Currently building a trailer using the front axle from a T and having some problems deciding how to attach the tongue to the trailer. If I attach it to the axle, I will get a lot of bounce transfered through the tongue to the rear of the vehicle. If I attach to the frame of the trailer (shortened model T frame) I need to attach the wishbone to something to keep the axle straight. Any photos of the underside of old trailers using a T front axle and spring and T frame would be greatly appreciated.
You can scavenge the wishbone socket part from a rusted out/destroyed pan - it shouldn't be hard to find a way to weld the pan piece to a trailer frame crossmember.
Another way is to hang the axle in a conventional way with parallel leaf springs. Then the wishbone isn't needed.
I have an axle with the spindle arms bent around to meet the axle, then bolted to holes drilled in the axle. I don't know how the wishbone was mounted.
Hmm, does 3-point Ford suspension offer any advantage in a trailer?
You want to keep the tongue near parallel to the ground, or every bounce will have a jerking effect.
I too am building a trailer.
I decided to build an axle instead of using a front axle. I am having my machinist, Doug Cox to make the spindles to accept Model T front hubs.
I am looking for a "manufactured" hitch to mount on my 16' touring. I preferably would like to find one that would allow me to use a "ball" coupling.
I have had a few people argue that a "ball hitch" isn't period correct. They say that the ball type hitch didn't come along until the late 1930s. To that I say: "OH Yeah"? and show them several patents that were "applied for" before 1920.
Here is one. (I may post the other "ball type coupler" patents I've found in another post.)
I don't know about y'all, but that sure looks like a ball type coupler to me.
With my luck I'll probably have to settle for a "hitch pin" type of trailer coupling. That will not be too bad.
Here are the remains of a trailer built on an Essex front axle. The tongue was attached to the wood frame at the ends of the small bent pipes and to a crossmember.
See: www.mcmaster.com, type "Hitch" in the search box and make your choice. Jim Patrick
Tom ; here are some pictures of our trailer.
Toon
I had found an axle that had been forged for a T trailer, and used a drive shaft tube for the tongue. The hitch is a pin type.It also came with wire wheels welded to T front hubs.
Bob
Now that is a good looking trailer. What is going onto it?
Having towed an industrial air compressor all over a chunk of Califunny with a pintle hitch, which is similar to a type of pin hitch, I would happily use one on my T if I ever get around to putting a trailer together.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2