Towing 997.2 RS
Author
Discussion

Rhodie

Original Poster:

112 posts

282 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
quotequote all
Last year I drove to several tracks on the continent in my 997.2 RS, this year I’m considering towing for various reasons i.e family have a vehicle to use, lack of Michelin Super Sports Tyres, increasing mileage on the RS etc, etc.

The question is what trailer will be best suited, the tow vehicle will be a Range Rover TD V8. I have done a search on PH’s and not yet found a solution. There must be someone currently doing it?
Thanks

thegoose

8,077 posts

240 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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You'll probably need a tilting bed AND extender ramps, any proprietary make is OK, just measure the deck and make sure it's big enough (width being most important to check If it has sides to the bed). One with wheels underneath (perhaps 6 small ones) takes the least space but has a higher COG although that's less of an issue when using a RR to tow it - it'll cost more but residuals are good on all decent trailers.

Get it serviced (if buying used) by a trailer specialist and have this documented - besides the invoice mine stamps the inside of the brake drums so I have a service history in there, plus I can identify it if it gets stolen/recovered (this happened last year, although they'd left the chassis plate on it so identification was no problem).

Get decent locks, secure it to something and/or block it in wherever possible. Get decent straps, learn how to use them and how to load the car on (bear in mind you may not always a perfectly flat surface, so a few bits of wood are always useful).

dufflecoat

949 posts

260 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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this is all you need to know. If you have the $$

http://www.brianjames.co.uk/


Wozy68

5,436 posts

200 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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Rhodie said:
Last year I drove to several tracks on the continent in my 997.2 RS, this year I’m considering towing for various reasons i.e family have a vehicle to use, lack of Michelin Super Sports Tyres, increasing mileage on the RS etc, etc.

The question is what trailer will be best suited, the tow vehicle will be a Range Rover TD V8. I have done a search on PH’s and not yet found a solution. There must be someone currently doing it?
Thanks
Brian James, Ivor Williams, whichever, if you can afford that kind of motor (and fair play) my suggestion is buy new.
You'll lose very little money on it come resale and at least you know with a new one that its never been abused. I've seen some very shiney very abused car transporters.

custardkid

2,514 posts

254 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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Go for Brian James,

i have a Clubman for the M3, its great (and cheapest)

the GT3 being a bit lower is probably better on an A max or TT as they have better door clearance

or if you can afford it a closed race trailer is better for storing tools and keeping the car clean / out of sight

good trailers are always worth £1000


Brian James are very helpful, phone them, they will tell you what size type you need. i bought a year old trailer second hand off ebay, but BJ helped me check the history of the trailer and verify who first bought it and that it wasn't stolen

Custard

PHOENIXUK

2,200 posts

231 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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I use a Brian James A Max with extra long ramps for my GT2 which is very low, works well and tows superb.

RDMcG

20,871 posts

237 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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I trailer mine (North America) and have flat tiedown plates underneath which make it very quick to tie in down rather then through the wheels. I havr foam extender ramps which are necessary to get it up the regular ramp.

37RB

31 posts

179 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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I tow my gt3 997.2 RS with my range rover and a Brian James tri axle TT series tilt bed, v stable, perfect!

melv

4,708 posts

295 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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I've been using BJ Autotrailer tiltbed trailers for business for nearly twelve years now. Bit expensive on spares but you get what you pay for.

Make sure you get a 6' 3" wide bed or you will scuff the rims. eek

Extender ramps crucial for low cars, although it's quicker to use 4x2!! rolleyes

Load well forwards and you don't have to tow with the engine to the front of the trailer.

And don't skimp on the straps!!

www.flyingbluedog.co.ukwink

RDMcG

20,871 posts

237 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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This is how I tow generally. Went to a commercial weigh scale where I cole get indivdual exle loading to balance the trailer for different cars, so have a marking on the trailer. Sine this shot I have installed the tiedown plates so no tiedown through the wheels. Have towed using this rig for around 15,000km so far..right across the US on occasion. I use the same setup with my RS.2

Wozy68

5,436 posts

200 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
quotequote all
RDMcG said:


This is how I tow generally. Went to a commercial weigh scale where I cole get indivdual exle loading to balance the trailer for different cars, so have a marking on the trailer. Sine this shot I have installed the tiedown plates so no tiedown through the wheels. Have towed using this rig for around 15,000km so far..right across the US on occasion. I use the same setup with my RS.2
I always were told that a 911 should be reversed onto a trailer for towing, No longer the case?

RDMcG

20,871 posts

237 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
quotequote all
Wozy68 said:
I always were told that a 911 should be reversed onto a trailer for towing, No longer the case?
Strangely seems to be done in Europe buy not here, and I have seen a log of cars. As I mentioned I know the axse loads and tongue weight and often run several thousand Km. Car is well forward on the trailer.

melv

4,708 posts

295 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
quotequote all
melv said:
Load well forwards and you don't have to tow with the engine to the front of the trailer.

majordad

3,631 posts

227 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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Whether you need to reverse on or not really is a suck it and see thing, coupled with the fact of how much forward you can get the car on the trailer. Sometimes it works for me , like RdMG, others not.

+1 as Melv and others said, make sure your alloys dont scruff by having the trailer too narrow and buy a good one day one. Mine is a BJ Race Shuttle as it offers security and keeps things dry but they are expensive even when used.

iguana

7,356 posts

290 months

Tuesday 5th February 2013
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Brian James TT tilt, 6ft 8 or 7ft bed & long ramp option.

Should be fine to tow forwards, if not can always go for the commerical model pdq flip jockey wheel option.

With 911s- I go backwards in the enclosed, but usually forwards on open.










Can do all kinds of odd things with a TT trailer wink




Alex

www.lizardlogistics.com





Nurburgsingh

5,545 posts

268 months

Wednesday 6th February 2013
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RDMcG said:


This is how I tow generally. Went to a commercial weigh scale where I cole get indivdual exle loading to balance the trailer for different cars, so have a marking on the trailer. Sine this shot I have installed the tiedown plates so no tiedown through the wheels. Have towed using this rig for around 15,000km so far..right across the US on occasion. I use the same setup with my RS.2
When you say tie down plates - what and where? I'm not a big fan of lashing through the wheels and would be interested in an alternative

keep it lit

3,388 posts

197 months

Wednesday 6th February 2013
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Nurburgsingh said:
When you say tie down plates - what and where? I'm not a big fan of lashing through the wheels and would be interested in an alternative
tie down plates here;
http://www.tarett.com/items/911-series-products/91...

sportsandclassic

3,774 posts

248 months

Wednesday 6th February 2013
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Was always lead to believe the best way of securing the car was around the tyre so the car can move on its suspension ?

This way it will be able to move up and down when needed and not be rigid to the bed as I have seen broken straps before that we're rated 5tonnes....

Any one else heard of this?

anonymous-user

84 months

Wednesday 6th February 2013
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sportsandclassic said:
Was always lead to believe the best way of securing the car was around the tyre so the car can move on its suspension ?

This way it will be able to move up and down when needed and not be rigid to the bed as I have seen broken straps before that we're rated 5tonnes....

Any one else heard of this?
Not broken straps Mike, but I agree allowing car to move on suspension makes for more pliant tow.

Edited to add: also it not so much perfect axle distribution that you want, rather then perfect nose down weight at the hitch (close to max allowable for most cars) to get best stability.


Edited by drmark on Wednesday 6th February 08:26

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

226 months

Wednesday 6th February 2013
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keep it lit said:
The rears look fair enough but I wouldn't fancy the fronts.