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Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2023 12:57 pm
by DGrich
Next month I need to trailer my 1921 Coupe a distance of about 140 miles round trip on an open trailer. I’ve towed my 1926 Touring multiple times on the same trailer, and have a procedure for that car. I’ve never put the coupe on this trailer before, and being that it has suicide doors, I was looking for advice on whether to tow it forwards or backwards, and if you guys had any other words of wisdom to pass along. I don’t plan on exceeding 55-60MPH with my tow rig.
Re: Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2023 3:00 pm
by Steve Jelf
Backwards will be fine. I tow at 55 mph also, and have never had any wind damage. I would avoid strapping to the front axle and pulling it (wishbone socket, you know). Don't depend on wheel baskets. Some of them don't want to stay on. With a coupe it's probably overkill, but it won't hurt if you carry stuff that isn't fastened down (floor boards, mat) in your tow vehicle.
Re: Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2023 3:56 pm
by KeithG
With an open trailer I always tow my '27 Fordor Sedan backwards. This is very nice especially when traveling in the evening and there are a lot of bugs around. Cleaning lots of bugs off the back of the car is much easier that cleaning them from around the windshield. The Fordor also has a visor that will catch the wind. Mine is secure enough, but when towing the Fordor backwards it's just one more thing that you don't have to be concerned about.
In your case with a coupe with suicide doors you wouldn't want them open up due to the trailer hitting a big bump and causing a door to accidentally open up & then catching the wind and causing lots of damage.
Keith
Re: Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2023 8:49 pm
by DGrich
Thanks guys!
Re: Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:35 am
by Cordes_jeff
It's only 140 miles, drive the car.
Re: Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:53 am
by TWrenn
Cordes_jeff wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 7:35 am
It's only 140 miles, drive the car.
Not knowing the reason for the trip, I agree with Jeff! Drive it! 70 miles "aint nuthin" for me and many of us here just lollygagging all afternoon! That said, if the car is "staying put" for a while, trailing it backwards is okay, just remember that puts the bulk of the weight at the "aft end", so depending on your trailer length, you do need to watch your tongue weight. An "after axle heavy" trailer will tend to want to fish tail on you.
Re: Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 8:51 am
by Professor Fate
Beware of rocks vs. glass.
Big flat windows on open trailer could be risky.....
Re: Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 10:15 am
by JTT3
Unless you have a good idea of the wood condition in the roof assembly you may be in for trouble towing forward or backwards. Forward you run the risk of the wind challenging weak wood at the top of the windshield and peeling it back. Towing the car in the backward direction, you’ll need to know if your top and hide-a-welt is strong and firmly tacked down. If I have to tow a closed car on an open trailer, I will take heavy moving blankets & strap them down around the roof with a couple of straps that I position about 10 inches below the top of the roof and catching the blankets at the bottom trying to minimize any potential air dams. Good luck Best John
Re: Trailering a 1921 Coupe
Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 11:55 am
by Kaiser
As Tim pointed out, there's one important aspect of trailering the car backwards, and that is besides tongue weight, the trailer being tail heavy.
Even if you take care to load the car so you have at least around 120lbs of weight on the hitch, your weight distribution is very important, and having a tail heavy trailer is not the thing to have in an emergency situation where you have to evade something in your lane or stomp on the brakes.
Have a look at this video :
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zwlgZG55Q ... IGRlbW8%3D