The Ford Barn

oldforder · 01-19-2018, 03:43 PM

I am wondering the proper place to hook a chain or rope to tow my Tudor across town. maybe at most 5 miles, probably less. It would be slow speed on side streets. Should I hook to the axle on the outer end, or would the bumper brackets be better???

ronn · 01-19-2018, 03:48 PM

I would hook to the axle. The bumpers can get bent.

Bob C · 01-19-2018, 03:59 PM

If you pull from the axle connect near the spring perch not the center of the axle.

Bob

WHN · 01-19-2018, 04:04 PM

Put it on a roll on truck.

Why take a chance with 90 year old metal. Enjoy.

1crosscut · 01-19-2018, 04:12 PM

Use two chains. Attach the ends of the first chain at each spring perch. Attach the second chain in the center of the first chain and attach it to the tow vehicle. You may want to wire the hooks in place so they don't come loose when slack is allowed into the chain.
The towed vehicle should do most if not all of the braking for both vehicles.

nick c · 01-19-2018, 04:14 PM

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If you hook the chain in the center of the axle, you can easily bend the axle, and put too much stress on the bell housing, take a short piece of chain 8 or 10 ft and go through the axle wish bone hole then hook another chain into that one and secure it with wire or tape so it wont come unhooked, then hook to tow vehicle.
carry on

oldforder · 01-19-2018, 04:19 PM

I like 1crosscut's idea. I have a 10 ft heavy chain, and also a nylon tow rope. Thanks all!

Charlie Stephens · 01-19-2018, 04:22 PM

Put your general location in your profile and maybe someone will have a tow bar that they will loan you. An chance you live in Los Angeles? I don't think I would tow across town, maybe around the block.

Charlie Stephens

Fullraceflathead · 01-19-2018, 04:32 PM

I would use a nylon tow strap so you don't jerk the Model A too hard as a chain has little give but a Tow Strap will stretch a foot or so as its designed to.

todd3131 · 01-19-2018, 06:17 PM

What do you want to tow it and not have it moved by a roll back?

pooch · 01-19-2018, 08:47 PM

Is it legal to flat tow in Nebraska?

oldforder · 01-19-2018, 11:17 PM

It is legal yes. And I am talking only in town side streets at 10 mph or so. And I don't want to use a roll back because I can tow it cheaper. Actually at the present time it runs and drives fine. I am simply thinking ahead just in case it were to have a problem in the future. Maybe my Condon and Skelly insurance covers some towing. I need to check that out. I will probably never drive it more than 5 miles from my house. I have my 65 Mustang that I use for more distant shows and cruises. Or my 64 Ranchero.

daveymc29 · 01-19-2018, 11:49 PM

Don't do like I did and use a parachute rope. It reacted like a bungee cord and the tow vehicle had driven almost out of sight before I moved, then in a flash I caught up. Don't pull with anything that hooks to the bumper. I towed my roadster over the Santa Cruz Mtns with a bumper mounted tow bar at road speed, 65 to 75 most of the way, My truck made the turn onto my street dragging the bumper while my new acquisition rolled merrily into my neighbors juniper hedge. Took several days and material for me to pound out the fenders and repaint them. The mounting bolts were repo and made of pot metal then chromed. Like thousand year old egg, "Look good on outside." Bolts broke right off. Like the guy said when his horse died, "It never did that before."

Mike V. Florida · 01-19-2018, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldforder

i am simply thinking ahead just in case it were to have a problem in the future.

aaa

3.6rs · 01-20-2018, 12:17 AM

Less then 5 miles : push it (enjoy the Model A every minut)

3.6rs · 01-20-2018, 12:21 AM

This is also an option ;

Marshall V. Daut · 01-20-2018, 12:23 AM

Be sure to make WIDE, slow turns while towing. The way the Model A steering is designed, the sector gear doesn't always return to its neutral center position and allow the front wheels to straighten out after completing a turn, especially a tight one. After making a turn, pull over and ensure that the wheels have straightened themselves out. Otherwise, they'll remain cocked and skid along without you knowing it. Depending upon the size and power of the tow vehicle, you may or may not feel the extra drag. This phenomenon happened to me in the distant past before I decided to remove the pitman arm from the sector gear's shaft and support the now-disconnected drag link in a loose rope "sling" from the frame. Other times I simply removed the drag link from the steering arm ball up front. Tie off the front of the drag link so that it doesn't flop around. Don't forget to put the drag link back over the steering arm ball before driving away!

Marshall

3.6rs · 01-20-2018, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshall V. Daut

... After making a turn, pull over and ensure that the wheels have straightened themselves out. ...

Really ??? What is the problem when there is sitting someone in the towed vehicle ? None I think.

Marshall V. Daut · 01-20-2018, 01:18 AM

"Really ??? What is the problem when there is sitting someone in the towed vehicle ? None I think"

I don't know how the traffic laws read in Belgium, but I rather think that in most states in this country it is illegal to have someone sitting in a vehicle that is being flat towed, even if that person were sitting behind the steering wheel. If it isn't against the law, it SHOULD be - for obvious reasons. To do so for more than a block or two to make it home would just be asking for a written citation from the friendly local authorities (cops!) at the least.
Marshall

pooch · 01-20-2018, 01:57 AM

Wow, so with no one in the towed vehicle it is going to hit uou up the arse at every stop, EVEN if it could possibly track you around a corner.

It is, and it maybe over there, legal to tow a vehicle using an approved engineered A frame.

But the OP here is talking about a rope or a chain.

