Attaching tow rope to A

BobbyG

Senior Member
Don't want to tempt fate but should I ever need to attach a tow rope to pull a model A home - how best to attach it so that I dont kink up the front sheet metal.

Could I loop it round the bumper maybe ?

Touch wood I won't need to do this anytime soon !

Bob
 
Don't want to tempt fate but should I ever need to attach a tow rope to pull a model A home - how best to attach it so that I dont kink up the front sheet metal.

Could I loop it round the bumper maybe ?

Touch wood I won't need to do this anytime soon !

Bob

Yes you can loop it around the bumper but it won't be too far down the road you will find yourself picking up the now-detached bumper that will be laying on the road. :eek:

In the front area of the towed car, I prefer to connect a strap at the point of where the right spring perch would be . Maybe this would need to be the opposite for you if you are RHD. On the rear, I feel it is the strongest at the outer edge of the axle. I like to attach at the left rear of the tow vehicle's back side which allows the driver being towed to slide to the tow car's left a little to be able to see the road ahead more clearly.

I said all of this with the premise that you understand just how dangerous this method of towing can be, ...and it is understood that this should be a last-resort method just to get a vehicle out of harm's way to an area where a safer method can be used.
 
The problem with attaching to the bumper is that SOME of the REPRO bumper clamps that fasten the bumper to the supports are made of castiings and can break at any time, sometimes even when you are driving with no tow rope being used!
 
Can you guys get towing on your insurance over there? The antique insurance here has it and it doesn't count against you if you use it (or so I was told). Other than that, I'm thinking Brent's suggestion is probably the best place since you wouldn't be able to get a strap around the frame.


Might be worth looking into, less risk to the car, and you don't have to worry about the person pulling you jerking the car too hard and breaking anything.
 
Brent is 100% correct. If you ever have to do this tow very slow ( less than 5 mph) Remember your braking power.
 
its about $35 to rent a tow dolly,maybe one of your friends have one you can borrow, thats what i do when i cant get my partners trailer,
 
Thanks guys - reason I asked is that I have been venturing further from base and have packed a few useful bits n bobs into the trunk - I added a collapsable traffic cone - flashing beacon and a tow strap last night - which got me to thinking about where to attach it.

It would only be to get it off the road to a safe location - not looking at a cross country drag or anything like that !.

Bob
 
Bobby there are a number of insurance companies for antique vehicles that offer "enhanced" towing on flat bed tow trucks. The pricing is often better than you insurance company.
I use State Farm and asked them about towing, to the nearest shop that can do repairs! I asked would that be my shop if no one else works on Model A's nearer. Yep they said.
Your agent can "massage" the plan to fit your needs so to speak.
I would never rope tow a Model A. I'd camp out in it first waiting for a trailer.
Do you belong to a local club? Normally a member would rescue you if asked and I'd make it worth their time.

Sorry Bobby, morning coffee. You are in the UK. Don't anything about insurance companies there. It's good info otherwise for folks looking for insurance.
 
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I carry two 8' x 2" nylon eye & eye slings. Attach them as a chokers at opposite ends of the front axle, between the front radius rod points and the king pins. Bring them out front together to form a Y when attached to a tow line.

If necessary, two guys can take one each and easily pull the car out of the way by hand. You can also easily drop the two eyes over someone's trailer ball to take it up a driveway or ramp. The car follows nicely, no additional line needed.

In the garage the slings are handy for a bunch of other stuff, too. Just put them back in the car.
 
for short distances, run a tow strap under bumper and around both bumper horns on one side behind the bumper
 
FWIW:

From past "experience", ford3's reply No. 10 will work every time, even with:

1. The (2) Model A rear wheels under water, & bogged down to the rear axle in soft mud; &,

2. With the bottom of the intake on the carburetor one inch above the water line with the engne still running, & with headlights pointed to the tops of the adjacent trees; &,

3. with both front wheels bogged in soft mud & under warer; &,

4. with a "loaded" boat on a boat trailer "attached" to the Model A trailer hitch.

Pulled it out like reply no. 10 with a 1946 Farmall AV tractor & a rope -- no sweat.

Safety first !!!!
 
Mike S - Thanks mate - Mike K liking the twin strap pull idea - consider that stolen -Ford3 noted - thanks - H.L. Chauvin I would like to see photos of any of those exploits !

Bob
 
Brent is 100% correct. If you ever have to do this tow very slow ( less than 5 mph) Remember your braking power.

I once asked a modern car for a tow, assuming that he would know to go slow. BUT he accelerated immediately to about 60mph!! I was terrified :eek: and too scared to toot the horn to slow him down, in case he stopped suddenly, as it was a short tow-rope. I held on for a couple of miles then gradually applied the brakes and eventually stopped him. He couldn't understand what the problem was!
 
for short distances, run a tow strap under bumper and around both bumper horns on one side behind the bumper

This is the way I'd do it also. Less chance of hurting something in case the towing car gave a sudden jerk.
It seems like a jerk on the tow rope connected to the front axle might crack the flywheel cover.
 
I once encountered & ran ACROSS a 12" deep ditch with square sides @ 35 MPH & all that happened was that my '29 Sport Coupe R/H door flew open & one of the Tudor seats that just "sat" in the car, almost fell out! B-B-Bill W.
 
A point to remember is that the towed vehicle does the braking for both vehicles or a small amount of hand brake could be used

Did once did see a lady towing a well used Fergy 28 tractor at about 60mph on a rope, the gentelman on the tractor looked as "white as a sheet" and frozen to the steering wheel terrified to do anything else but hold on tightly, remember the back brakes arn't linked together!:eek: and as for the steering linkages?:eek:
 
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