Transporting a M38

93vetteguy · Post by **93vetteguy** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:39 pm

I may have the fortune of transporting a M38 800 miles this weekend. The trailer will be a two axel open air transport.

Is there anything special that you would recommend doing with the Windshield?

Do you transport the windshield up or down?

Do you wrap the windshield to protect it from stone damage?

Thank you for your assistance

frankthecrank58 · Post by **frankthecrank58** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:30 pm

when i hauled mine home 450 miles, i had the windshield folded down and strapped so it wouldn't rattle around.i never put anything in front of the jeep to safeguard against stones or anything but a tarp at this time of year may keep road grime off of yours. happy hauling!

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:31 pm

I transport my M-38 CDN on a 16 ft utility trailer, I use 2 5000lb straps tied in an X pattern using the lifting shackles to hold it in place. On the windsield I plce a piece of 3/8" plywood wrapped in canvas on the windshield, it is in the down positin and I use a couple of 1 1/2 inch x 2 inch boards to help hold the plywood down and use 1" straps to hold the windshield and plywood down.

I use the plywood due to loosing a windshield glass in a hail storm the night before departing for a show...

I have transported my M-38 CDN from OKC, OK to Portland, Me and back in this manner without a problem...

I always check my straps and tie downs at every stop for safety sake...

Hope this helps...

frankthecrank58 · Post by **frankthecrank58** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:41 pm

ditto on the tie downs and checking them frequently. i just assumed that part. never assume.

93vetteguy · Post by **93vetteguy** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:50 pm

Thanks for your quick responses.

I appreciate it!

Post by **wesk** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:38 pm

On wood deck trailers I carry a dozen short pieces (12"-16") of 2x4's and some long deck screws and a battery powered drill/driver. I screw the 2x4's directly to the deck ahead of both front tires, behind both rear tires and against the outboard sidewall of all four tires. Cuts down on a lot of the rocking and sliding motion. Set the parking brake and tie the steering wheel straight ahead. A large rectangular piece of high density foam between the windshield hood blocks at least 2 to 3" taller than the gap.

Congrats on your new jeep. I will email you our survey form to fill out.

timjuhl · Post by **timjuhl** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:44 am

On my M38A1 I do much as the others have recommended with a few modifications.

I have a couple of 4 x 4's screwed to the bed in front of the front wheels that I drive the Jeep up to while loading. Obviously you want to make sure there is sufficient weight on the tongue without overloading it and the 4 x 4's remove the guesswork.

Using axle straps and heavy duty ratchet straps my main tiedowns are to the front and rear axles. You don't have to worry much about the straps becoming loose from the suspension shifting like you would if you attach to the lifting shackles but you should nonetheless still check everything when you stop.

For backup I have a heavy duty ratchet strap attached to the rear pintle hitch and another to one of the front frame-mounted tiedown brackets.

I have not hauled it as far as some of you routinely do but it has made a few trips of several hundred miles without issue. I do tie the windshield down, first wrapping the windshield supports with pieces of foam tubing like they insulate water pipes with. I also never haul it with the canvas top in place.

I've had to brake heavily a couple of times with the Jeep on the trailer and from what I could see, everything stayed where it was supposed to.

Good luck with your trip!

Tim

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:56 am

Ive never flat deck trailered a vehicle only on U-haul type trailer, but I have always heard that you secure the wheels to the trailer and let the suspension stay active. That can be done by securing the axles. If secured to the frame, the securing straps are contantly getting various forces on them.

DMCarpenter · Post by **DMCarpenter** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:50 pm

My .02 is just the old 60/40 rule, 60% of the weight forward, 40% aft.

Dave

93vetteguy · Post by **93vetteguy** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:18 pm

wesk wrote:Congrats on your new jeep. I will email you our survey form to fill out.

Thanks to everyone for all the great advise. She made it to Florida safely. The previous owner took great care of her.

Wes,

I did not receive your e-mail with the surey form. Is it the one in the download section updated 7/10/2011? If so, I can print it and start to fill it out for you. The MC number is not currently in your database.

Thanks again!

Post by **wesk** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:15 pm

I just sent it to you.

Transporting a M38

Transporting a M38

towing