Enclosed trailer tie downs

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Farmer J
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Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by Farmer J » Sat Nov 28, 2020 11:34 am

Have any of you developed a tie down system for a Model T for an enclosed trailer that works without getting in the front of the trailer. A friend has a 14 ft enclosed with a remote controlled winch. He would like to secure the car from the back without having to climb in the front of the trailer to install tie downs. Any ideas out there?


Les Schubert
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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by Les Schubert » Sat Nov 28, 2020 11:51 am

A suitable “spreader” attachment so the winch is connected to the front axle by BOTH shackles would probably do it.


Jeff Hood
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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by Jeff Hood » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:40 pm

I suggest a slight trailer modification. My enclosed trailer has a door in the front making it very easy to stand between the tow hitch frame rails and secure the front of the car from outside the trailer. Barn doors in the back, right side door for easy in-out, and front door for access and tie down. It's old and ugly, but very functional.


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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by DJPeterson » Sat Nov 28, 2020 9:20 pm

I put motorcycle chocks in the front of the trailer and use a winch to pull the front wheels into them then cross tie the rear axle.


DonH
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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by DonH » Sat Nov 28, 2020 10:48 pm

Winch from the rear by threading the cable thru a pulley that slips over the front axle {in the middle of the axle} and bring the cable to a tie down at the rear of trailer. Then winch the car to position you want it, fasten rear tie downs with some slack and then winch tight. You will end up withe cable taut forward and two tie downs securing rear motion.


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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by Dennis Prince » Sat Nov 28, 2020 11:03 pm

The weakest part of a winch cable is the crimp to make the eye on the end of the cable, when you transport a vehicle with the cable tight it is constantly jerking on the cable at it weakest point and you are relaying on the winch brake to hold it. With a enclosed trailer if the brake doesn't hold or the crimp fails learning about it will be rather unpleasant. Also the winch cable is not legally considered a tie down.

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FreighTer Jim
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Trailer Design

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Nov 29, 2020 6:29 am

Hi Jerry 👋

As mentioned above - if there is not a
door in the front - cut a door in the front
of the trailer - or two doors - depending
on if it is a v nose or coffin front.

They make framed flush doors you can buy:

@ https://www.google.com/shopping/product ... 49072,cs:1



F39A6559-F1D2-42C2-9D8F-96B209240426.jpeg

The best way that I have found to secure a
Model T or a Model A is using axle straps
thru the wheels combined with ratcheting
straps to pull the front & rear to the center.

0E67C2A6-E4D0-4B9A-89C4-2E5118A46A2D.jpeg

I have always designed my own trailers
and I have designed several other trailers
free of charge for other folks utilizing
what I have learned over the years.

6132CF6A-AC11-4108-A2C1-1D1F45A5EB0D.jpeg

Above is a 1934 Ford Roadster secured with
a three point strap arrangement to minimize
side shift and keep the car from moving forward.

7EF58B37-4280-4A33-AD58-5C014497EEFB.jpeg

Side door are a necessity at the front of
an enclosed trailer - on the passenger
and driver side to allow access to the
center of the vehicle.

If an enclosed trailer doesn’t have that
you can fasten axle straps to the front axle
and attach ratcheting straps with snap hooks
that trail as you load - but they have to be
long enough to reach the rear of the trailer.

That will pull the front towards the rear.

But the rear needs to be secured to the front.

You need a standard 8.5 wide car hauler
to walk around inside the trailer to do that.

2DB01244-9670-4064-85ED-00CA74332926.jpeg

I have safely transported at least 300
Model T and Model TT vehicles over
the years.

Trailer design is the key to safe
loading - transport - unloading 😉


FJ
Google “ Model T Transport “
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RajoRacer
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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by RajoRacer » Sun Nov 29, 2020 10:27 am

Looking at the first photo you posted of that Model A, I'd venture to guess that after several miles & bounces, that spoke you're pulling that strap against didn't stay straight long ! I surely wouldn't appreciate you "pulling" the straps tight right up against my spokes like that !

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FreighTer Jim
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Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Nov 29, 2020 11:37 am

The preferred location would have been
where the valve stem is - but there was
a valve stem there.

FE706587-5CC9-4B80-B4AD-A7A642CDBC51.jpeg

No spokes were bent or damaged.

Model A’s are heavier than Model T’s.
The wire rim wheels are more stout.
Model A’s have a conventional transmission.
The strap prevents movement.


FJ
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RajoRacer
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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by RajoRacer » Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:32 pm

Rotate the wheel !

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FreighTer Jim
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Video Link For Access Door Installation

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:53 pm

Here is a YouTube video link for installation
of an access door:

@ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yNlxgcnia ... stallation


FJ
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Dan McEachern
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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by Dan McEachern » Sun Nov 29, 2020 1:03 pm

On Jim's setup it seems IF the tire slips on the floor of the trailer, the strap would then be loose. If the strap was thru the wheel and lined up with the center of the wheel and the tie down point, tire rotation would not let the strap loosen. Just an observation.


Topic author
Farmer J
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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by Farmer J » Sun Nov 29, 2020 1:30 pm

We have no problem securing the rear of the T to the rear of the trailer. We are looking for an easy way to secure the front without having to squeeze pass the right front fender into about 1ft of floor space. I don’t think an additional front door is in his future, although it would solve the problem, and I don’t want to rely on the winch to hold the car from moving backwards. A couple of saddles for the front wheels would work but would make it hard to unload. He plans on screwing 2X4s to the floor as guides for the wheels.

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FreighTer Jim
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Angle Of Attachment

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Nov 29, 2020 1:38 pm

Dan

The higher the axle strap is on the rim
the steeper the angle is to the point of
e-trac fastening.

The steeper the angle is - the more likelihood
there is that the running boards will be damaged.

If the wheels are in good condition
and If the spokes are tight and if
the wheels are secured to the spindle
and if the wheels are in line and the straps
are oriented in line then the Model T
stays in place for the trip.

This is what works for my transport purposes.


FJ
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FreighTer Jim
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Loading & Unloading

Post by FreighTer Jim » Sun Nov 29, 2020 2:00 pm

Jerry 👋

I started a thread about an inexpensive
system I developed to guide vehicles
in and out of trailers while loading
and unloading with an electric winch:

@ https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15880


FJ

A7E534DA-7BB5-48E1-A5F7-D53404D0006B.jpeg

73919C82-1590-4D7D-8C5A-E0034A7ACB32.jpeg
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Dropacent
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Re: Enclosed trailer tie downs

Post by Dropacent » Sun Nov 29, 2020 2:02 pm

Lots of IFs in that bloviation

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