How to get crippled car off trailer?
Discussion
A spinning Ferrari (during a race) means that my race car has taken a bit of damage to the front. Thankfully, this is mainly just two snapped wishbones and a smashed fibreglass bonnet and so shouldn't be too expensive to put right.
The issue I have is that because of the broken wishbones, the front left wheel is currently immobile. We managed (with some effort) to reverse it onto the trailer but getting it off forwards and then maneuvering it may be a bit of a challenge (the way the wishbones have snapped means that in a forward direction the wheel is getting jammed up against the frame).
My thoughts so far are to try and carefully jack the front whilst still on the trailer so that I can put that side onto a wheel dolly and carefully tip it off (it's a tilting trailer) but if there is a better idea/approach, I would be keen to hear it (I'm not totally sure that jacking something on a trailer is a great idea).
What is the usual plan of attack here?
The issue I have is that because of the broken wishbones, the front left wheel is currently immobile. We managed (with some effort) to reverse it onto the trailer but getting it off forwards and then maneuvering it may be a bit of a challenge (the way the wishbones have snapped means that in a forward direction the wheel is getting jammed up against the frame).
My thoughts so far are to try and carefully jack the front whilst still on the trailer so that I can put that side onto a wheel dolly and carefully tip it off (it's a tilting trailer) but if there is a better idea/approach, I would be keen to hear it (I'm not totally sure that jacking something on a trailer is a great idea).
What is the usual plan of attack here?
LennyM1984 said:
sunbeam alpine said:
but if you can safely jack it on the trailer
That's the bit I am not sure about. From a safety perspective, I think it would definitely be preferable to get it off, get it properly supported, and then get to work on it.I'm lucky - I've got access to a fork lift and a telehandler (I've also had to get damaged cars off trailers).
I have worked on cars on trailers, but I've created various custom bits and pieces so I can do it safely.
paintman said:
Would a metal tray under the immobile wheel & slide it work?
Tyre in the tin & grease between tin & trailer?
Probably best not to 'borrow' the wife's best deep roasting tin.
Think you might be onto something. I could probably rock it onto a tray and then slide it off as you say. Maybe with a bit of lino to act as a smooth, greased up "slip n slide" track.Tyre in the tin & grease between tin & trailer?
Probably best not to 'borrow' the wife's best deep roasting tin.
Edited by paintman on Thursday 31st August 12:45
ETA: turns out that the slide technique is used in just this situation...
https://www.angelrecovery.co.uk/angel-store/angel-...
Edited by LennyM1984 on Thursday 31st August 13:02
LennyM1984 said:
paintman said:
Would a metal tray under the immobile wheel & slide it work?
Tyre in the tin & grease between tin & trailer?
Probably best not to 'borrow' the wife's best deep roasting tin.
Think you might be onto something. I could probably rock it onto a tray and then slide it off as you say. Maybe with a bit of lino to act as a smooth, greased up "slip n slide" track.Tyre in the tin & grease between tin & trailer?
Probably best not to 'borrow' the wife's best deep roasting tin.
Edited by paintman on Thursday 31st August 12:45
ETA: turns out that the slide technique is used in just this situation...
https://www.angelrecovery.co.uk/angel-store/angel-...
Edited by LennyM1984 on Thursday 31st August 13:02
Some 18mm Ply that bridges the front of the car. ? 6ft x 2-3ft.
A wooden chock, triangular screwed firmly to board. At the front and a second at the back of the front wheel and damaged side. This should hold the board to the car.
Then either winch off attached to the car or to the board.
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
remove all the tie down straps from the Ferrari, and lower the tilt bed.
then accelerate the tow vehicle as fast as possible and the Ferrari should 'plop' off like when leaving the cutlery standing when removing a table cloth fast.
If I had the money to race a Ferrari, I wouldn't be asking for advice about how to fix this problem myself! I was the one hit by said Ferrari then accelerate the tow vehicle as fast as possible and the Ferrari should 'plop' off like when leaving the cutlery standing when removing a table cloth fast.
Recovery people who got my car with similar damage to one corners used ‘sliders’ (thing ordered or maybe nylon I guess wedges) under the broken corner and just dragged it on that. For a front wheel you’d need someone in the car with the brakes on I guess? Maybe sliders on both corners? I am sure it’s a proper technique with a how to somewhere.
EmailAddress said:
It's as lowtech as you can get.
Big Dan lifts the corner of the car.
You wedge, shove, layer as much old carpet as you can under the imoveable corner.
Drag, drive, tow, winch, push the vehicle to where it needs to be.
Hope you don't damage any surfaces before all the pieces crumple and slip out.
If you get it right, it's like the old McDonald's tray under the rear wheels handbrake trick for rogue 180° carpark shenanigans in your Nova
Got ya! And coincidentally I will recently telling my young (18) brother in law about the MaccyDs tray trick. Kids today know nothing!Big Dan lifts the corner of the car.
You wedge, shove, layer as much old carpet as you can under the imoveable corner.
Drag, drive, tow, winch, push the vehicle to where it needs to be.
Hope you don't damage any surfaces before all the pieces crumple and slip out.
If you get it right, it's like the old McDonald's tray under the rear wheels handbrake trick for rogue 180° carpark shenanigans in your Nova
Wheeled dollies, sort of thing bakery drivers use, steel frame on castors in which the stacks of bread trays sit.
If you can't beg or borrow something suitable you could make something up yourself quite cheaply yourself out of steel or even based on a thick wooden frame (heavy duty crawling board style), you can buy castors on Amazon etc for next day delivery.
Couple of strong chaps and lift front end onto these wheeled frames and you can move the car round easily, suggest large as is reasonable castor wheels so they don't get stuck on a match stick which would happen if you had tea trolley size castor wheels.
Few hours making these wheeled frames up you've got them forever.
Is castor or caster by the way, i never know?
If you can't beg or borrow something suitable you could make something up yourself quite cheaply yourself out of steel or even based on a thick wooden frame (heavy duty crawling board style), you can buy castors on Amazon etc for next day delivery.
Couple of strong chaps and lift front end onto these wheeled frames and you can move the car round easily, suggest large as is reasonable castor wheels so they don't get stuck on a match stick which would happen if you had tea trolley size castor wheels.
Few hours making these wheeled frames up you've got them forever.
Is castor or caster by the way, i never know?
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