Triumph Spitfire on car dolly

[Bronson]

Yes, they are compression brakes and work pretty well. You wont need any special hook-ups, just a 4 prong flat plug adapter for your Ford round plug.

Your car is light enough that it wouldn't be an issue anyhow.

Can you link to the e-bay auction so we can see photos?

Jim

PS Congrats!

Thanks Jim. For some reason the link is not working. I will try again later.

 

[JimVonBaden]

This might help for the specs: http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/EquipmentDetail.aspx?model=at

Check this as well, in case the Spitfire is particularly low: http://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/118/Transporting-vehicles-with-low-ground-clearance

My GT was low and this helped.

Is this it? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980...0386472?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2320936728

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

Do the U-Haul trailers have brakes? My F-150 is not set up to operate trailer brakes.

What year F-150 ? From about '97 and up, the plug for the brake controller is already wired under the dash. I'm not sure what year most of them started to come with a combination flat 4/7 way RV plug on the back.

When I had my '97, it had a flat 4 connector, I bought a Ford take off plug(as mentioned above) and the only wire I had to lengthen was the light blue wire (brakes) and it was along the frame in the wire loom.

 

[Bronson]

This might help for the specs: http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/EquipmentDetail.aspx?model=at

Check this as well, in case the Spitfire is particularly low: http://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/118/Transporting-vehicles-with-low-ground-clearance

My GT was low and this helped.

Is this it? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980...0386472?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2320936728

Jim

Yep, that is it, Jim. It didnt sell, I bought after the Auction closed.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Great car, and nice condition!

Jim

 

[Bronson]

Thanks, Jim. I have looked at hundreds of Spitfires, glad I got this one!

 

[Bib Overalls]

Please. please do something with those bumpers. Dagmires they are not.

 

[Cinneagh]

Congrats on the new Spitfire! Sounds like a nice original car. I think the bumpers are nice as-is.

I know some of the TR guys say Uhaul trailers and dollies don't work well due to clearance issues so check your measurements.

Spitbits in CA is one of the better vendors if you have not heard of them yet.

 

[Bronson]

Please. please do something with those bumpers. Dagmires they are not.

I prefer the earlier bumpers Myself. What do You suggest I do, take a hack saw to them?
What is a Dagmire?
I didnt want a project car, I have plenty of projects. I wanted a nice clean driver, and this is it.

 

[Bronson]

Congrats on the new Spitfire! Sounds like a nice original car. I think the bumpers are nice as-is.

I know some of the TR guys say Uhaul trailers and dollies don't work well due to clearance issues so check your measurements.

Spitbits in CA is one of the better vendors if you have not heard of them yet.

Thanks, I will keep that in mind.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I prefer the earlier bumpers Myself. What do You suggest I do, take a hack saw to them?
What is a Dagmire?
I didnt want a project car, I have plenty of projects. I wanted a nice clean driver, and this is it.

Keep the original bumpers. They are getting more rare than the chromies if they are in good shape. So many have replaced them, poorly, with the older style that few solid originals remain in good condition.

Jim

 

[brownbagg]

have it ship by special car carriers transport

 

[evs1]

Another issue that I don't think has been covered. Most states require cars on tow dollies to be licensed and insured. If two wheels are on the ground then it is considered a whole motor vehicle.

 

[Bronson]

Again, the dolly is out, the trailer is in.

 

[Bender78]

I prefer the earlier bumpers Myself. What do You suggest I do, take a hack saw to them?
What is a Dagmire?
I didnt want a project car, I have plenty of projects. I wanted a nice clean driver, and this is it.

He means "Dagmar". Those are the big overriders they added to the bumpers, kind of like a '57 Cadillac. Their named after this chick......I'm sure you can see why.

http://photos.lucywho.com/dagmar-photos-t235975.html

 

[Bronson]

He means "Dagmar". Those are the big overriders they added to the bumpers, kind of like a '57 Cadillac. Their named after this chick......I'm sure you can see why.

http://photos.lucywho.com/dagmar-photos-t235975.html

Me like Dagmars!

 

[Graymills - Craig]

The tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of the total weight of the trailer. If the tongue is to light then you can get into an extremely nasty situation where the trailer will start swaying to the point where it can snap the back of the truck right around.

I'm not endorsing either but I'd rather see to much tongue weight than to little. I've seen very few instances of hitch failure (and none on properly installed brand name hitches) but I've seen more wrecks than I can keep track of caused by to little tongue weight.

True enough. While a light tongue is bad (you do want some weight on it), you have to watch your maximum. My truck has a class iii+ (6000 lb) with a 600 lb tongue weight. Going to heavy on that will lift your front wheels, resulting in some interesting understeer!

 

[Graymills - Craig]

Yep, that is it, Jim. It didnt sell, I bought after the Auction closed.

Congratulations!

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I can speak from experience on Spitfires, having owned several and still have my 68 Mk III.

Tow Dollies from U-Haul have some issues. They are set up for cars with a wider spacing on the tires, so you may end up with one wheel not fully secured which is a disaster waiting to happen.

