Cheap Towbar for Emergency.....

[leo]

I've got a Ford F-150 pickup and I wanted to buy an inexpensive tow bar like a Haul-Master from Harbor Freight to have just in case I break down. What do I need? My truck has a square receiver. My Model A coupe is nicely restored so I want to know how to hook up the bar to the car without scratching or damaging the front bumper. I can see there are a lot of posts on towing. Maybe something like this has been asked before?

[1931 flamingo]

Get AAA plus and save yourself some heartbreak, or ck with your ins company for towing coverage(Hagerty offers specialty towing for a few bucks). If adamant about using tow bar, remove the front bumper and attach to where the bumper arms mount or fabricate attaching points to the frame. JMO
Paul in CT
Paul in CT

[trulyvintage]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Get AAA plus and save yourself some heartbreak, or ck with your ins company for towing coverage(Hagerty offers specialty towing for a few bucks). If adamant about using tow bar, remove the front bumper and attach to where the bumper arms mount or fabricate attaching points to the frame. JMO
Paul in CT
Paul in CT

BINGO ....



Jim

[leo]

Paul, I do have towing with my J.C.Taylor policy but being a little OCD about being self reliant I wanted to know how to be prepared.......

[bobH]

Your pride-n-joy... 'Cheap' towbar ?? Are you sure ???
To your question - I've got a towbar made by Doly Mfg Co, professional grade, nothing cheap about it. If we were closer, I'd let you use it, or sell it to you 'cheap'. Maybe there is someone close to you with the same offer ??

[Bruce Adams]

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While I have Hagerty and AAA 100 mile towing, plus I own a trailer, my tow bar requires a steep tow ball drop from my Expedition's hitch to go under the bumper to the axle. My tow bar is Model A specific-designed, though the Harbor Freight and Pep Boy ones look comparable.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I understand about being OCD but usually if you will find a shady spot to think once you have encountered mechanical difficulty, a solution to get home is usually not that difficult. AAA is by far the easiest and safest. A tow bar connected to bumper brackets is marginal at best IMO. An early VW Beetle tow bar that clamps around the front axle is best however you must be careful not to get one that is too short which limits the turning radius.

[leo]

Sounds like I need to forget this real quick and call my insurer if I have a problem. Now the question is will they send someone who actually knows what a Model A Ford is or someone who does not.....

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by leo

Sounds like I need to forget this real quick and call my insurer if I have a problem. Now the question is will they send someone who actually knows what a Model A Ford is or someone who does not.....

most likely they will send out a AAA monkey just be sure you keep an eye on things.
another thing not mentioned is pick up a cheap 2 wheel dolly to tow it back a short distance.

[larrys40]

Leo,

I remember 20+ years ago a friend of mine was towing a recently purchased rolling unrestored car with a tow bar hook to the bumper. The car had some poor reproduction bumper clamps.. and going down the the major interstate here one of the bumper clamps let go... It wasn't a pretty site.... kind of like a rear hub/drum/wheel coming off and passing you up! Preventable and potentially deadly!

Be safe, be smart....
Larry Shepard

[leo]

Mitch, kinda tough to get the Model A onto the tow dolly if it doesn't run....

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by leo

Mitch, kinda tough to get the Model A onto the tow dolly if it doesn't run....

you can hook up a cheap hand crank boat winch if you cant push it.. i have pushed cars myself onto a dolly

[denis4x4]

This is a Reese adjustable that I've been using on Jeeps and Model A's for twenty years. An early VW tow bar is usually the best choice. There are a number of practical reasons for having a good tow bar beside mechanical failures. When I have to take a car in for service, I use the tow bar and eliminate the need to be picked up or taken to the dealership. I DO NOT TIE DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL!!!!. There will be several posts warning about drastic problems using a tow bar. Use common sense and you'll be just fine.

[johnsor]

I keep my A's mechanically reliable as much as possible. If I did need help, my cell phone will summon three different Model A friends who have trailers. Model A guys stick together and will normally respond to another's emergency pronto. I would never tow a Model A on the ground, only a trailer or tilting flat bed truck.

[160B]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

another thing not mentioned is pick up a cheap 2 wheel dolly to tow it back a short distance.

If it is a short distance and you keep the speed down, you could be ok.

If it is a long distance and you are at highway speeds beware.

Over the past 50+ years I have been in the hobby I recall several instances where a Model A being towed on the road at highway speeds with a tow bar or dolly and for some inadvertent reason the transmission slipped onto gear.

The results of a long tow at highway speed were not pretty!!

[foxfire42]

I've used the early style VW tow bar and it worked flawlessly. Only problem is it attaches to the front axle and movement can damage the finish. On the otherhand I tried the Harbor Freight tow bar and I could never get the front wheels to track properly. They were always turning and draging the wheel so the tire almost was rolled off the rim. These were for very short trips to the fixit shop so no long distance was involved. I now have a tow dolly and the other "things" are in the scrap heap.

