Trailer size

[dean333]

I’d like to take my 36 Tudor and 37 Fordoor to the Eastern meet in Dearborn this year. What size trailer would I need to accommodate both? How big of a truck to pull it? Thanks!

[sugarmaker]

Tim,
Are these items your going to rent or keep?
Truck wise I would recommend a 1 ton type, maybe a dually? Diesel for the power.
Trailer, well that is going to be good sized also. Gooseneck type. And almost 40 foot ish??
Guys will be a long with better answers.
Maybe a coin toss and just bring one???
Regards,
Chris

[trulyvintage]

Are you going to be trailering your vehicles frequently throughout the years ?
If so - investing in your own equipment makes sense.
If this is just for one event - it doesn’t make sense.


Jim

[DavidG]

With respect, strictly speaking, the Early Ford V8 Club meet in Dearborn this year is a Grand National Meet, which are held every five years and sponsored by the national club. There was an Eastern National Meet last year and another is planned for next year in upstate New York.

[TJ]

If you are just going to the current meet in Dearborn this year with both cars it would be much cheaper to hire a company to haul both cars. If you really want to have a great adventure and a lot of fun then drive the two cars to Dearborn. Have a buddy drive one and you drive the other. Then write the story of your adventure for the V-8 Times.

[dean333]

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The Buddy I had in mind has Chron’s so a long drive for him is out of the question (from Shorewood Illinois). I still have a few months to find someone or just take one car.

[cas3]

Not trying to be rude here, but it seems to me if you have to ask the questions you ask, then you are probably not qualified to make the trip.
A big trailer like that will scare the crap out of you on a windy day. Its gonna need 3 axles, which costs more on all levels, taxes, tires, insurance and tolls.
Next you're gonna want the fancy diesel truck for a 100 grand to pull that big trailer.
Myself, I can see a lot more fun driving one car to the event.

[19Fordy]

Dean, According to Google it's only a 3 hour trip. If you add a couple of hours for rest stops and fueling it might be 5 hours. You and your friend would have great fun driving to the event. Plus, you would save a ton of dough and the frustration, parking and hazards of trailering.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=sherew...ANAB01&PC=HCTS

[trulyvintage]

If you hire someone to haul one or both vehicles
it is likely going to be cost prohibitive.

Someone has to adjust their schedule
so they are dropping off relatively close
in a timely manner to pick up your vehicle.

No one wants to pay unloaded miles to
have a hauler drive empty to their pick up
location.

Then the hauler has to wait around for the event
which means you have to pay their lodging
and expenses.

All of these realistic expenses add up to
a big expense.


Jim

[GB SISSON]

How 'bout a Uhaul car trailer? And of course the prohibitive car hauler costs are a mere drop in the bucket compared to the items CAS3 pointed out. And he didn't even mention the depreciation once this 70' long outfit rolls off the dealer's lot.

[dean333]

Thanks for all the input. I’ll just drive one unless I can find someone to drive the other.

[ronn]

and a tow dolly set up is out of the question?

[itslow]

Two '36-37 cars would only be ~6k pounds total and just over 30 feet long.

You'd be looking at a 32/34' long trailer. If you have the tow vehicle already, you might be able to rent the trailer.

Originally Posted by cas3

...Its gonna need 3 axles, which costs more on all levels, taxes, tires, insurance and tolls.
Next you're gonna want the fancy diesel truck for a 100 grand to pull that big trailer.

It's not going to require a 3-axle trailer, but one would want to have a F250-series truck (or larger, need not be a diesel, though).

[ford38v8]

Surely you have V8ers in your locality that would love to drive one of your cars the 300 miles to Dearborn and back, an inexpensive and most enjoyable trip for both of you.
If that's not an option for you, you can have an enjoyable shuttle by train from Chicago and drive both of them yourself.
Any combination of truck/trailer/towing would be both prohibitively expensive and a nerve wracking trip.

[rockfla]

Tim
To answer your questions
Not that I am any expert like "truly Vintage" but I have hauled our cars from Florida to Detroit (Twice), Auburn Indiana, Charlotte (Twice), San Diego to LA and back once and Utah to Breckenridge CO over the Continental Divide. PLUS many many trips just here in the southeast!!!



Truck: Minimum F-350 Dually/3500 Dually better still an F-450/4500 OR bigger set up for a 5th wheel hitch.


AND as a second most important factor to "whats best to pull" I always want "What's best to stop ALL of what you are pulling!!"



IMO *****Diesel Power ONLY***** is the way to go!!!!!



Trailer: 38 "ish" + feet (I would highly recommend a 5th wheel type hitch).


As others have indicated.....It would be quite costly to get a rig set up, even on the used market.....I would venture a starting guess at $60,000 + USED. well over $100,000 new, your taste and amenities AND wallet size being the determinate factor. I can tell you, for our F350 and 28' enclosed trailer, 12.5 mpg at 60......12 (or a little less) at 65. From Florida with today's fuel prices we are $800/$900 plus just in fuel cost to bring a car. PLUS add for at least two spare tires for your trailer, better to add three. AND the other best advice I ever got from a friend and trailers.....Invest in at least ONE fully loaded hub for your axle, once you do you will never have a bearing issue on the side of the road!!!!

[sidevalve8ba]

Rockfla, that is excellent advice about the spare tires AND the fully loaded spare hub! Experience is an excellent teacher.

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by sidevalve8ba

Rockfla, that is excellent advice about the spare tires AND the fully loaded spare hub! Experience is an excellent teacher.

Especially on the side of the 405 between LA and San Diego at 8;45pm on a Saturday night!!!! ALSO thank God for the AAA of Southern California!!!! As for the loaded hub advice, that came from friend who learned from his Dad as well as his MANY years of pulling boats himself.

[tubman]

Trailers?

When did this become of concern?

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by dean333

The Buddy I had in mind has Chron’s so a long drive for him is out of the question (from Shorewood Illinois). I still have a few months to find someone or just take one car.

That's only about 300 miles! Definitely NOT a long drive! Less than a day even with frequent rest stops.
Or take your buddy as a passenger in one car and leave him there with the car. Rent a car and blitz back home to get the second car. You'll be back in Dearborn by dinnertime with both cars.

[Kens 36]

Tim,

Currently 16 members of your regional group have registered for the meet. Most are driving. I humbly suggest that you: 1. Register for the meet, 2. Come to an RG meeting and hook up with some of the members going and arrange to join them. Driving to and from meets is one of my favorite things. Carolyn and I have to be there Saturday, but several are driving early in the week.

Ken