Post by rudycon on Aug 27, 2014 10:56:30 GMT -5
How about some tips on flat towing a flat fender?
I know I need to get my towbar as close to level as I can to prevent "jacking" while braking.
I will be pulling with my 4 door wrangler which is rated to tow 3500# (probably by the class II bolt-on mopar hitch.) I understand my "trailer" will have no brakes...and I live in the mountains. Good news. This isn't my first time flat towing a jeep.
My CJ2a goes straight when I let go of the wheel. Toe is good. Caster is stock. The Willys should track behind me pretty well.
I have no safety chains on the tow bar at this point. It is easy on the tractor end. 21st century positive locking hooks, 3/16s chain is good for classII, I'll probably go 5/16", but where do I put the chains on the trailer end? My sister's old homemade towbar had the chains right on the A frame arms. That's great...unless the pins fall out of tow bar at the Willys' front bumper or the incredible power of the chrysler mini-van engine rips the tow bar ears off the Willys' front bumper. So what should I hook the safety chains to on the Willys? I could weld on some d-ring shackle brackets to the bumper or even simple trailer tie-down U's to the front bumper. (actually I like that idea better as long as they don't go CLANG CLANG CLANG on the trail.) or would that be too much going on on the front bumper? cut some crosses in the bumper or winchmount plate to drop the chain into the crosses?
Looking online, currie's tow bar has the safety chains on the a frame arms too. Looks like all anyone cares about is if the hitch comes off the ball. At a glance, my farmer built tow bar looks more beefy than the store bought units with collapseable arms!
Side story: Flat towing my sister's 4cyl CJ5 (I had welded bar stock onto the Dana300 t-case shift collar to splash lube the output shaft bearings. A good trick!) with my mom's FJ62 Toyota Land Cruiser. Once in a blue moon, on sharp turns, the CJ5 didn't return the steering to center after the turn. It would go full lock instead. The first time this happened, my Dad got out and steered the jeep back straight. The second time, he just kept going. Dragged the jeep sideways with the CJ's tires howling in protest until they finally agreed to follow the 'Cruiser. The Land Cruiser didn't seem to care where the CJ's wheels were pointed.
I know I need to get my towbar as close to level as I can to prevent "jacking" while braking.
I will be pulling with my 4 door wrangler which is rated to tow 3500# (probably by the class II bolt-on mopar hitch.) I understand my "trailer" will have no brakes...and I live in the mountains. Good news. This isn't my first time flat towing a jeep.
My CJ2a goes straight when I let go of the wheel. Toe is good. Caster is stock. The Willys should track behind me pretty well.
I have no safety chains on the tow bar at this point. It is easy on the tractor end. 21st century positive locking hooks, 3/16s chain is good for classII, I'll probably go 5/16", but where do I put the chains on the trailer end? My sister's old homemade towbar had the chains right on the A frame arms. That's great...unless the pins fall out of tow bar at the Willys' front bumper or the incredible power of the chrysler mini-van engine rips the tow bar ears off the Willys' front bumper. So what should I hook the safety chains to on the Willys? I could weld on some d-ring shackle brackets to the bumper or even simple trailer tie-down U's to the front bumper. (actually I like that idea better as long as they don't go CLANG CLANG CLANG on the trail.) or would that be too much going on on the front bumper? cut some crosses in the bumper or winchmount plate to drop the chain into the crosses?
Looking online, currie's tow bar has the safety chains on the a frame arms too. Looks like all anyone cares about is if the hitch comes off the ball. At a glance, my farmer built tow bar looks more beefy than the store bought units with collapseable arms!
Side story: Flat towing my sister's 4cyl CJ5 (I had welded bar stock onto the Dana300 t-case shift collar to splash lube the output shaft bearings. A good trick!) with my mom's FJ62 Toyota Land Cruiser. Once in a blue moon, on sharp turns, the CJ5 didn't return the steering to center after the turn. It would go full lock instead. The first time this happened, my Dad got out and steered the jeep back straight. The second time, he just kept going. Dragged the jeep sideways with the CJ's tires howling in protest until they finally agreed to follow the 'Cruiser. The Land Cruiser didn't seem to care where the CJ's wheels were pointed.
