Well I finished up my Plus 2 in this thread, (viewtopic.php?f=51&t=53498 )but I still had Lotus fever. I thought I might to try restoring an Elan. So, I am now the owner of a 67 Elan S3 DHC.
I am making preparations to go to Cape Cod, retrieve it and trailer it home to NC. So I am “Bringing a Trailer” (which is incidentally where the car came from.)
My question is what are the best appropriate tie down points on the Elan. I am doing my own transporting job this time around, and haven’t really determined the best way to secure it to this super-sized trailer, I am renting. The trailer “D” securing rings are very far forward. The aft rings are not that far. I thought I would ask the community on their towing/trailering experiences and suggestions.
Thank you for the assistance. (Any available photos showing a secured/tied down Elan, would be very much appreciated.) Thanks again,
Cheers
MIke
Its tough to do on the original steel wheels, but you seem to have aftermarket wheels fitted - if the holes are big enough you can pass the straps through the holes in the wheels. Its what I do on the car I race(d).
Over the top of the tires straight down to the trailer. You get the mechanical advantage of the wheel diameter reducing the load by half, and you’ve doubled your strap. Watch how the pros now do it next time you see them on the highway. John
Correct, metal can be sharp. If you have movement (your not meant to) on the vehicle or straps are not taut.
Compressing the suspension, reduces movement. - Why vehicles have car carrier tie down points. Compressing tyres onto trailer deck sort of does the same (notice all recovery vehicles strap tyres but recommended literature says carrier tie-downs), but not quite. Cross-bridal every time.
If you cross from the inner lower A arms you cant do too much better, but…
Remember, more important is if you get into a head-on and the car comes into the back of you. So make sure your strapping holding the car from going forward is skookum.
