Towing Model A
 

Is it a complete no no to tow a Model A with a car dolly rear wheels on the pavement?

Re: Towing Model A
 

I don't see why it would be a problem.

Re: Towing Model A
 

I would think the question is how far you are going to tow it. A long distance would seem like a lot of wear on the rear end, speedo cable gears, speedo, tranny, etc.

Re: Towing Model A
 

I do not plan to take the car too far maybe 25 miles from home and parades. I wanted an option to get it home if for some reason she decided to die. A car dolly is cheaper and smaller to store than a complete all four wheels off the ground trailer. I have been threw this before and many new cars do not want to be towed this way because of lack of lubrication in the tranny probably a whole different story for a Model A.

Re: Towing Model A
 

it is OK, put the trans in neutral. the 1st gear in the trans splashes oil around and lubes the whole trans. i've flat-towed for many miles.

Re: Towing Model A
 

My family has flat towed many early fords from the new england/ new york area to NJ with no problems. The driveshaft was left connected.

The more important question is about your state laws and enforcement. Many states have laws requiring braking for anything you tow over certain weights. This has caused people to get tow dollies or use trailers.

I mention the laws as there are various stories by guy who ended up having to pay someone to tow cars after the police stopped them. These laws and enforcement vary widely by state. You can go to a RV website to learn the laws.

Re: Towing Model A
 

You could always join AAA and have them carry it home for you IF "she decided to die". Solve your storage problem also.

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Well maybe a tow bar is the best solution its even cheaper and takes up a lot less room. Is there something out there one can buy or does it have to be specially made? Can you hook it to the front axle? Do you need to tie or lock the steering wheel or let it do what it wants? A tow bar is a great idea never thought of that. BTW we do have the basic triple A will they will flat bed these cars home with the basic AAA

Re: Towing Model A
 

I have towed with a tow bar many times. This has come up before on the Barn and everyone has a thought about the matter. The tow bar mounts to the front bumper and I remove the drag link. The car tracks and turns just fine. Don't have to remove anything else. If I recall from a past post someone mentioned their concern over the whole weight of the car basically being pulled by the front bumper clamps, but I use originals and just have not ever had a problem, and that includes towing a car from Washington State to Long Beach CA and back.

Re: Towing Model A
 

I have thousands of miles on my towbars, but I wouldn't tow a Model A by the front bumper. I would remove the bumper clamps and run bolts through the bumper braces. I've never had to remove the steering drag link.

Some time back someone reported the tranny jumped into first gear (or was left in 1st gear) while towing and wiped out the engine.

Re: Towing Model A
 

Sounds good to me what kind of tow bar do you have? Has it been modified for the Model A? I assume you hang some lights off the back.

Re: Towing Model A
 

just something to think about.
If you were to Tow hundreds of miles, I wouldn't with the rear wheels on the ground.
Why? Because with the transmission in Neutral and the engine off the only thing turning inside is the mainshaft. All of the gears would be stopped. If no gears are turning there will be No lubrication splashing around to keep the mainshaft lubed. It is possible to have the mainshaft seize with one of the gears not turning. It usually is first gear. I've seen a few Muncie 4 speeds do this over the years.
You would have to be towing several hundred miles before things would get hot I believe.

Re: Towing Model A
 

I think the gears on the mainshaft would turn with it but I think the level of the gear lube is below them so oiling is a problem. I have towed with a towbar 800 miles but I overfilled the trans. by removing the tower.

Re: Towing Model A
 

AAA sounds like a great idea !
Wayne

Re: Towing Model A
 

basic triple A only tows you for a few miles-the deluxe triple A gives you 4 one hundred mile tows a year-a great deal and no worries about carrying around all that equipment.

Re: Towing Model A
 

Why not make your car dependable enough to drive? 25 miles isn't very far. Carry a few tools and some spares of items like a distributor. Its a Model A they are a fairly simple car to diagnosis and repair. I can't imagine not being able to take my coupe for a 25 mile drive. We as a collective FordBarn community are here to support you, lets get that car dependable. I do carry a 150 mile tow policy just in case though. Also for flat towing a VW bug tow bar works great, it just need to be notched a little to fit the I beam axle vs the tube that its designed for.

