Strapping down an Argo to a trailer

[whitepuff]

hi guys,

I searched the forum and couldn't really find an answer, and didn't want to hi-jack BigMerv's tread on the trailers. What is the best way to strap a argo down on a trailer? I have an Avenger 8x8 and I use 3" webbing straps, with a strap one strap on each wheel on the two front wheels and two back wheels. I am afraid however, due to the avenger's design with the front and back wheels slightly raised form the rest, that this might put to much strain on the axles and bearings while trailoring. I tried to move the straps to the middle wheels but find to little space there to use the ratchet. I don't have a winch on the argo either. Thought of using the trailer hitch as a center anchor point at the rear. The previous owner used to strap it down form the hand railings. I prefer the wheels however. Any thoughts or ideas?

[JoeMeg]

Hello whitepuff,in my opinion,what you are doing sounds sufficient. I wouldn't worry too much about the middle axle thing,tires are soft and should deflect enough.You can always air them down if concerned also. I secure my vehicles to the trailer the same way,axles,not over the body.Unless it would sit for long periods (weeks,months) under tension on the trailer,I wouldn't be too concerned.

Joe.

[jpnewby]

I have a MaxIV and built a winch plate for the front with a clevice on the bottom, and changed the rear hitch to a 2" recessed design. It allows me to strap the front and back and pull down and out on it. Works pretty well for me.


I have however thought about making or buying a set of these. If I could get them in a place (on the trainler) to use on the Max or the Scag mower that would be awesome!

http://www.junglejimsap.com/displayItem.php?pkey=16

[inspcalahan]

On my Avenger, I use the receiver hitch on the rear and the tow loops on the front. Nothing on the wheels or upper body.

[kghills]

When hauling any 6x6 or 8x8 AATV I run a strap over all the axles and hook front and rear on the sides of the trailer. Seems to keep them in place and does not distort the body.

Keith.

[glen1971]

The way the dealer showed me was to take a strap over top of the front axle, under the bottom, then over the other one on the front, then to sthe sides of the trailer.. Same in the back.. Towed mine like that for 5 years with no issues so far.. The new ones have a tie down hook factory mounted on each of the corners at the axles...Not sure if they are after market-able?

[Dan67]

For my Conquest, I have a clevis on the trailer hitch and strap through the clevis. On the front I run a wide strap across the winch plate. Snug enough to hold it but not so much that it pulls the front down. I have the winch support from the frame, that bolts to the winch plate. I am looking to copy the newer factory tow hooks and mount those to the 4 corners.

[Rock Doctor]

I strap to the Hitch Reciever on the back and the winch Fairleed bracket on the front.

RD

[whitepuff]

... The new ones have a tie down hook factory mounted on each of the corners at the axles...Not sure if they are after market-able?

Thanks for the feedback so far. Anyone perhaps have a pick of the new tie down hooks? might be something I'll be able to fabricate locally. In the mean time I'm fooling aournd with some ideas based on the above comments. Like the trailer hitch receiver idea. on point quick and simple. just need to figure out how to do the front as I don't have a winch or winch plate.....yet

[gokorn1]

I just did a 800mile round trip up to Eagle AK and back with 200+miles on dirt roads. I took the winch and wrapped it around the cross member on the trailer tongue. and one strap across the back wrapped around the argos trailer hitch.

[philipatmaxfour]

Thanks for the feedback so far. Anyone perhaps have a pick of the new tie down hooks? might be something I'll be able to fabricate locally. In the mean time I'm fooling aournd with some ideas based on the above comments. Like the trailer hitch receiver idea. on point quick and simple. just need to figure out how to do the front as I don't have a winch or winch plate.....yet

New tie down hooks are good but fasten the same way, on the front, as the snow plow plate ie: under the axle extensions, it seems to work using them to tie on the avenger front and as others have said the hitch in the rear. Some say not to use the winch,fairlead ok but not the winch,Gokorn1 puts the doubt to that advice

[ve1sar]

Strapping down an Argo.

