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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
Likes: 319
From: Whittier, CA
I think the Saturn should have factory tie downs below the front bumper. Most cars have them for original transportation to the dealers.
For loading, you want to be sure you have enough weight on the tongue. Normally at least 10%-15% of the total trailer weight. Too little and you can have severe sway problems, bad enough to cause a loss of control. This type of sway usually occurs on a highway downgrade. So you can drive a long distance before you even know you have a problem. You want to avoid this, for sure.
With just the car, I would probably want 2/3 ahead of the axles centerline. And then I would make a judgement call on how much the rear of my truck squatted. It might take some trial and error, and if you have doubts you could visit a scale.
Since you are loading an unknown weight of other goods toward the front, centering the car over the axles might be okay. Again, unless you weigh it, you will have to make a best guess. But I think you will be able to tell.
Incidentally, for 7,000#, you should use a weight distributing hitch. At 6,000#, you are right at the limit without a WDH.
For loading, you want to be sure you have enough weight on the tongue. Normally at least 10%-15% of the total trailer weight. Too little and you can have severe sway problems, bad enough to cause a loss of control. This type of sway usually occurs on a highway downgrade. So you can drive a long distance before you even know you have a problem. You want to avoid this, for sure.
With just the car, I would probably want 2/3 ahead of the axles centerline. And then I would make a judgement call on how much the rear of my truck squatted. It might take some trial and error, and if you have doubts you could visit a scale.
Since you are loading an unknown weight of other goods toward the front, centering the car over the axles might be okay. Again, unless you weigh it, you will have to make a best guess. But I think you will be able to tell.
Incidentally, for 7,000#, you should use a weight distributing hitch. At 6,000#, you are right at the limit without a WDH.
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Junior User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
I think the Saturn should have factory tie downs below the front bumper. Most cars have them for original transportation to the dealers.
For loading, you want to be sure you have enough weight on the tongue. Normally at least 10%-15% of the total trailer weight. Too little and you can have severe sway problems, bad enough to cause a loss of control. This type of sway usually occurs on a highway downgrade. So you can drive a long distance before you even know you have a problem. You want to avoid this, for sure.
With just the car, I would probably want 2/3 ahead of the axles centerline. And then I would make a judgement call on how much the rear of my truck squatted. It might take some trial and error, and if you have doubts you could visit a scale.
Since you are loading an unknown weight of other goods toward the front, centering the car over the axles might be okay. Again, unless you weigh it, you will have to make a best guess. But I think you will be able to tell.
Incidentally, for 7,000#, you should use a weight distributing hitch. At 6,000#, you are right at the limit without a WDH.
For loading, you want to be sure you have enough weight on the tongue. Normally at least 10%-15% of the total trailer weight. Too little and you can have severe sway problems, bad enough to cause a loss of control. This type of sway usually occurs on a highway downgrade. So you can drive a long distance before you even know you have a problem. You want to avoid this, for sure.
With just the car, I would probably want 2/3 ahead of the axles centerline. And then I would make a judgement call on how much the rear of my truck squatted. It might take some trial and error, and if you have doubts you could visit a scale.
Since you are loading an unknown weight of other goods toward the front, centering the car over the axles might be okay. Again, unless you weigh it, you will have to make a best guess. But I think you will be able to tell.
Incidentally, for 7,000#, you should use a weight distributing hitch. At 6,000#, you are right at the limit without a WDH.
no tie down rings in the front of the Saturn but do have that bar that runs in front of the wheels hooking front wheels together, looks like a good place to tie down.
I do know what sway can do had about 1500 lbs of empty bread trays break loose one time and roll to the back of the trailer, I thought it was going to flip but got it under control, never seen so many people get clear of me so fast, since then I stopped buying cheap tie downs.
also have 1500lbs to play with in the box if I wanted to stay down to 6000lbs in the trailer
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
Likes: 319
From: Whittier, CA
I wouldn't do that!!! You'll tear up the front end. Sorry I don't know what is under a Saturn, but find something solid to tie down. Not a steering component. The Saturn owners manual might tell you what to use if you needed to be towed. Use that.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,384
Likes: 1,868
From: Frederick, MD
I would put the driver door of the saturn just in front of your axles myself. Put some stuff in the back seat of the car and trunk and then put the other stuff as it fits.
Don't use the that bar. I think what you are referring to is the steering or something.
Even on these cars there is a bit of a frame up front. You should be able to find something to grab.
Also if you don't think it is secure enough, chalk the tires (all four).
Don't use the that bar. I think what you are referring to is the steering or something.
Even on these cars there is a bit of a frame up front. You should be able to find something to grab.
Also if you don't think it is secure enough, chalk the tires (all four).
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Junior User
Joined: May 2011
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I am going to have to lift it up and take a look its suppose to have T-hook slots but can't find them and almost impossible to find any thing online for a 2002 sc2 since Saturn are the number one car pulled behind a motor home thats all you can find online about towing them. Plus its only about 4 inches off the ground and i have a hard time looking underneath.
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