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#1
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flat towing instructions
I just got a tow vehicle which is only rated to tow 4800 lbs.... so it
can tow my CJ, but not the CJ + trailer. Is there anything special I need to know before flat towing? I'm guessing I should put the transfer case and transmission in neutral, and lock in the hubs. Anything else I should do? |
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#2
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As much as I shouldn't say it, if you are overloaded at 4800 pounds with
a trailer, you will be way overloaded with 3600 pounds flat towing so the trailer would be better. Flat towing needs a bit less in horsepower and braking but way more in stability to keep the CJ under control. wrote: > I just got a tow vehicle which is only rated to tow 4800 lbs.... so it > can tow my CJ, but not the CJ + trailer. > > Is there anything special I need to know before flat towing? I'm > guessing I should put the transfer case and transmission in neutral, > and lock in the hubs. Anything else I should do? > |
#3
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If your CJ has the Dana 300, it's really not advisable to flat-tow it
since there is no internal lubrication for the rear bearing when it's in neutral. If it's a Dana 20 or Quadratrac, I can't positively say how to flat tow it but the Dana 20, it's likely that the t-case should be in neutral and the tranny should be in gear. Jerry wrote: > I just got a tow vehicle which is only rated to tow 4800 lbs.... so it > can tow my CJ, but not the CJ + trailer. > > Is there anything special I need to know before flat towing? I'm > guessing I should put the transfer case and transmission in neutral, > and lock in the hubs. Anything else I should do? > -- Jerry Bransford PP-ASEL N6TAY See the Geezer Jeep at http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/ |
#4
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Then remove the rear drive shaft...
-- JimG 80' CJ-7 258 CID, HEI 4.56 Gears, Lock-Right F&R 35" BFG MT on 15x10 Centerlines D44 Rear, D30 Front. SOA Dana 300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks Warn X8000i w/ dual batteries 00' TJ Sport 4.0L, 5sp 4.56 Gears, TrueTrac rear 33" BFG AT on 15x8 Eagle Alloys D35 Rear, D30 Front. 3" Suspension Lift "Jerry Bransford" wrote in message ... > If your CJ has the Dana 300, it's really not advisable to flat-tow it > since there is no internal lubrication for the rear bearing when it's in > neutral. If it's a Dana 20 or Quadratrac, I can't positively say how to > flat tow it but the Dana 20, it's likely that the t-case should be in > neutral and the tranny should be in gear. > |
#5
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And the steering column should be UNLOCKED!
Jerry Bransford wrote: > If your CJ has the Dana 300, it's really not advisable to flat-tow it > since there is no internal lubrication for the rear bearing when it's in > neutral. If it's a Dana 20 or Quadratrac, I can't positively say how to > flat tow it but the Dana 20, it's likely that the t-case should be in > neutral and the tranny should be in gear. > > Jerry > > wrote: > >> I just got a tow vehicle which is only rated to tow 4800 lbs.... so it >> can tow my CJ, but not the CJ + trailer. >> >> Is there anything special I need to know before flat towing? I'm >> guessing I should put the transfer case and transmission in neutral, >> and lock in the hubs. Anything else I should do? >> > |
#6
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Tcase in N, but trans in 1st or R, or P if an automatic.
The directions say to leave the hubs unlocked but to stop every 200 miles and start the motor, leave the tcase in N, and let the trans spin the tcase gears for 5 or 10 minutes to lube the output shaft and bearing. However, if you leave the front hubs locked, the front output shaft will spin the tcase gears for you, and then you do not have to stop every 200 miles. Of course, you want to leave the steering in the unlocked position, this might require you to leave the key in the ignition, so you need to remember to grab them if you go in for a meal. > wrote in message oups.com... > I just got a tow vehicle which is only rated to tow 4800 lbs.... so it > can tow my CJ, but not the CJ + trailer. > > Is there anything special I need to know before flat towing? I'm > guessing I should put the transfer case and transmission in neutral, > and lock in the hubs. Anything else I should do? > |
#7
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Jerry, I flat tow CRWLR all the time.
