The Ford Barn

M2M · 03-31-2019, 09:05 PM

On most Model Ts you can put a strap around the front cross-member...not on a Model A so how do you load a non-running A onto the trailer without causing damage?

kenparker · 03-31-2019, 09:27 PM

Remove the bumper- git it outta yur way. Hook straps or chain to the axel -AT HE CONNECTION OF THE WHISBONE/SPRING PERCHES. one on each side to make a "Y" harness. Hook harness to cable or strap and use a wench (hand operated or electric) and wench that sucker onto the trailer.

I have a hand crank boat wench bolted to the front rail of my car hauler trailer. Used it many times. kenp

Mike V. Florida · 03-31-2019, 09:40 PM

What he said!

whirnot · 03-31-2019, 09:50 PM

Yep

abachman3 · 04-01-2019, 09:52 AM

Whatever you do, don't pull on the front axle just from the center point. We have a number of axles at the museum that are quite distorted, bent to a point, from pulling the center.

1931 flamingo · 04-01-2019, 01:59 PM

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What Kenparker said OR push it in..............
Paul in CT

Jim M · 04-01-2019, 02:33 PM

When I bought mine from RI to FL I got 4 husky friends and they rolled it up on my trailer without a problem.

vernon · 04-01-2019, 07:23 PM

that will work

Purdy Swoft · 04-02-2019, 09:52 AM

I have done similar to post 2 . Pushing sedans by the rear body panel is very risky . The rear body is fairly easy to bend and can be hell to straighten if it gets bent near the moldings . When pushing by hand it is best to push by the rear bumper . My trailer is low to the ground and is not too much of an up hill push or pull .

tuneman · 04-02-2019, 10:05 AM

In the past i have put a good battery in it and used the starter while the car is in first gear. the starter will pull it up the ramp and on the trailer!!!

katy · 04-02-2019, 10:16 AM

I fail to see how pulling a Model A up a ramp onto a trailer by attaching a chain or strap onto the middle of the front axle can bend the axle unless the wheels aren't turning. The axles aren't that soft. Trying to pull a Model A out of a bad "stuck' is a different scenario.

Purdy Swoft · 04-02-2019, 11:13 AM

When done like Ken Parker says in post number 2 , it puts the strain on the spring perches and wishbone rather than the center of the front axle . The distance between the spring perches adds bad leverage against the center of the front axle when the car is pulled by the center of the axle . Model A front axles are not that difficult to bend . There is really no telling what strains that these 90 year old axles have been subjected to in the past . Most model A front axles are probably already bent and the owner usually doesn't even know it . In nearly 60 years of model A ownership and maintenance , I have only found maybe three model A front axles that wasn't bent to some degree .

30 Closed Cab PU · 04-02-2019, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuneman

In the past i have put a good battery in it and used the starter while the car is in first gear. the starter will pull it up the ramp and on the trailer!!!

I can see how that would work - no possible issues damaging the starter/ bendix/flywheel gear due to heavy load?

1931 flamingo · 04-02-2019, 12:49 PM

No
Paul in CT

trulyvintage · 04-02-2019, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katy

I fail to see how pulling a Model A up a ramp onto a trailer by attaching a chain or strap onto the middle of the front axle can bend the axle unless the wheels aren't turning. The axles aren't that soft. Trying to pull a Model A out of a bad "stuck' is a different scenario.

Agreed

I load & unload with an electric winch on an upgrade using gravity
to keep the vehicle from rolling freely inside the trailer.

Nothing wrong with attaching an axle strap to the front axle
of a Model A or Model T to load it in a trailer.

There were axles bent new coming out of the factory.

There were axles bent in car accidents.

There were axles bent from towing cars long distances.

There were axles bent from pulling out tree stumps & fence posts.

You don’t bend an axle pulling a vehicle that is in neutral
in and out of a trailer.

Jim

Purdy Swoft · 04-02-2019, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuneman

In the past i have put a good battery in it and used the starter while the car is in first gear. the starter will pull it up the ramp and on the trailer!!!

