Sufficient vehicle to tow a trailer with a T on it?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2017: Sufficient vehicle to tow a trailer with a T on it?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ignacio Valdes on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 12:52 am:

Hi, Me and the boys are considering going to the Texas T party October 11th-14th in Kerrville. We will be going Houston to Kerrville. We have a 2007 Honda CR-V 1500 lb towing capacity. Is it sufficient to tow a trailer with a Model T on it?

If not I will have to find a 'truck friend'. The way to approach your truck friend is by placing your hand on their shoulder while saying 'Hi truck friend.' before asking to borrow said truck that friend owns.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By FreighTer Jim on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 01:17 am:

No ...


FreighTer Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kevin Whelihan Danbury, WI on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 07:05 am:

Agreed. You need something with a larger wheel base and more HP. I'd be looking for a larger SUV or better yet a full size pickup with something cranking out at least 230+ hp. Make sure the tow vehicle has a good transmission as well.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stephen, South Texas on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 08:22 am:

More important than horsepower is braking power. I pulled a 20' Fourwins Cuddy Cabin boat with a 1990 Toyota Celica for a couple of months. While it had enough power, braking was always in the back of my mind and left plenty of clearance ahead. Before the summer was over, I picked up a used Ford Bronco for towing duty. The boat trailer had hydraulic surge brakes and was glad of it on several occasions.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Jensen on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 08:23 am:

I rented a 1/2 ton pickup (GMC 1500 with a 5.4 V-8) and trailer from U-Haul when I bought my T, 250 miles away. Handled the T well. All they have here is regular cab trucks. Enterprise truck rental has some crew cab trucks that you can tow with at some of their truck rental locations. Use one of their newer model 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. Have fun.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 08:32 am:

A T weighs about 1600 by itself. Trailer will probably weigh at least 1000.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Brough on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 08:33 am:

When we purchased our new vehicle, we looked specifically for a vehicle that would tow our hobby cars. The 16ft flatbed trailer alone weights 1500 pounds and our hobby cars max out at about 2500 lbs, so we needed something with a minumum tow package of 5,000 lbs which was the lowest most new car makers supply.
We ended up with a 2014 Ford Explorer which was the first year that the Explorer could tow that amount.
If you go to the Uhaul web site and enter what you want to tow, it will tell you what vehicles are rated to do so.

careful if you rent a car carrier trailer that just has the two outer rails for the vehicle to ride up on that the width of the T will fit. My WWII jeep is too narrow for those, which is why we had to get a flatbed trailer with removeable loading ramps.

And, of course, a tandem axle trailer is better than a single axle, but if this is a one time trip, you take that into consideration. Also read as much as you can here about how to load your T as far astop down, windshield facing the rear,removing all loose items like coil box lids, keys, seat cushions, floor boards, etc that might catch air and fly off during the trip.

Good luck with your adventure with your friends. and T.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bruce Compton on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 09:09 am:

I bought an aluminum single axle 12 ft. trailer that weighs 1100 lbs to tow my '25 coupe on and it works fine behind my 2013 Town & Country van. Limit for the van is 3500 and it has a 270 HP V6. Baking is barely adequate so I'm pretty careful and must use 5th gear on the highway as in 6th, it's always hunting. Bruce


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn-Monroeville OH on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 09:10 am:

I just got a '16 F150 with the 302 V8, 385 HP. My new 8.5 x 20 trailer doesn't even phase it. Pete's my heaviest car (I think), I had him weighed and he's 1560 lbs. No problem pulling it with this truck!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jason Given - St. Paul, MN on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 09:29 am:

If you need to rent something, consider a U-Haul, enclosed truck. A 17 footer should be large enough. If the miles isn't to far, the price should be good. Just need to make a set of ramps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Whitaker, Oklahoma City on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 09:47 am:

I have a 2003 Chevy S-10 with the 4.3L V6 and tow package. I am in the process of purchasing a 12 foot single-axle trailer, and Lizzie fits like a glove on it.

