The Purple 47
![[Deleted User]](https://openforum.hetclub.org/applications/dashboard/design/images/defaulticon.png)
I'm back, after a harrowing sojourn through the bowels of lower Utah, a sandstorm on old Route 666, (US491), and hail, lightning, torrential rain, and a tornado in the Texas panhandle.
I got the 47 Hudson pickup from the classic car museum in SLC Friday afternoon. It barely fit on the U-Haul car carrier. I would have preferred to use my 20 foot flatbed, but the brakes are shot. This will be remedied soon. In fact, I will be adding a second axle set of brakes to the trailer.
The U-Haul is a marginal towing trailer. It says the max speed is 55, but at about 54, a definite fishtailing starts. If going level, or uphill, and less than 50 mph, you can gently accelerate out of the fishtail. If you are going downhill, as I was on I-70, through Devil's Canyon, and you hit 55, the fishtailing becomes unrecoverable. I spun out, and came to rest on the side of the road, away from the canyon. Amazingly, neither my tow vehicle, nor the trailer were damaged. I'll never use one of these U-Haul car carriers again. There is no way to adjust the center of gravity. I drove from SLC to central Texas at 51 mph. On downhill slopes, I kept the speed below 45mph.
The purple truck was left outside, in SLC, over the last 8 years, and had slight surface rust. The paint, ugly as it was, was faded. The bushings for the front hood hinges are shot, or missing, and the driver's doorlock on the aft pillar is missing the second (upper) detent, so the door doesn't stay closed. The bed, which was described in the ad as "good", is toast. There were several apparent compost piles in the bed. I will have to replace the bed wood, and hardware, which is a shame, as it was obviously good in the pictures that ran with the ad. Unfortunately, those pictures were from about 8 years ago.
I found the original speedo, and glass, behind the seat, which was installed cattywampus. The glass was broken, as was the clock side. There was no gas pedal, just a weird cable to a lever, that routed between the spigots of the exhaust manifold. The truck, although it started did NOT run well. This may have been due to the loose cable on the battery post. I haven't hadf any time to check it out.
No pictures this time, because I shall have to resize them all under the 97.7k limit. They are all 3 to 4 times that size.
Back to the journey: On old 666 in NM, the wind came out of the west, at 50-60 mph, and it carried the desert with it. I could hear the sand hitting the side of the truck, and at times visibility was down to just a few feet. This was basically from Shiprock, all the way to Gallup. The side wind started in Colorado.
After reaching Gallup, we stayed at a Days Inn, next to the railroad tracks, and then took off early the next morning, around 4am, because the forecast was for 2 mph wind.
We went through Albuquerque, and then got on US 84 in Santa Rosa. After passing through Clovis & Lubbock, we found that the cotton fields in the panhandle had just been plowed, and here comes the airborne red dirt. We drove through this, and about 30 miles from I-20, ran into a huge thunderstorm, with lightning, heavy rain, penny sized hail, and a tornado, which formed right behind us.
We reached I-20 and headed east, to Texas HY 6, and finally pulled in a little after midnight. Storms then roilled in, and it has been a frog choker ever since. It finally quit raining a few hours ago, but more is predicted.
Pictures to come. I'm still recuperating from the trip.
I got the 47 Hudson pickup from the classic car museum in SLC Friday afternoon. It barely fit on the U-Haul car carrier. I would have preferred to use my 20 foot flatbed, but the brakes are shot. This will be remedied soon. In fact, I will be adding a second axle set of brakes to the trailer.
The U-Haul is a marginal towing trailer. It says the max speed is 55, but at about 54, a definite fishtailing starts. If going level, or uphill, and less than 50 mph, you can gently accelerate out of the fishtail. If you are going downhill, as I was on I-70, through Devil's Canyon, and you hit 55, the fishtailing becomes unrecoverable. I spun out, and came to rest on the side of the road, away from the canyon. Amazingly, neither my tow vehicle, nor the trailer were damaged. I'll never use one of these U-Haul car carriers again. There is no way to adjust the center of gravity. I drove from SLC to central Texas at 51 mph. On downhill slopes, I kept the speed below 45mph.