The other issue is that they have little ramp extensions that once the car is in place, force them to flip up against the rocker panels on the body tub. This means you're almost always putting pressure on the rocker panels- and that's a real pain to replace, even if you go to Victoria British for parts.

Trailer is best. Curb weight is about 1200 pounds total, so it won't have to be super heavy duty.

The 1980 is the last year of production. As long as it isn't brown in color, you can expect to see them range in value from $1200 to $4K for a nearly perfect car. Unfortunately the square tails have never seen the same popularity as the round tail Spits (65-69). But they are still fun to drive. You'll find overdrive more often in the late models and more comfortable seats. They are still just as unreliable as any other year Triumph.

I love mine, tore it down to do a frame off restoration and then had to park it under a car cover and tarp for the last five years. I'm sure the body has rust again as a result, but I did the body work before and I can do it again.

Check your trunnions!

 

[ckadams00]

About 40 years ago one of my brothers and I towed a dead Triumph TR3 home from one side of Toronto to the other. The tow vehicle was another TR3 and we flat towed it with a 20' chain. I would suggest that be your LAST choice.

That would make a great picture.

 

[some zilch]

Any trailer behind a stock 1/2 ton truck is asking for trouble because of tongue weight.

really guy, any trailer behind a half ton is asking for trouble? a 6x12 landscape trailer or snowmobile trailer is dangerous behind an f150 b/c of tongue weight? that is just a rediculous statement to make.





Always make sure your tow vehicle is heavier than the towed vehicle. Obviously in your case it is.

really?? where in the world do you come off making a statement like this? i would guess that nearly EVERY half ton and bigger truck on the market is rated to saftely tow more than its own weight. how in the world do all these semi trucks make it down the road everyday having a trailer that weighs more than the tractor?

you are a ***** and clearly have no idea what you are talking about. you are probably that guy going 20mph under the speed limit hampering traffic flow while you tow an s-10 on a dolly behind your 60ft motorhome.....

 

[Graymills - Craig]

you are a ***** and clearly have no idea what you are talking about. you are probably that guy going 20mph under the speed limit hampering traffic flow while you tow an s-10 on a dolly behind your 60ft motorhome.....

C'mon, man. Let's keep it civil. Yeah, I think he oversimplified, but we can still be nice.

 

[STClurker]

Always make sure your tow vehicle is heavier than the towed vehicle.

ok, I've been trying to ignore this, but I can't let it go. if that is true, how does a 20k lb semi tractor haul 45k lbs+ of cargo and trailer? yes, I realize that its a 5th wheel and not a bumper pull, but its still a large difference in weight. as has been said, as long as the tongue weight and trailer brakes are in working order...all will be fine behind a 1/2 ton pickup in decent condition. also, I'm going to assume the OP has a real hitch, not a ball hanging on the bumper.

no offense intended, I'm likely just putting my foot in my mouth again.

edit: just noticed zilch said the same thing.

 

[PCO6]

That would make a great picture.

It would have been a LOT funnier if the tow vehicle was an MGA!

 

[PCO6]

Please. please do something with those bumpers. Dagmires they are not.

For British cars they're known as "Sabrinas". Same idea as Dagmars.

 

[3798j]

For British cars they're known as "Sabrinas". Same idea as Dagmars.

Indeed they are.

Sabrina

 

[djjsr]

Careful ........... you'll poke your eye out with one of those things!

 

[VolvoMan]

1980 Spitfire towing 101:

1: Get used to doing it, it'll happen a lot

2: No need to disconnect the driveshaft on a dolly, unless someone has managed to find an auto box that'll fit. If in doubt, tow it backwards.

3: Whilst it is a good idea for the tow vehicle to be heavier than the towed vehicle (on unbraked trailers) for a Spitfire, any decent sized motorcycle will qualify (or for that matter a bicycle ridden by a fat guy)

4: If you tow at night, this is a good way to tell if you have a flat on the vehicle being towed - due to the shower of sparks visible in the rear view mirror. This is a good thing as it has saved you all that work cutting the rust back to good metal, although in the case of many late Spitfires, this could mean you are now grinding an empty tow dolly.

5: get rid of those ridiculous US market bumpers as soon as possible, it'll halve the weight of the car.

As you may tell, I'm not a big fan of late triumphs, the late 70's was not a stellar time for british car manufacturers and anything that came out of British Leyland factories at that time (Austin, Mini, Rover, MG, Triumph, Jaguar, Land Rover) was poor quality with some very odd design. On the other hand, the Triumph Spitfire is an awesome little fun car and if you're willing to put in the time to bring it up to a good standard, they're great. Just don't stop at "showroom standard".

 

[PCO6]

Indeed they are.

Sabrina

WOW!!! I'd only heard of her. Thanks for the visual!!!

 

[Graymills - Craig]

And if you get bored, you can race in, I believe, G-Production. A Spitfire on slicks is a neck-snapping riot through the bends.

