Don Goebel has outfitted his...
Don Goebel has outfitted his enclosed Featherlite 24-foot trailer for safety, not only for the car but also for himself and others. These round Styrofoam wraps are used to cover the door cables. When not in use, they're stored in a plastic gun rack, purchased from Wal-Mart, and bolted to the interior of the trailer.
It's not easy to impress Mustang Club of America technical consultant Bob Perkins. But that's exactly what Don Goebel did when he delivered Christopher Lemp's '69 Mach 1 to Perkins Restoration for the last year's MCA judges meeting. Not only was Bob impressed with the restoration of the CJ Mach by Goebel's Performance Corner restoration shop, he was also impressed by Goebel's method of securing the Mustang inside his enclosed Featherlite trailer.
As an MCA judge, Bob has seen the damage that can be inflicted by straps and hooks on the perfectly detailed undersides of concours Mustangs. Even worse, an improperly secured Mustang can move around within the trailer, causing damage to bumpers, fenders, and quarter-panels. Goebel's system securely ties down the Mustang while also preventing damage to the undercarriage and suspension. He even outfits his trailer to prevent damage to the person loading the car.
Don has also covered all sharp...
Don has also covered all sharp edges with wind lace, as used on vintage Mustang interiors. "I put it around the spare tire rack, doors, and even the cabinets up front," Don told us. "That way, you won't cut your hand or anything." He also safety chains the spare tire to the rack to prevent it from falling onto the car.
"One other thing I would recommend is quality straps," Don says. "Always use the best ones you can buy-not the ones you find at swap meets." Don uses straps, hooks, and ratchets made by Mac's Tie-Downs, which offers straps in standard or custom lengths. "They're made in the USA," Don adds, "and they're the best straps I've ever owned. They sell them individually or in kits, and they'll usually throw in a duffle bag to put it all in."
Bob Perkins adds a couple of other tips: "If your Mustang is still equipped with the factory tie-downs at the rear, don't cross the straps when using them as tie-downs because they can bend. I saw a Boss 302 one time where the hook bent so much that it punctured the side of the gas tank. Also, don't load the springs. Truck drivers think the car should not move, so they load the springs so tight that sometimes they collapse. That's just the way the truck industry does it, but they're not hauling show cars."
Of course, you will need to adapt your tie-down procedures and equipment to your specific Mustang and trailer, but the guidelines here from Don Goebel and Bob Perkins should give you some ideas to protect your Mustang when hauling it to shows.
If the Mustang runs, it can...
If the Mustang runs, it can be driven onto the trailer. However, there are often times when a Mustang must be loaded with a winch. To protect finishes, Don recommends wrapping the cloth portion of two straps around the strut rods, then hooking the winch cable to the strap hooks at the center. Getting the cable as low as possible is particularly important for Mustangs with a front spoiler.
It's important to make sure...
It's important to make sure the car is centered in the trailer. Here, car owner Christopher Lemp guides his '69 Mach 1 onto the trailer as Don operates the winch.
Don hauls mostly Mustangs,...
Don hauls mostly Mustangs, so he's got loading down to a science. A permanently mounted hard plastic stop and a tire wedge help Don position the Mustang correctly before strapping down the front. Notice the diamond plating underneath the tire. Both Don and Bob Perkins say it's needed or else the car could slide on the vinyl flooring. "Then you've got a big crimp in your vinyl too," Don points out. "I learned that one the hard way."
Don prefers to use a pair...
Don prefers to use a pair of straps on each side at the front, a short one at the trailer D-ring and a longer one wrapped around the strut rods, which are tied together with a short length of chain and a turn-buckle.
As this shot from the lift...
As this shot from the lift shows, Don wraps the straps around the front of the strut rods. This way, the springs aren't loaded. "You want to make sure you use a sleeve protector because it has a tendency to cut into the strap a little bit. If the car is perfectly centered, it shouldn't be a problem at all."
Bob Perkins prefers to wrap...
Bob Perkins prefers to wrap the front straps around the lower control arms. This works just as well but requires longer straps.