The purple truck was left outside, in SLC, over the last 8 years, and had slight surface rust. The paint, ugly as it was, was faded. The bushings for the front hood hinges are shot, or missing, and the driver's doorlock on the aft pillar is missing the second (upper) detent, so the door doesn't stay closed. The bed, which was described in the ad as "good", is toast. There were several apparent compost piles in the bed. I will have to replace the bed wood, and hardware, which is a shame, as it was obviously good in the pictures that ran with the ad. Unfortunately, those pictures were from about 8 years ago.
I found the original speedo, and glass, behind the seat, which was installed cattywampus. The glass was broken, as was the clock side. There was no gas pedal, just a weird cable to a lever, that routed between the spigots of the exhaust manifold. The truck, although it started did NOT run well. This may have been due to the loose cable on the battery post. I haven't hadf any time to check it out.
No pictures this time, because I shall have to resize them all under the 97.7k limit. They are all 3 to 4 times that size.
Back to the journey: On old 666 in NM, the wind came out of the west, at 50-60 mph, and it carried the desert with it. I could hear the sand hitting the side of the truck, and at times visibility was down to just a few feet. This was basically from Shiprock, all the way to Gallup. The side wind started in Colorado.
After reaching Gallup, we stayed at a Days Inn, next to the railroad tracks, and then took off early the next morning, around 4am, because the forecast was for 2 mph wind.
We went through Albuquerque, and then got on US 84 in Santa Rosa. After passing through Clovis & Lubbock, we found that the cotton fields in the panhandle had just been plowed, and here comes the airborne red dirt. We drove through this, and about 30 miles from I-20, ran into a huge thunderstorm, with lightning, heavy rain, penny sized hail, and a tornado, which formed right behind us.
We reached I-20 and headed east, to Texas HY 6, and finally pulled in a little after midnight. Storms then roilled in, and it has been a frog choker ever since. It finally quit raining a few hours ago, but more is predicted.
Pictures to come. I'm still recuperating from the trip.
0
Comments
-
Sounds like a typical Hudson "recovery" trip!!!
Back about 30 years ago I tow bared a 1952 Wasp out of Vermont back to Maine using a 1968 International Suburban type with a 304 V-8 engine. A very mild mannered friend of mine went with me. Remember this - Mike has never, in his life, been known to swear. To continue: While I didn't have the fun you did I had one close one coming down a very steep grade on I-89 in Vermont. I was in the passing lane, lot's and lot's of cars, and should not have been in the passing lane. We're picking up speed, trying to slow down, probably around 60-65 - and wouldn't you know. Some ding head from Quebec decides it's time for him to get into the passing lane!!!!!!!!!!!!! Somehow we managed to slow the whole package down enough so we didn't hit anything.
I mentioned Uncle Mike never swore - about the time that Quebecer pulled out in front of us I distinctly heard Mike say "Oh, ****!!!"
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
HudsonTech
Memphis, TN0 -
Hard to believe that those of us that live in Utah, live here because of the weather. Well, most want the snow-- The thing about this time of the year is that it is trying to decide if it is winter or summer. I was in the shop last night when the lightning knocked out the power. I looked outside and it was a hail storm (marble size) a few minutes later it was snow about the size of a dime, then it was rain--heavy rain. The power came back on so I opened the garage door so I could look to the west to see the sunset... It was beautiful---Yes we in Utah love this area.0
-
The first pictures.0
-
Thanks, I think I have it covered, but if you want any particular picture in a higher res, just let me know.Email the pictures to me, and I'll reduce and post them for you - click on 'rick', below.0 -
More pics. I need a doorlock replacement for the driver door, because the upper detent and spring are missing, and the hood hinge bushings are kaput.0
-
Browniepetersen wrote:Hard to believe that those of us that live in Utah, live here because of the weather. Well, most want the snow-- The thing about this time of the year is that it is trying to decide if it is winter or summer. I was in the shop last night when the lightning knocked out the power. I looked outside and it was a hail storm (marble size) a few minutes later it was snow about the size of a dime, then it was rain--heavy rain. The power came back on so I opened the garage door so I could look to the west to see the sunset... It was beautiful---Yes we in Utah love this area.
We stayed one night in the Desert Rose Inn in Bluff, UT, a veritable oasis of comfort, after a long day on the road.:D About 30 miles or so north of the Aridzona border, on US HY 191, which goes up thru Moab. Moab used to be a pretty cool place, now it is overrun with YUPs & mountain bikers.
Back in 1993 there was this great BBQ joint, Fat City BBQ, which had a sauce made from habanero peppers. It is a freakin sports bar now. Talk about a major disappointment. 0 -
No problem - Good to hear that you made it back in one piece, and it looks like you've got yourself a nice project.
