Trailer hitch for Model A pickup
- Thread starter Fordfan29
- Start date
Floats
Well-known member
Hi Ford fan,
The previous owner fitted rear bumpers to my open pickup and I built the tow bar from 2 1/2 inch square tubing as in the sketch below. It is designed to use the removable ball hitch from my Toyota Fortuner. The bar is positioned quite far forward so that the tail gate does not accidently get damaged by the ball.
I have added supports which fasten to the bed slats in order to limit sideway movement as the bumper brackets are not very strong or sturdy.
The bar is strong enough to do short distance light hauling. I do the heavy moving with the Toyota.
The previous owner fitted rear bumpers to my open pickup and I built the tow bar from 2 1/2 inch square tubing as in the sketch below. It is designed to use the removable ball hitch from my Toyota Fortuner. The bar is positioned quite far forward so that the tail gate does not accidently get damaged by the ball.
I have added supports which fasten to the bed slats in order to limit sideway movement as the bumper brackets are not very strong or sturdy.
The bar is strong enough to do short distance light hauling. I do the heavy moving with the Toyota.
Attachments
Synchro909
Well-known member
I have a towbar on my '29 Phaeton which attach to the bumper brackets only. If you have or put rear bumpers on your P/U, the same would work for you. I've towed a camper weighing about a tonne over 35,000 miles on it with no problems related to the tow bar. Broken wheels is the main problem but that's what welders are for!
Hoogah
Well-known member
I can give you homemade (rough!). This was on my car when I bought it. The car has never been off the road as far as I know, but not sure when this towbar was added. It's fixed to both the bumper brackets and the rear crossmember. I'm hoping that it will be substantial enough to tow a small teardrop camper sometime soon.
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Big hammer
Well-known member
If you’re going to tow with an A, hope your thinking about brakes, maybe electric trailer brakes ?!
Hoogah
Well-known member
I'll be going for the electric brakes that don't require a control unit in the car, but are instead controlled via bluetooth from a mobile phone. I think this also means that I'd have to be content with a setting that I can't easily adjust on the run. I'm planning on towing my camper with more than one vehicle (not at the same time
), so this should save on the cost of modifications and keep the interior of my A original.
Bruce of MN
Well-known member
Hoogah;1657496)towing my camper with more than one vehicle (not at the same time :eek:) said:
Richard in Anaheim CA
Well-known member
Its, not a pickup but this is the way I did it on my 28 Tudor. I bought a class 1 commercial hitch at a swap meet for $15. What did it fit? No idea but it was more than long enough to cut off the ends and weld some 1/4 inch thick flat brackets on the ends to fit my bumper brackets and spreader with no modifications to the car except some longer class 8 bolts, 3 per side. I towed a Mullins trailer to Portland OR and my 1930 American Austin to Angel Stadium for the Alzheimer's walk. It was quite a hit.
Sorry no picture. I got hung up on http:/// I can do the paper clip on my phone
Sorry no picture. I got hung up on http:/// I can do the paper clip on my phone
Synchro909
Well-known member
Richard, that sounds very like what I did to make my hitch.
As for brakes, I use electric brakes with the controller in the car. I have replaced the steering column support with a bracket like Henry used in 1931, only I had to make a RHD one. I mount a small plate behind it on which I mount an extra gauge, the controller and a switch for the driving lights. I like to be in control of the brakes when (if) the trialer starts to sway. I can stop better with the trailer (all 1 tonne of it!) behind from 50mph than I can in the solo car. Our latest camper has Electronic Stability Control which is a PITA.
For our US member who aren't familiar with metric, 1 tonne is 2,200 pounds.
As for brakes, I use electric brakes with the controller in the car. I have replaced the steering column support with a bracket like Henry used in 1931, only I had to make a RHD one. I mount a small plate behind it on which I mount an extra gauge, the controller and a switch for the driving lights. I like to be in control of the brakes when (if) the trialer starts to sway. I can stop better with the trailer (all 1 tonne of it!) behind from 50mph than I can in the solo car. Our latest camper has Electronic Stability Control which is a PITA.
For our US member who aren't familiar with metric, 1 tonne is 2,200 pounds.
