Will a 1954 Hornet Fit on a Tow Dolly

hudshornet
hudshornet Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I have to drive three hours tomorrow morning to retrieve my car and the trailer I was going to use is not available. Will the car fit on a normal tow dolly? I think it will I just am just not 100% sure and I don't want to drive three hours and not bring it home. Thanks

Hudson

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Be very careful with a tow dolly......if you turn too sharp it can crunch your fenders.
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    I think that they should ban tow dollys from the road, use a car trailer!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I had a friend of mine try to rent one and U-haul wouldn't rent one to him because there was no provision in their computer system for a "Hudson" so he then claimed it was for a Crown Vic. He rented it but as was posted earlier had problems with the dolly fenders and his Hornet. Finally wound up renting a full trailer.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    I have a very wide tow dolly, it is a factory made one is supposed to be as wide as the law allows. I dented both rockers on my 49 in sharp turns.Maybe it would work If I took the fenders off and the tag bracket..

    Towed just fine, just couldn't make sharp turns.
  • brumac
    brumac Expert Adviser
    Would it be possible to lock the tow dolly wheels to keep them from turning?



    Bruce
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    For the record, you couldn't pay me to put a Hudson on a tow dolly, or any other car I cared anything about. Get a full-sized trailer, you'll be better off.
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    FYI

    Apparently you have a pickup to pull a trailer so consider calling U Haul to rent one of their trailers for the wknd would be much better and not that much more cost.



    I found lately U haul wont rent under 3/4 ton (in some brands) because newer 1/2's are lighter duty so may have to work that out.
  • MikeWA
    MikeWA Senior Contributor
    Ol racer wrote:
    FYI

    Apparently you have a pickup to pull a trailer so consider calling U Haul to rent one of their trailers for the wknd would be much better and not that much more cost.



    If you're going to rent from U-Haul, be sure and measure the trailer (and your car)- I think their trailers are pretty chintzy, size-wise. Stepdown Hudsons are difficult, because of their width- for most car trailers, you should put down a 2 X 8 or 2 X 10 board on each side for the car's to ride on, to get the car up a little so you can get the door open above the fender.



    Another possibility is renting a car trailer from your local tool and equipment rental place. Ours here has 2 or 3 flatbed trailers they rent out.
  • tbeilke
    tbeilke Member
    Last year at the Nationals, I helped out a fellow CHI-MLW chapter member by hauling his 54 Hornet from Pontiac to Chicago. Rented a tandem axle car hauling trailer from U-Haul. The others are correct, the Stepdown fit is tight, but it did work out fine. The U-Haul we rented had a removable fender so you could exit the car. Watch the rockers when loading, it is tight. Tom
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I'm not saying its really a good idea and I know U-haul doesnt say you can do it but I have hauled 2 stepdowns with U-haul tow dollies, each about 150 miles and had no real trouble. Both mine were 51s so I dont know if a 54 would be different. If you turn sharp you will definitately hit the front fenders of the car with the fenders on the dolly though. After I rented the dollies I took them home and greased up the area where the dolly slides against itself in the turns to make it turn easier. Just my two cents worth. Rob
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    There are two basic types of tow dollys. One(like mine) has a turn table that the car sits on.That swivels as you turn. The tow bar and axle/wheels are fixed..The other has a machanism that turns the dolly wheels. My friend George has the one that the wheels turn and appears to be compatible with his 51 four door. I don't know what the U-Haul type is. Georges also has electric brakes which I will add to mine if I ever have to use it for anything larger than my Model A Ford.There is nothing like having a #4,000 car and dolly pushing you when you need to stop quick!



    I am in the process of widening my four wheel trailer due to the close proximity to the rockers. I now have over 4" between the fenders and rockers. As long as my aim while loading is on target.. I should be OK.

    It's the age old story of the family heirloom axe that has only had two heads and three handles replaced in the last 100 years.. Someone gave me a tandem boat trailer that was severly rusted. I saved the dropped axles only. Bought all the materials and built the trailer, then later changed the axles..
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