How to stop car bounce when using tire strap

Good question, we only run a 4 car so I only have that issue in one position, but when we had our 8 car is was a problem.

Do you have drop pockets in your lower deck already? That 2" can be life or death, but I know you know that.

 

I would say either get pockets installed or just chain down the cars in the problem areas? Lots of places outlawing chains though, at least on the OEM side.

 

With straps on the cars should generally bounce downward. I think most with strap trucks run just as tight as we did with chain trucks. The new Cottrell trucks have pockets, articulating decks and a very good design that allows almost everything to fit that would with chains. I have however used the straps hooked to the frame on occasion just like you would chain a car. Surprisingly, the one over the hood will squat down easier with straps in the frame than with chains. Sounds like you'd be asking for trouble but I haven't had any problems doing it.

 

Yet.......

 

Although I can appreciate you innovation (I have hauled some crates with auto haul straps linked together) the J hooks on my straps are pretty thick and probably wont fit into many/any tie down tees or slots, maybe on a pickup?

 

How did your damage occur? In my experience a unit only bounces down or front to back. But if all units are strapped they will bounce front to back in sequence with the unit next to it and won't bump each other. If you had one hard tied too close to one strapped they could bump into one another. As far as getting height down 19.5 tires allow me to haul 6 full size 4x4's and still get 13'6 or so, when I load it correctly.

 

The j hooks on the new Cottrell trailers are about the same as an S hook on a chain setup. I have older hand ratchet straps that won't fit in the slots, but mostly I do it on trucks and bigger suvs.

 

Heres an idea I had but haven't tried yet: http://www.autohaulersupply.com/cat...21---blue-axle-strap---3335--lbs-wll-4157.php

Take one of those and wrap it around subframe or something sturdy and hook your chain to it and squat the suspension. If you don't have a chain trailer you could use a ratchet strap.