Long Distance Flat Tow

[007]

My Jeep hauling plan has fallen through for the Colorado trip. My plan B has always been to flat tow my Jeep out there. It's going to be about 2600 miles round-trip and I have a three-quarter ton truck lined up.

My question is does anyone think that's too far to flat tow? I have a QuadraTrac with low range so I can put it in neutral as per the documentation. Is there any need to disconnect the shafts? I plateaued it about 100 miles before but never any further and I didn't drop the shafts then.

Or would I be better off trying to round up a trailer? Would I save money on fuel by using a trailer?

Let me know what you think especially those of you who have flat towed before. Thanks in advance.


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[somedude922]

I'd like to know the same thing. I was just going to rent a I haul trailer. I don think it would be that expensive. But I am curious about flat towing my Doug Nash QuadraTrac .

 

[Torxhead]

I have flat towed my CJ with my Dodge pickup to Moab a few times and it is a 1450 mile round trip, and it seems to work just fine except when once there was a whiteout and I really couldn't see it back there. On that day I almost jacknifed it when things got slippery.
Anyway 007, I am sure AMC has a flat tow procedure for your CJ with QuadraTrac and it might require removing both driveshafts unless you have front locking hubs then you would only have to disco the rear.
Another thing that seems to help it out is to make sure the front alignment toe in is set. This seems to help it from wandering. The most important thing in my opinion is to keep your towing speed down and give the guy in front of you plenty of clearance. Technically, your pickup truck is overloaded and braking distance is affected.
I think Tarry99 mentioned he had an electric brake setup a while back that he uses on his CJ and Lumpy Grits has mentioned extensive flat towing with his rig. Maybe those guys can chime in to help you out. You should also be able to find some flat tow info by using this forums search feature. A nice thing about a trailer would be trailer brakes and better tracking.

 

[007]

Thank you for the insight I do appreciate it

Well the book says that I can just put the Transfer Case in neutral and that in and of itself is enough. But I guess that even though the Transfer Case in neutral everything inside it would still be spinning as I get on the highway for 2600 miles i'm okay with that as long as everyone else on here who knows more about this Transfer Case than I do says it's okay.


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[Torxhead]

Another thing would be to check the laws on flat towing with your setup through the various states you will be going thru just to be on the safe side. I think here in Ca. it is kind of iffy w/o trailer brakes on a vehicle over so many lbs. Some places it gets kinda weird like I have heard a few times in Moab that you can't drive a vehicle on the street with out the doors on.

 

[HackFabrication]

JMHO: Put it on a trailer.

 

[Only in a Jeep CJ]

I don't know, it doesn't make sense to me. For a trip across town, sure follow the book and put the t case in neutral whatever, but for 2600 miles, WHY put the wear and tear on everything by back spinning the drivetrain. Take a few minutes, a wrech, and simply disconnect the drive shafts.
Do you have the conversion kit on your QuadraTrac or still have drive flanges up front? If so, those come right off so you don't back spin the front axle.

The safest bet is the trailer. It will haul better, have brakes, and if you break your jeep it still comes home.

 

[SlowPocono]

I don't know, it doesn't make sense to me. For a trip across town, sure follow the book and put the t case in neutral whatever, but for 2600 miles, WHY put the wear and tear on everything by back spinning the drivetrain. Take a few minutes, a wrech, and simply disconnect the drive shafts.
Do you have the conversion kit on your QuadraTrac or still have drive flanges up front? If so, those come right off so you don't back spin the front axle.

The safest bet is the trailer. It will haul better, have brakes, and if you break your jeep it still comes home.

This makes the most sense.
Considering the reduced wear and tear on the Jeep's tires and drive train, the trailer rental is almost free.

 

[tarry99]

Another thing that seems to help it out is to make sure the front alignment toe in is set. This seems to help it from wandering. The most important thing in my opinion is to keep your towing speed down Technically, your pickup truck is overloaded and braking distance is affected.

I think Tarry99 mentioned he had an electric brake setup a while back that he uses on his CJ .A nice thing about a trailer would be trailer brakes and better tracking.

All good points.......and Yes I do have a tow bar that I built years back with a surge trailer hitch incorporated into it.........requires a special valve be plumbed directly into your system........of course once on the front it needs to stay there unless you like bleeding brakes , works great attached only to the rear axle brakes. Stops on a dime. Towed that into Colorado and parts East many time's from Cally at speed's that I will not mention here..........

Rent a trailer with brakes would be my suggestion.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Another thing would be to check the laws on flat towing with your setup through the various states you will be going thru just to be on the safe side. I think here in Ca. it is kind of iffy w/o trailer brakes on a vehicle over so many lbs. Some places it gets kinda weird like I have heard a few times in Moab that you can't drive a vehicle on the street with out the doors on.

There is no law in Ca that sez a towed motor vehicle has to have it's own braking system.
A registered trailer over 1500 lbs. GVW must have brakes....
To the op-Disconnect the front & rear DS at the pinion yoke to save the t'case.
I have towed my Jeep all over the USA for 29+ years and never an issue.
LG

 

[IOPort51]

One of the biggest reasons I bought the trailer was because it makes it easier to bring home damaged machinery. Any thing else is kind of a judgment call but I like the trailer better than the tow bar.

 

[cuban11182]

I figured that if my CJ spent it's life behind an RV, it'll be fine behind my truck when I PCS to wherever they send me. I'm going to disconnect the driveshafts, but that goes without saying.

 

[hagar]

My question is does anyone think that's too far to flat tow?

No.
Only if you don't think the Jeep is mechanically sound enough to drive the Jeep that far. The towed mileage really doesn't matter if the drivetrain is in good shape.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Just a thought, backing becomes a problem when flat towing. I've always used a trailer and have been very happy with the results. Backing is easy, which saved my butt many times when I pulled in somewhere I shouldn't . About 4 years ago I picked up a new car hauler for $2800 in N. Texas. Best money I ever spent. Rod

 

[007]

Well I appreciate the feedback and discussion. With a QuadraTrac I'd feel just fine shifting the case to neutral and flat towing it out there. Taking it a step further I could always drop shafts.

In this case I think I will trailer it. I can get an aluminum uhaul trailer for $450 for the week and I'll get about half that back in gas savings alone. Even of I don't it's not bad for tire wear savings and being able to back and bring it home broke down.


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[mtnwhlr]

In this case I think I will trailer it. I can get an aluminum uhaul trailer for $450 for the week and I'll get about half that back in gas savings alone.

How do you think towing a trailer with your Jeep on it is going to save you over flat towing it?

 

[007]

I just figured it would roll a little better on a trailer supposed flat towing. Perhaps not, doesn't matter either way.

What's your opinion on this mtnwhlr?


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[HackFabrication]

One thing to watch on the U-Haul trailers is the front tie down straps aren't long enough to go over large tires. They definitely didn't work on my 32" TSL/SX tires. Had to use longer straps.

 

[hagar]

How do you think towing a trailer with your Jeep on it is going to save you over flat towing it?

yep
4 tires on the ground is 4 tires on the ground
trailer and Jeep is heavier than just the Jeep
???
hey, it's your Jeep, do whatever you want.

 

[007]

yep
4 tires on the ground is 4 tires on the ground
trailer and Jeep is heavier than just the Jeep
???
hey, it's your Jeep, do whatever you want.

It is 4 tires vs. 4 tires, and it is more weight - but I'd think there is quite a difference in rolling resistance between 4 narrow trailer tires at 50lbs vs my 31's at any reasonable pressure.

Worst case scenario is it's a wash and makes no difference, then it just comes down to what one is comfortable with. My jury is still out.