 

[y2knole]

I tow my jeep all over the SE behind a 1/2 ton Tahoe.

old trailer + jeep put me in the 7000 to 7200lb range (old trailer was overkill).

with a WD hitch, properly set brake controller, good trailer brakes, etc it was fine EXCEPT for a couple of the long grades through Tennessee that I struggled with. and even then, it was trans struggles. new trailer is about 1/3 the weight of my first one, and it tows just fine now. but I digress.

I rented a U-Haul trailer exactly ONCE. they are HEAVY. and with their front only tire loops, I didnt feel comfortable. if you're going 900 miles with it, I'd look hard for a 'real' trailer with real brakes controlled by a real brake controller. those surge brakes are for the birds.

and if you buy or borrow a trailer, spend some time inspecting bearings, tires, brakes and electricals... all easier to tidy up at home than on the road if they're not in tip-top shape. and they should be before you head out.

good luck and travel safe!

 

[Graymills - Craig]

if you're going 900 miles with it, I'd look hard for a 'real' trailer with real brakes controlled by a real brake controller. those surge brakes are for the birds.

Not to mention that the U-Haul I rented seemed *really* sensitive. Going over bumps seemed to set off the brakes, creating a real jarring ride, not to mention crappy mileage.

 

[Bronson]

Well, I have lined up a flat bed with ramps and tie-downs, and new wheel bearings, good tires and good spare. Now, if I can get the seller to co-operate. He "cant find" the title, which was supposed to be a non-problem. He wont let Me send Him a deposit. So, if I drive the 900 miles over there, He doesnt have to sell Me the car......He is some kind of Military Cop, and seems to have kind of a cocky attitude. I am getting some bad vibes now....

 

[Graymills - Craig]

Well, I have lined up a flat bed with ramps and tie-downs, and new wheel bearings, good tires and good spare. Now, if I can get the seller to co-operate. He "cant find" the title, which was supposed to be a non-problem. He wont let Me send Him a deposit. So, if I drive the 900 miles over there, He doesnt have to sell Me the car......He is some kind of Military Cop, and seems to have kind of a cocky attitude. I am getting some bad vibes now....

Ruh roh!

Did you run the VIN? Or possibly he's trying to get you to up your accepted offer a bit. I had a home seller try that when they had seller's remorse.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I've used my 3 wheel Cushman with a curb weight of 600 pounds to tow a small enclosed cargo trailer around some areas. It looks ridiculous doing so, but with electrically activate surge brakes on the trailer, it works well and stays within the OEM's payload capacity. Yeah, I was surprised it even had such a capacity, and yet there it is.

I do NOT recommend that, by the way. Only for off road purposes like industrial or agricultural usage.

 

[Bronson]

Ruh roh!

Did you run the VIN? Or possibly he's trying to get you to up your accepted offer a bit. I had a home seller try that when they had seller's remorse.

He just moved into a new house and the boxes are all stacked around. He assured Me the title is there, and good. It was just that He got kind of pissy when I insisted on sending a $500 deposit, as if I were questioning HIS integrity. I am only trying to make the oral contract into something with a little more teeth. I dont want to pull a trailer 800 miles only to have Him change His mind. He is supposed to call Me back (last night). If I dont hear from Him, I am going to back away from this. He is working full time and going to school and married, so, I am hoping He is just real busy. Seems like a nice enough Guy, I would just rather start the trip knowing He is holding a deposit. I actually offered a little more than His asking price, because this is the car I want. We'll see.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I suspect that when you suggest that the deal might not be in your best interest he will take the deposit. Even nice guys know when a good deal should not be passed on, and you seem to be giving him that. Especially since the E-bay auction failed.

Jim

 

[Jason280]

You guys have taught me something, I had no idea you couldn't back up a vehicle on a tow dolly!

 

[JimVonBaden]

You guys have taught me something, I had no idea you couldn't back up a vehicle on a tow dolly!

Depends on the car. Some work better than others. Also, you need to make sure you lock the steering, or the drive gets interesting fast!

Jim

 

[jlylec]

He just moved into a new house and the boxes are all stacked around. He assured Me the title is there, and good. It was just that He got kind of pissy when I insisted on sending a $500 deposit, as if I were questioning HIS integrity. I am only trying to make the oral contract into something with a little more teeth. I dont want to pull a trailer 800 miles only to have Him change His mind. He is supposed to call Me back (last night). If I dont hear from Him, I am going to back away from this. He is working full time and going to school and married, so, I am hoping He is just real busy. Seems like a nice enough Guy, I would just rather start the trip knowing He is holding a deposit. I actually offered a little more than His asking price, because this is the car I want. We'll see.

man that *****...honestly i've become very conservative with car buying recently and would walk if i were you. you've never even seen this car in person? at a minimum i would find a shop near him that knew old triumph's and could give it a good once over and make him take it there. you pay and only speak with the mechanics there so YOU'RE their client. and i wouldn't even think about it anymore until he presents the title. but that's just me.

BTW...why do you use title caps for pronouns? i'm really just curious because habits like that are interesting to me. i'm lazy and capitalize nearly nothing. but it sounds like you're referring to him as god because churchies do that for some reason too...