Sort of surprised that U-Haul would rent you the trailer. I tried to rent one once (with my Tundra, full factory towing package, etc.), no go - at least from their online reservation service. Went to their rental place, and gave up when their 'help' started going under my truck with a pair of wire cutters (with a six-prong outlet in view, right next to the hitch).
Naturally, the pickup was not in their database. They were stunned and baffled when they asked me for the model number, and I said it did not have one. I said "it has a a series number, 178, and the model is '3/4 ton commercial pickup'". I even showed the guy where it said that in the factory owners manual. I found that manual in an antiques shop in West, TX, (just North of Waco) about 5 years ago.
I just knew that I would be needing it.
My Silverado has the tow package, and a seven conductor receptacle. I had to go to an auto parts store to get an adapter to fit the 4-pin on the trailer.
Naturally, it has been raining since I got back, so I haven't been able to do much with it. But I now know what it takes to break a Texas drought. 0 -
Rick: Glad you are safely back home. The adventures of Hudson Haulin are always off the charts. I look forward to seeing your new truck. But, that will have to wait for a while... as I had up planned surgery on my right knee Tuesday. Planning to be back at work in early June.
The parts you need and the knowledge to help you get the tasks done are deffinately available from the folks who visit this board. As you said last... sometime this summer we will get TWO Hudsons to the Church of the Open Door cruise.
Till then have a great time exploring the Pickup!0 -
Rick, I'm glad you made it home safely. What a scarry ride. I had a similar nightmear towling with a U-Haul trailer. I'll never use their trailer again. I'm glad to be alive and that I didn't total my son's new pickup he let me borrow. The wood in your truck looks better than mine. When I climbed into the bed of my 47 truck I stepped through the rotten wood. I bought a new wood kit with new stainless strips and bolts, and alot of other parts I needed for my 47 PU from Perry Spring. He makes wood kits for the Hudson PU's and he has alot of Hudson parts that you may need. His phone number is 909 460 0736. Bill Albright also supplied me with many parts I needed, his phone # 909 823 9168. As well as KGAP 760 868 2284, Fax: 760 868 8544, Email: kgaphet@aol.com. Good luck with your project. Lee0
-
:)Hi Rick, Glad you arrived home safe and sound. Sounds like a real ordeal and part nightmare. I once tried to rent a car trailer from u haul and when asked type of car and I said Hudson, they replied who makes it? Of course it is not in their computor so I told them a '76 Chevrolete Impala for size. They could not find any information on the '76 Chevy. I went elsewhere and rented a car trailer from another out fit. The trailer had surge brakes and my freind driving the pick up has a lead foot. He was in a hurry so we loaded the Hudson backwards, big mistake. That trailer fishtailed so bad that all three of us nearly had to get a change of pants. That experience taught me to get my own pick up and my own car trailer with electric brakes. Now I am in control except for the weather. I have been caught in rain, snow and ice with a Hudson on the trailer. A bit scary. But we saved another Hudson or two. Have fun getting your pick up back on the road. Arnie in Nevada0
-
Well, that convinced me. I have to pick up the Hornet from the Norwich museum next week. A friend said I could borrow his dolly (the 2-wheeled one, not the 2-legged one) but another friend who's a mechanic, is lending me his trailer with brakes. My GMC off road should do the hauling but I'm gonna watch the 10-day forcast for good weather and take it easy.
The last time cousin Jimmy and I hauled one home, it was a well-weathred 39 LWB Country Club. We had tied the doors shut and a good thing too, as we were on I90 in Albany, NY, Jim checked the mirror, hollered 'Oh Geez' and headed for a convenient exit. The hinges had parted and the door was flying over cars in the passing lane held only by the rope.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- 37K All Categories
- 106 Hudson 1916 - 1929
- 19 Upcoming Events
- 91 Essex Super 6
- 28.6K HUDSON
- 561 "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise
- 993 Street Rods
- 150 American Motors
- 174 The Flathead Forum
- 49 Manuals, etc,.
- 78 Hudson 8
- 44 FORUM - Instructions and Tips on using the forum
- 2.8K CLASSIFIEDS
- 601 Vehicles
- 2.1K Parts & Pieces
- 77 Literature & Memorabilia
- Hudson 1916 - 1929 Yahoo Groups Archived Photos