The manual says to run the motor for a few minutes every 200 miles to solve the problem you cite. If you leave the front hubs locked, the front output shaft will spin the tcase gears to keep the rear output shaft and bearings lubed up. "Jerry Bransford" > wrote in message newsOjKd.32904$xu.4567@fed1read05... > If your CJ has the Dana 300, it's really not advisable to flat-tow it > since there is no internal lubrication for the rear bearing when it's in > neutral. If it's a Dana 20 or Quadratrac, I can't positively say how to > flat tow it but the Dana 20, it's likely that the t-case should be in > neutral and the tranny should be in gear. > > Jerry > > wrote: > > I just got a tow vehicle which is only rated to tow 4800 lbs.... so it > > can tow my CJ, but not the CJ + trailer. > > > > Is there anything special I need to know before flat towing? I'm > > guessing I should put the transfer case and transmission in neutral, > > and lock in the hubs. Anything else I should do? > > > > -- > Jerry Bransford > PP-ASEL N6TAY > See the Geezer Jeep at > http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/ |
#8
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Jerry, I do have the Dana 300, but I have custom unlockable hubs in
the rear. I had assumed I should leave all 4 hubs locked in, however, in order to splash lubrication around when the wheels turned. However, maybe I'm mistaken... If I unlock them, would it eliminate the problem you describe? RoyJ - Not sure I follow your logic. The CJ weighs about 4400 lbs. A trailer would add at least 1000 lbs (probably closer to 2000,) so I'd be way over my rated 4800lb towing capacity. Why would an overweight trailer be any safer/more stable than an acceptably weighted CJ? Jerry Bransford wrote: > If your CJ has the Dana 300, it's really not advisable to flat-tow it > since there is no internal lubrication for the rear bearing when it's in > neutral. If it's a Dana 20 or Quadratrac, I can't positively say how to > flat tow it but the Dana 20, it's likely that the t-case should be in > neutral and the tranny should be in gear. > RoyJ wrote: as much as I shouldn't say it, if you are overloaded at 4800=AD pounds with a trailer, you will be way overloaded with 3600 pounds flat =ADtowing so the trailer would be better. Flat towing needs a bit less in=AD horsepower and braking but way more in stability to keep the CJ under c=ADontrol. |
#9
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> RoyJ - Not sure I follow your logic. The CJ weighs about 4400 lbs. A > trailer would add at least 1000 lbs (probably closer to 2000,) so I'd > be way over my rated 4800lb towing capacity. Why would an overweight > trailer be any safer/more stable than an acceptably weighted CJ? When you flat tow the Jeep (or anything else) the actual steeriing mechanics gets a little wierd. When the tow vehicle makes a turn the tow bar transfers a sideways force to the Jeep. If the Jeep has proper caster and alignment, it will want to continue in a straight line. The tow bar force causes the wheels to turn and the steering wheel to turn. This sideways push on the tow vehicle from the flat tow is way more than the equivilent load from a trailer. Picture going down the road at 60 mph, need for a quick lane change. With a trailer you have the momentum to deal with. With a flat tow you have both the momentum AND the side push from the Jeep tires and suspension trying to push your back end around. On a wet road this is good for a wild ride. On any trailer that is suitable for a Jeep (over 3000GVW) you will almost cetainly have trailer brakes. Were you planning on hooking up the brakes on the Jeep to be integrated with your tow vehicle? It can be done but it is not easy or cheap. 4400 pounds for a CJ sounds a bit on the high side unless you have huge tires, winch, rock bumpers, extra gas, etc etc. Typical 16' tandem axle car hauler sold around here weighs about 1400-1600 pounds. But you certainly would be up near 6000 pounds. So your choice is to flat tow with no trailer brakes and some additional handling issues or trailer with a substantial overload and brakes. Basic no win situation but I'd opt for the extra brakes on the trailer. In my case, I drive my YJ to where ever I'm wheeling, usually around 150 miles each way. But I do have a heavy duty flat tow towing bar that bolts in place of my "D" ring shackles. Strictly for getting it home the day I blow an engine, tranny (Puegot 5sp!), or transfer case. Never used it (knock on wood!!!!) I'd be pushing my tow vehicle limit pretty hard. But in that case, I'd probably talk to my buddy with a 1 ton dually Chev into doing the actual retrieval run. > > > > > > Jerry Bransford wrote: > >>If your CJ has the Dana 300, it's really not advisable to flat-tow it > > >>since there is no internal lubrication for the rear bearing when it's > > in > >>neutral. If it's a Dana 20 or Quadratrac, I can't positively say how > > to > >>flat tow it but the Dana 20, it's likely that the t-case should be in > > >>neutral and the tranny should be in gear. >> > > > RoyJ wrote: > > as much as I shouldn't say it, if you are overloaded at 4800* pounds > with > a trailer, you will be way overloaded with 3600 pounds flat *towing so > > the trailer would be better. Flat towing needs a bit less in* > horsepower > and braking but way more in stability to keep the CJ under c*ontrol. > |
#10
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> wrote in message oups.com... RoyJ - Not sure I follow your logic. The CJ weighs about 4400 lbs. A trailer would add at least 1000 lbs (probably closer to 2000,) so I'd be way over my rated 4800lb towing capacity. Why would an overweight trailer be any safer/more stable than an acceptably weighted CJ? A trailer would have brakes. Flat towing does not. Jerry Bransford wrote: > If your CJ has the Dana 300, it's really not advisable to flat-tow it > since there is no internal lubrication for the rear bearing when it's in > neutral. If it's a Dana 20 or Quadratrac, I can't positively say how to > flat tow it but the Dana 20, it's likely that the t-case should be in > neutral and the tranny should be in gear. > RoyJ wrote: as much as I shouldn't say it, if you are overloaded at 4800* pounds with a trailer, you will be way overloaded with 3600 pounds flat *towing so the trailer would be better. Flat towing needs a bit less in* horsepower and braking but way more in stability to keep the CJ under c*ontrol. |
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