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10-11-2012, 11:12 AM
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#127
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sequim Guy
If it were me, I would adjust those cross straps further forward on the tires.
Just a thought....
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I agree with SG...but the straps (Acme's or aftermarket) are not adjustable.
So, when towing my 4X4 (33' tires) I use a length of chain to link the rear strap hooks to the "D" rings - so the cross straps are centered on the top of the tire.
It's a simple and cheap fix - avoiding having to buy different sizes of straps for the different toad's.
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10-11-2012, 11:26 AM
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#128
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonDee
The tires are 235/75/15's, hardly monsters The Geo is just little
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Hey - 235/75/15's usually convert to "old school" 29/9.25/15's...that's pretty good meat for a compact 4X4!
Key:
235mm tread width = 9.25"
75% sidewall aspect = 6.9"
Overall height (6.9"+6.9"+15") = 28.8"
...So, it's easy to see why the straps hang on the back of the tire.
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10-11-2012, 03:53 PM
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#129
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 735
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scarab0088
I agree with SG...but the straps (Acme's or aftermarket) are not adjustable.
So, when towing my 4X4 (33' tires) I use a length of chain to link the rear strap hooks to the "D" rings - so the cross straps are centered on the top of the tire.
It's a simple and cheap fix - avoiding having to buy different sizes of straps for the different toad's.
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This seems to be an excellent fix that would put the cross straps on top
of the tire instead of the rear half of the tire....
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10-11-2012, 04:59 PM
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#130
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Palm Desert, Ca
Posts: 666
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sequim Guy
This seems to be an excellent fix that would put the cross straps on top
of the tire instead of the rear half of the tire....
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So, that would seem to pull the tire "down" on the dolly, without that fix, these straps would seem to pull the tire "forward" on the dolly. I Guess that's physics, and what I don't know about physics could fill a textbook, so any thoughts?
__________________
2018 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 36U
2014 Wrangler JKU Rubi
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10-11-2012, 07:47 PM
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#131
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 735
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChileRick
So, that would seem to pull the tire "down" on the dolly, without that fix, these straps would seem to pull the tire "forward" on the dolly. I Guess that's physics, and what I don't know about physics could fill a textbook, so any thoughts?
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As stated before, these are my opinions..................
Since the tire is only being tightened with the front strap, pulling it down
is also pulling it forward, the only direction it can go. Otherwise the rear
tie downs would never get tight if it didn't pull a little forward.
My concern was that the most forward cross piece was behind the
center line of the tire and it seemed that it would be possible for the
front half of the strap to slide off to one side and no longer keep the tire
in place. This would probably only happen if there were an extreme
movement by the dolly, like turning too tight or a violent movement to
avoid an accident.
Or maybe it would never move, but to me it just looks like it's not a good idea.
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10-12-2012, 01:15 AM
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#132
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
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I just bought identical straps to strap my smart car to the dolly. Looks like they will work really well for my car, unless I'm missing something. I'll find out Saturday morning when I hook up. I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck! : - )
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10-12-2012, 03:20 PM
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#133
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigcritter
I just bought identical straps to strap my smart car to the dolly. Looks like they will work really well for my car, unless I'm missing something. I'll find out Saturday morning when I hook up. I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck! : - )
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BEST OF LUCK!
Just FYI: I've read on this forum and on a website about a trailer made specifically for the Smart 4-2 ( Smart Trailer USA ) that the short wheelbase of the Smart may make for some wobble on a dolly.
BUT, this makes NO SENSE to me (IMHO) since the axle of the dolly is actually INCREASING the front-end track of the car, so unless the dolly is REALLY tall (car rides very nose high) is should be fine.
My family has two Smart 4-2's (one is a Cabrio) and we think they are great!
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10-12-2012, 11:12 PM
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#134
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
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I've towed it many times on the dolly using the ACME straps that came with the dolly. I just haven't used the new straps yet. :-)
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10-13-2012, 02:36 PM
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#135
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,226
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Just returned from a 2 nighter of dispersed camping. The dolly (and straps) performed beautifully. I made to the same trip a few weeks ago and with the reduced weight of the dolly compaired to the car trailer, my MPG went from 6 to 9 mpg. LOTS of hills!
First use of The Sewer Solution was a winner too. Dumped tanks into my home septic in a few minutes and no stinky slinky or smell.
Watched some TV in the boonies using my new JACK Ant. for the first time. Another good product.
__________________
Don, Mary and Spooky
'00 Bluebird Skoolie Conversion
Geo Tracker/Dodge Neon/Aprilia Scooter towed
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10-13-2012, 02:43 PM
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#136
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,226
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigcritter
Amazon, then search for Tow Dolly Strap (Single) w/ 2 Twisted Snap Hooks Sold by Clickstop Inc Condition: new
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Same ones I have!!
__________________
Don, Mary and Spooky
'00 Bluebird Skoolie Conversion
Geo Tracker/Dodge Neon/Aprilia Scooter towed
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10-13-2012, 11:35 PM
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#137
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 75
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Nope. Didn't work. Too big! The basket covered my entire 14" tire, and the single take up strap was already down to the winch where the strap attached to the basket. There was no way to tighten them. :-( Went back to using the straps that came with the dolly.
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10-14-2012, 02:10 AM
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#138
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 735
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The straps I bought on Amazon........broke. Cheaper, but poor quality.
Bought a new set from ACME, no problems.
Learned a "get what you pay for" lesson and almost lost the car.
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10-14-2012, 06:50 AM
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#139
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 164
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The straps from ACME are adjutable by moving the main strap to different loops in the cross straps, according to ACME. however, I still didn't like the way they fit on the smaller tires on my Honda Fit.
I went to U.S. Cargo Control on the net and purchased the Tow Dolly Basket Strap with 2 Twisted Snap Hooks. They fit great and really keep the tires tight to the dolly. they have 3 cross straps and large snap hooks. have over 4k miles on this trip on them with absolutely no problems. in my case, these are the straps to use with the ACME dolly.
Tow Dolly Basket Straps - Wheel Net Car Tire Tie Down Basket Straps
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10-14-2012, 07:02 AM
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#140
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 633
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gman69
The straps from ACME are adjutable by moving the main strap to different loops in the cross straps, according to ACME. however, I still didn't like the way they fit on the smaller tires on my Honda Fit.
I went to U.S. Cargo Control on the net and purchased the Tow Dolly Basket Strap with 2 Twisted Snap Hooks. They fit great and really keep the tires tight to the dolly. they have 3 cross straps and large snap hooks. have over 4k miles on this trip on them with absolutely no problems. in my case, these are the straps to use with the ACME dolly.
Tow Dolly Basket Straps - Wheel Net Car Tire Tie Down Basket Straps
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is $23.99 for the pair or just 1 side?
__________________
Mike S.E. Ohio 2002 Winnebago Adventure 35U and 2018 Pleasure Way XLMB. 2016 Equinox
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