Towing a 2015 Nissan Altima

[slowTA]

I have an 18 foot car trailer and I'm used to towing a third gen Firebird so I have the big tie downs and T hooks (and axle straps that I don't typically use). Just wondering what the preferred tie down points are and if I need to get different hooks.

 

[metaleltr]

Wheel straps are popular. Should be able to find points to use your t hooks.

 

[Iowafox]

Around each wheel, rear axle to each side of the rear end of the flat bed. As long as you have 2 hold downs on each end of the car your towing you will be fine. I will be hauling home a 83 GMC 2500 this weekend on Sunday using this hold down style.

 

[turbodave]

On the newer cars with big open wheels I usually use an axle strap through the wheel on each corner. Just watch that any of the metal hardware isn't going to rub on the wheel or the hooks from the strap aren't digging into the tire anywhere.

If there isn't room through the wheels I generally strap around the front and rear control arms making sure it's in an area that looks substantial like near a rear spring perch if it has them.

I used to haul my fwd car using t-hooks in the frame rail but have stopped doing that after it started tearing in that area. With that method you have to pull the suspension down tight or else the car is bouncing against slack on the hook. It works for an auto transporter, but I found my setup tows much better when I let the car's suspension work in addition to the trailer's.

 

[CraigStu]

When I rented a uhaul trailer it had the webbing capture the tire types for both front tires. There was just a simple chain in back going from one side of the trailer to the other. It was extra long so one could wrap it around an axle or something. I was somewhat surprised because the chain did about the same thing as the safety chains that go from trailer to hitch, that is prevent catastrophic movement. It did nothing to actually hold the car.

 

[swamplife]

Those UHaul trailers are kinda sketchy. Even the netting in the front doesn't do a great job. When I had to use them frequently, I carried my own axle straps and ratchet straps to hook everything up.

 

[slowTA]

Thanks for the comments, to summarize:

-The car has steel wheels with hubcaps so my axle straps won't fit through there, even if they were long enough
-I don't have a uhaul trailer or wheel straps, so those aren't problems/options.
-This will be a 1 time event for me, so I'm not worried about repeated wear on the frame


-Google images is unreliable, it looks like they find undercarriage pictures of ANY car, but you can't specify which one
-according to rockauto pictures the front control arms are aluminum (no sharp stamped steel edges), so I can axle strap them if there are no T slots in the frame or subframe
-the rear arms look like stamped steel, at least they're rounded, but the lowers look really short and have holes or bushings in the middle, so I can't count on those being an option until I see the car