Tow point for tow strap?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 33
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From: Connecticut
Car: 1985 Chevy Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: Chevy 350 w/ Vortec heads
Transmission: 700R-4
Axle/Gears: Stock 2.73
Tow point for tow strap?
I understand this question has probably been asked before, however my situation is a little different. My Camaro has been sitting in an outside parking lot at a storage place for a little over a year now. Working on it outdoors is just not practical, when there are cars on both sides of it. I live in an apartment and the landlord says no working on cars so that's why it's there. Anyway, it doesn't run, engine is disconnected from tranny and is ready to be yanked out. I just got a 10ftx25ft drive up storage unit that I plan on moving it into so I can finish an engine swap. The unit is about 500ft from where it's parked, almost a straight shot, however it's icy and about 20°f out and me and my dad have tried to push the car before and that didn't go so well, so I was wondering where the best spot would be to attach a tow strap and pull it at least 80% of the way with my pickup. Should I tie it around the rear axle or something? I'm aware that there are tow points on the a frames, but...those are a little sketchy. Any suggestions are valid and greatly appreciated, no matter how red neck they seem to be. The goal is to get it out of the space by the 26th so I don't get charged $135 for another month for an outdoor parking space (
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,028
Likes: 93
From: DC Metro Area
Car: 87TA 87Form 71Mach1 93FleetWB 04Cum
Re: Tow point for tow strap?
No matter how *******? What you need is a case of beer...
Does the car have to go forward or backward? (you mentioned axle as a tow point, but for now I'll mostly assume forward, or you can position it so it's forward)
If the truck has a front or rear hitch receiver, I'd take some 2" box tube that will fit in the receiver and weld a flat plate to the front of it (If you don't have access to a welder any muffler shop should be able to do it in like 5 minutes), attach a piece of plywood or decent board to the front of it and cover it in carpet, floor mats... whatever just to cushion things a little. Get that all lined up with the back bumper and start slowly pushing should work OK unless you have too many bumps and hills. In a pinch you could get creative with some angle iron and bolts if you don't want to spend the time getting it welded, and if you don't have a receiver and the truck isn't too tall you can probably just hang the mats/carpet/blankets/whatever over the front bumper and use that to push (as long as we're talking about a real truck, not something new with a lot of plastic on the front).
If you're mostly OK and just have a few bumps to get over that you can't push over you can do that with a set of wheel chocks, a jack and a ramp- push it forward as far as you can, chock a wheel to keep it from rolling back, jack a tire, put the ramp under it facing up the bump/hill, take the jack and chock(s) out, let it roll down the ramp (and up the hill), chock and repeat. I've "pushed" a few cars up a 30' driveway by myself that was too steep for 5 people to push the car up normally. FWIW, you can usually push harder by pushing to rotate a tire than just pushing on the back of the car, at least for short distances.
If you just want to pull it, a tow strap around the sway bars should be enough as long as your gentle (you could definitely bend them if you start yanking, but a gradual gentle pull won't hurt anything, otherwise around the K-member, through one of the control arm holes (in the center of the spring) on the front or around the axle in the back is probably the sturdiest place. Don't try the bumper supports, they're only held on with a few spot welds and I'm betting that those spot welds are mostly rusted away on a CT car, you'll rip the bumper right off. If you have a low front air dam or can't find a low enough spot to tie to the truck (I typically use something like a >6" drop hitch), you can always go up, flip the drop hitch over or use a rear bumper hole and open the hood and tie the other end to a bolt on the top of the engine or even one of the strut towers.
If you have any kind of lawn tractor, quad or golf cart any of these ideas are easier than with a truck since it's easier to attach to and easier to get out of the way. Golf carts usually have really nice bumpers for pushing and not doing damage Even another car will work if you can find somewhere to tie to.
There are like 600 ways to do this, I might suggest something different depending on what you have and what the actual situation is.
Does the car have to go forward or backward? (you mentioned axle as a tow point, but for now I'll mostly assume forward, or you can position it so it's forward)
If the truck has a front or rear hitch receiver, I'd take some 2" box tube that will fit in the receiver and weld a flat plate to the front of it (If you don't have access to a welder any muffler shop should be able to do it in like 5 minutes), attach a piece of plywood or decent board to the front of it and cover it in carpet, floor mats... whatever just to cushion things a little. Get that all lined up with the back bumper and start slowly pushing should work OK unless you have too many bumps and hills. In a pinch you could get creative with some angle iron and bolts if you don't want to spend the time getting it welded, and if you don't have a receiver and the truck isn't too tall you can probably just hang the mats/carpet/blankets/whatever over the front bumper and use that to push (as long as we're talking about a real truck, not something new with a lot of plastic on the front).
