trailer towing for a 46 v8

[oldford2]

Looking for input on towing a small camping trailer with our 46. We are doing some long distance tours in 2013 and are studying small camping trailers for our 46. Anyone out there towing a trailer? Wt of trailer, brakes, brands, etc.?
Thanks
Next thread will be looking for hitch info
John

 

[Old Henry]

Back in the 60's dad built this camping trailer on an the rear half of an old Dodge car. He pulled it behind Old Henry up into the mountains where he, my bother, and I lived in it during one summer when he was a lumberjack and we helped him.

As lumberjack assistants. Me in the helmet.

As for a hitch? He just bolted a piece of angle iron onto the back bumper with one bolt and the ball in another hole. Here's a picture from the 60's of back end of Old Henry with the hitch on the bumper.

I still have the hitch. Here it is held in place where it was bolted to the bumper.

When I rechromed the bumper I even left the bolt hole there for old time's sake and just in case. . .

Oh, we never heard of a "safety chain." One bolt, one ball, and we were off. No problemo.

 

[ken ct]

Boy that rig setup would never fly today. That trailer looks a little heavy to pull with a late 40's ford. Lot of heavy wood in that sucker. OMO. ken ct.

 

[Ed Pitts]

Looks like the axle location would make a lighter load on the hitch. Still an interesting pull though. Ed

 

[JM 35 Sedan]

John, is this something you are considering for a cross country tour to attend the '13 EFV-8 ENM? I think your 46 could pull a small light weight self contained camping trailer or maybe a pop up type camper. The hitch should be something fairly heavy duty that bolts to a cross brace that attaches to the ends of both main frame rails on each side. I would not trust something that just bolts to the bumper.

 

[Old Henry]

OK. Now that I've had some fun showing off my dad's old trailer and hitch let's get serious about towing a modern trailer with a flathead 100 hp engine.

I, of course, never drove "Old Henry" when he was pulling the old wooden trailer so don't know how it towed. But, at the rate my '47 fordor slows down on hills, especially loaded with passengers, I would be looking for the lightest and least wind resistant trailer to pull.

Of course, the classic teardrop trailer, especially one customized and painted the car color would be the most aesthetically pleasing. Such as this Little Guy Silver Shadow:

Details here: http://www.golittleguy.com/zenphoto/6-x-10-silver-shadow/

But they are not particularly practical camping units, especially if it's raining or a lot of bugs where you'd want to do all meal preparation and dressing inside.

If I were seriously considering a practical useful camping trailer to pull behind my flathead I'd be looking at a pop-up tent trailer that is extremely light such as this Livin-Lite Quicksilver all aluminum one:

Details here: http://www.livinlite.com/6.0-overview.php

Just some ideas to consider.

 

[columbiA]

Many years ago,I pulled a pop-up tent trailer behind a stock model A and you hardly knew it was there.

 

[chuck stevens]

John,
Kathie and I pulled this little scotty with our 47 for a few years. It did ok, but I wouldn't want to try anything heavier. Scotty was about 1000 lbs, no brakes, and ten gallons of water, good for a week end.
It brought the gas mileage down to single digits, but talk about turning heads, it was fun. Chuck S

 

[Cecil/WV]

Julie and Barry Knot from Atlanta pull what looks to be a Scotty type behind their '50 Ford pickup when they go camping.

 

[Old Henry]

Scotty even makes a teardrop style trailer that is more practical than the small teardrops:

It's only 960 lbs: http://www.scottytrailers.com/pdf/lite_brochure.pdf

 

[Old Redneck]

I would install a power brake boster to help the brakes and make sure the trailer brakes are in perfect shape. The trailer hitch would be a fram hitch. Now the tires should be at least 6 ply on the car. I know this sounds extream but what your family worth. Don't forget about good side mirror's

 

[oldford2]

Thanks for all the information and tips. Plenty to get me thinking.I like the tip from Old Henry. That Scotty teardrop is a design from the 50's(?) and would look sweet behind our 46.
Thanks again
John

 

[Lawrie]

John, you 46 will tow the teardrop on its ear,
We tow a small teardrop camper with our 28 A pickup all over Australia,and also behind the 33 with the stock 21 stud eng,
The trailer weighs 350kg loaded and you would not know its behind the 33.
I,m planning to build a larger old style wooden caravan for the 33 ,
Lawrie

 

[42guy]

John,
You might want to consider Lincoln front brakes. I have them on mine and you can tell the diffference.

 

[Old Henry]

The trailer weighs 350kg loaded
Lawrie

For those of you metrically challenged, that's 771 lbs.

 

[Jim]

My dad in early 1942 pulled a 26 ft. trailer from east texas to portland, Or. with a 39 tudor. The only major problem was tires which were getting in short supply. The trip took 8 days and we were sure glad to get there.
The hitch as I remember was bolted to the rear spring bolts on the rear crossmember and to the bumper using a 4 in, channel.

 

[Old Henry]

Thanks for all the information and tips. Plenty to get me thinking.I like the tip from Old Henry. That Scotty teardrop is a design from the 50's(?) and would look sweet behind our 46.
Thanks again
John

Now, if you want a true vintage 50's trailer here's a 1955 Benroy in what looks like tip-top shape for sale on ebay:

Details here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/55-B...RVs_Campers&hash=item2a28175110#ht_500wt_1182

 

[Pete]

Back in the late 50's when I was making my living circle track racing, I towed with a 46 Ford coupe with a much modified 286 ci engine and a Columbia rear end. The trailer weighed about 2500 lb. loaded with all the tools, fuel etc etc. It had hydraulic surge brakes.
The hitch was fabricated and bolted to the frame much as modern after market hitches. We towed all over the western USA with no problems.

 

[Torchie]

Over the years I have bought a few old cars that have had trailer hitches on them and as I remember them they were all some variation on the Type that Old Henry is showing.
Mostly they just had adjustable straps that hooked around the bumper. At one time you could rent a hitch from u-haul that was adjustable and clamped to the bumper as well.
I would take the car to a reputable welding shop and thay can make you a custom frame hitch that will suit your needs. As far as the trailer goes I would make sure to have brakes on it. Most likey some sort of surge set up as I don't know that electric brakes can be set up for 6 volt ( assuming that's what you have) system.
good luck and be safe.

 

[Old Henry]

It had hydraulic surge brakes.

I would make sure to have brakes on it. Most likely some sort of surge set up as I don't know that electric brakes can be set up for 6 volt ( assuming that's what you have) system.
good luck and be safe.

One thing I learned by sad experience with surge brakes (on a boat trailer). You can not back up a hill with them. The slope of the hill applies the brakes and the harder you try to back up the harder the brakes are applied.