I've pulled Lizzie around on U-hauls before, and my truck does the job. Brakes well, and tows it adequately.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 10:08 am:

Whatever tow vehicle you end up using, keep in mind the value of leaving a "margin of safety" between the total weight you're towing and the rated towing capacity of the vehicle. I have always believed towing a trailer that weighs in "at capacity" for the towing vehicle is foolish.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By FreighTer Jim on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 10:16 am:

All good advice above .....^^^^^^


FreighTer Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 10:33 am:

Last week on us-10 just west of Midland,Mi pictures showed a one car/vech crash with a very long travel trailer totally wrecked and a pick up laying on it's side!! It's what's up front that counts or never let the tail wag the dog!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Codman on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 11:42 am:

To Dan Jensen - When I needed a vehicle to tow my T and a bunch of saved junk from Massachusetts to Florida, I first called U-haul - who were not very helpful, but finally quoted me a price. I then called Enterprise who busted their butt to help me, and rented me an F-250 quad cab (I would have been fine with a regular cab) for less then half of U-Haul's quoted rate. The truck was in excellent condition and ran flawlessly.
As to the original post - The Honda is not nearly enough vehicle to tow the T.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John E Cox on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 01:08 pm:

You not only need to look at the trailer weight with its load but also the gross weight of the tow vehicle.
My feeling is that the weight of the tow vehicle should be at least equal to the trailer weight with its load.
Otherwise the trailer can overpower the tow vehicle when you make a panic stop.
Over the last 20 years I have gone from a F250 diesel That I used to haul hay and cattle to the sale barn to a Honda Ridgeline. I had a F150 transition truck after I sold the farm.
The ridgeline weighs around 4500 pounds and has a listed towing capacity of 5000 pounds. My 12,000 GVW flat bed trailer probably weighs 2000 pounds which leaves enough load capacity to haul my Model T.
My next truck will probably be a motorized wheel chair with a box on the back.
At 78 I can see the rest home looming.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Erfert on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 01:27 pm:

I am not saying that I have the ideal trailer and tow vehicle but my 2001 Dodge Dakota 2 wheel drive took us to Whitefish, MT to W. Yellowstone and back to Flagstaff without any trouble. The trailer is a "made for a T" single axle without brakes and I drive it knowing what is 50' ahead of me and how much room I have to stop. I would like to get a full size quad cab with 300+ hp and a two axle trailer with trailer brakes when I can find them. Until then I will drive what I have very carefully and pray for safe trips.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wes Nelson ........Bucyrus, MO on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 01:28 pm:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F Stephens-Marcle on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 01:46 pm:

Jason, I see you rented an enclosed truck from U-Haul...I wanted to go that route to transport my T from the Midwest to N.C., seemed like a great idea, but the U-Haul people said flat out NO WAY...against there rules...big disappointment, still would like to rent one to go to events , as I have no trailer or tow vehicle ...so what was your experience please ? Thanks John


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Eric Hylen- Central Minnesota on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 01:57 pm:

While I understand the inclination to argue that the tow vehicle should weigh as much as the load hauled, it just isn't true. Over a million safe miles of heavy-haul and cargo transport taught me that what matters, is having heavy enough suspension, braking, and steering to handle the load.

The largest tractor trailer rig that I drove, had a tractor that weighed 23,200 lbs. and a trailer that scaled at 50,300 lbs. Even empty, the trailer weighed twice as much as the tractor. Loaded, the trailer and load added up to nearly ten times the weight of the tractor.

Nearly every tractor trailer rig that you see on the Interstate, is carrying a load weight that exceeds the weight of the rig. A day cab pulling a 48' van will typically weigh around 25,000 lbs. and gross out at 80,000.

Back to light loads like the Model T. I wouldn't use anything smaller than a half ton pickup, pulling a single axle open trailer. A half ton or heavier pick pulling a tandem axle open or encased trailer is even better, because trailers that size are required to have brakes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jeff cordes on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 02:09 pm:

Just drive your T to the tour. It's under 300 miles from Houston to Kerrville.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange - Hillsboro, MO on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 02:14 pm:

If you're going to rent a U-haul trailer, you can also rent a U-Haul 10 foot box truck to tow it with.

I just ran the numbers on their website for renting a 10 foot box truck and car trailer for four days, round trip from Hillsboro, MO to Richmond, IN.

The total cost that I calculated from the prices on their website was $870.00. This did not include gas, of course.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By FreighTer Jim on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 02:31 pm:

Eric,

Apples & Oranges ....

