Trailering Questions
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Topic author - Posts: 1930
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- MTFCA Number: 50297
- MTFCI Number: 24810
- Board Member Since: 2018
Trailering Questions
1) most trailers have smooth wood floors. Is it a good idea to put some kind of non-skid where the tires ride to reduce the tendency of the car to slide to one side or the other? 2) Once the car is positioned and the straps tightened, should the hand brake be set or should you leave the car in neutral, held in place only by the straps?
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
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- Posts: 6463
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- MTFCA Number: 16175
- MTFCI Number: 14758
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: Trailering Questions
I don't see any reason not to set the hand brake. I think I've always done that when hauling a car.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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- Posts: 80
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 12:00 pm
- First Name: Peter
- Last Name: Claverie
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
- Location: Memphis, TN
Re: Trailering Questions
Most folks cris-cross the tie-downs, making it almost impossible for the tires to slip around.
In terms of the hand brake, leaving it on makes it less likely that the car will roll off the trailer when you un-do the straps. Seems like a good safety idea.
In terms of the hand brake, leaving it on makes it less likely that the car will roll off the trailer when you un-do the straps. Seems like a good safety idea.
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- Posts: 186
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:25 pm
- First Name: Jeff
- Last Name: Hood
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Touring, 1923 Fordor, 1924 Martin Parry Canopy Express, 1925 Coupe
- Location: Long Beach, CA.
- MTFCA Number: 25636
Re: Trailering Questions
My old trailer has a narrow door and I only have about an inch clearance on each side. I put guide rails on the floor to keep me straight going in and out, and it also keeps the car from moving around as you fear.
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- Posts: 541
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:27 pm
- First Name: BOB
- Last Name: CASCISA
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 TOURING
- Location: POULSBO, WA
- MTFCA Number: 16897
- MTFCI Number: 16628
Re: Trailering Questions
Setting the hand brake can be a useful practice.
Respectfully Submitted,
Be_Zero_Be
I drive a Model T ... Microseconds don't matter
For every Absolute Model T Fact there are at least three exceptions.
Be_Zero_Be
I drive a Model T ... Microseconds don't matter
For every Absolute Model T Fact there are at least three exceptions.
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- Posts: 5205
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
Re: Trailering Questions
Tim, my open trailer has a smooth steel deck, not even checkerplate. The key to stopping movement on any surface is to tie the car DOWN. Wheel baskets do this. Short tiedowns at 45 degrees do like wise. Long tiedowns at low angles will stop fore and aft movement, but will allow the car to shift sideways. Likewise, tiedowns used around the frame will be alternatively loose and tight as the suspension works, again allowing the car to shift around.
Others may have different experiences.
Allan from down under.
Others may have different experiences.
Allan from down under.
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- Posts: 284
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:36 pm
- First Name: Don
- Last Name: Demio
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919 T
- Location: Tennessee
- MTFCA Number: 27167
- MTFCI Number: 20405
Re: Trailering Questions
Tim,
Attached are several photos of my open and closed trailers that both use 2" wide, 3 ft. long metal straps with two angled wings (3rd photo) that go over each tire to hold my T down during transport. I do use the hand brake in addition to the tie downs. The enclosed trailer channel on the right in the 2nd photo and on the left in the last photo is 6" wide 2X3s so the T is always centered and will not move. The angle cut on the inside 2X3 is to aid the rear wheel to enter the channel. Let know if you have any questions that I may be able to help you with excluding next week's winning lottery numbers.
Have a great day,
Dom
Attached are several photos of my open and closed trailers that both use 2" wide, 3 ft. long metal straps with two angled wings (3rd photo) that go over each tire to hold my T down during transport. I do use the hand brake in addition to the tie downs. The enclosed trailer channel on the right in the 2nd photo and on the left in the last photo is 6" wide 2X3s so the T is always centered and will not move. The angle cut on the inside 2X3 is to aid the rear wheel to enter the channel. Let know if you have any questions that I may be able to help you with excluding next week's winning lottery numbers.
Have a great day,
Dom
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- First Name: Scott
- Last Name: Conger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
- Location: Clark, WY
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: Trailering Questions
Tim
I painted my floor with Benjamin and Moore grey deck paint. Someone here on the forum suggested it and it is GREAT.
I've also found that the ramp is the slickest thing on the planet when wet and when I took delivery of my trailer, on my own belief that it would be a good thing, I applied 2 coats of roll-on pickup bed liner on the ramp. BEST THING I EVER DID. Tremendous grip wet or dry and takes abuse and shrugs it off.
I painted my floor with Benjamin and Moore grey deck paint. Someone here on the forum suggested it and it is GREAT.
I've also found that the ramp is the slickest thing on the planet when wet and when I took delivery of my trailer, on my own belief that it would be a good thing, I applied 2 coats of roll-on pickup bed liner on the ramp. BEST THING I EVER DID. Tremendous grip wet or dry and takes abuse and shrugs it off.
Scott Conger
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
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- Posts: 169
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:13 am
- First Name: Harold
- Last Name: Schwendeman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: several
- Location: Sumner, WA
Re: Trailering Questions
Scott Conger beat me to it! I was going to make the same suggestion for a non-skid coating on the bare wood trailer floor. He mentioned "pickup bed liner" and that's what I did. Something like Rhino Liner or Linex makes a very tough and very black non-skid floor coating which is impervious to oil, gasoline, anti-freeze, etc, etc. I had a Linex coating put on my entire enclosed trailer bare wood floor and ramp when the trailer was brand new. It's pretty expensive, but the dealer I bought the trailer from had a "half-price" deal with the local Linex place and half price makes a big difference! A trailer floor & ramp is a much larger surface than the average pickup truck bed, and I'll bet you could convince a Rhino Liner or Linex dealer to work with you on a better "price-per-square foot" rate on such a large surface. Still pretty expensive, but it sure makes a very tough floor, and I think, worth whatever it costs! FWIW,.....harold
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- Posts: 1724
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- First Name: James
- Last Name: Jarzabek
- Location: Dayton, OH
- MTFCA Number: 29562
- MTFCI Number: 24398
- Board Member Since: 2008
- Contact:
My Solution
Regarding covering a wood trailer floor ....
Horse stall rubber mats - 4 ft. x 6 ft.
Available at Tractor Supply or other farm & garden
retailers @ $40 a mat.
Easy to replace if torn or damaged by gas or solvent spills.
This wood trailer floor is (10) months old and sees
daily use - yet maintains it’s “ good looks.
By spacing my etrac to accommodate the floor mats - shifting is minimal.
Vehicles to not wander on the rubber mats
if secured properly to the
FJ
Horse stall rubber mats - 4 ft. x 6 ft.
Available at Tractor Supply or other farm & garden
retailers @ $40 a mat.
Easy to replace if torn or damaged by gas or solvent spills.
This wood trailer floor is (10) months old and sees
daily use - yet maintains it’s “ good looks.
By spacing my etrac to accommodate the floor mats - shifting is minimal.
Vehicles to not wander on the rubber mats
if secured properly to the
FJ
Google “ Model T Transport “
MTFCA - MTFCI - MAFCA Member
MTFCA - MTFCI - MAFCA Member