tie down straps

[Terry M.]

Re: tie down straps

One might believe that the shock absorbers on the car, if they work at all on the trailer queens , would keep the front of the car from bouncing too much. That said, as I noted in my earlier post, my preference is to use the factory designed tie down points.

[Terry M.]

Re: tie down straps

One might believe that the shock absorbers on the car, if they work at all on the trailer queens , would keep the front of the car from bouncing too much. That said, as I noted in my earlier post, my preference is to use the factory designed tie down points.

[Art A.]

Re: tie down straps

I agree Terry, why anyone would use ANY location other that the GM DESIGNED location is beyond me. I even use the GM locations when I trailer my Solstice.

The problem as I see it, with most trailer "D" ring hold down locations, is that they are affixed to the floor too close together. That's why I use the "
E" track system. It allows the floor attaching locations to be a little farther outboard-------------like the COMERCIAL "portable parking lot" haulers.

Art

[Art A.]

Re: tie down straps

I agree Terry, why anyone would use ANY location other that the GM DESIGNED location is beyond me. I even use the GM locations when I trailer my Solstice.

The problem as I see it, with most trailer "D" ring hold down locations, is that they are affixed to the floor too close together. That's why I use the "
E" track system. It allows the floor attaching locations to be a little farther outboard-------------like the COMERCIAL "portable parking lot" haulers.

Art

[Terry M.]

Re: tie down straps

Ah, to preach to the choir is so satisfying -- right Art?

A little off topic, but:
When we hauled my Z06 back from the museum last month I insisted on attaching the tie downs to the slotted holes, which are now also the jacking points on the C6. Because the frame members on that model are aluminum, the engineers have reinforced the tie down points with steel plates fastened to the aluminum with tin plated rivets and isolated with mastic. That is supposed to deal with the galvanic corrosion. I spent my working life in an electric utility -- I know what corrosion can do. The chances of isolating those members long-term are about the chance of a snowball in .... well you know. But then I am thinking 30-40 years -- I doubt the design standard goes that far, and i doubt I'll be around to worry about it.

There have been some reports of damage at those jacking points due to towing recovery drivers using those holes to winch the cars up on the roll back. Allied, the current transporter, uses tire tie downs for their deliveries, I am told. If we had had tire tie downs, I would have used them. So for the newer cars some of the old ways are changing.

[Terry M.]

Re: tie down straps

Ah, to preach to the choir is so satisfying -- right Art?

A little off topic, but:
When we hauled my Z06 back from the museum last month I insisted on attaching the tie downs to the slotted holes, which are now also the jacking points on the C6. Because the frame members on that model are aluminum, the engineers have reinforced the tie down points with steel plates fastened to the aluminum with tin plated rivets and isolated with mastic. That is supposed to deal with the galvanic corrosion. I spent my working life in an electric utility -- I know what corrosion can do. The chances of isolating those members long-term are about the chance of a snowball in .... well you know. But then I am thinking 30-40 years -- I doubt the design standard goes that far, and i doubt I'll be around to worry about it.

There have been some reports of damage at those jacking points due to towing recovery drivers using those holes to winch the cars up on the roll back. Allied, the current transporter, uses tire tie downs for their deliveries, I am told. If we had had tire tie downs, I would have used them. So for the newer cars some of the old ways are changing.

[Patrick H.]

Re: tie down straps

I sure was wishing for E-track last week!

When I trailered mine home, the borrowed trailer had the D-rings so far apart fore-to-aft that I wasn't sure I could ever tie down the car without destroying the front spoiler or rear fascia. At one point I thought I'd have to drive the car home as it didn't appear I could make it work.

A little ingenuity got us home, but I'm glad I din't have to go any further than I did.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: tie down straps

I sure was wishing for E-track last week!

When I trailered mine home, the borrowed trailer had the D-rings so far apart fore-to-aft that I wasn't sure I could ever tie down the car without destroying the front spoiler or rear fascia. At one point I thought I'd have to drive the car home as it didn't appear I could make it work.

A little ingenuity got us home, but I'm glad I din't have to go any further than I did.

Patrick

[Steve L.]

Speaking of corrosion..

I can't believe that they would mix AL with steel for corrosion. As an engineer on outside electronic equipment, I am always dealing with this and Fe and Al is a no-no even if they try to separate it.

At Carlisle, the GM engineer told me that the Al frame is plated with Alodine.
We just went through a 30 day salt fog with this plating exposed(I didn't design this particular piece of equipment) and it was a disaster. I'm currently redesigning it with powder coat everywhere.

Why didn't GM put powder coat on the Z06 frame, anyone know?

Steve L.
73 since new

[Steve L.]

Speaking of corrosion..

I can't believe that they would mix AL with steel for corrosion. As an engineer on outside electronic equipment, I am always dealing with this and Fe and Al is a no-no even if they try to separate it.

At Carlisle, the GM engineer told me that the Al frame is plated with Alodine.
We just went through a 30 day salt fog with this plating exposed(I didn't design this particular piece of equipment) and it was a disaster. I'm currently redesigning it with powder coat everywhere.

Why didn't GM put powder coat on the Z06 frame, anyone know?

Steve L.
73 since new