The gentleman who sold me my trailer advised leaving the trans in gear and e-brake off while tying the car down and while towing. I didn't have a chance to get a rationale for this. What do the experts here say?
The reason I would leave it in neutral is not so much for the movement while tying it down, but to not have the vibration of the entire trip transmitted to the inside of the engine. Probably not much of a big deal, but rings vibrating against cylinder walls in one spot.....
Thanks guys! I could not figure out any reason to leave it in gear.
Trailex was willing to install e-track, but the guy suggested I give the standard ratchet straps through the wheels to D-rings in the floor a try first. So that is what I am going to do. The straps will be well insulated from the wheels with padding. I know a lot of guys do it that way without issue.
My initial run will be our move to Florida in a few weeks. After that, a trip to Detroit and then to the Rally.
And yet I'd guess 99% of the cars delivered from Detroit were strapped down, in gear with the e-brake engaged while on the back of a very bumpy semi or train ride to their destination....oh well.
Makes sense to leave it out of gear while towing. If you do a good job strapping the car down, it isn't going anywhere.
Cheers,
George
Sorry George, but I disagree with your assumption.
I am quite sure when Ford let the delivery contract to Reliable Car Carriers (out of Detroit) to distribute the GT's to the national dealership network, they were strapped down per Ford's requirements, in NEUTRAL for the reasons cited in above posts, and I am not sure about the ebrake application. I do not think the ebrake is a big player here, but the engine/trans being in neutral is important and I am sure Relible followed directions from Ford distribution (and Ford engineers).
Dealership delivery of our cars was a big deal for both Ford and Reliable. With the truckload value, Reliable did it the way Ford told them....
Correct, All Ford GT's were delivered by Reliable Car Carriers from Detroit with VERY Specific Instructions as to Delivery. No GT's were ever delivered by Rail. Every Reliable Driver I ever met talked about Ford"s Detail Specifications as to delivery of our GT's.
Sorry George, but I disagree with your assumption.
I am quite sure when Ford let the delivery contract to Reliable Car Carriers (out of Detroit) to distribute the GT's to the national dealership network, they were strapped down per Ford's requirements, in NEUTRAL for the reasons cited in above posts, and I am not sure about the ebrake application. I do not think the ebrake is a big player here, but the engine/trans being in neutral is important and I am sure Relible followed directions from Ford distribution (and Ford engineers).
Dealership delivery of our cars was a big deal for both Ford and Reliable. With the truckload value, Reliable did it the way Ford told them....
Ralphie, If individual Dealerships sold or transferred your vehicle to each location it was probably shipped by transport carrier. As a former Ford dealer I sold and transferred many vehicles regularly by convoy transport. Way too expensive to transport by rail anywhere. That's my take. Tomy