Loading/Unloading with a winch.

[CSX 4133]

My trailer has a winch which I mainly use to load cars, my question is has anyone found a safe/secure place to attach a tow strap to their Cobra without damaging it?
The winch fairlead sits low enough I've thought about running a strap underneath the frame and attaching my winch line to it. But I'm leery I'd scrape the front valance in doing so, so does anyone have a better suggestion?

~Steven

[1795]

Steve,

I attach a strap to one of the quick jacks up front and use it to winch the cobra on and off the trailer when I am going to the races. I have not had any issue with it yet and it has been on and off the trailer numerous times.



For racing I have to have a strap permanently mounted, but you could get away with a strong strap looped through the quick jack.

Jim

[CSX 4133]

Thank you Jim, I considered the quick jacks but dismissed that idea thinking they were not designed for pulling forward but rather straight up. I'll give it a try with one of my soft loop straps, thanks again.

[1795]

The quick jacks on originals would bend a little when used to lift and would do some minor distortion to the body work, but they do not bend or distort when pulled on a rolling car. I would not try to lift a car by one or pull it with frozen wheels.

[Mark IV]

The quick jacks are MUCH stronger in tension as opposed to shear. They should not be used to jack, but are fine for pulling. As Jim noted, they bend upwards when jacked on and the original Shelby race cars all had alloy damage when jacked. The mounts were designed for the overiders to take small impacts in a horizontal plane, not forces in a vertical plane.

So go ahead and put a strap though them too winch away!

[CSX 4133]

Thanks to all for the replies, much appreciated.