Enclosed Trailering an Avanti - Now with PICS

[jlmccuan]

How much room is needed around the hard points of an Avanti to be comfortable with the car not moving into contact with items in the trailer? I just want to make sure I'm allowing adequate clearance. Obviously, we could say 10 feet in any direction, but what is a realistic minimum? Those car haulers look pretty tight and they seem to do OK.

Thanks

Jim

_________1966 Avanti II RQA 0088______________________1963 Avanti R2 63R3152_______________Rabid Snail Racing

[Dick Steinkamp]

If tied down correctly, the car should not move 1/4". I've trailered many miles on both open and closed trailers and never had a car move...ANY. If centered in the trailer, you will have 6" or so from the rocker to the wheel well of the trailer and maybe 1-1.5' to the walls of the trailer. It may be difficult to get out of the car if you drive it on an enclosed trailer and you may determine it is easiest to winch it on the trailer.

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

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[jlmccuan]

I had planned on using the loops on the lower control arm inner trunnion in front. Usually we tie down from the axle in the rear. Will this allow too much movement or should we tie the frame down in the rear?

Jim

_________1966 Avanti II RQA 0088______________________1963 Avanti R2 63R3152_______________Rabid Snail Racing

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by jlmccuan

I had planned on using the loops on the lower control arm inner trunnion in front. Usually we tie down from the axle in the rear.

That's how I tie down Studebakers. Others may have different ways.

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

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[bams50]

Whatever you do, DON'T tie down the frame! It's bad for the suspension to cramp it down that way, as well as risking tearing holes in the frame.

Do as you suggested- tie the unsprung parts down, and let the suspension work as it's designed to; provided the tires can't move, there won't be enough movement to harm anything.

Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

"Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions"- 311

"Do they all not, by mere virtue of having survived as relics of a bygone era, amass a level of respect perhaps not accorded to them when they were new?"

[sbca96]

If you have ever wiggled a Stude with bias ply tires, the balloon 75
series radials and the low profile performance tires you can see the
difference. If you can get the "give" out of the tires, then there is
not too much side to side movement of the suspension.

I remember wiggling the '74 Dodge Monaco with 215/75R15s on it, I
sware its travel was close to 4 inches. You could REALLY get it going!

Tom

'63 Avanti, zinc plated drilled & slotted 03 Mustang Cobra 13" front disc/98 GT rear brakes, 03 Cobra 17" wheels, GM alt, 97 Z28 leather seats, soon: TKO 5-spd, Ported heads w/SST full flow valves, 'R3' 276 cam, Edelbrock AFB Carb, GM HEI distributor, 8.8mm plug wires

[buddymander]

I dunno..quarter of an inch seems kina tight; I'd give it at least three eighths....

[jlmccuan]

Well, after measuring and remeasuring it was time to put her in the trailer. The tight spot is getting through the doors, but after that she has several inches in each direction. So now she can ride in heated and air conditioned comfort.







Jim

_________1966 Avanti II RQA 0088______________________1963 Avanti R2 63R3152_______________Rabid Snail Racing

[Dick Steinkamp]

Hmmmm....that isn't a car trailer. You should have a lot more room on the sides...the sides will come out to the outside edge of the tires (a full8' wide) on a car trailer and the rear door will be a ramp, not swing out doors.

That is a cargo trailer (maybe built as a concession stand?). It may work to haul the Avanti, but make sure it is stressed for that kind of weight. Also the axles appear to be further forward than they would be on a car trailer. Make sure you can get enough tongue weight to prevent "fishtailing".

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

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[sbca96]

quote:Originally posted by jlmccuan
So now she can ride in heated and air conditioned comfort.

Thats probably better then YOU get riding in her!

Tom

[jlmccuan]

It was a display trailer for Rubbermaid. One of a fleet of 5 they used for trade shows and such. It was built much heavier than a standard cargo trailer. I have a 24' box race trailer as well, but towing it is such a pain. Can't see around it even with mirrors extended and the square front really pushes air at speed. So the idea was to find a trailer that was big enough for the Avanti to fit, but more compact than the race hauler. It is a bit close getting through the doors, though.

Jim

_________1966 Avanti II RQA 0088______________________1963 Avanti R2 63R3152_______________Rabid Snail Racing

[buddymander]

You could always sell sno-cones after you unload it at a show. But that IS a nice trailer--Heck you could rent that out here in Los Angeles for four hundred a month; five hundred with utilities paid..

[jbwhttail]

I know I'm too late for his trip to Indy but, I'd pull ALL of the flourecent light tubes from the ceiling of that trailer. On the way home from Lancaster we had a overhead flourecent light cover fall off on our 56J and dented the cowl(chipping the paint). I'll never tow again with any overhead lights attached.

It is an addiction!

[nels]

Jim, How wide is the trailer at the threshhold and wall to wall. I bet it should tow a lot better than a std car trailer. The other thing that would be nice to do it cut a ft or two off the ceiling height. Probably reduce the frontal area another 20%.
I'll be curious how it compares to yopur std enclosed car trailer as far as mpg and ease of towing.

[BobGlasscock]

Well, Jim, you may have an Avanti, BUT you got a bulletnose trailer!! Yea!!

'50 Champion, 1 family owner