Trailer With Gas Tank Empty, Full, or In Between?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Trailer With Gas Tank Empty, Full, or In Between?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Everett on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 01:55 pm:

I'm heading to Walnut Ridge, AR, Friday afternoon with the touring on an open trailer.

With all other open-trailer-precautions observed, does anyone have thoughts about how much gas should, or shouldn't, be in the tank to prevent/reduce sloshing out of the vent in the cap?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Floyd Voie - Chehalis, Washington on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 02:03 pm:

I'd fill the tank just like you would if you were driving the touring


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Claverie on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 02:29 pm:

Just be very, very sure the fuel is shut off. If it's left on, the bouncing of the trailer will cause bouncing of the carb float, and you will spill most of the gas out of the carb before you get there.

Don't ask how I know.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alan George Long on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 10:57 pm:

Hey Peter, how do you know that can happen?

Sorry, just had to ask!! Good question though as I never considered that happening but usually trailer my T with a low level of fuel and fill up at the local garage where our event is being held. It creates a bit of interest


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les VonNordheim on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 12:48 am:

Trailering with an empty gas tank is the best way. No chance of gas spilling and a lighter load to pull. Make sure the floor boards and seat cushions are secured along with other items that could be damaged from wind or bouncing. I helped shrink wrap a Model T roadster on an open trailer and that worked out great.....no damage or loss of items at destination.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 01:09 am:

Peter, you just explained what happened to me recently. I trailered my car to a show about 50 miles distant and brought it home a few days later. And I hadn't bothered to turn off the gas to trailer it home.

After getting home I tried to move the car a short distance from one garage to another. The car started somewhat normally, except that I had to choke it more than usual. It ran for maybe 15 seconds and then quit. I tried cranking again and it ran only a short time again.

So I started the diagnostic ritual. Spark ? Yes. All four plugs ? Yes. Timing ? Checks OK. Put a little gas on each plug and reinstall them. Started immediately but only ran for a short time.

After about 5 hours work it occurred to me to check the gas tank. Hardly worth while, as I knew it had at least 2 or 3 gallons in the tank. But I checked it anyway since I was running out of ideas. Sure enough, there wasn't more than 1/4 inch of gas in the bottom of the tank.

Put a couple of gallons in the tank and it started immediately and ran normally. But I still couldn't understand where my gas went.

Thanks, Peter, now I know where my gas went.

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 09:47 am:

I have forgotten to close my gas valve the past 4 or 5 times I have trailered my T. The last trip was over 600 miles. I had better check my gas because I have put over 50 miles on the T since getting home. I do not know why I am not loosing gas while trailering, but it might be the rebuilt carb from Langs.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 11:26 am:

It may depend on which type carburetor is on the car. Mine was a Holly H-1. And of course the smoothness of the trailer ride could have an affect.

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 12:19 pm:

I'd definitely shut off fuel flow to carb, but I'd keep just enough fuel in tank to start it when I needed to unload it off the trailer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Coiro on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 02:03 pm:

I would guess the lighter the trailer load, in comparison to the tow vehicle, the better.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 02:32 pm:

Lot's of people tow sub standard and get away with it,but if the amount of fuel in a model T matters you might need to rethink??????????????????????????? Bud.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve McClelland on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 03:26 pm:

I've towed T's a lot.... Never had any issues with gas..
But I'd suggest, lowering your top if you have an open T, taking out the floor mats, and take out seat bottom(s) also always double check your hood latches.
Trust me there's a lot of other things you have to worry about. Other than losing a quart of gas.
There was a post on here with a 1914 touring that the windshield got blown off of on its way to Chickasha that fellow figured out that 70 mph was too much.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Claverie on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 04:41 pm:

Just because you asked...

I spent a bushel of time building-out the interior of an enclosed trailer for my T. Painted floor, lights, compressor, electric, winch, etc.

On my first trip, when I opened the doors there was an incredibly strong smell of gas inside. I was afraid to try to start the car.

I found a place to park the rig with enough slope that I could let the car roll out by gravity.

Then I looked at my shiny painted floor. Horrors!!

The gas had, as you might expect, ruined a large section of the paint on the floor. I had put a carpet runner under the car to catch any oil leaks, and the gas had seeped under it and 'welded' the foam backing of the carpet to the floor. A huge mess, that took a lot of on-the-knees time to straighten out.

That's how I know. Lesson learned. Lesson shared.

Now, I always cut off the gas as I'm running in to the trailer, and let the engine run until the carb is dry. I even choke it as it begins to stumble, and keep going until no amount of choking will keep it running.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 05:13 pm:

Nope,Not my meaning at all and i think your doing good as i often wonder about the smell of gas when i switch to batt! My question was to the weight of gas in the tank in comparison to what's up front!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 08:13 pm:

I agree with Kenneth, if 70 pounds is going to make a difference, then you probably should park the rig. I have a rebuilt Holly NH from Langs, the original would leak gas sitting still, but since I changed the carb I have not shut off the gas valve for any reason except when I had the car on display indoors I did the same as Peter to get all the gas out of the carb. The people with me in the building were very appreciative of the fumes from running with the choke pulled.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Friday, September 26, 2014 - 11:51 am:

If your float bounces around and lets gas flood over then that is probably why some people only get 11 miles per gallon when they are driving their T. It must bounce around about the same when driving it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. Gustaf Bryngelson on Friday, September 26, 2014 - 12:01 pm:

Hey Aaron, that was my thought too. The thing is, as the float bounces, a little more gas enters the bowl, and then the float should put more pressure on the needle valve. I suspect that if you loose gas while trailering, it is an indication that your float level is too high or your float is in poor condition, or you need to replace the bowl gasket.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter B. Ratledge on Friday, September 26, 2014 - 09:22 pm:

I have trailered my 1911 T touring all over the
eastern states and a few in the west to shows and tours. I don,t care how much gas is in the tank.
I turn the gas off and disconnet the battery and that's it. It has never leaked on the floor of the
trailer.


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