MTFCA Forum

I have always appreciated checking out the Forum about the best way to do things. My only problem is finally deciding what to do after learning all the varied ways our experienced T owners have settled on. In this case, I would be interested in an observed sample of what haulers actually do and I can't think of a better statistic than by the number of Ts that show up for the National Tour. I didn't go on the Tour in Cookeville, TN, but did go down on Saturday to just watch the wonderful collection driving around town after they had registered. Wish I had thought of this before but maybe somebody at the Fairground parking lot can take a count as the folks head home later this week. There are probably many more topics (like best way of strapping down, which does create a can of worms) but right now I'm just wondering what the majority of haulers do with direction they face their T and whether or not they use a cover. It may not be possible, but the number hauled and the numbers each of direction and cover. If too late to ask, no problem, and maybe I'll think of it sooner next time (you know, age of cars and drivers). By the way, there were some wonderful looking Ts and drivers/riders for the Cumberland Tours. -Bill

William, there are as many opinions/ methods on towing, and each has it's own advantages/advocates. However, I have yet to hear of a proven way to cover a car on an open trailer which does not cause damage to the car. Wind buffeting will cause constant movement in the cover, and this translates to paintwork damage at multiple points. It is better to tow with the car uncovered. I did see a forum post where a car was wrapped in shrink-wrapping for a long haul. It looked weird on the trailer, but likely it was successful, because there was no movement in the covering.

I tow on a flatbed two wheel trailer. For long distance trips I fold and remove the top and carry it in the tow vehicle. A coreflute panel protects the radiator and headlights and another covers the windscreen. When I take Henrietta 1500 miles to our next national rally, The top will travel in my pickup bed and the seating in the car will be shrinkwrapped to keep the weather out. Her top and upholstery are of 1922 vintage and I need to preserve them as best I can.

Allan from down under.

I recently picked up my Towncar in the San Diego area to trailer it 400 miles north home. I put on the soft car cover and then proceeded to shrink wrap the whole car with five or six layers. Five miles later had to adjust the plastic since the wind on the highway tore into it. Five miles later applied duct tape all over to keep the plastic in place. Five miles later applied several layers of shrink wrap on top of the existing and more duct tape to keep things together. Five miles later more adjustments. No matter what I did the highway speed of 55 tore it apart. Eight hours later when I got home the car looked like the banners on a used car lot, in a thousand pieces. Ended up having to throw away even the expensive custom made car cover since it was shredded by the wind. I should have undone everything and turned the car around to minimize the spaces like the floorboards letting in the air and allowing the wind from working on the cover from both inside out and from outside in. The bottom line is I did not want to allow the wind to damage the fresh paint and the very expensive upholstery leather, but should have thought the wrapping through better. Live and learn?!?!?! Frank

And if you tow a rubber bulb horn T in an open trailer; be sure to first remove the bulb and place it in the truck cab......Do Not ask me why I recommend this 🥵

Thanks guys. Even without the sample I proposed (for which it sounds like the number of cover users would have been 0) you've convinced me to not haul with one. Right after I got my T, my wife gave me a surprise cover for Christmas. Therefore, I'll save it for stationery protection if ever feel it's needed. - Bill

William

Here are three samples from the nat’l tour in Cookeville. The better protection for open body Model T’s on open car haulers for the interior is a custom fitted vinyl cover. Closed style bodies are easier to haul in the elements.

On my gray ‘27 the snap fitted cover goes just over the interior, has boot to cover the folded down top. Windshield closed, and nothing inside the T, gas shutoff, and ignition key removed.

Lots of bad roads when hauling that can shake and rattle stuff loose on your T

Has anyone tried one of those spiderweb bungee nets? When I open trailer towed a T chassis and parts from Indiana to NY covered with a tarp, the straps and tarp tore up in a hundred miles to the point where I also had streamers following me. I stopped at a super Walmart and found one of those nets. It has multiple hooks, stretches to cover a large area, and cured the tarp blowing around completely.

I am sure this is not the answer you are looking for but my opinion is the only way to transport a T is in a fully enclosed trailer. I use straps on the axles with microfiber cloths around the axles where the tiedowns rub on the axles. I never cross my straps, keeping them parallel to tle ling frame rails. Thus far, I've never had a problem. Hope that helps.