How Far Can You Push With Flat Tire?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: How Far Can You Push With Flat Tire?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By P. Jamison on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 02:33 pm:

(Somewhat OT) My 1911 Hupmobile "20" is being delivered tomorrow. The driver says the rear tires won't hold air, and no time to get new tubes. Could we tow or push it about 8 blocks without destroying the rims? That's as close as the 85' truck can get to my place. I'm not too worried about the 40-year-old tires, and it is a light car.

Phil

Hupp


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 02:55 pm:

You might be able to get away with it, depending on the condition of the rims. You could also go down to U Haul and rent one of those 2 wheel dolly's that they tow cars with. Just be sure somebody is sitting behind the wheel of the Hupmobile to keep the front wheels going straight and take your time, nice and slow.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 03:14 pm:

Never heard of 85' trucks. Someone is feeding someone a line of crap.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ed in California on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 03:18 pm:

"Car transport carriers are 70-85 foot long and require adequate area to maneuver and switch around. In case the driver cannot access because of narrow streets or low-hanging trees, the driver may ask that you just meet them in a huge nearby parking zone, such as a university, shopping mall or perhaps grocery store."

"http://www.specialtyautotransportlogistics.com/car-transport-services/


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 04:08 pm:

Ed;
I drove a truck for 38 yrs, so you don't need to tell me about maneuvering around. We pulled 53' trailers and I have watched a lot of these 30 day wonders trying to navigate down the road, let alone tight places.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 04:24 pm:

I live on a cul-de-sac, it is eight miles in length but a dead end. When they came to pick up the 1901 CDO, they wanted me to meet them at the entrance near the main road. The CDO was light enough for us to push it, so I put air in the tyres and it was fairly easy. It didn't want it shipped with gas & water, lost a Model T block when I shipped a T to Canada and it arrived with a cracked block!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 04:29 pm:

If the path is paved, you could get a couple of those tire-dolly-type "skates" and push it without harming anything. They are available at Harbor Freight and auto parts stores. In a pinch, you could use a floor jack under the rear end and take it very slowly.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 04:38 pm:

Tony;
I can understand that. How does moving vans get into the cul-de-sac, break the load down to smaller trucks?
I took a load of cable to a coal mine half way up a mountain in West Va. and it was a dead end. The crew picked up the trailer and turned it around with a crane. So I know about tight places.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 04:44 pm:

Mike;
I have 4 of those Harbor Freight "skates" They are great on a smooth floor, if there is no rocks or dirt. They are nice to move a car side ways.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Eubanks, Powell, TN on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 05:29 pm:

Or, find someone with a motorcycle trailer, jack the car up and put and tie the trailer under the cars rear end.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 07:02 pm:

I think this is hilarious.

Unless I've read the posts too fast, not one person has mentioned a car trailer.

Wheel dollies, axle dollies or motorcycle trailers? Why jack up only the rear wheels and roll the car on the front wheels when you can get the whole car off all fours and transport it on a car trailer? Why would you rent a car dollie from U-Haul when you could rent a small car trailer from them?

Also - tires not holding air can mean a few different things. It may be something simple and easy to remedy such as a loose or leaking Schrader valve core. Fill up a tire, put some spit on the valve and see if it bubbles. Maybe the cores just need to be tightened or replaced.

1


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill in Adelaida Calif on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 07:04 pm:

I have DRIVEN my T over a mile with a flat tire. The rim showed no evidence of it and the tire was only mildly warm. Driving with the tire flat did make the clincher tire a bit easier to remove. By the way it was a rear tire and the road was anything BUT flat.

Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dale L Myers on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 07:37 pm:

Take a portable air tank. The tires might hold air for the length of time it takes you to get it home.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 07:50 pm:

The problem as I see it is that the Hupmobile wheels might be harder to find than T wheels. So, It is a very good idea not to take chances. If a pickup pulling a car trailer can negotiate the lane, that would be the first choice. Second choice would be the dollys as mentioned above. Third choice would be to patch the tires at least enough to hold air to get to your location.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 09:48 pm:

First and only choice.
Call a tow company that has a roll back truck and ask them to move the car from point A to point B.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 10:26 pm:

Get 10 guys and 2 cases of beer and have a party carrying it home.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 11:09 pm:

Seriously, the solution is a small open trailer, 16 foot should do it, any friend would do it for a beer and a tall story...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 01:51 am:

Congratulations Phil J!!! You are moving up in the world. I do hope you will post more and better pictures as soon as you can?
Many good suggestions above. Almost any would be a good choice, from dollies to roll it slow (I also drove a car nearly a mile on a flat until I had a spot to pull out of a traffic lane (I ain't no dummy!))
Drive carefully, and enjoy! W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Zibell on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 09:32 am:

Try a pair of these http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-vehicle-dollies-67511.html, if you get four of them, it makes maneuvering the car in the garage a one man job.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 12:48 pm:

Why take the chance? Those wheels don't grow on trees you know. 800 feet is one thing 8 blocks another and what's plan B if something goes wrong?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 03:00 pm:

A strange thing in my life, is my extreme luck. Mostly it is bad luck. It prevents me from doing things I enjoy and should be doing. On the other hand. Most (not all) of my severe breakdowns, both modern car and antiques, have occurred right at home. A Ch##y S-10 pickup I used to have broke a ball-joint in my driveway. It was blocking the driveway, and I needed to get the other modern out to go somewhere. So I jacked the front of the S-10 on my floor-jack and drove it slowly to where I could work on it later.

A 1911 Hupmobile weighs less than a model T does. An old, flat, tire will support it enough to go a mile or two slowly without harming the wheel any.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By P. Jamison on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 03:13 pm:

Thanks for all the advice. The Hupp arrived right on time today via Intercity Lines. They did a nice job; a husband/wife team. He likes to buy old cars and she keeps him under control. They are on the road 51 weeks a year. Anyway, we pushed the car off the truck. We had to lower the windshield to get it to fit under the Ford pickup above. I decided to take the frugal route, so my good friend Bob pulled me to my garage with a tow strap from my F150, and the wheels were undamaged. I think the tires were unhurt, also, but pretty dry-rotted.

Phil



Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 05:33 pm:

Those tires might still be better than anything you can buy new today!
More details and photos! In a couple days. After you have had time to enjoy sorting it out first. Are you hoping to start it up soon?
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Karl Gilchrist on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 06:54 am:

Hi Phil - How far you can push a car with a flat tire depends on the state of your coronary arteries LOL Nice Hupp - I have a 1910 in my garage as well as my 1913 T - Let me know if you need any information. Bobbie Hupp worked for Ford before branching out some early Hupmobile parts are very simaler to early T parts -Karl


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