How to secure a Jeep onto a trailer for a long haul
#11
JK Enthusiast
Yes the have those pics. The one I'm talking about is in regards to Jeeps being hauled to MOAB. Not a pic of how strong the straps are
#12
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Highland, CA
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I'm not a pro so don't take everything I say to the bank and you're at your own risk LOL. I've hauled several cars, trucks, and my Jeep several times. I always strap to the axles. I use axle straps with abrasion resistant covers on them. Axle straps are about 2' to 2.5' long. They have closed loops on their ends. You wrap these around the axle, and then you hook ratchet straps to those ends and to your trailer. Use two axle straps and two ratchet straps per axle. Many say that strapping down in an "X" pattern is the best. When I say X, I mean you strap one side of the axle and the other side of the trailer (example: the strap on the driver's side rear axle gets strapped to the rear passenger side of the trailer and the passenger side rear axle strap gets strapped to the rear driver side of the trailer, and do the same for the front). This is usually what I do unless there is something in the way of crisscrossing them.
There are straps that attach to the tires but I don't like those as well. You want to pull the vehicle to the rear, to the front, to the left, and to the right. Basically keeping it from going any direction on the trailer. I don't think you can achieve that with the tire straps. Maybe you can; someone chime in if you want.
As for strapping to the frame. You better use chains if you want to do that and you better strap it down tight. When you hit large bumps in the road the Jeep will bounce. If you don't remove all of the travel you may have it bounce and you may have something come undone. That won't be good. I prefer to let the suspension travel. It won't go anywhere if you do it correctly. The car haulers use special hooks that fit into slots in the frame and use chains. There is a lot of stress on the strap or chain when you hit large bumps in the road and your pulling down on the suspension.
Again, you're at your own risk here. Good luck. Wish I could go to Moab soon also. I'm jealous.
There are straps that attach to the tires but I don't like those as well. You want to pull the vehicle to the rear, to the front, to the left, and to the right. Basically keeping it from going any direction on the trailer. I don't think you can achieve that with the tire straps. Maybe you can; someone chime in if you want.
As for strapping to the frame. You better use chains if you want to do that and you better strap it down tight. When you hit large bumps in the road the Jeep will bounce. If you don't remove all of the travel you may have it bounce and you may have something come undone. That won't be good. I prefer to let the suspension travel. It won't go anywhere if you do it correctly. The car haulers use special hooks that fit into slots in the frame and use chains. There is a lot of stress on the strap or chain when you hit large bumps in the road and your pulling down on the suspension.
Again, you're at your own risk here. Good luck. Wish I could go to Moab soon also. I'm jealous.
Don't use the Clevis on the bumpers. (some people call these d-rings. D-rings are what are on the trailer.)
Use axle straps or chains around the axles.
Use four straps to tie down the jeep. One at each corner. Do not use one long one going from the trailer to the axle and then back to the trailer on the other side.
The front straps go straight forward, the rear ones go in an X pattern.
Get the front ones snug and then tighten down the rear ones.
#13
Tight straps stay tight, bouncing straps abrade and loosen and occasionally fall off.
I just got done driving over 3000 miles without touching a strap. One "foot to the floor because someone pulled out in front of me" occurred, and I had no worries of losing my load.
Last edited by TweakJK; 09-06-2016 at 09:48 PM.