Top speed to trailer an open top car with top tied down ?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Top speed to trailer an open top car with top tied down ?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 01:03 pm:

I normally trailer my 1923 Touring at 35 MPH top speed on back roads OK no problems I put the top down and wrap it tight with about 80 feet of rope. Still, air can trap in the folds of the top if I do not wrap the rope tight enough

I am driving 9 hours tomorrow to pick up another Model T Touring in Minnesota. It is a long drive. I need to travel back on highways at least 60 MPH to make it home on the second day. I do not want to damage the top of the car. Any experiences or suggestions? I will remove the floor boards and seats before traveling. Thanks


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 01:05 pm:

Given your prep, I would tow at normal highway speeds.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 01:17 pm:

Top up, top down, 65-70 in a roadster is no problem if the floorboards are secured.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 01:19 pm:

You don't say what your tow vehicle is, but assuming it's a good heavy one, you should be OK at normal highway speeds. For my money, 60 is max. I'm a lot more comfortable at about 55.

Your mileage may vary.....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lawrence Murray on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 01:30 pm:

I usually travel at 60 - 65 MPH with the top down and a form fitting cover in place


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ned Protexter on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 01:56 pm:

Shrink wrap the top and take the floor boards/mats out along with the seat bottoms. I usually take the hood off and make sure the coil box lit is tight (usually shrink wrap this also. should be fine to do 75 no problem. Also fold down the windshield and shrink wrap that together also.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 02:00 pm:

I have a boot for the top on the 14 touring and never had a problem up to 70mph, which is more than fast enough for trailering a vehicle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 03:08 pm:

Excellent advice I had bot thought of taking the hood off !!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 04:03 pm:

In California the max speed limit for a vehicle pulling a trailer is 55. I have had mine up to 60 without a problem, however, the top must be down and tied down very well. preferably with a boot. Last year I took mine 15 miles on an open trailer with the top down but no boot. I drove 55, but there was a 30 mph head wind. The tacks ripped out of the top. I had to finish the tour with the top down.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan B on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 05:15 pm:

David,

I also have a '23 Touring that I tow a couple times a year. I got a top boot cover from one of the main suppliers and it works excellent for making sure that one of the folds doesn't become a sail. It basically turns it into one object; the wind just rolls over it. It's a pretty tight fit. Also looks nice.

Since you're probably not going to have one for tomorrow, I would recommend taking a tarp and making your own top boot. Maybe using some ratchet straps to secure.

I've tried using ratchet straps on just the top, without the boot and it still caught a lot of wind.

Dan


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 05:30 pm:

The ratchet straps vs tie tight with rope is an excellent idea Thanks Dan


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steven Thum on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 05:50 pm:

One of the things that bothers me with towing my 25 touring is how much rust is in the stanchions holding the windshield. There is no way to look inside and see. The windshield was originally designed for maybe 50mph? That is an awfully flat windshield. I do not like to do over 60 as I do not want to fix my windshield.

I'm just saying.

Steven


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 05:59 pm:

The first time I trailered my '27 Touring I folded the top down and covered the car with a tarp. I tied the tarp thru the grommets (be sure no metal grommets are against the car)and then used ratchet straps over everything. The mistake I made is I didn't put padding between the ratchet strap and car and I did rub some paint off.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Bender Tulsa Oklahoma on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 06:17 pm:

Ok let the comments begin.

Don't trailer much any more , just drive the T if tour is within 500 miles or so.adds a couple of days both way, no big deal.

With my open trailer I tow at 75 to 80, top down , but top is covered with a boot. Seat is out and windshield is open. Enclosed 37' gooseneck same speeds

1 ton dually,10 ply tires on truck and trailers.good binders all the way round, it is a real tow vehicle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 08:21 pm:

75+ here as well.

I worry more about troopers than wind damage. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Bennett - Australia on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 08:33 pm:

David, I have only an open trailer, which I tow with 6 cylinder Ford Falcon Station waggon. When towing interstate with my tourer, I fold the top and take it off the car and put it in the waggon. Absolutely no damage then. Even a booted top can be damaged by vibrations/rubbing/ improper folding etc over long distances.

As an extra, I have a full cover over the open car seats. It is fastened with the same fittings that hold the side curtains and top in place. This can be left in place with the top on the car when touring. I fold the front seat section back and leave whatever is in the back seat out of sight to those who might be tempted to lift stuff.

Hope this helps.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Davis on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 10:33 pm:

When I towed on an open trailer I loaded my touring backward so as to keep the top from acting like a parachute. Of course it needed to be tied down. The real issue is to keep the bolsters from fluttering in the wind as that will surly destroying them quickly. I later designed a cover that had a glove like cover for the folded top and had a stretch top cover that went all the way to the windshield. it tied off the the windshield stanchions. I pulled it tight like a drum head. it covered the steering wheel and seats. Worked and works perfectly.......


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 10:43 pm:

When I used to pull a trailer with tarps over the load, I found that the constant whipping in the wind shredded the tarps before long. The solution was to put chicken wire over the tarps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - 10:56 pm:

I pulled my 24 touring with top up and side curtains installed at 60-65 mph.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenny Edmondson, Indianapolis on Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 06:19 am:

Towed a 23 touring and a buddy tows a 22 roadster both with the tops up. The tops hardly move in the wind at interstate speeds. Floorboards do need removed though.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dena & Dennis Gorder on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 09:08 am:

We trailer our 26 touring with the top down and with the boot on at 65 to 70mph. We have a Tommy aluminum trailer and pull it with a GMC Envoy. The only issue we have had is when we came home from Montana the main side arm broke from the bouncing. These are aftermarket top frames and bows. The frames are not made as heavy as the originals. Now I put a cradle under them to keep them from bouncing and bending.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Willie K Cordes on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 12:31 pm:

I knew there were reasons that I covered my trailer with a frame and aluminum siding. I have a flip down rear ramp. I drive the car in, hook two rear and two front straps, close the ramp and I am ready for speeds up to the legal 75MPH on some interstate highways.
I sloped and made a V on the lower part of the nose, so there is almost not wind resistance.
I use a 3/4 ton diesel powered pick-up with an anti-sway bar and load equalizers. Tows great and seats and floor boards do not fly out of the car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les VonNordheim on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 04:33 pm:

Yesterday, I open trailered home my latest purchase with the top up....restored 1929 Model A p/u roadster. Kept the speed at 60 MPH and no damage occurred. Watched in the rear view and the top did not flap. A new fun car to go with my other early toy's.
My Grandson who helps me with the Model T and REO's when he seen it said....That's My Ride!
He's turning 14....time to start teaching him how to drive the Model T.
My Grandson has a 1918 Sears Economy 1-1/2 HP hit and miss engine. Helped him put together a cart and he has shown it at the local antique tractor, steam and engine show. A good start on getting him interested in Model T's.

It's much easier towing the open trailer compared to my v-nose enclosed trailer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Clipner-Los Angeles on Saturday, September 13, 2014 - 01:03 am:

I was doing 70/74 when I trailer my car out to Calif . Had a tarp on it though.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By george house on Sunday, September 14, 2014 - 09:50 pm:

Although its too late now since David left for MN 4 days ago to get his other T; about the only thing I'd add is to either remove the ignition key or turn it on MAG before the 9 hour trip in an open trailer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Kriegel Mishawaka Indiana on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - 06:39 pm:

My THANK YOU to all who gave such excellent advice. We made it home in 7 hours at 60-65 MPH much faster than I have ever towed a Model T.. We removed the hood, seats and floor boards.. We really ratchet down the convertible top tight. Thanks again


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