Good morning all, I have a question for the forum. I am towing my 23 roadster to my first car show about 120 miles from my house this weekend. I have an open trailer I will be using. My question is, I am going to fold the top so just the windshield will be sticking up. What is a safe speed to tow and not worry about the wind folding over the windshield? I don't plan on exceeding 55 to 60 mph. Will this be ok, or do I need to go slower? Thanks, Rob Hughes
When I tow my 22 Touring, I put the top down and secure the fabric so that the top does not "balloon". I also fold the top half of the windshield back. I tow an open trailer behind a full size P/U with a camper shell between 60 and 65 MPH. Have not had a problem yet.
I've done this once and it involved a '23 Touring on a flat bed: Lower the top and secure it. I added a rope around the folded top just for my own peace of mind. Remove and secure the floor boards. They tend to bounce out and drop through. The windshield was OK in it's normal closed position. I thought it might snap closed in the wind & break.
Remove anything that is loose, or might become loose and store securely. The way a trailer or flat bed tow truck bounce you would be surprised what shakes loose along the way!
Tom said it. Last Saturday I only trailered about 10 miles and lost the top in the wind. It was down but I didn't put on the boot. The wind was very strong and I was going into the wind. When we got to the place the tour was to start, the entire front edge of the top was ripped from the front bow. This top looked good but the material is about 50 years old. Even though the top looks good, old material gets rotten.
I used to use bungie cords with the top down before I got the boot. This is a lesson learned. Maybe you can learn from my loss and prevent one for yourself.
Norm
Doesn't hurt to use one of those flat bungee cords to hold down the hood as well. When I tow my speedster I remove the seat cushions, too. The car can handle 60mph - ask the Montana 500 guys.
Just make sure everything is tied down.
I don't have a top boot, but I wrap stretch wrap around the folded top to prevent it from 'ballooning'.
I will also second the motion of removing the floorboards and seat cushions. I have had the floor boards blow up while driving the T into a strong headwind, so I KNOW they would come up going down the highway on a trailer at 65.
BTW, is this the "Real Squeal" you are attending? Wish we could be there, but it's Hershey weekend.
Yep its the Real Squeal, I hate you are going to miss it. I was looking forward to having another T'er.
no faster than 45 mph open towing.
I agree with all the good advice posted above. I do suggest Using the search function on the forum for each year to get great advice such as "trailer" AND "top" or trailer AND safety or trailer and Damage Superb amount of great info on years past posts for your education and enjoyment As you can see from the picture, I suggest dual axle trailers or at the least strong well built single axle with very adequate tires
Andrew is correct ...
Do not tow faster than your T would drive
down the road .....
Jim
Take out the floor boards. They will fall out from the wind and bumps.
If you plan to tow a Model T at the speeds you would drive, than don't put it on the trailer in the first place. I would just drive the T as we do often, any tour within 300 miles we just drive the T, much more fun. I have both open and closed trailers and pull them at the same speeds.
Good advise on remove anything that can blow out or put something on the floor boards, we set ice chest and luggage in ours and use a boot to cover the top while it is down. I pull the trailers at what ever the speed limit is. I also tie some thing around the top bows to keep them from moving as I had a tie down strap break once but caught it before damage was done.
Take the key out. I lost one on the way to a show once.
Thanks for all the advice. I will keep my fingers crossed. I have secured everything with ratchet straps and zip ties to the best of my ability. I will keep it around 55mph and hope for the best. One question about the "boot" cover. I looked on Lang's but did not see one that fits a 23 roadster. Am I missing it? Thanks, Rob Hughes
All good advice....take out key, floor mat and boards, make sure hood is secured tight as well.
I towed my truck about 120 miles two weeks ago on my open trailer. I cut a piece of cardboard out to cover the rad and used blue (HAS to be blue)painters tape to hold it on, as well as covered the windshield with blue tape. It comes off clean, and keeps the bugs,etc off the glass - less cleaning when I get there. I also covered the leading edges of my fenders with the tape as well. I did about 55mph all the way there and back. If you can fold the top of the windshield back I woul, as well as make sure that the top is folded down good an secure.
As per David's picture check the total rig! After running a few miles recheck everything.Bud.
I put my coupe or touring on backwards, This keeps the top from acting like a parachute. You still need to anchor it down. Take the key out and put something heavy on the floorboards. Open the windshields and keep the towing speed down.
Great advice I once had a boot come loose and blew off - $ 200 error. I tie my top down with multiple layers of rope tightened. Seem to work well and simple. HAD I CHECKED my trailer after maybe 25 miles (when things that will loosen should be loose) it would have saved me $ 300 easy on repairs to the trailer
Funny thing, Gene and I drive our Ts 60-65, top up or top down, and we haven't had any damage yet..