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?

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?
>

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/

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.
>

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?
>>
>

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?
>

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
news:oOjKd.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/

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.

> 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.
>

> 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.