops them, otherwise slow down gradually.
Author:  shakes [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
buzbox wrote:
putting it in 1st gear will prevent it from moving, I do that when I park on a hill when the handbrake isn't working properly ;)

oh just another tip, when you load the car on the trailer, make sure that the weight is evenly distributed, you will notice either the drawbar lift up if it's too far back, and the drawbar will go down if it's too far forward, you'd want the weight to be central with the trailer wheels taking the full load. The drawbar should be level with the car. When you load it up you'll know what I mean.


best advice in this thread.

let us know how you went on
Author:  Red89 [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
93zook wrote:
make sure you put it on the trailer properly. not too far forwards and not too far back. get out and have a look if the trailer is sitting level with the car on it. i usualy use 1 strap around the front diff and 1 around the rear with the car in low range, hubs locked, handbrake on and in 1st gear. also with the trailer winch (if it has one) onto the factory tie down piont on the front. try not to drive any differently but just a bit slower and more careful. and check the straps haven't loosend themself as well.

Like he said, stop and check the straps regularly, it also gives you a chance to stretch your legs and take a breather.
lump_a_charcoal wrote:
If the trailer starts doing the death wobbles, don't apply the brakes.
If you can, increasing speed stops them, otherwise slow down gradually.

This is the most important thing, chances are being your first time you wont get it positioned exactly right and will get the occasional speed wobbles, just remember dont use the brakes let the car slow down on its own if you must slow down. Good luck :wink:
Author:  abclarke [ Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
All is well guys! Thanks so much for all your help.

Uploading all my photos then its time for a thread in the rig forum :)
Author:  buzbox [ Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
How'd the car perform going up that hill getting into Kiama before the bends and Mt ousley?

I was towing a car and trailer in my old man's 2.6L 4cyl rodeo, I had a few people beeping and giving me strange geastures. :lol:
In a scottish accent I was yelling out, I'm giving it all she's got captain, If I give any more she'll blooow :lol:

Glad you made it back alive.
Author:  abclarke [ Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Towing Sierra on a car trailer?
Haha with my commodore and its sports exhaust setup, going up hill at 3000rpm in second gear i had to put the windows up to hear myself think :P
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