Hi
Here is what I did to hold down my Argo. This may to over kill but works for me.
First I installed wooden blocks for the front tires to come up against. Then I installed an eye bolt in the top body of the argo by removing the lower body bolt that goes through the inside frame below the winch. Install another eye bolt on the floor of the trailer in the middle at the front of the trailer. I then installed a turnbuckle to the eye bolts (your choice of fasteners). Then tighten the Argo to the trailer at the front. At the back of the trailer install another eye bolt. Hook a short cable from the eye bolt to the Argo trailer hitch.
I then installed 4 ratchet straps to the 4 corners of the argo 2 at the front hooked up to the trunbuckle and going to the side of the trailer. Hook up the other 2 ratchet straps at the back from the back cable to the body of trailer. The argo will not move.

Paul

[cajungary]

Argo Tie Down

I like the idea of using the winch plate and the rear hitch. Myck ARGO has a rear rack attached to the hitch insert. When I picked it up the previous owner used the hand rails and seat mounts to tie them down. I need to add more tie downs to my trailer. I tied mine to the rales and used chocks on front and rear. It made the trip from Amarillo to Louisiana just fine. Now if I can only find a set of Muddox Swimming tracks to go on it!

[spookum]

winches, if you read the paper work are NOT TO BE USED A TIE DOWNS!

1. no gaurentee that they will hold

2. if they do, is the third layer of cable tight? what happens if it isnt? if there is 1/4 inch of slack in your winch and you hit a bump your shock loading everythign. a steady, measured load is ok, but a shock load? bad news. beaks winches internaly and welds to... pulls out rivets and raises havoc.

3. the higher angle, vs. down LOW means it can walk side to side on a trailer.

4. you have only ONE fail point. IF the winch FAILS bye bye argo!!!

simple solution is for 4 GOOD QUALITY WELL MAINTANED ratchet straps. IF you take a 500 lb test ratchet strap, tie it to an axel, run it out at an angle (do the front first as it is the most heavy) and get it as tight as you can, the law of angles comes into play. Unelss you take it strait down (i hope you go at an angle) you can assume that 1/2 the force of the pull is forward, the other half is down. each axle would then get loaded with 250 pounds DOWN and 250 lbs forward (or back if you have done the rear now). this is well within the towing/hauling capacity of the argo. if a axle, or bearing fails, i would simply be thankful that it is still on the trailer, as it would have DEFANILTY failed in the bush.

[Rock Doctor]

winches, if you read the paper work are NOT TO BE USED A TIE DOWNS!

1. no gaurentee that they will hold

2. if they do, is the third layer of cable tight? what happens if it isnt? if there is 1/4 inch of slack in your winch and you hit a bump your shock loading everythign. a steady, measured load is ok, but a shock load? bad news. beaks winches internaly and welds to... pulls out rivets and raises havoc.

3. the higher angle, vs. down LOW means it can walk side to side on a trailer.

4. you have only ONE fail point. IF the winch FAILS bye bye argo!!!

simple solution is for 4 GOOD QUALITY WELL MAINTANED ratchet straps. IF you take a 500 lb test ratchet strap, tie it to an axel, run it out at an angle (do the front first as it is the most heavy) and get it as tight as you can, the law of angles comes into play. Unelss you take it strait down (i hope you go at an angle) you can assume that 1/2 the force of the pull is forward, the other half is down. each axle would then get loaded with 250 pounds DOWN and 250 lbs forward (or back if you have done the rear now). this is well within the towing/hauling capacity of the argo. if a axle, or bearing fails, i would simply be thankful that it is still on the trailer, as it would have DEFANILTY failed in the bush.

I would agree with this
I've had to deal with 2 winches that failed due to being used as a Tie-Down. Both were older Warn Winches that did not have any built in Brakes and were designed with plastic internal gearing. Both had the plastic gearing sheared off inside.

RD