Hot Rods Tow Roping with no brakes

Hey everybody!

I'm about to buy a 52 FordF1 from a neighbor down the street and we need to move it literally a block away from his garage to my garage. The thing is, there's no brakes. Master is dry. And the E-brake cable I'm guessing is frozen/not doing braking things. Wondering if y'alls have any tips on getting it from one block to another via tow strap? Could I put it in gear and use the clutch as a brake? I know it's a stupid question but doesnt really make sense to trailer a truck that short a distance and there's a couple of inclines so pushing would be a chore at best.

Thanks for any input!

 

Fashion up a tow bar.

 

put it in gear and step on clutch to move let out on clutch to stop

 

Use a length of pipe on the chain to maintain the distance. Or push it by hand.

 

Never tow a vehicle that has no brakes. Instead, push the F1, having used the tow strap to hold a 'stack' of tires to a tree in the front yard of 'home destination'. Tires will ensure a soft stop!

 

Do the safe thing; build the truck right where it is, that way you can:
Use his garage space.
Use his tools.
Use his electricity, and torch, and welder, and maybe parts when he isn't looking.

 

Yep ... what he said.

 

The only you to do it safely. HRP

 

I have lashed the back bumper of my tow vehicle to the front bumper of the towed with chain more than once. Works well. 50 mile trip the first time. Towed a 39 1 1/2 ton Ford with my 39 1/2 ton Ford to get it home too.

 

Probably not a great idea but I was once in a similar situation. The solution? Hook up a fully functioning truck with good brakes BEHIND the truck with no brakes. Just had the guy behind me drag the brakes slightly to keep the strap tight and to stop both vehicles when needed.

 

^^^ This....

 

Where I live if you ask enough guys, somebody has a trailer they would be glad to lend.

 

Hello,

For the amount of work and energy you are going to spend getting that old Ford down the street, it will be worth it to get a flat bed trailer to load it up and move it. If you happen to be a AAA member with the towing clause, read it and perhaps since you are the owner, it would work in your case. That would be the best. Their flatbed trucks do a great job of moving just about anything, with the help of a winch.

But, in case you get several big folks to help out, make sure you have several nylon straps of some length to the rear to pull and stop the forward motion. To me, it would not be worth the effort to move it down the block, unless it is mildly down hill. Any effort for the helpers and what it costs in their health will linger afterwards.

Jnaki

We used a dock line rope from a large tugboat to tow a Model A from a house about a mile away. The brakes did work, but would only drag the car to slow it down, somewhat. It would not stop completely. So, my brother had me hold down the brake pedal to engage what ever was causing some friction and pulled the large rope with his 51 Oldsmobile Sedan. As long as I had the rope taut, it was fine and I could steer around corners.

As we got to our driveway, he slowed about a few houses away and I coasted to a stop. Then we both pushed the Model A up the driveway into our backyard. The backyard gr*** stopped the forward motion while we were pushing it.

The cost of a tow truck or renting a flat bed trailer is worth it in time, money and aches that you may cause your neighbors, despite the smiles on their faces. YRMV

 

I also say use the rope though a pipe. Done this several times. I just use PVC pipe and a chain or rope.

 

Laugh all you want, but this is when having the AAA RV plus coverage, is well worth the annual very affordable fee!
Ask the neighbor you are buying the F1 from, if he has a AAA
card.
Be safe, be smart, be frugal !

 

Do you have a riding lawn mower??? I have pushed many that way. But stopping is going to be the issue

 

If it only has to go a block, why can't you push it by hand? Otherwise, rent a tow dolly.

 

Towed my neighbors 1962 vw with no breaks and a wrench for a steering wheel 2 blocks with a 14hp garden tractor. No problems at a slow speed.

 

I got towed a few blocks with a 10 foot tow rope and only a parking brake that apparently only worked on one wheel. I was pinching the ****ons out of the seat with my **** cheeks.

 

I used to do that a fair amount.
IF your bumpers line up...just use rope and fairly tightly wrap them together..
It will do fine, and even turn slightly if necessary.

 

Just rent a U-Haul tow dolly. Cheap, easy to use and will save you grief in the long run.

 

I have a good neighbor who helped me push and I agree, that uphill part is no fun.

 

Strap an old tyre to the front of your "tow vehicle" and push it.

Then use a tow rope from the front of the vehicle to the axle of the F1 to help slow it down

 

I towed a Chevelle with no brakes by strapping a tire between the vehicles. Like someone said, tie it as close as you can to the tow vehicle with the tire suspended between the bumpers. A big fat tire works best. A nylon strap or rope will work fine no farther than you are going.

 

I try to limit my stupidity nowadays. You or some family member or friend must have an AAA membership. Or a car trailer. Or rent something from Uhaul. Everything else is off the table, IMO.

 

What has happened to having the balls to do what needs to be done? Hook it up and give it a tug one flipping block, you can always put a second car in the rear for stopping, go slow for what 300 feet…. Geez

 

Drag something behind it. A dead whale would be good. Or some tires.

 

Doesn't U-Haul rent out tow bars any more? I have a heavy duty trailer hitch with anti sway bars that I use occasionally as an impromptu tow bar. Works great but not legal these days.

 

get a loader tractor and lift the front of the truck and back it to your place