Re: Towing Model A
 

Better yet, through my antique insurance I added flat bed towing on for just a few extra dollars each year. Up to 50 miles at no charge. Was a no brainer for me. :D

Re: Towing Model A
 

Tiny (post # 17) "Why not make your car dependable enough to drive?"
_________________________________

Sounds nice Tiny. However, I have noticed at the INDY 500 races (and others), that although they have a $150,000 dollar car, and a expertly honed crew of six to-notch 'pit' mechanics - that (somehow) the car is NOT always dependable enough to drive the full measure of the course.

Apparently it has to do with 'the nature of the beast'; 'Murphy's Law', serendipity, 'bad luck', etc., etc.

There is no such thing as a car that is completely dependable. NASA's space program tells us that.

- Doug Vieyra, former astonaught, brain sturgeon, vaudevillian

Re: Towing Model A
 

I had occasion to tow using the bumper brackets and one broke in the first 10 FEET--it was a re pop and I didn't know it! They looked good but how do you tell Ford parts from the really bad--they look the same. The other Ford bracket held and I managed to get it stopped without breaking the car. Beware,

Towing Model A
 

Along about 1970, While pulling up the Priest Grade (the old Stage Coach road & the steepest grade in California) up the old one-lane road crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains from California to Nevada, My friend in his 1925 Chevrolet was resting at the top of the grade, while I, in my 1930 Ford Coupe continued to stuggle up the grade (with my 52 horse powered 'C' engine) .

Upon reaching the top of the grade, with water boiling out the top of my radiator and steam shooting six foot high, my friend walked over with a sack in hand. "Here", he said, as he handed my a 12 foot long 'Tow Rope'. It had been spliced with loops at each end, to attach to each car. He had each loop tagged - one end said 'Chevrolet - Rear'. The other loop had been tagged, "Ford - Front".

We still speak.

- Doug Vieyra, humble servant of two Ford Model A's

Re: Towing Model A
 

Doug race cars are a totally different breed, vehicles bored and stroked pushed the the limits of sanity and mechanical dependability. A stock A on the other hand should be a vehicle that can be depended on to make a short 25 mile trip. I've read where you have driven your phaeton all over the place back in the last century. Was that not before big parts houses and endless supplies of new parts available to us now? I doubt you had towing coverage or a trailer or dolly as a back up. I'm going to guess you carried some spare parts and a toolbox. My car has broke down a few times since I brought it home. Always with in a few miles of the house too, so yes it happens. The first time the wire between the key switch and distributor shorted out. I did not have the parts to fix it and came home on a rope with the help of a friend. I now have a wire with an alligator clip on the end to solve this issue should it arise again. The last time I was stranded I was able to take the carb apart and repair the issue. This has been a pretty long winded way of getting to my point but stick with me I'm almost there.
If you are proactive with maintenance and replace the warn out parts on your car and keep it in a good state of tune a 25 mile trip should be filled with pleasure not worry. I've always driven my old cars. I don't mean any of this to be negative toward anyone, including you or the OP more encouraging. A car you worry about all the time is no fun

Re: Towing Model A
 

In neutral the cluster doesn't tun while being towed. It turns with the main drive gear.

Re: Towing Model A
 

I vote for call a tow company. In one hour I bet you would have many
people wanting to help for free. 100$ or 200$ or 1500$ dolly 5000$
for trailer. Use your expendable money and put in you A. Make it more
dependable . Your A will love you for it!!!

Re: Towing Model A
 

OK, so which is it? :confused:

Re: Towing Model A
 

it spins but just not with a driven force because the trans is disengaged in neutral..

its called gear roll over

tbirdtbird is correct

Re: Towing Model A
 

to answer the original question i wouldnt see a problem dollying it 25 miles...
and i wouldnt blame you if you didnt want the AAA monkeys to touch your car

Re: Towing Model A
 

I agree with Tiny.
I wouldn't even leave the yard unless I knew my car was ready for a trip. Things can and do happen, but a spare fan belt, coil and condenser should take care of most troubles. Maybe throw in a couple clip leads about 6' long. I guess with today's inner tubes, you might want a spare one or two of them also.

