Will the car make it in?

[RogerR]

i've always assumed that you accelerate to a slightly faster speed than the truck, then put the car in neutral right before you entered the trailer, and coast in, using the breaks as needed.

[Andrew Blair]

I'd say it's definently posible to do, but I wouldn't want to be the guy in the car, or the owner of the car. Reason?

Semi-trailer ramps are steep, and sports cars are low. With some damage to the front of the car and one very rough entry, you could probably make it in.

Other than that, I'd say Elgin's probably got it pretty well down. I hope this won't turn into another "Will the Airplane take off from the treadmill?" thread...

[Cuog]

yes it can be done have u seen the chevy comercials from about a year ago when they had the SSR do it backwards.

And in fear factor teams around the same time they had the driver blidfolded and their partner had to guide them through it. one team did it

and on a smaller scale(I.E. at about 15 mph) i have done the same thing w/ a garden tractor and a utility trailer.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by greencactus3

the 100-0 mph deceleration would be very slow because its ONLY decelerating the rotational inertia. not the whole car's. so with a little rubber mark it should stop easily.

Yes, exactly. The rotational inertia of the two wheels (at a time) is small. The relative speed of the two vehicles is what is important here. Once you hit the ramp, you will have to accelerate to get up the ramp, and stopping once you're in and up will be fairly easy.

Originally Posted by Cuog

and on a smaller scale(I.E. at about 15 mph) i have done the same thing w/ a garden tractor and a utility trailer.

Cool! Why don't YOU live in my neighborhood?

Don

[Cody Carey]

i've always assumed that you accelerate to a slightly faster speed than the truck, then put the car in neutral right before you entered the trailer, and coast in, using the breaks as needed.

I believe that that is exactly right. The pictures of kitt doing it also prove that it is possible, as those are not models

[Jay H 237]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

I'd say it's definently posible to do, but I wouldn't want to be the guy in the car, or the owner of the car. Reason?

Semi-trailer ramps are steep, and sports cars are low. With some damage to the front of the car and one very rough entry, you could probably make it in.

Other than that, I'd say Elgin's probably got it pretty well down. I hope this won't turn into another "Will the Airplane take off from the treadmill?" thread...

I agree with what you said, it can be done.

It would also be rough on the drive line of the car, although not as rough as exiting the truck at speed. A sports car isn't a necessity though, it can be done with almost any vehicle.

Also don't forget that as soon as the car hits the ramp it will lose some momentum due to the upward angle of the ramp, not enough to stop but it will slow down and if you hit the brakes you should be able to stop in the trailer whether it's a 53' or even a 48'.

Most of these regular trailers have an oak floor so you can scab cargo in except for the steel plate in the front over the king pin. Other trailers have an aluminum floor. Then there's also some that the floor is completely covered in rollers, not the type of trailer to pull this stunt with. They do make trailers with low loading heights, not dock height, for enclosed car hauling. These trailers are specifically meant to accomodate different vehicles, similar to this, but I don't think this is the type of trailer you meant for this experiment.

[Bill_Hancoc]

Sure it can be done at a slow speed but at above the speed that you can stop in 60ft it would be essentialy impossible. even with a front wheel drive car you would still be going whatever speed in relation to the truck and no longer to the ground. and when you braked you would be braking the back wheels too and there for almost pulling yourself off the trailer.

[lukevanoort]

I'd say you could do it. My vehicle for it? Some jeep. Lots of ground clearance, not too wide. But, if you screw up... well, that jeep will not be in as good shape as, say, a Corvette. Approach at about 7 mph faster and switch to fwd mode (I assume Jeeps can, I don't know) when the ramp is hit, and drop the rpms. The second the rear wheels are on, brake. It might work. (esp. with aftermarket brakes)

[greencactus3]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

I'd say you could do it. My vehicle for it? Some jeep. Lots of ground clearance, not too wide. But, if you screw up... well, that jeep will not be in as good shape as, say, a Corvette. Approach at about 7 mph faster and switch to fwd mode (I assume Jeeps can, I don't know) when the ramp is hit, and drop the rpms. The second the rear wheels are on, brake. It might work. (esp. with aftermarket brakes)

eh... i disagree. first off a stock jeep wont switch to fwd. and noone i know would ever modify their jeep to do that.
id go with a rwd. roll the front up thats easy enough. and then just go 1mph faster than the trailer and roll up. even if the car is going 101 and the trailer 100, the 100-0 mph deceleration would be very slow because its ONLY decelerating the rotational inertia. not the whole car's. so with a little rubber mark it should stop easily. its prolly harder to do in fwds like minis tho.
stick a linelock in there and mightbe easier. or if its slower speeds go in reverse and parking brake.

[Mike Schroeder]

Should probobly just ask KITT

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Big Mike

Should probobly just ask KITT

I was waiting for that reference... LOL

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by greencactus3

eh... i disagree. first off a stock jeep wont switch to fwd. and noone i know would ever modify their jeep to do that.
id go with a rwd. roll the front up thats easy enough. and then just go 1mph faster than the trailer and roll up. even if the car is going 101 and the trailer 100, the 100-0 mph deceleration would be very slow because its ONLY decelerating the rotational inertia. not the whole car's. so with a little rubber mark it should stop easily. its prolly harder to do in fwds like minis tho.
stick a linelock in there and mightbe easier. or if its slower speeds go in reverse and parking brake.

Okay, I didn't know that. I just know some 4WD vehicles can, and the jeep seems like a good fit in other manners. Now that I think about it more, how about a motorcycle? Be pretty easy in that I'd think.

[greencactus3]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

Okay, I didn't know that. I just know some 4WD vehicles can, and the jeep seems like a good fit in other manners. Now that I think about it more, how about a motorcycle? Be pretty easy in that I'd think.

now that i think about it, jeeps are fine if you have a winch. neutral, and winch it in. apply brakes as needed

[Cuog]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

Okay, I didn't know that. I just know some 4WD vehicles can, and the jeep seems like a good fit in other manners. Now that I think about it more, how about a motorcycle? Be pretty easy in that I'd think.

4 words jessi james monster garage

[Jay H 237]

Originally Posted by Cuog

4 words jessi james monster garage

That's the episode where they modified the Tundra pickup so the passenger side would open up and the motorcycle could come out and then go back in the truck. There was a ramp the motorcycle was on that lowered when the passenger side opened up.