Trailering a Boxster

[palmtree907]

I'm getting ready to move across country and am confused. When I did this move last time, I had a 911 and used tiedowns that screwed into the lug holes. I secured it to the trailer and made it 4000 miles trouble free.

These tiedowns say not for use on a boxster. Looking under the car, There doesn't seem to be many options on where to secure the car to the trailer, so how are all of you moving your cars when you trailer them?

[ericinboca]

I'm getting ready to move across country and am confused. When I did this move last time, I had a 911 and used tiedowns that screwed into the lug holes. I secured it to the trailer and made it 4000 miles trouble free.

These tiedowns say not for use on a boxster. Looking under the car, There doesn't seem to be many options on where to secure the car to the trailer, so how are all of you moving your cars when you trailer them?

Well, I don't know if I do it correctly, but this is what I do for my track 986S.

I use a total of six heavy duty straps. Two in the front that cross each other (to make an X) and two in the rear that do the same. These straps hook to a 20 inch length of heavy duty strap with D rings on the end - I run these lengths through my wheel.

I then use a strap, also through a wheel, that runs straight to the front, and one that does the same straight to the rear.

These prevent forward and backward movement. And the X straps contribute to that, but also prevent shifting side to side and rotation around its axis.

I tow out of gear, but with the parking brake on. I make sure the wheel is locked, tighten the dickens out of the straps that do not cross, and tighten up the X's, but not as super tight as the front and back straps.

If it rains, I find the straps stretch a bit and need to be retightened. I've never made a cross country trip like this, but have made many 1000 mile trips this way with no damage or problems. Just align the straps so they do not rub on the body.

[renzop]

I just started trailering my Boxster.

I bought a set of T hooks on the recommendation of several people on several forums. These go in the jacking points and then you secure ratchet straps to them. The idea is you are strapping to the chassis and not the wheels so the car is held down like when its shipped from Porsche. I found this method very difficult as the straps have to be held under tension or the T hooks fall out. It's really a two man job. And even then you have to crawl under the trailer to make it work. We strapped the car down and drove a few blocks until one of the straps popped loose and started dragging. After that I gave up on this idea.

2nd approach seems to work much better. Basically what ericinboca does but only with 4 straps through the wheels. Front straps go straight and rears get crossed. I know a lot of guys use this method with no problems so that's what I am doing. I am slightly concerned about alignment issues with the rear as we pull the wheels at an angle and then bounce the car up and down as it goes down the road. Will this be a problem? Only time will tell. But I have never read about someone who tows with this strapping configuration who has had a toe out problem to make me worry about it too much.

Edited March 30, 2009 by renzop

[ericinboca]

I just started trailering my Boxster.

I bought a set of T hooks on the recommendation of several people on several forums. These go in the jacking points and then you secure ratchet straps to them. The idea is you are strapping to the chassis and not the wheels so the car is held down like when its shipped from Porsche. I found this method very difficult as the straps have to be held under tension or the T hooks fall out. It's really a two man job. And even then you have to crawl under the trailer to make it work. We strapped the car down and drove a few blocks until one of the straps popped loose and started dragging. After that I gave up on this idea.

2nd approach seems to work much better. Basically what ericinboca does but only with 4 straps through the wheels. Front straps go straight and rears get crossed. I know a lot of guys use this method with no problems so that's what I am doing. I am slightly concerned about alignment issues with the rear as we pull the wheels at an angle and then bounce the car up and down as it goes down the road. Will this be a problem? Only time will tell. But I have never read about someone who tows with this strapping configuration who has had a toe out problem to make me worry about it too much.

Everytime I strap the thing down, I wonder if I am pulling it out of alignment, but I trailered it about 20 round trips (40 times total) last year alone, and I never felt after unloading that the alignment changed. You'd think I'd stop worrying - but I still wonder :huh:

[palmtree907]

This was the easiest solution that I came up with too. But...Do the straps rub the paint off the wheels? Where did you get the "t" bars from?

Thanks again for the input, the members on here are great!

:renntech:

[ericinboca]

This was the easiest solution that I came up with too. But...Do the straps rub the paint off the wheels? Where did you get the "t" bars from?

Thanks again for the input, the members on here are great!

:renntech:

My stock wheels are the carrera 5 spoke kind. I have not marred them in any way.

My rain tires are on a set of turbo twist wheels I got from a salvager, painted myself - quite poorly, BTW - and never clear coated. I did rub some paint off of them once.

If you get them nice and snug with a towel or something like that in between the strap and wheel, they shouldn't vibrate and rub. My "lengths" that go through the wheels have a soft leather or leather-like wrapping that touches the wheel.

[rob76turbo]

I use clean red shop towels where the straps rub the wheels. Seems to work find. I also questions about alignment too...

[palmtree907]

So I went and dug out the 911 hold downs. Forgot they are female and the Box uses lug bolts. So I threaded the bolt into the tiedown, and they are the same thread. Off to the machine shop tomorrow to have them make some metric "allthread". I'll screw the hold downs onto the "allthread" and then into the wheel, and Voila!! Success. The straps thru the wheel will be a good solid plan "B". Thanks again everyone.

[mikefocke]

AAA has a guide to how to trailer a Porsche

Link here

[palmtree907]

Problem solved! Performance Products sells 911 hold downs that screw onto the lug studs. I took my old set and purchased 1 meter of 14 X 1.5 allthread at a cost of $59. Cut to 3 inch lengths and inserted into the hold downs. These can now be screwed into the wheels allowing the car to be secured at all 4 wheels without worry of marring anything, leaving the alignment intact, and of course with the comfort of knowing I can secure "the load" properly.