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I don't think the cluster gear would spin in cold 600 gear lube until the main transmission drive shaft bearing started to seize between the main drive gear and the main shaft. be careful and don't ruin your transmission. I have 5 apart (rebuilding) at this moment and believe I am telling you the truth.

Re: Towing Model A
 

The cluster gear is geared to the INPUT shaft, so it only turns when the engine turns. I guess you could block the clutch pedal down and shift to third gear, then it would splash oil around. Or you could run the engine every so often to splash the oil. 25 miles on a towbar sould be fine though. The tranny beaing between the input and output shaft should do fine for that distance.

Again, I would just drive the car and if you break down, call for a tow or fix it with some spare parts you carry.

Re: Towing Model A
 

I vote to drive it too. You most likely bought it to drive, and they want to go, so spend your time and money on making a nice reliable ride.

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An early VW Bug tow bar hooks around the front axle and works great for at least 300 miles.....at least mine did.

Re: Towing Model A
 

Why not put the rear of car on dolly and tie steer wheel ?

Re: Towing Model A
 

Here's an inside look at the tranny. Actually it looks like the second gear might be large enough to reach the oil, and since it spins when the car moves, it could sling some oil around. To be sure it reaches the oil, you could put a short pipe extension in the fill hole and add one more inch of gear oil, then screw a cap on it.

I towed 3 Studebakers each 1500 miles from El Paso to Minneapolis in 1970 and never gave a thought to tranny lubrication. They drove fine after the tows.

As mentioned, driving it is the best way to go.

Re: Towing Model A
 

Fitting a tow bar to a Model A is a piece of cake. Contrary to some posts here, you do not need to remove the drag link or tie down the steering wheel. I've towed a CJ-8 from San Diego to Telluride a couple of times a year with a tow bar without any drama. In the late '30's, guys would pull Model A's over the Grapevine to the dry lakes with Tow bars made out of old wishbones. I've had two ocassions that I had to call my wife to bring the truck and the tow bar due to issues.

Don't over think this!

Re: Towing Model A
 

What highway is this on?

Re: Towing Model A
 

Regular inspection and preventative maintenance can help you to avoid problems like this.
That being said I would not do that repair along side the road either. I would call the hook to come get me

Re: Towing Model A
 

Tiny - post # 23 "Doug race cars are a totally different breed"
__________________________

Yes, Tiny, that is true. As are Space Shuttles. And the Titanic, and the Luisitania. However, the premise is the same. Now matter how much we prepare, there is a possibility that things can go wrong.

I have never forgotten the Boy Scout Motto, "BE PREPARED". It has served a great many people very well for over a century. And Ernest Shakleton is my hero and my inspiration.

And I too am a GREAT believer of AAA - the American Automobile Club of America, and the peace of mind that comes with their tow service. While 'chewing gum and bailing wire, and spit and electrical tape' are often time sufficient to solve a problem, I am a great fan and believer in calling a AAA tow truck to rescue me if needed. That is a great insurance 'safety net' that gives me strong peace of mind.

Another GREAT tool that often helps us (especially in far distant places - far from home) is the current edition of the MAFCA Membership rooster. I'm sure MARC must have one too. When your own 'self-sufficient' , 'Be Prepared' falls short - a fellow member can give both mechanical and psychological help.

And, YES, Tiny - when I travel my Ford Model A is a mini parts house, including Les Andrews main two Mechanics Handbooks, Dykes Manual, and some detailed Tech. articles. And NOW I feel hauty, since last year I finally broke down and bought a CELL PHONE ! It is the 'phone' type of phone. Does nothing else. I hope to be able to learn how to use it one of these days.

- Doug Vieyra,

Re: Towing Model A
 

WATCH IT! I don't know about YOUR world, but our AAA DUDES here, are highly trained & paid well!:D Been with them since 1958.
200 Mile Dad!

Re: Towing Model A
 

I would not tow my A at a speed I would not drive it.

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Chief & I towed my first Model A 60 uneventful miles, with the front bumper lashed tightly to the rear bumper of his '38 Pontiac, with heavy hemp rope! I "drove" the Model A, just in case of a shimmy or something. Part of the trip was through winding hill country.
Bill W.