Flat towing a T

[Allan]

A recently revived earlier post showed what can happen when a T is flat towed, incorrectly. Best idea is to load the car on a truck or trailer for the journey home. Sometimes that is not practical, for varying reasons. I have flat towed two of my T's, but it requires some insight. If the car is towed on a starp, with a driver to steer it, repeated engagement of top gear will circulate oil in the transmission. Having a pilot on board will also prevent towing at speeds otherwise detrimental to a standard T. The tow vehicle is forced to drive at speeds compatible with the T's brakes. It can be done without damage, as a last resort, but I would not recommend it under normal conditions. All of this is a moot point if local statutes forbid flat towing on a strap.

Others may have different ideas.

Allan from down under.

[Alan Long]

Hi Allan and Seasons Greetings to you all at 24/7!
On many occasions over the 80 years of owning his T my Dad has towed it using the solid “A Frame”, removed the spark plugs and left it in high gear no driver and at Model T speed. It never ceases to amaze me how the Car follows the lead one and steers itself. Can’t understand how it works but amazing to witness. After installing the engine in the 1910 I used the same frame to drag the car around the local street ( no plugs ) but did alternate from low to high. What a difference in the cranking effort after 20 minutes of that!
Seasons greetings to all on the Forum.
Alan In Western Australia

[DanTreace]

Ford gave service agents these important instructions on flat towing a Model T on all 4 tires.


Note: the instructions seem to have a misprint, as the safer method is to disconnect the drive shaft from the rear axle, so it won't turn the engine. If that can't be done, then the instructions seem reasonable. However, be reminded. the towing speed was very low back in the days, as likely a TT was doing the towing. Any speed above 5-10 mph may be real trouble.

[Norman Kling]

I have heard of an adaptor for one of the rear wheels which allows it to spin on the axle without being connected to the drive train. Does anyone know more about it? I have towed less than a mile in neutral which did not seem to cause any problems, but would not consider towing very far.
Norm

[Erik Johnson]

In 1952, my dad and the late Royce Peterson flat-towed a 1917 roadster from Hastings, MN to Minneapolis, a distance over over 30 miles.

They removed the sparkplugs, put some oil in the cylinders and left it in high gear.

Around that same time, my dad borrowed Royce's tow bar and flat towed a 1913 touring 40 miles from Waldorf, MN to St. Peter, MN where he was attending college. Same method as above.

[Harry Lillo]

I have a very nice original 1926 fordor with a damaged engine.
In 1950 the car was flat towed from Regina Saskatchewan to Bassano
Alberta a distance of some 380 miles.
The plugs were removed, oil checked, some squirted down the cylinders
and towed in high gear. They never thought to check the oil as they towed along.
Yes, it ran out of oil and took the bottom end out. They suspected much of the oil was lost
through the spark plug holes and also by typical Model T leaks.
The car has been in dry storage ever since. It is like a period 23 year old farm car
Harry Lillo Calgary

[TXGOAT2]

Model T rings might pass more oil with the plugs out, since no compression or combustion pressure would be developed. That might allow marginal rings to pump more oil. Leaving the plugs in and setting the throttle wide open might be a safer plan.

[Norman Kling]

If you leave in the plugs and open the throttle, be SURE the gas valve is pulled closed or you will pull in the gas and dilute the oil. I suppose that could even happen with the plugs out. So turn off the gas or drain the tank.
Norm

[John kuehn]

In 1959 my Father and Uncle towed my Grandfathers 1924 Coupe out to our farm. The trip was around 15 miles. They flat towed the T with a chain through a 2” pipe.
My Uncle towed the car in neutral and my Father was behind the wheel.

They arrived at the farm in about 2 hrs later and I barely remember my Father saying the car smelled a little warm but it arrived OK. I was 10 years old at the time. They got it started a month or so later. I remember it smoking some.

[Don Conklin]

The gentlemen I bought my trailer from stated that prior to his getting the trailer, he used a tow bar with the T engine running. I don’t recommend it!

[Bill Dizer]

In 1959, my dad flat towed our 25 coupe from Columbus Indiana to Utica NY. The universal joint was removed, or the pinon gear, not sure which. It was towed using a tow bar setup that clamped to the front axle and the wishbone. I still have it. We towed it with a 58 Plymouth. I don’t remember any tail or brake light setup. May have been able to see the tow cars lights. The only issue we had was hot front wheel bearings that melted the paraffin based grease and threw it out on the spokes. Dad bought a can of fiber grease, repacked them in the hotel parking lot that night, and we went the rest of the way without problems. The trip was about 800 miles. I was seven years old at the time.

[JBog]

In 1952, my dad and the late Royce Peterson flat-towed a 1917 roadster from Hastings, MN to Minneapolis, a distance over over 30 miles

Royce isn't dead.

[Erik Johnson]

Don't confuse Royce D. Peterson with his son Royce N. Peterson.

Royce D. Peterson died in 2015 at age 98.

His son, Royce N. Peterson, wasn't born yet when my father and his father flat-towed the 1917 roadster from Hastings to Minneapolis in 1951 (I had the date wrong in my original post).

Below is a photo of that same Model T taken in 1951 in its original and unrestored low-mileage glory. Royce N. Peterson now has possession of the car.

My father has been involved in the antique car hobby starting at age 16 in 1948. He met Royce D. Peterson not too long after that - Royce was in his early 30s at the time and lived nearby in south Minneapolis. My father turned 91 a couple weeks ago.

PS: Here is a video of Royce D. Peterson starting a 1914 Ford - he was around 90 years old at the time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhEnNzv6LBM

[JBog]

Thank you for the correction.

[Altair]

I flat towed my 26 with a tow bar attached to the front axle about 30 miles with the engine running, this caused no issues. The car steered fine on the straight but needed some assistance where the turning was tight. Because of the fast steering it doesn't like being turned from the wheels, it will skid very easily on gravel and will not correct itself on the pavement.