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Trailering

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Bob Claffie

Bob Claffie

Jedi Knight
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Looking for opinions on trailering a 100/6 with a two wheel dolly. Have to go about 150 miles. Car has not been used in several years and do not want to cause unnecessary problems. Or looking for good hearted soul in eastern Ma to be a good samaritan and bring it home for me. Thanks, Bob
 
150 miles is a pretty short distance. If the car has not been started in several years, the tires may have a flat spot (no big deal) and we'll assume that this is a resto project anyway. What's the worst that can happen? Make sure the knock-offs are tight, that the wheels turn reasonably freely (towing a short distance will also free them up), and do it.

Life is full of uncertainties. If you're risk-averse, there are plenty of new car dealers out there... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Hi Bob,
I agree with Reid.
But don't tow it backward, ie, rear wheels on a dolly. The front knock off hubs will unscrew.

With the front wheels on a dolly, the rear ground clearance is pretty limited, so be careful what you run over.

A tow bar adapted to the front bumper mounts on the frame works pretty well.
D
 
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A tow bar adapted to the front bumper mounts on the frame works pretty well.
D

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's a picture of the collapsible (folding) tow bar that I use in conjunction with a pair of Bill Bolton's tow eyes. Works like a charm.
 

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Here's a shot of it hooked up to the car.
 

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Alas, a tow bar is not an option here in Ma. Car would have to be registered and insured and it's a couple years away from that. Thanks on the tip NOT to tow it backwards I wouldn't have thought of the Knock-offs until one was rolling by me. Of the 150 miles about 130 are turnpike / highway so chances of undercarrige harm are minimal. Thanks for the suggestions. Bob
 
HI BOB, What is the difference between trailering with a Two wheel dolly and moving the car with a tow bar. It would appear necessary that the car be licensed and insured in Either case.---Just curious ---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
But don't tow it backward, ie, rear wheels on a dolly. The front knock off hubs will unscrew.

[/ QUOTE ]

Given that it is not unheard of for knock-off's to come undone--even when going forward--I've always wondered if anyone ever came up with a way of safety-wiring them to one or more spokes. Any thoughts out there?
 
Being an aircraft mechanic and safety wiring stuff on a daily basis, I'm amazed at the number of things we wire that are probably not necessary to wire. Conversely, there are lots of things that I look at that are not drilled for safety wire, but I think really should be saftied. Knock-offs fall into the latter catagory. We have all heard stories of wheels falling off. A number 40 hole in the end of a knock off ear with a twist of .032" stainless wire to the nearest spoke would prevent that. You can even sheath the twisted wire and the loop around the spoke with either shrink tubing or clear tubing to protect from metal to metal contact. If you are really anal, you could drill both ear ends and safety both sides of the knock-off (some might worry about balance, but I wouldn't). Just be sure you wire it so that if the knock-off wants to unthread it will pull on the wire (obviously it will depend on which knock-off you are looking at as to the direction of the safety !). I would also treat the drilled hold with a good corrosion preventitive after drilling through that nice chrone plate. Also don't forget to add some wire cutters to your road kit. It would just make your day if you had a flat only to find you had to break the wire without a pair of wire cutters to do it. Last, don't forget to bend the end of your safety wire over so that when you are reaching to check a spoke for security you don't get hooked by sharp wire ends. Now go buy one of those fancy safety wire twisters you've always wanted but couldn't justify. (Don't forget, you can the wire by hand, and if you are careful you can do just as nice a job without the twisters).
 
Gee whiz,
I should have poof read that one.
 
Keoke: Here in the great state of Massachusetts, if the dolly is registered (and it is) and two wheels of the car are on it (they will be) the whole rig is deemed legal as the car is considered as an extension of the dolly and is covered by the dolly plates! If the car falls off the dolly it is then illegal. Bob
 
[ QUOTE ]
Given that it is not unheard of for knock-off's to come undone--even when going forward--

[/ QUOTE ]
Hi Michael,
The hubs are very unlikely to unscrew IF the wheels & hubs are in good condition & the hubs are NOT installed on the WRONG sides of the car. As explained below, they are self tightening in the forward car direction. If the splined hubs are installed on the wrong sides or if the car is towed backward, they become self loosening. I personally put a couple of ink dots on wheel hub & spinner. I have never seen one loosen. The caps do sometimes rotate slightly in the tightening direction.

Below is an explanation of the Rudge-Whitworth center locking wheel.
D
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Excerpt borrowed from "Safety Fast 1992"
One of the endearing mysteries of the wire wheel is that the spokes are not ... indeed, can never be ... in compression, the weight of the stationary car is suspended from those spokes which are uppermost in the wheel. when the wheel and locking cap are loosely fitted, therefore the upper portion of the outer taper is pulled firmly into contact with that of the locking cap taper, and the lower portion of the locking cap thread is in contact with that of the hub. A slight clearance then exists between the tapers at the bottom, and also between the threads at the top. As the car moves forward, a different portion of the wheel rim takes the weight, and relative movement occurs between wheel centre, locking cap and hub. The effect of this is to tighten the locking cap, and the locking action continues until there is firm contact between the tapers all round, when it ceases. The clearances involved are, of course, minute, but the locking action is nevertheless, completely positive and entirely automatic.
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Thanks for the explanation Bob. Here in Ca if one wheel touches the ground you are Illegal, of course they have to catch you doing it.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Boy is my face red. My source on dollys was completely wrong. The dolly has NO PLATES or INSURANCE. The car on the dolly must be registered and insured, and this is what makes the dolly legal. Hope this gets out before someone makes a expensive mistake. Apologies to all, Bob
 
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