af7mn

Could use some advice peeps! I'm not driving my 8 from San Antonio to Washington D.C., I'm putting her up on a trailer (not a dolly). Any ideas on the best way to make sure she's taken care of?

i.e. cover/no cover?
rear first/nose first?
anyone driven the road from TX to DC?

Never towed a car before, at least not one that I gave a crap about.

Thanks in advance!

Bigbacon

iTrader: (4)

moving to D.C.??

If so, welcome to the neighborhood.

af7mn

Thank you Be there in a few weeks.

carbonRX8

iTrader: (1)

Honestly have only local point-to-point experience on trailering cars. I would think that a standard cover would be a VERY bad idea. Over that distance the rubbing could go to bare metal potentially.

Other than that, nose first, strap it down with the tow bars (they are in the trunk: one hole in front, one in back. Or attach the straps to some other non-suspended points. Wheels and suspension bits are not the best, but work in a pinch)

You also should have some experiencing towing a trailer. Things can get hairy quick.

And dont drive I40 through the smokies. THAT would be scary.

af7mn

My dad is towing...not me thank goodness! He's towed our boat, snowmobiles, etc...so we're good to go there.

No smokies....Got it.

Thanks for the strap-down tips!

expo1

You could apply a thick coat of wax to the car and leave it on till you get to DC. Stone chips would be the only issue. I assume your renting a moving truck & trailer? Having worked for a truck rental company in my younger days I would check over the truck and trailer VERY carefully! Most rental equipment receives poor service. check the all the tires on the truck and trailer, check as much of the items as you can. I would also take the optional coverage if you can. Many people think their auto insurance covers them in a 24' box truck and many times it doesn't.

CarAndDriver

Are you renting a car trailer? Do they have enclosed car trailers that you can rent?

af7mn

I'm renting a car trailer from U-Haul and plan to inspect it thoroughly. I tried looking around for enclosed trailers, but I haven't had much luck.

Im not using a moving truck though, my dad is towing it with his Z-71. I called my insurance company and even without U-Hauls insurance garb, they cover my car and all the contents i bring with me through my auto/home renter insurance.

expo1

Since your not doing the driving I would double check with your insurance company. I also wouldn't load any stuff into the rx-8. When I was working in truck rental people would lie, get a tow dolly and try and pull a mini van full of stuff. The fine print of the U-haul contract could state that your not to load the car with moving items. Read over the fine print, if you break the U-haul contract your own insurance will use that as an out in order to not cover you.
My last suggestion is to have some 2x8 scraps around the incline of the trailer's ramps might be too high for the Rx-8. Is your 8 an auto? The traffic in DC is a bitch

af7mn

Oooooooo dang! I was planning on putting some things in the 8. My thoughts were to back the trailer up to the incline of my current driveway. I'm fairly certain when backed up, it will be practically even with my garage and I can just drive it on. Then, when i get to DC, i'll just find some random person's driveway or find a nice incline to back her up to again and offload her. lol And no, she's manual. I've got calves of steel. I'll be ok

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I would invest in painters tape and cover the whole front of the car and mirrors with it. When you get to DC just take it off and wash her and your good to go.

af7mn

Hrrm. And it won't hurt the paint? I don't even like bird poop on her for more than 2 seconds lol

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Nope, it comes right off with no residue. 3M brand is the best. Many use this method for track days to avoid rock chips and broken lights from other cars.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

+1 Use painter's tape.

Add to the list of things to avoid paint problems from at the track: Cones



You might want to be a bit more thorough in coverage than this. I haven't gotten around to finding white tape for my long trips.

expo1

Maybe like this?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Rofl. Awesome. I can tape up my 8 and join the winning blue crowd

af7mn

LMAO Shhhdamn! That is a lot O tape!

04RX8man

oh it's fun to be driving I-40 through the smokies haha...but maybe not TOWING your 8 all the fun is driving the 8 through there...and maybe u wold see me since I'm thinkin bout going out to the tail of the dragon this weekend...

good luck with the move though

Kevo

funny...i protect my front end with post-it notes...it takes an entire pad to get her covered, but it works like a champ.

CarAndDriver

That's one funny VW pic.

04RX8man

post it notes....classic! haha

I8U

iTrader: (1)

To the OP, the drive really isn't that bad. I have made the Raleigh to Austin trip and back 6 times now in the 8. But I love driving...it's nice 20 hr trip for me, DC adds about 5 hrs but that's cool. If you have a OEM car cover I would use that for the trip since you're towing it. But if you don't, a good wax before along with painters tape is really the best option.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Careful with a car cover..the chafing will do more damage than the potential from road crap. Make sure you Dads truck has good stone flaps on the rear wheels and you should be good

SOme rental trailers have a short rock guard on the front to protect the car

rodjonathan

iTrader: (6)

ive transported my 8 frm florida to houston and i used painters tape it orked awesome. MAKE sure the z7as mud flaps coz we transported my moms c class on one trailer towed by our h2 and mine with my dads ram 2500 and mine turned out fine coz the ram had flaps bu my moms had some chipping coz the h2 didnt

Gray06

I used a trailer from Uhaul from Cleveland to Penscola. No problems at all. Just be careful opening the doors on the trailer. To far and it will scrape the botton edge. My $.02 worth. Being stationed at Andrews? USAF 23 years.