Towing
- Thread starter Tippen48
- Start date
ford38v8
Well-known member
For a beam axle it's not advisable to chain or strap in the middle of the beam axle. It is too easy to bend it there. Two straps just outboard of the the radius rods are best.
Here Here! Yes, and be aware that tow truck drivers are generally not going to follow this advice unless you point out that danger to them. Insist that they do not use the center of the axle to pull the car onto the flatbed, but to use the side or both sides of the axle only.
trulyvintage
Well-known member
Check your automobile policy
to see if you have towing coverage.
If you don’t then see if you can
add it.
If you don’t already have it
consider buying a
AAA Premier Membership.
Flat towing a vehicle is dangerous
for the driver of the tow vehicle
and the driver of the passenger vehicle
and fellow motorists - you may also
cause damage to the tow and towed
vehicles.
Jim
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Bruce of MN
Well-known member
I carry axle straps in the trunk for the tow truck driver to use.
Kurt in NJ
Well-known member
I don’t think AAA has a plan that works in Sweden.
As shown above the front axle at the spring perch is a good place for a strap
As shown above the front axle at the spring perch is a good place for a strap
V8COOPMAN
Well-known member
The picture (BELOW) shows one example of how a Ford I-beam can be bent by towing other than GLENN's circled (accepted) method at the perch pin.
Coop
trulyvintage
Well-known member
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Flathead Fever
Well-known member
glenpm's excellent photo shows you the perfect spots to toe an old Ford from with the least chance of bending something. Carry a quality tow strap already fabricated up to tow from those from these two spots, just in case you need it or maybe somebody does.
Thanks for the tip.
trulyvintage
Well-known member
Swedish Towing Laws
Swedish Towing Laws:
@ https://www.ikorkort.nu/en/theory/bilen/kora-med-slapfordon-och-bogsera.php#bogsera
Jim
Swedish Towing Laws:
@ https://www.ikorkort.nu/en/theory/bilen/kora-med-slapfordon-och-bogsera.php#bogsera
Jim
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glennpm
Well-known member
First, thanks Coop for the bent beam axle photo.
I posted above where a strap, cable or chain should be located to prevent bending beam axles. I had to get towed about three weeks ago when I broke down with a bad new condenser :-( While waiting for AAA showed up, I started thinking about carrying a strap/s like I do with my motorcycles. Luckily the operator really liked my car and between us, located an old towel he had and I wrapped the front axle outboard of the perch bolt and we easily got it loaded. Because of where I was located, it had to be pulled from the front.
If a longer reach on the straps is required. the two eight footers could be linked with a square knot end to end to give you about 15" on one side.
This morning I was searching for good options, not for flat towing, but a safe way to get my '32 onto a flatbed. My first choice would be to pull up from the rear using the stout rear axle. But from either direction I wanted fairly short straps to carry all the time. I ended up purchasing Two 8' long straps:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z8R7T3Q?tag=atomicindus08-20
Regarding,
You could fabricate a thick plate with four holes matching the front spring bottom plate retainer bolt pattern and weld a hook onto the plate. You would need longer spring U-bolts. Maybe longer Ford truck U-bolts could be used or go to a spring fabricator and have some made.
Glenn
I posted above where a strap, cable or chain should be located to prevent bending beam axles. I had to get towed about three weeks ago when I broke down with a bad new condenser :-( While waiting for AAA showed up, I started thinking about carrying a strap/s like I do with my motorcycles. Luckily the operator really liked my car and between us, located an old towel he had and I wrapped the front axle outboard of the perch bolt and we easily got it loaded. Because of where I was located, it had to be pulled from the front.
If a longer reach on the straps is required. the two eight footers could be linked with a square knot end to end to give you about 15" on one side.
This morning I was searching for good options, not for flat towing, but a safe way to get my '32 onto a flatbed. My first choice would be to pull up from the rear using the stout rear axle. But from either direction I wanted fairly short straps to carry all the time. I ended up purchasing Two 8' long straps:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z8R7T3Q?tag=atomicindus08-20
Regarding,
You could fabricate a thick plate with four holes matching the front spring bottom plate retainer bolt pattern and weld a hook onto the plate. You would need longer spring U-bolts. Maybe longer Ford truck U-bolts could be used or go to a spring fabricator and have some made.
Glenn
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V8COOPMAN
Well-known member
I've hooked on to the center of the axle plenty of times with no issues. Depends...are you stuck in mud up to the running boards, or just flat towing a few blocks to get home on a paved road. Then, it has a big effect on who is doin the towing.
for example, my friend who has a C Allis tractor with a loader on front, got stuck in a snow bank, and had the wife pull him out with the pickup. They hooked up a chain, with plenty of slack, she thought it best to floor it to make sure it was a success, ripped all the ears off the block where it connects to the rest of the tractor. He said, one minute he was sittin on his tractor, the next minute, after the big bang he was lookin at the ground! Moral of the story, hook on the center to move the thing. have a qualified operator doing the towing and you will not have a problem. done it many times myself
for example, my friend who has a C Allis tractor with a loader on front, got stuck in a snow bank, and had the wife pull him out with the pickup. They hooked up a chain, with plenty of slack, she thought it best to floor it to make sure it was a success, ripped all the ears off the block where it connects to the rest of the tractor. He said, one minute he was sittin on his tractor, the next minute, after the big bang he was lookin at the ground! Moral of the story, hook on the center to move the thing. have a qualified operator doing the towing and you will not have a problem. done it many times myself
flatford8
Well-known member
I use one like Glenn showed, only mine has a hook on one end……when I used to pull a flatbed trailer truck, I was always finding broken/ torn nylon straps, and seeing how I just can’t throw something away, I’d just tie a loop in each end…..Mark
glennpm
Well-known member
Be careful with those that have a hook or turnbuckle on the strap. They can become a lethal projectile if the strap breaks! When searching for straps yesterday, there was one incident reported where a father and son were both killed this way.
Glenn