Trailer cover for a T

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Trailer cover for a T
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Billy McGuire on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 10:37 pm:

I've got open trailers, closed trailers, tag along trailers, goose neck trailers, cooker trailers, boat trailers, pressure wash trailers, and sprayer trailers ...

but I want a custom made cover to put over my touring while on an open trailer that keeps the elements off of it (trailering about 6,000 miles.) I've seen these at many tours, does anybody have photos of ones they have (or have seen) and any suggestions about what works best with them?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Hjortnaes, Men Falls, WI on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 11:10 pm:

ONe of our members tried covering her huckster for a 100+ mile trip. When she arrived the cover had worn off part of the varnish and paint from flopping around. The cover has to fit really tight to avoid damaging your car.

Better to stick with a closed trailer if possible.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Willie K Cordes on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 11:24 pm:

I second the close trailer.
Close trailers if properly designed can tow very well. If you have a flat front, it is like towing a parachute.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 11:32 pm:

Billy

Took these on a tour in 2003, nice job, liked how it as its similar to a boat cover, with an upright to prevent pooling of water. Nice heavy vinyl. Don't know the owner but safe to say this later touring is rather well protected on the road on that open trailer.










Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kirk Peterson on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 12:11 am:

Ideally a closed trailer would better,
but then my stops at the gas station would be shorter (nobody talking to me about the car) and overall more expensive due to a different/additional tow/everyday vehicle.

I have since added an separate windshield cover.
I like Dan's config too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 08:39 am:

Billy, I trailer my touring car on an open trailer. The top is folded and a boot fitted. The whole assembly is removed from the car and carried in the back of my station wagon tow car.
I have a tonneau cover made to fit the T. It covers from the windscreen to the back and is fixed on the existing side curtain and top fixings. When the top is on at tours, we can leave it in place or fold the front seat part back, leaving the back seat covered. That keeps prying eyes off whatever we may have in the back.
I cover the windscreen with a sheet of coreflute sign material.

If you go to any kind of cover, it must be of the snuggest fit. Any flapping will destroy paintwork in a jiffy.

Hope this helps.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 08:48 am:

Shrink wrap is a tight fit :-)
Photo by Jim Hycner:
shrink wrap


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Billy McGuire on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 09:02 am:

With the same tow vehicle (F-350), there is about a $1600 savings in fuel @ $3.79/gal between the 36' gooseneck closed trailer and the open tag-along. So while I know that the closed trailer might be 'better,' the cost savings to my pocket and my stress level as I am making some of this trip alone might be worth it.

I was hoping to see how some people have made covers that start at the crank handle and then cover back to the boot. The folding windshield on the 14 should produce less drag than later cars.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 09:49 am:

I have been thinking about getting a covered trailer for safety reasons. Every time I have transported my T through Utah, I have had at least one person pass me on the freeway then pull into my lane and slow down until I have to pass them so they can take photos. Last time it was a simi truck that slowed to 45 in 75 mph traffic


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 12:00 pm:

Interestingly, abut 3 years ago we took a tour to Yosemite. That is about 400 miles from home. We trailered on an open trailer and on the way home, it rained so hard the CHP ran escorts to keep the traffic slowed to about 45 or 50. We went about 300 of those miles in the rain with the top down and a boot over the top of the 26 touring. When we got home, I thought I had better put the top up to prevent mildew. To my surprise, the top was still dry! I tilted the seat bottoms up so they could breathe. It doesn't seem to have done any noticeable damage.

If you wish to cover the car with a tarp when parked overnight no problem, but any top in contact with the body while driving, would pose a possible damage to the paint. It is almost impossible to keep wind from blowing and whipping it.

I haven't tried this, but it might keep some rain off the upholstery if you were to back the car onto the trailer with the top up. You should try this first to see how it affects the balance. It could cause the trailer to whip if the weight is at the back of the trailer.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 04:33 pm:

A friend uses plastic wrap similar to what Roget pictured above. He uses the wide rolls and wraps the whole car tightly and says it works fine for him.

BTW, is that 6,000 mile trip for going to the Kanab tour? We'll be there too and are looking forward to it.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 04:40 pm:

I had this done by the guy that did the interior of my closed cab pickup. It protected the glass and kept the top from getting sucked off. A snug fit and using bungee cords at each corner kept any part of it from flopping and rubbing the paint. I hauled this at interstate speeds over 1000 miles with no damage. I later used this top/cover on my TT for a 100 mile trip and, since it was not a perfect fit, it rubbed a 6 inch section of paint off the cab! IMHO if the cover is not perfect, it may do more harm than good. I like the shrink wrap idea.


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