The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Towing with a U-Haul Tow Dolly

Ok so this weekend I am going to pick up the '49 1.5 ton. Got a Ford F-350, roughly 8,500lb truck and was going to rent a Uhaul tow dolly to hold the front end. I know a trailer can't hold the truck and although the owner claims that it runs and drives, i really don't want to drive 200 miles at 40 mph. Not my idea of fun. Although we won't be going much faster towing it.

So any suggestions or fears? I have searched and other than having a full rig service coming to grab it. I don't see any other easy, fast and safe options.

A rig that size won't fit on a U-Haul dolly. The tires will be too wide to fit on the ramps. Also, if you tell U-Haul what you're planning to tow, they won't rent it to you.

You might rig a conventional tow bar to the front of the frame and flat-tow the truck. (remove the bumper and bracket right to the end of the frame rails). Use heavy-wall square tubing, and reinforce all the welds with gusset plates. Be sure and remove the driveshaft to prevent transmission damage on a tow that long.
Jerry

Before you tow that dolly 200 miles do some measuring. Most tow dollys are not wide enough to load that truck.

Given the size of your tow vehicle I'd consider a truck sized tow bar. Your tow vehicle is big enough that if you keep the speed reasonable I think that would work and be safe.

sounds like some know some dont

We've pulled 3 big bolts home with a tow bar and all 3 pulled differently. The first one pulled just fine 26 miles with no problems. The second truck had been stretched about 18" and every time we turned a corner the wheels flopped the opposite way, so the son had to steer it around corners and hold the steering wheel on the straight away. We pulled the third one out of an alley in town. There was a dip on the street and the tow bar was at an angle, as the bumper of the big bolt is quite a bit higher than the hitch on the tow truck. It popped off of the ball hitch on the pull truck. Our tow bar had safety chains. Be sure you have safety chains if you use a tow bar. Other than that the third one pulled fine. Just be sure the truck you're towing has brakes, or that your pull truck has sufficient brakes to stop it and the truck you're pulling. Alot of weight behind you.

These old trucks are narrow, but I don't know if an AD will fit in a tow dolly? Probably not a great idea even if it does fit.

If you tow it with the rear wheels on the ground pull the axle shafts or driveshaft so as to not damage the transmission.

A flat trailer really would be the best way to haul it.

200 miles is not that long of a drive, if the brakes work good and it runs decent you should be fine. I've driven thousands of miles at 50-55 mph it's fun, 200 at 40-45 should be easy..

Another option is a tow bar, but should probably be your last option. Here is a picture of one suitable for a medium sized truck: http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2664430520080251109waGtyD

Grigg

Unless you put that thing on a heavy goos neck trailer, there ain't no real safe way of going over 45MPH. Unless you have it on a trailer with good brakes, it will be very difficult to stop in a panic situation.

I have hauled 2 1949 6400 trucks to Dallas from Wichita KS on my 20 ft flat bed trailer. With 10,000 lb axles and brakes behind a 2005 3/4 ton chevy I had no problems..

The front tires, edge to edge measure just barely over 6 feet. So it will FIT on the dolly.

The only reason I lean away from a tow bar is the counter steer issue. Last thing I need it to be dragging this truck back and the wheels move on their own. Granted I will probably throw my friend or fiance back there to "drive" the truck on the in town parts.

I know the '49 doesn't have brakes. It would possibly be an easy fix and one i might do. If I can get it running reliably before we leave the farm I will use my truck as a chase truck if the towing doesn't work. But I always want options.

Hope for the best but ALWAYS expect the worst.

Any chance i can borrow your trailer? Also is it a gooseneck, 5th wheel or standard?

That would not fit on the dolly I have borrowed in the past, but I'm sure they come in bigger sizes.

With a tow bar you risk the tire flop problem, with a dolly you have difficulty backing up.

My own preference would be a trailer, though you need a trailer big enough to do the job. I have an 18 foot flatbed and have hauled several trucks on it.

A shorter truck with no motor works fine, but the last one I put on it was complete with motor and bed, and was long enough that the wheels were all the way forward at the front and just barely on the trailer at the rear.