I learned about the power of the model A starter many years ago .When I first tried it I used low gear . It seamed to me that low gear would be the best gear choice and be easier on the old starter . Uncle Ray said no , High gear was the best .. Third gear is like direct drive and that is all that is needed with an electric motor. You might be surprised how quickly the model A will take off and go on the starter in high gear . Even quicker if you have a twelve volt upgrade and a 3.54 gear ratio .

katy · 04-03-2019, 09:17 AM

Trulyvintage, thanks for vindicating my reply.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 04-03-2019, 04:45 PM

The answer for the ORIGNAL question is: VERY CAREFULLY!!!----LOL
Bill Smartass

03-31-2019, 09:05 PM	#1
M2M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Australia/USA/EU/Soviet Russia Posts: 1,105	How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it On most Model Ts you can put a strap around the front cross-member...not on a Model A so how do you load a non-running A onto the trailer without causing damage? __________________

03-31-2019, 09:27 PM	#2
kenparker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Van, Texas Posts: 1,122	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it Remove the bumper- git it outta yur way. Hook straps or chain to the axel -AT HE CONNECTION OF THE WHISBONE/SPRING PERCHES. one on each side to make a "Y" harness. Hook harness to cable or strap and use a wench (hand operated or electric) and wench that sucker onto the trailer. I have a hand crank boat wench bolted to the front rail of my car hauler trailer. Used it many times. kenp

03-31-2019, 09:40 PM	#3
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it What he said! __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

03-31-2019, 09:50 PM	#4
whirnot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bend Or. Posts: 1,056	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it Yep __________________ Bill Worden 1929 Roadster 1929 Briggs Town Sedan 1930 Closed Cab pickup Smith Motor Compressor 1951 Ford F1 High Desert Model A's

04-01-2019, 09:52 AM	#5
abachman3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Western Springs, IL Posts: 323	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it Whatever you do, don't pull on the front axle just from the center point. We have a number of axles at the museum that are quite distorted, bent to a point, from pulling the center.

04-01-2019, 01:59 PM	#6
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) What Kenparker said OR push it in.............. Paul in CT

04-01-2019, 02:33 PM	#7
Jim M Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sebastian, FL Posts: 479	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it When I bought mine from RI to FL I got 4 husky friends and they rolled it up on my trailer without a problem.

04-01-2019, 07:23 PM	#8
vernon Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 21	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it that will work

04-02-2019, 09:52 AM	#9
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it I have done similar to post 2 . Pushing sedans by the rear body panel is very risky . The rear body is fairly easy to bend and can be hell to straighten if it gets bent near the moldings . When pushing by hand it is best to push by the rear bumper . My trailer is low to the ground and is not too much of an up hill push or pull .

04-02-2019, 10:05 AM	#10
tuneman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 264	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it In the past i have put a good battery in it and used the starter while the car is in first gear. the starter will pull it up the ramp and on the trailer!!!

04-02-2019, 10:16 AM	#11
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,042	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it I fail to see how pulling a Model A up a ramp onto a trailer by attaching a chain or strap onto the middle of the front axle can bend the axle unless the wheels aren't turning. The axles aren't that soft. Trying to pull a Model A out of a bad "stuck' is a different scenario. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

04-02-2019, 11:13 AM	#12
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it When done like Ken Parker says in post number 2 , it puts the strain on the spring perches and wishbone rather than the center of the front axle . The distance between the spring perches adds bad leverage against the center of the front axle when the car is pulled by the center of the axle . Model A front axles are not that difficult to bend . There is really no telling what strains that these 90 year old axles have been subjected to in the past . Most model A front axles are probably already bent and the owner usually doesn't even know it . In nearly 60 years of model A ownership and maintenance , I have only found maybe three model A front axles that wasn't bent to some degree .

04-02-2019, 12:49 PM	#14
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it No Paul in CT

04-03-2019, 09:17 AM	#17
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,042	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it Trulyvintage, thanks for vindicating my reply. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

04-03-2019, 04:45 PM	#18
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: How do you load a non-running A onto a trailer without damaging it The answer for the ORIGNAL question is: VERY CAREFULLY!!!----LOL Bill Smartass __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"