01-19-2018, 03:43 PM	#1
oldforder Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Columbus Nebraska Posts: 171	towing 29 A I am wondering the proper place to hook a chain or rope to tow my Tudor across town. maybe at most 5 miles, probably less. It would be slow speed on side streets. Should I hook to the axle on the outer end, or would the bumper brackets be better???

01-19-2018, 03:48 PM	#2
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,785	Re: towing 29 A I would hook to the axle. The bumpers can get bent.

01-19-2018, 03:59 PM	#3
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,747	Re: towing 29 A If you pull from the axle connect near the spring perch not the center of the axle. Bob

01-19-2018, 04:04 PM	#4
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,821	Re: towing 29 A Put it on a roll on truck. Why take a chance with 90 year old metal. Enjoy.

01-19-2018, 04:12 PM	#5
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,908	Re: towing 29 A Use two chains. Attach the ends of the first chain at each spring perch. Attach the second chain in the center of the first chain and attach it to the tow vehicle. You may want to wire the hooks in place so they don't come loose when slack is allowed into the chain. The towed vehicle should do most if not all of the braking for both vehicles. __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

01-19-2018, 04:14 PM	#6
nick c Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 260	Re: towing 29 A Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If you hook the chain in the center of the axle, you can easily bend the axle, and put too much stress on the bell housing, take a short piece of chain 8 or 10 ft and go through the axle wish bone hole then hook another chain into that one and secure it with wire or tape so it wont come unhooked, then hook to tow vehicle. carry on

01-19-2018, 04:19 PM	#7
oldforder Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Columbus Nebraska Posts: 171	Re: towing 29 A I like 1crosscut's idea. I have a 10 ft heavy chain, and also a nylon tow rope. Thanks all! Last edited by oldforder; 01-19-2018 at 04:23 PM. Reason: worded wrong

01-19-2018, 04:22 PM	#8
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,031	Re: towing 29 A Put your general location in your profile and maybe someone will have a tow bar that they will loan you. An chance you live in Los Angeles? I don't think I would tow across town, maybe around the block. Charlie Stephens

01-19-2018, 04:32 PM	#9
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,175	Re: towing 29 A I would use a nylon tow strap so you don't jerk the Model A too hard as a chain has little give but a Tow Strap will stretch a foot or so as its designed to. __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

01-19-2018, 06:17 PM	#10
todd3131 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: cedar rapids iowa Posts: 527	Re: towing 29 A What do you want to tow it and not have it moved by a roll back?

01-19-2018, 08:47 PM	#11
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: towing 29 A Is it legal to flat tow in Nebraska?

01-19-2018, 11:17 PM	#12
oldforder Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Columbus Nebraska Posts: 171	Re: towing 29 A It is legal yes. And I am talking only in town side streets at 10 mph or so. And I don't want to use a roll back because I can tow it cheaper. Actually at the present time it runs and drives fine. I am simply thinking ahead just in case it were to have a problem in the future. Maybe my Condon and Skelly insurance covers some towing. I need to check that out. I will probably never drive it more than 5 miles from my house. I have my 65 Mustang that I use for more distant shows and cruises. Or my 64 Ranchero. Last edited by oldforder; 01-19-2018 at 11:25 PM. Reason: added more info.

01-19-2018, 11:49 PM	#13
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,554	Re: towing 29 A Don't do like I did and use a parachute rope. It reacted like a bungee cord and the tow vehicle had driven almost out of sight before I moved, then in a flash I caught up. Don't pull with anything that hooks to the bumper. I towed my roadster over the Santa Cruz Mtns with a bumper mounted tow bar at road speed, 65 to 75 most of the way, My truck made the turn onto my street dragging the bumper while my new acquisition rolled merrily into my neighbors juniper hedge. Took several days and material for me to pound out the fenders and repaint them. The mounting bolts were repo and made of pot metal then chromed. Like thousand year old egg, "Look good on outside." Bolts broke right off. Like the guy said when his horse died, "It never did that before."

01-20-2018, 12:17 AM	#15
3.6rs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgistan (formerly known as Belgium) Posts: 573	Re: towing 29 A Less then 5 miles : push it (enjoy the Model A every minut)

01-20-2018, 12:23 AM	#17
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,110	Re: towing 29 A Be sure to make WIDE, slow turns while towing. The way the Model A steering is designed, the sector gear doesn't always return to its neutral center position and allow the front wheels to straighten out after completing a turn, especially a tight one. After making a turn, pull over and ensure that the wheels have straightened themselves out. Otherwise, they'll remain cocked and skid along without you knowing it. Depending upon the size and power of the tow vehicle, you may or may not feel the extra drag. This phenomenon happened to me in the distant past before I decided to remove the pitman arm from the sector gear's shaft and support the now-disconnected drag link in a loose rope "sling" from the frame. Other times I simply removed the drag link from the steering arm ball up front. Tie off the front of the drag link so that it doesn't flop around. Don't forget to put the drag link back over the steering arm ball before driving away! Marshall

01-20-2018, 01:18 AM	#19
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,110	Re: towing 29 A "Really ??? What is the problem when there is sitting someone in the towed vehicle ? None I think" I don't know how the traffic laws read in Belgium, but I rather think that in most states in this country it is illegal to have someone sitting in a vehicle that is being flat towed, even if that person were sitting behind the steering wheel. If it isn't against the law, it SHOULD be - for obvious reasons. To do so for more than a block or two to make it home would just be asking for a written citation from the friendly local authorities (cops!) at the least. Marshall

01-20-2018, 01:57 AM	#20
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: towing 29 A Wow, so with no one in the towed vehicle it is going to hit uou up the arse at every stop, EVEN if it could possibly track you around a corner. It is, and it maybe over there, legal to tow a vehicle using an approved engineered A frame. But the OP here is talking about a rope or a chain.