FJ - Extricating Two Model T’s From The California Gold Rush Country

[FreighTer Jim]

I got the call a few weeks ago to move a couple
of Model T’s from the hills outside of Placerville
to Southern California.

The daughter of a Model T Enthusiast was
trying to get her Father’s cars down to her
Mother so they could be closer .

The Father had passed less than a year ago
so it was one more way to have a tangible
reminder and a connection to him.

I get it - I have done this a few times.

But this would prove to be my biggest challenge
to date extricating any vehicle for transport.

The daughter sent me a couple images …

The Model T Touring was in the
attached garage of the house:

The Model T Roadster Pick Up
was in a detached barn:

It seemed pretty straightforward enough


FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

My experience hauling vehicles
out of that area has taught me
to go scout a pick up location
before I try to get my trailer
close or call out a rollback tow truck.

So I coordinated tentative pick up
with a tow company out of Placerville
and parked my trailer in their lot.

I drove out to the location in my
F-350 CC 2WD PSD Dually.

I took a video of the Model T
that was in the barn:

https://youtu.be/DYHqAwU6DfA


These are stills from that video:

FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

This section of hand welded water sluice pipe
bears testament back to the hydraulic washing
of large areas of hillsides to extract gold.

It is right outside the barn.

FJ

[Norman Kling]

Those cars look to be in very good condition. I wonder why they couldn't have been driven to the loading location?
Norm

[RustyFords]

Nice barn....nice cars too.

[FreighTer Jim]

FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

So now to the Meat N’ Taters …

If you ever need a tow or flatbed service
in Placerville, California …..

Native to the area - Matt arrived within
an hour of my call with the shortest 4WD
rollback in their fleet.

I don’t know exactly how he managed to 
maneuver his rollback ….

But Matt did just a fantastic job 
backing up the road to the barn.

FJ

[FreighTer Jim]

All four tires were flat.
The two rear tires had flat spots
and were disintegrating.
The steering wasn’t connected.
The wishbone was popped out of the socket.

But Matt got it loaded.

One down - one to go …..

[OilyBill]

Awesome story!
Thank you for posting this!
Very interesting!
I think you hit on the reason the cars have not been out in a long while.

[FreighTer Jim]

So …

Matt & I met at Extreme’s tow yard to transfer
the Model T from the barn.

Matt offered to try & get the wishbone that
was out of the socket back in - he did it
on the rollback

Then we returned to load the second Model T
in the attached garage - I told Matt to please
not exceed 25 mph back to town to protect
the top from being damaged - he did just that

I went ahead of Matt to winch the Roadster
Pick Up to the front of the trailer - it was a
pain in the @ss with four flat tires & disconnected
steering - the two rear tires had flat spots

I had it to the front by the time Matt arrived
to transfer the second Model T into my trailer.

FJ

[otrcman]

Sounds like Matt is a real pro and easy to work with.

Dick

[FreighTer Jim]

Matt is a native to the area & has worked for
Extreme for (13) years - he dated a gal on
the single dirt track road we traveled to get
to the homestead

Without Matt & Extreme - those Model T’s
would still be sitting there.

Well ….

This family likes hills & there were more
of them where these Model T’s were heading.

I had to get the Roadster Pick Up rolling

I made some calls & Bill Bennett of Visalia
offered to part with (3) of his mounted spares.

So I met him at his workplace Wednesday morning
and got a two hour tour ( hoping I can return and
take some videos to share )

I mounted two of Bill’s tires on the rear
while the Pick Up was still in the trailer.

FJ