Posted By |
Discussion Topic:
Towing
-- page:
1
2
|
|
jirving |
08-16-2010 @ 6:12 AM
|
|
|
Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Aug 2010
|
We have a '34 Ford woodie, that needs to be moved 300 miles. Is it OK to use a towing dolly? The car has a 3 speed manual transmission, and is all original. Would it be better to tow her on the back wheels? Is it necessary to remove the driveshaft? John
|
37RAGTOPMAN |
08-16-2010 @ 6:31 AM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1961
Joined: Oct 2009
|
RENT A TRAILER,!!!!!!!! That is a beautiful ride, keep it that way, LESS CHANCE of somebody running into it,with a tow dolly the back and sides are exposed if you can pull a tow dolly, you can pull a trailer. much easier and safer, and you can back up if you have to, was wondering does the car run? why not drive it,??? this is my 3 cents, 37RAGTOPMAN an KEEP ON TRUUCKIN,,,!
|
supereal |
08-16-2010 @ 8:40 AM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 6819
Joined: Oct 2009
|
Rent a U-Haul flatbed car trailer. They are not expensive, and can be dropped at your destination. Today, with most major routes being multilane racetracks, it just doesn't make sense to tow much of anything, particularly a valuable old car.
|
Stroker |
08-16-2010 @ 3:32 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1460
Joined: Oct 2009
|
I have a 38 woodie, and there is no way I would tow it 300 miles on a dolly unless I was trying to escape an advancing foreign army. Removing the drive shaft is not a practicable option, as it has an enclosed torque-tube drive assembly. Since you are moving a vehicle that is worth 6-figures, I'd put it in an enclosed trailer at the very least.
|
trjford8 |
08-16-2010 @ 7:16 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 4215
Joined: Oct 2009
|
I agree with Bob's advice. Rent a U-Haul car trailer. They tow just as easy as a dolly and you car is much safer. I have used U-Haul car trailers on occasion and they are worth every penny of the rent fee.
|
deluxe40 |
08-16-2010 @ 7:31 PM
|
|
|
Member
Posts: 413
Joined: Oct 2009
|
Using a tow dolly would be my fourth choice, after: 1) driving the car myself with a companion following in a truck with a tow dolly and a come-along (or a AAA card), 2) hiring Reliable Auto Carriers or the equivalent to move the car in one of their big orange trucks, or 3) renting a U-haul car trailer as super said. Nevertheless, you can get away with using a dolly, if you are willing to take the risk. My RV limits gross towing weight to 3500 lbs which is less than a car trailer plus a Ford V8. I wanted to take my car and the RV to the V8 meet in Temecula, so I towed it on a dolly, about 400 miles round trip - no problem. More recently, we had to evacuate in the wake of a fire so I took my '41 Delivery project along on the car dolly (see picture). This also worked fine (and the house didn't burn down either). Finally, if I understand how the Ford V8 transmission works, towing a V8 with the back wheels down results in spinning the transmission rear main shaft while the main drive gear and cluster gear are stopped. The bearing between the rear shaft and the main drive gets oil through a small hole in the main drive gear because a spinning cluster gear throws oil all over the place. Moreover, the front of the transmission is elevated when on the dolly so the bearing between the two shafts might be above the oil even if you start the engine every hundred miles or so to spin the cluster. Real mechanics can correct me (please do), but it seems to me that this bearing, running with out oil, would eventually be damaged.
|
jirving |
08-17-2010 @ 7:06 AM
|
|
|
Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Aug 2010
|
Thanks for the input. We've driven this trip many times in the '34 woody, but this hills of Vermont are sometimes a challenge for the cooling system. I think we have that problem resolved, but better safe than sorry. We'll rent a trailer. John
|
37RAGTOPMAN |
08-17-2010 @ 11:44 AM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 1961
Joined: Oct 2009
|
on your cooling system, did you try one of Skip HANEY'S cooling system overflow valve ? I been using one all summer with no loss of any coolant, and with his pumps , even on a hot day on the highway speeds, runs around 180,on cooler days, runs 160, this is on a 37 FORD CABRIOLET, also have 2 of his rebuilt pumps Keep on Truckin, 37 RAGTOPMAN
|
1934 Ford |
08-17-2010 @ 3:35 PM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 573
Joined: Oct 2009
|
I towed my 34 Tudor on a tow dolly to 2 Glidden Tours. One was Florida to New New Hampshire and back. With the Tranny and differential full, no problem. However!!! I had put Ford truck wheels with radials tires on the rear, for safty. One blew out and a trucker called me on the CB or I'd never have known. Tore up tailight wires and damanged the rear fender. Then, I bought a trailer! 300 miles? Drive it for the adventure.
|
supereal |
08-18-2010 @ 9:47 AM
|
|
|
Senior
Posts: 6819
Joined: Oct 2009
|
Towing for long distances with the rear wheels on the ground at highway speeds will expose the bearings in the axle, hubs, and the torque tube to enough stress to cause a lockup in the worst scenario, with wreckage as a result.
|