car sat for 2 years. how do i bring it up to scratch?

hmm i like this idea of 4WD and car trailer. Itd save me rushing to get things sorted in a day. I could bring it home and worry about repairs later..

Does anyone know specifics about what kind of trailer i could use?

Should i just look around for any car trailer or will the zed struggle to fit on and not scrape along behind with some types.


Ill do a quick search but any experienced advice would help. Thanks for the idea. Would work best for me at this point in time..

 

Id go with this if i were you, no risk of being fined and not that expensive. You can hire car trailers from some servos, and im sure there are other places as well.

 

I have done it a couple of times. You need a car carrier, and I paid about $90 for 24 hours (from a local servo). If the rental company is on the ball (and not all are) they will make sure your car is certified to tow the combined weight or they will refuse rental.

It has to be at least a 4WD with a decent towbar (like a Hayman Reese) to be legit. Electric brakes aren't necessary (and I have never seen a rental car carrier provide them anyway).

With the targa roof and open drivers side window, it is easy to get out of the Zed once you have driven it on. If the car won't go, make sure you get a trailer with a winch. Easy peasy to winch it on.

Always, always, use chains to secure the front and back tow points of the car to the trailer under as much tension as you can manage, or you might find it in the cabin with you if you have to brake. If you take your time to tie it down properly it's a piece of cake.

 

I've had my Zed on a standard car trailer without issue. Just make sure that the weight the trailer is allowed to carry isn't less than what the Zed weighs and that the all up weight is less than what the tow vehicle is rated to.

Hehe, hope that made sense!

Good luck,
Dave.

 

ok got a friend with an old landcruiser who can help.

Anyone know what lengths of chain etc id need?
Alsohiring them from servos, would I just drive around looking for one with a trailer out the side?

 

Good stuff.

There will be rails at the front and back of the car carrier that you can use to chain the car down. Say a couple of metres of chain and a u-bolt for each end of the car. Make sure the U bolt fits through the chain - easy mistake to make.

If you drive around, I am sure you will spot a servo with a car carrier out the front for hire. I know of three in my neighbourhood. Ask around - someone will know one.

 

The last time I rented a trailer was from kennards I think. And they also had the proper chains and dogs too which made life much easier.

Ben

 

awesome.

Theres a servo down the road i can remember having somekind of trailer or ice trailer or something round the side.

Ill have a walk over in a little bit check it out. Also theres a kennards 5 minutes away. I might give them a call if no luck at this servo.

 

excellent. I remembered right. Hired for 6 hours from the servo for 80bucks.

Its got a winch but no chains and stuff.

A few things, do I drive the zed on rear end forward or front end first?

Also if I go and buy chains, where do I chain up? Is the idea to have handbrake on and car in gear chains just there as a safety precaution?

Theres a loop or two either side about where the wheels would be.

Do I just loop it in from there through the rims? Does there need to be tension stopping motion in any particular direction?

Thanks again for the idea. Best option for my timeframe by far.

 

No worries mate.

I use heavy duty ratchet straps to tie mine on trailers. Just use the factory tie down pointsd on all 4 corners of the chassis. And yes leave it in gear with the handbrake on hard.

Mine goes on forwards but it really depends on the height of the front bumper and the trailer design. I see no problem putting it on backwards if that's what it takes. Also I cannot open the door when the Zed is on the trailer so I just remove the drivers side targa and climb out through the roof.

Good luck,
Dave.

 

no idea about these tie-down points. ill get under the car tonight and have a look.

 

How far do you need to tow it? You might be able to book a flat bed tow truck for similar money if it's less than 20km.

 

35kms. Got a few quotes. Cheapest was 180.

 

funny that, around canberra its about the same place to get the truck towed as to hire a car trailer.

(if you know people its cheaper to get the truck to move it)

 

And it's not overly adhered too.

Most Highway police have the same driving principals as street racers, but they have a badge and a superiority complex. The point of that statement is that they'll chase past 150km/h. I've even had one admit that he was doing 240km.h...

 

ok well its all booked in. Im just trying to sort out what to chain it down with...

I got under and couldnt see any points to chain the car down by. Theres the two tow hooks on the rear of the chassis, thats all i found.

Also i only have one 3metre length of chain i guess ill need to go buy some more, or some straps or something..

Can anyone point me in the direction of where to connect to the car though?

 

There will be 2 tie down points underneith the front bumper bar. They're hidden quite well but they should be there.

Personally I don't like to use chain. It has no give (elasticity) to it.. Quality ratchet straps are much kinder to the vehicle as they have a tiny amount of 'give' to them.

Cheers,
Dave.

 

If there are no tie down points on the front you can loop the straps through the front wheels. It's more important to have the rear of the car secured to stop it moving forward in the event of a hard stop or impact. You don't want the car to end up on top of the tow vehicle.

Dave.

 

oh yeah! I remember the two things you mean. They poke through the plastic lining. Its kind of a vertical tab with a hole in it.

Ill go invest in some straps maybe saturday.

Any kind in particular? I know supercheap has a nice range. They had real thick ones (as wide as my arm), and thinner ones (maybe two fingers wide). Would the smaller ones be ok?

 

Hmmm, I'd say the larger straps for the rear tie downs at the very least. Mine are rated at 1500kg each strap and I use 4 of 'em (2 at each end). Try and borrow some off mates if possible. I'm not sure what the Supecheap straps are like but if they're rated they should be ok. Remember the Zed weighs at least 1500kg so you would want to at least double that with tie downs.

Dave.