[DeTomaso] Trailering Tiedown Points

Wed Mar 14 19:47:11 EDT 2007

Hi Peter:

I don't really know the answer to your question.  My car had a fancy
aluminum suspension with Heim joints so my experience may be different from
folks with stock suspension.  Also, I had tie-down loops welded in front.
My inexpert opinion is that if the tiedowns screw up your alignment you
probably have bigger problems anyway...

MM

  _____  

From: Peter Kovacs [mailto:peter-kovacs at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:18 PM
To: Herbert Butler; Matt Merritt; detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Trailering Tiedown Points

No offense taken Matt. You both went in to more detail than I did and
brought up important points. I used to run the straps over the A arms until
I was advised by Pantera people at the Las Vegas event that I was possibly
impacting my alignment when cinching down the car. Is that a valid concern? 

Peter Kovacs
Property Equity & Mortgage Mgmt
209 345-6708 
209 523-4919 fx

----- Original Message ----
From: Herbert Butler <hjbutler at bellsouth.net>
To: Matt Merritt <mmerritt at EventVehicles.com>; detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 3:14:28 PM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Trailering Tiedown Points

Matts comments are very good. I would only offer one other option. The
spoiler on my car is in the way for mounting to the front A arms. I
purchased 2 straps that slide through the center of the front wheels and
connect a ratching tiedown to them. The benefit is the car can move without
straining the straps (bouncing up and down). In addition it is easier to do,
know need to crawl under car. Hope it helps. Jack

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of Matt Merritt
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:44 PM
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Trailering Tiedown Points

Hi Rick:

With apologies to Peter - I strongly disagree with his recomendation on how
to tie down your Pantera for towing.  I've hauled my Pantera racecar all
over the place and easily win the prize for most paranoid hauler on the
planet.  I'm also in the car business and have been trained by the best.
Here's how to do it:

Materials:

1.  First, to safely haul your car you need a trailer with tiedowns that are
at least a couple of feet away from the front and back corners of your car.
A 24' enclosed trailer or 18' open trailer are optimal.

2.  You'll also need four high-quality ratcheting tie-down straps with
spring-loaded hooks on both ends.  Do NOT USE OPEN HOOKS.  If a strap with
an open hook were to come loose it would just fall off the car leaving your
pride and joy rolling around in the trailer all by itself.
A loose strap is much better than no strap at all.

3.  Get four axle straps.

Placement:

Load the car far enough forward that the balance point is well ahead of the
trailer wheels.  Panteras are lighter in front and need to be loaded farther
forward most cars.  Leave it in gear.  This is another good reason to have a
24' trailer.

Tie Locations:

Front:  On each corner wrap the axle strap around the rearmost part of the
lower A-arm.  Slide the strap as close to the center of the car as possible,
below all other parts of the suspension, and then to the ratcheting tiedown
strap.  Then run the strap to the trailer's anchor point.  Use the tiedown
on the same side of the car.  Don't cross the straps unless you have
absolutely zero distance between the tie and anchor ends.  If you need to
cross the straps that's a sign that you need a better trailer.

Rear:  Wrap the axle strap around and to the inside of the forwardmost lower
A-arm, under everything else on the car, and down to the corresponding
trailer tiedown.  Some people alternatively wrap the axle straps around the
brace under the transxle (where everybody puts those "DeTomaso" plaques) but
this works only on early cars with just a rear mount.  On later cars the
side ZF mounts are in the way.  

Once you've got the straps on and snug take the car out of gear.  Then go to
whichever end you like and start tightening the straps.  Get them evenly
nice and snug but not insanely tight.  A little slack will cause the car to
move around in the trailer and will put a ton more strain on the suspension
than if it's tied down tightly.  Also, don't forget to put the car in
neutral to take strain off the transaxle.  I also always put sand bags in
front and behind one wheel for a little extra insurance.  Lastly, after I've
driven for a few miles I always pull over and check to make sure everything
is riding properly.

Hope that helps,

Matt Merritt
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