If you're mostly OK and just have a few bumps to get over that you can't push over you can do that with a set of wheel chocks, a jack and a ramp- push it forward as far as you can, chock a wheel to keep it from rolling back, jack a tire, put the ramp under it facing up the bump/hill, take the jack and chock(s) out, let it roll down the ramp (and up the hill), chock and repeat. I've "pushed" a few cars up a 30' driveway by myself that was too steep for 5 people to push the car up normally. FWIW, you can usually push harder by pushing to rotate a tire than just pushing on the back of the car, at least for short distances.
If you just want to pull it, a tow strap around the sway bars should be enough as long as your gentle (you could definitely bend them if you start yanking, but a gradual gentle pull won't hurt anything, otherwise around the K-member, through one of the control arm holes (in the center of the spring) on the front or around the axle in the back is probably the sturdiest place. Don't try the bumper supports, they're only held on with a few spot welds and I'm betting that those spot welds are mostly rusted away on a CT car, you'll rip the bumper right off. If you have a low front air dam or can't find a low enough spot to tie to the truck (I typically use something like a >6" drop hitch), you can always go up, flip the drop hitch over or use a rear bumper hole and open the hood and tie the other end to a bolt on the top of the engine or even one of the strut towers.
If you have any kind of lawn tractor, quad or golf cart any of these ideas are easier than with a truck since it's easier to attach to and easier to get out of the way. Golf carts usually have really nice bumpers for pushing and not doing damage Even another car will work if you can find somewhere to tie to.
There are like 600 ways to do this, I might suggest something different depending on what you have and what the actual situation is.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Car: 1985 Chevy Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: Chevy 350 w/ Vortec heads
Transmission: 700R-4
Axle/Gears: Stock 2.73
Re: Tow point for tow strap?
No matter how *******? What you need is a case of beer...
Does the car have to go forward or backward? (you mentioned axle as a tow point, but for now I'll mostly assume forward, or you can position it so it's forward)
If the truck has a front or rear hitch receiver, I'd take some 2" box tube that will fit in the receiver and weld a flat plate to the front of it (If you don't have access to a welder any muffler shop should be able to do it in like 5 minutes), attach a piece of plywood or decent board to the front of it and cover it in carpet, floor mats... whatever just to cushion things a little. Get that all lined up with the back bumper and start slowly pushing should work OK unless you have too many bumps and hills. In a pinch you could get creative with some angle iron and bolts if you don't want to spend the time getting it welded, and if you don't have a receiver and the truck isn't too tall you can probably just hang the mats/carpet/blankets/whatever over the front bumper and use that to push (as long as we're talking about a real truck, not something new with a lot of plastic on the front).
If you're mostly OK and just have a few bumps to get over that you can't push over you can do that with a set of wheel chocks, a jack and a ramp- push it forward as far as you can, chock a wheel to keep it from rolling back, jack a tire, put the ramp under it facing up the bump/hill, take the jack and chock(s) out, let it roll down the ramp (and up the hill), chock and repeat. I've "pushed" a few cars up a 30' driveway by myself that was too steep for 5 people to push the car up normally. FWIW, you can usually push harder by pushing to rotate a tire than just pushing on the back of the car, at least for short distances.
If you just want to pull it, a tow strap around the sway bars should be enough as long as your gentle (you could definitely bend them if you start yanking, but a gradual gentle pull won't hurt anything, otherwise around the K-member, through one of the control arm holes (in the center of the spring) on the front or around the axle in the back is probably the sturdiest place. Don't try the bumper supports, they're only held on with a few spot welds and I'm betting that those spot welds are mostly rusted away on a CT car, you'll rip the bumper right off. If you have a low front air dam or can't find a low enough spot to tie to the truck (I typically use something like a >6" drop hitch), you can always go up, flip the drop hitch over or use a rear bumper hole and open the hood and tie the other end to a bolt on the top of the engine or even one of the strut towers.
If you have any kind of lawn tractor, quad or golf cart any of these ideas are easier than with a truck since it's easier to attach to and easier to get out of the way. Golf carts usually have really nice bumpers for pushing and not doing damage Even another car will work if you can find somewhere to tie to.
There are like 600 ways to do this, I might suggest something different depending on what you have and what the actual situation is.
Does the car have to go forward or backward? (you mentioned axle as a tow point, but for now I'll mostly assume forward, or you can position it so it's forward)
If the truck has a front or rear hitch receiver, I'd take some 2" box tube that will fit in the receiver and weld a flat plate to the front of it (If you don't have access to a welder any muffler shop should be able to do it in like 5 minutes), attach a piece of plywood or decent board to the front of it and cover it in carpet, floor mats... whatever just to cushion things a little. Get that all lined up with the back bumper and start slowly pushing should work OK unless you have too many bumps and hills. In a pinch you could get creative with some angle iron and bolts if you don't want to spend the time getting it welded, and if you don't have a receiver and the truck isn't too tall you can probably just hang the mats/carpet/blankets/whatever over the front bumper and use that to push (as long as we're talking about a real truck, not something new with a lot of plastic on the front).