[29ModelA]

Originally Posted by leo

Sounds like I need to forget this real quick and call my insurer if I have a problem. Now the question is will they send someone who actually knows what a Model A Ford is or someone who does not.....

I have Haggerty and for some reason I believe they guarantee a flatbed will come out.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Get AAA plus and save yourself some heartbreak, or ck with your ins company for towing coverage(Hagerty offers specialty towing for a few bucks). If adamant about using tow bar, remove the front bumper and attach to where the bumper arms mount or fabricate attaching points to the frame. JMO
Paul in CT
Paul in CT

That's exactly how I would connect the tow bar, and wouldn't be affraid to tow coast to coast with it. Also buy a pair of magnetic trailer lights to stick on the towed car. I also hang a sign or use tape to spell out: "CAR IN TOW"

I've towed several cars from Texas to Minnesota and never had a problem.
Also, don't forget even a tow bar needs safety chains.

Sometimes when turning too sharp or turning on loose gravel, you need to walk back and turn the steering to get the wheels to track without cocking to the wrong driection.

[mccsix]

Can I assume there is no potential driveline damage towing long distance?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by mccsix

Can I assume there is no potential driveline damage towing long distance?

I've never had any, but if the driveshaft was open and not too much work I would disconnect it. On the Model A or other closed shaft, I'd stick the tranny in high or second gear about every 300 miles and pull it a hundred feet to throw oil on the bearings, then be sure to shift back to neutral.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by mccsix

Can I assume there is no potential driveline damage towing long distance?

Do not tow faster then you would drive the car.

[Charles Coe]

In the '60s the previous owner of my 31 Town Sedan towed it from California to Florida with no apparent damage. I subsequently towed it up to 300 miles at a time usually at about 55 mph. I also disconnected the drag link so that it would follow better.

[Jazzjr]

I have been towing Model As for Years, and had no Problems, but only for 50 Miles or less. In the Photo Below, look hard where the Bumper Brackets bolt to the Frame, you will see 2 Elephant Ears that stay on the Car, made from 3/8 Plate Steel. I mount my Tow bar in to the 3/4 Holes in the Ears, and use a Magnet Tow lights from Harbor Freight for $9.99 they go on sale often.

[Mitch//pa]

my dad Saw a man with a shimmieing Toyota P.U. behind a HUGE motorhome. He tightly tied the steering wheel to the windwing post!?????????

[Ross/Kzoo]

I cracked the exhaust manifold on my 31 Buick and had to have it towed home. Called AAA and told them that it could only be towed with a flatbed and to my home. They had no problem but charged me the excess of the allowed mileage. I paid the remainder and sent the bill to Grundy and I had a check within 2 weeks.

[oldmanandakid]

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Be wary of those HF towbars any lateral pressure at all and they will twist like a piece of wet spaghetti.

[Rock Hornbuckle]

If you can afford a nice Model A, you can afford AAA or a car trailer.

Like the man said "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it". You went first class with your Model A, why not continue?

[160B]

Originally Posted by Rock Hornbuckle

If you can afford a nice Model A, you can afford AAA or a car trailer.

I have my Model A's insured with Hagerty and have their High Octane road service package which covers 125 miles flatbed towing. This covers any car you own not just the vintage you have insured with them.

In addition I have AAA with 100 mile flatbed towing.

I used the Hagerty on one of my modern vehicles, after that I upped my AAA from 25 mile to 100 mile towing.

Provides a peace of mind on the long road trips to the MAFCA North West regional Meets.

[160B]

Originally Posted by larrys40

The car had some poor reproduction bumper clamps.. and going down the the major interstate here one of the bumper clamps let go...

A member of our Model A Club had his front bumper fall off while driving down the highway. The bumper clamps were reproduction cast clamps with a bolt installed during the casting process. The castings were very low quality!!

[Tom Wesenberg]

You should never pull on the bumper.

A&L makes the best bumper clamps that I know of.

[cabriolet29]

Need to tow 2 Model A cars 8 miles to new storage l. Borrowed Model a towbar from fellow club member. Attaches to axle...how do I attach without removing the tool box below the radiator on one and not damaging the metal below the radiator on the other. Both are 1931.

[Keith True]

Sounds more like you need to drop your hitch on the tow vehicle.I have a towbar for the A's that has a big kickup on the front of it,it actually points downhill an inch or so when hooked up.You don't need just enough to clear,you need enough to clear when hitting a grade or big bumps.Some of the big old commercial towbars don't lend themselves to being used on an A if you go to the axle.

[holdover]

I have a tow bar, a car hauler trailer and AAA plus. The last two times I broke down, 6 years ago and two years ago (not model A) I called AAA. One of the tows was 95 miles from home, the other was about 30. In both cases my vehicle was home on the back of a rollback faster than I could have someone bring my tow vehicle and equipment to where I was. When I purchase a vehicle I take my trailer and bring it home. As to my 5 A's, if one breaks down I'll let my insurance with Hagerty handle it. Your mileage may vary.