Driving down to Panama City, FL for Spring Fling in two weeks and looking for a few tip on stowing my car in the trailer so I can use my truck at night to cruise the beach/parties.

I once tried to take my truck from the trailer but it would not break from the ball and I was scared of the trailer nose raising in the air and my car straps breaking and crashing into the back door. I have a 24FT trailer and used a 1999 Lincoln Navigator to haul it around.

I tie the car down using the 4-5000lbs D-ring in the floor, but how do I know when I have the proper weight far enough in the nose to prevent the trailer from raising in the air? I have a 3000lbs 12v electric jack to raise and lower the trailer.
Any safe tips are welcome...

Here is my trailer:

http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt25/dtl504/Trailer/

Thanks.

Dave

Dave you could always block the back up with a couple cinder blocks with a piece of wood on top to prevent any damage.....:yes:

Dave...If you're towing the car to Florida from Alabama, with zero tongue weight, you won't even get there. You'll be in the woods along the side of the road. You need about 800 pounds on the trailer hitch to tow safely. If you set it up with the correct tongue weight, you won't have any problem with the trailer flying up in the air. Be sure to block it up, if you pull the car in or out of the trailer, if it's not hooked to the truck.

Find a way to weigh the tongue weight. You need about 10% of the gross (can in the trailer)trailer weight, on the truck hitch.

if it won't come off the hitch ball try pulling forward a tad if you backed it into the spot and back up if you pulled into it ..... its the way the hitch retains the ball in the cup it rides in ....
with no tounge weight you'll know it ..... you'll look like a snake going down the road till you find the woods .lol

And a 3000# jack probably won't lift a 7000# trailer.... I know mine is a real pain to crank down with the car in it. I take along a 2.5 ton floor jack and some blocking to lift it off. Just be sure to block the trailer tires with chocks.

And if you run into any problems Dave feel free to give me a shout....I'm sure we can handle any issue that might crop up......:beers:

What most people do is try the car in a couple positions and drive around the block.

I ended up nailing a couple of short 2x6's to the trailer deck where the back wheels should stop. I have an old open trailer, and can judge by the amount the truck rear sets down.

An even better question is where will you be leaving the trailer with the car inside? Sounds like a really great opportunity to lose both your trailer and your car to thieves.

I've stored my cars in an enclosed trailer many times. In fact, my bro-in-law kept his '69 Malibu in my trailer most of this winter.
Once finding the sweet spot where the car distributes the correct balance of weight in the trailer, I just mark the floor with a peice of painter's tape at the centerline of the front tire.
The front tongue jack will support the weight.
A padlocked length of chain thru the trailer wheels...both sides won't hurt...and a heavy ball type locking device on the coupler always worked well for me.

Why would you take your Chevelle to "The Redneck Riviera", especially during Spring Break??? Are you crazy??? Although it has been about 18 years since I have been to a Spring Break there, I would'nt consider bringing my Chevelle within 50 miles of that place. My best friend lives there, and just this weekend told me it is worst than ever! You have drunks, juvenile delinquents, thugs, immature drunks, criminals, speeders, blind drunks, Eviel Kneivel wannabes, hot babes(oops!), and oh...did I forget to mention DRUNKS??? It may just be me, but, I would leave the Chevelle back in Sweet Home Alabama!! JMHO.....Geno;)

Red Neck Riviera......I resent that remark.........:D
I just got back from having oysters at Hunts.....:yes:
I must admit some of the Spring Fashions this year are pretty nice......:waving:

Why would you take your Chevelle to "The Redneck Riviera", especially during Spring Break??? Are you crazy??? Although it has been about 18 years since I have been to a Spring Break there, I would'nt consider bringing my Chevelle within 50 miles of that place. My best friend lives there, and just this weekend told me it is worst than ever! You have drunks, juvenile delinquents, thugs, immature drunks, criminals, speeders, blind drunks, Eviel Kneivel wannabes, hot babes(oops!), and oh...did I forget to mention DRUNKS??? It may just be me, but, I would leave the Chevelle back in Sweet Home Alabama!! JMHO.....Geno;)

Just trying to support the Spring Fling Car Show Panama City, FL. I was thinking about staying on Tyndall Airforce Base and leaving the trailer on base while we go out for a few adults beverages. I have a few hundred lbs on the nose with my winch, generator, tent, chairs, and cooler.
Dave

Red Neck Riviera......I resent that remark.........:D
I just got back from having oysters at Hunts.....:yes:
I must admit some of the Spring Fashions this year are pretty nice......:waving:

Had oysters this past weekend at The Boondocks. Not bad, just overpriced!

How could the trailer tip backwards? The axles are rearward and the weight is distributed on the tougue just for that reason. Disconnecting should be no problem whatsoever. Countless disconnects hauling a 6 place snowmobile trailer. Piece of cake.