I won't do that again, it was a slow and at moments scary 45 miles. The problem was that I could not adjust weight on the tongue and had too much weight up front. At 35 or 40 it was fine, but any faster and it was not stable, so I slowed down and did fine. And yes my trailer has brakes and they are very important with a load like this.

Backing up with a tow bar is also difficult.
I towed a 54 GMC COE from WA to NY for a friend, with the tow bar pictured in an earlier post.
I did not have any problems with the tires flopping around, and I did not tie the steering wheel in any way. I would think that the proper caster angle has a lot to do with it. Occasionally at low speeds I would turn and the COE would not turn, but it had no choice but to scrub the tires and follow along. It helped that my truck weighed 10,000 lb empty, and I had a little over 3,000 lb extra in the bed, and plenty of power and gears.

If you must use a tow bar be sure to have a truck at least as heavy as the truck you are towing, more is better, and have plenty of weight in the bed. That helps to keep the towed truck from pushing you around.
Take it slow and careful.

A good sized flat trailer and suitable truck would be best.
Or better yet, how about a roll back? You don't even have to drive, and if you are flexible on the time you could get a deal on a back haul for a local towing company.

Grigg

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've read in other posts on this subject that you should disconnect the driveshaft when towing with a drawbar. I'd also make sure your tires are up to snuff for a trip over 200 miles. If you're in rural farmland, see if your farmin' neigbor has an equipment trailer to borrow.

Posted a new topic prior to finding this one. I am in a similar situation, only trying to find out the track and overall width of my 6400. It is far enough away that I do not want to make two trips to measure, then back to load. There is no one available to measure where the truck is located. Someone posted that the tires were just over 6' edge to edge. If this is true, I'm in good shape, I think. Would love to know however the width of the truck at it's widest point below 18 inches. ensure wheels, fenders, etc don't rub the side.

Ok... We got the tow dolly from the local Uhaul to the truck and drove it back. Although a bit scary at times. It was not a problem once we got on the highway.

Getting it on the dolly was interesting. The come-along we brought had a bit of an issue pulling the 10k+ truck. So the good seller, grabbed his tractor and started to push the truck onto the dolly... HAH... BOTH trucks started moving. So I got my fiance in the tow vehicle to hold the brakes. OK... problem solved. The 49 is on the dolly.

The main issue we had was the fact that the tires were too tall to use the straps alone. Luckily we had some 15k wrench straps and MADE it work. With the chains and additional straps we got it secure on the dolly.

I WOULD NOT recommend this method if you have ANY other option.

Once secure we drove for about 25 miles on highway and pulled over for gas as well to check out everything.

Pulling into the station i noticed the driver side door was open. LOVELY... as well as the straps on the passenger side tire were just lying next to it.

Well luckily the chassis was chained and strapped down so the tire straps weren't necessary. Needless to say i looked closer. Both front tires had blown out due to age and the pressure I put on them with the straps. I GOT IT TIGHT!!!

But I put the straps back on and filled up. Then mushed on.

We went about another 100 miles and pulled in for food and to check it again. All was well. We got to the house with no major problems, no flat tires and no losses of control.

Now came the fun part... getting the rig OFF the dolly. Since the brakes didn't work... that wasn't an option. Pushing wouldn't work... sooo.....

We chock the tires and take all the straps off. Dragging the dolly out from under the truck worked. Granted backing it up wasn't exactly easy. But if any one has experience pushing aircraft around, you will relate this to driving and coleman.

So it's not in the backyard, brakes dont work, fuel system is shot, both fronts are blown and the floorboard is rusted out. Other than that... It's in good condition.

I will post pics later. But it's home.

Congratulations on the adventure!

Yeah thw overall wdith of the front end fit PERFECTLY on the dolly. But due to the 20" wheels and the 7.00R20 tires, they were about 3 inches too tall to hook up the straps on their own.

Otherwise the dolly that was rated ro 4200lbs towed the 10k+ truck without a problem.

But this WONT be used again. That's the whole reason i bought the '49.


Well I kinda wish that would have happened a bit but the truck didn't vibrate at all... in fact i still have around ten pounds of glass all over the welding bed that was from some broken glass. 200 miles @ 45-60 MPH and it wouldn't come off. Also got an old pair of scissors that are rusty as hell but still work. I guess they fit the character of the truck. Even the driveshaft bolts came off without fuss.