A Semi Tractor uses air brakes- the point of attachment for semi to trailer is not a small trailer ball - there are far more gearbox choices to match speed to load - there are larger tires & a larger footprint carrying the load - these are but a few major differences ....
.

FreighTer Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kenneth W DeLong on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 03:32 pm:

Most of the semi tractors I have ever driven weighed about 16,000 and that was with wet lines. Normal with tires wide enough it's up to 16,000 on the front and 32,000 on a tandum plus the 32,000 on the trailer for 80,000. At 48,000 to 50,000 on the tractor and the rest on the trailer. Over the years I owned two semi tractors and one 4 axel lowboy. Until I retired this year in the fall I drove for farmers 18 speed international 36' dump trailers 6 axel 3 up 3 down! Air ride.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 05:27 pm:

I think it would do it, it'd be hard though.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 06:29 pm:

Jeff and Kep. Your advice is flawed!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Schedler, Sacramento on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 06:34 pm:

I take it back...Drive the T to the tour...good idea. I first read to drive your Honda/trailer rig to the tour. Honda definitely is not a good enough "tractor"!.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Thomas - Centerville, Iowa on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 09:52 pm:

About anything will pull a trailer. Maybe not very well, but it will get it down the road somehow.

The real question is do I have enough vehicle to stop it, or control it in a bad situation. No one ever asks that question, until it's too late.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chadwick Azevedo on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 10:24 pm:

Something not mentioned on a tow vehicle is the cooling. While it will pull it there is a good chance the radiator may not be up to the task of keeping things cool. I have towed T's successfully with a '64 f100 (292 3 on tree), '66 f100 (351 4 on floor), '66 Bonneville (389 auto) '77 Granada (L250 auto), '91 grand marquis (302 auto), and currently use a '05 Aviator (4.6L twin cam).

Most comfortable was the Grand Marquis with the Aviator coming in second. The Grand Marquis got the best mileage as well. The trucks always got the job done although were the most uncomfortable. The Granada only had a 6 cylinder although being large had enough torque and always got the job done.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells, Hamilton Ontario on Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 11:14 pm:

One of the newer choices if you decide to buy a truck that is not oversized but gets the job done easily is the GMC Canyon. You can get it with the 2.8 liter, 4 cylinder, Duramax Diesel. The truck weighs 4500 lbs or more and will pull 7700 lbs. It also comes standard with a built in trailer brake controller and even an engine brake like a big rig so you can run down a steep mountain road and never touch the brakes right to the bottom. I have one and it gets 20 mpg while hauling two trailers. Gets as much as 50 mpg while not towing.

(Message edited by 404_not_found on August 19, 2017)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, August 20, 2017 - 01:50 am:

Ignacio, My 16 foot open tandem axle trailer is made of used oil derrick angle iron and pipe and by itself, weighs almost as much as any open T and some closed ones. Since the late sixties, I have pulled it with a 68 Pontiac Catalina, at least three Ford half and three quarter ton pickups, at least two half and one three quarter ton Chevy pickup, and an 80 Chevy Blazer (full size). Gosh, I may have forgotten some! Get the picture, though. Like others above have said, towing vehicle and braking is of utmost importance. If your trailer brakes fail or you have no brakes, you don't want the have the trailer pushing you when you hit the brakes. Also the section of I-10 between Comfort and Kerrville has a healthy increase in elevation and your tow vehicle will need to have some healthy horses if you don't want to creep up the grades below posted limits, and Texas drivers tend to ignore the posted limits, anyhow.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, August 20, 2017 - 02:08 am:

The Honda CR-V is good for pulling a two wheel trailer hauling bicycles, motor bikes, dirt bikes, motorcycles, canoe, or jet ski. A Honda Pilot might do it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jem Bowkett, Spalding United Kingdom on Sunday, August 20, 2017 - 10:10 am:

Wow the rigs you drive would be pushing the legal limit for a car licence here and be a pain to get through an English village. We just don't have the wide open spaces.

I tow an open trailer custom made for a T. Doubt the laden weight is much over 800kg ( say 1750lb). Tow car either Volvo 740 or 76 VW 2litre camper, both of which are rated to tow 1600kg. Barely notice the T behind the camper.


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