If you're mostly OK and just have a few bumps to get over that you can't push over you can do that with a set of wheel chocks, a jack and a ramp- push it forward as far as you can, chock a wheel to keep it from rolling back, jack a tire, put the ramp under it facing up the bump/hill, take the jack and chock(s) out, let it roll down the ramp (and up the hill), chock and repeat. I've "pushed" a few cars up a 30' driveway by myself that was too steep for 5 people to push the car up normally. FWIW, you can usually push harder by pushing to rotate a tire than just pushing on the back of the car, at least for short distances.
If you just want to pull it, a tow strap around the sway bars should be enough as long as your gentle (you could definitely bend them if you start yanking, but a gradual gentle pull won't hurt anything, otherwise around the K-member, through one of the control arm holes (in the center of the spring) on the front or around the axle in the back is probably the sturdiest place. Don't try the bumper supports, they're only held on with a few spot welds and I'm betting that those spot welds are mostly rusted away on a CT car, you'll rip the bumper right off. If you have a low front air dam or can't find a low enough spot to tie to the truck (I typically use something like a >6" drop hitch), you can always go up, flip the drop hitch over or use a rear bumper hole and open the hood and tie the other end to a bolt on the top of the engine or even one of the strut towers.
If you have any kind of lawn tractor, quad or golf cart any of these ideas are easier than with a truck since it's easier to attach to and easier to get out of the way. Golf carts usually have really nice bumpers for pushing and not doing damage Even another car will work if you can find somewhere to tie to.
There are like 600 ways to do this, I might suggest something different depending on what you have and what the actual situation is.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,421
Likes: 2,084
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Tow point for tow strap?
I don't push cars, that's hard work. I roll the tires with my hands. That's way easier than pushing. One person on each tire and you can move that car almost anywhere with little effort.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,028
Likes: 93
From: DC Metro Area
Car: 87TA 87Form 71Mach1 93FleetWB 04Cum
Re: Tow point for tow strap?
My truck isn't anything fancy, a 1989 GMC C1500 2wd, that's in a better condition than the Camaro. I was considering putting an old tire between the trucks front bumper and the camaros rear and having my dad steer it, but that's probably the most red neck way to do it. I don't have a hitch receiver, just one of those ball receivers hooked up to the rear bumper that comes with it stock (I think). I've used it to drag plenty of things, but not a dead car. I was considering tying off to the engine block through the hood but wasn't sure if I'd break anything (not that I care, that engine is a pos). The k member is the thing the engine mounts to, correct? That's one of the more sturdier parts of the car, and because of these ct roads, the bumper is not an option. The only trouble is if my hitch is low enough... I am also low on funds so I can't get too fancy with all these hitches and whatnot. The ground is paved and mostly flat, but there is a slight curve, which makes me think towing it is the better option, as opposed pushing. I can make it go backwards or forwards, whatever works. I'm glad other people have experience in pushing dead cars around a lot...
Yea, I had that somewhere in my long-winded reply... pushing on a tire really beats pushing on a bumper or breaking a taillight...
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,421
Likes: 2,084
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Tow point for tow strap?
If you just want to tug it across a parking lot then strap to the front a-arm on the car and something really low on the truck such as the rear axle tube or a drop hitch. That'll keep the strap from ruining the front aero under the car. It's just a parking lot, don't need to be DOT legal. Hardly takes any force, go slow and be gentle. No problem!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Car: 1985 Chevy Camaro Sport Coupe
Engine: Chevy 350 w/ Vortec heads
Transmission: 700R-4
Axle/Gears: Stock 2.73
Re: Tow point for tow strap?
Pushing is easier if you need to get it in somewhere, and a tire is a good idea, just hang it in front of the bumper and cover it with a blanket (it will keep the tire from sticking to the paint and screwing it up). Any of the 3/8" or bigger bolts on the top of the engine will be strong enough to tow it by, and even if the motor mounts are completely wrecked, they interlock so there is no way to completely pull them apart. The K-member is the part that bolts to the bottom of the body, the suspension bolts to the bottom of it, the engine to the top. It's probably the most durable part attached to the car.
Yea, I had that somewhere in my long-winded reply... pushing on a tire really beats pushing on a bumper or breaking a taillight...
Yea, I had that somewhere in my long-winded reply... pushing on a tire really beats pushing on a bumper or breaking a taillight...
If you just want to tug it across a parking lot then strap to the front a-arm on the car and something really low on the truck such as the rear axle tube or a drop hitch. That'll keep the strap from ruining the front aero under the car. It's just a parking lot, don't need to be DOT legal. Hardly takes any force, go slow and be gentle. No problem!
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