My Dumb Towing Mistake

[cgeorge5150]

So I pulled the Jeep behind the motor home today, 3 hours behind schedule. Being rushed, I left the parking brake partially 3/4 engaged for 250 miles. Being so upset by this mistake and correcting it, I then drove 20 miles without unlocking the steering wheel. Any thoughts to damage that may have been done? I haven't driven it yet, and its pitch black where I am camping.

 

[cgeorge5150]

So I pulled the Jeep behind the motor home today, 3 hours behind schedule. Being rushed, I left the parking brake partially (3/4) engaged for 250 miles. Being so upset by this mistake and correcting it, I then drove 20 miles without unlocking the steering wheel. Any thoughts to damage that may have been done? I haven't driven it yet, and its pitch black where I am camping.

 

[mylittlecj5]

The tires probably took the brunt of the locked steering wheel, but I'd just check the steering system and column for obvious damage.
As for the rear brakes, depending on how well they are adjusted and how hot they got, I'd look them over today, then take them apart when you get home. You may have to replace the shoes. Its also possible you warped the drums.

BTW, your not the first, and won't be the last...I've done both of these and worse while towing!

 

[coldwater]

The tires probably took the brunt of the locked steering wheel, but I'd just check the steering system and column for obvious damage.
As for the rear brakes, depending on how well they are adjusted and how hot they got, I'd look them over today, then take them apart when you get home. You may have to replace the shoes. Its also possible you warped the drums.

BTW, your not the first, and won't be the last...I've done both of these and worse while towing!

What?? You're crazy! I have never done anything like that, () but I agree, I doubt the damage is anything more than a PITA rather than OMG! Worse case is the brakes got hot and maybe boiled the fluid or burned up the shoes. Not the end of he world. As far as the front end, jeeps are light, and tough, and that front end prolly gets WAY worse treatment off road than a few miles in lock would ever do.

 

[BajaEdition]

well the rear brakes may be shot, as well as the bearing cooked
and check the steering for excessive play

 

[cgeorge5150]

Thanks everyone. So the rear shoes showed some heat but not too bad. The front tires had slight wear on the out side treads from being drug around the four turns I made. But here is my new subject that I may need to start a new thread for; I took the jeep out for a light trail ride and then found a medium difficulty trail to crawl. On my way up in 2wd and granny gear I was crossing a rut with boulders, my driverside front tire was floating while the other three were in contact. Going about 3 mph the jeep stopped completely locked in gear, dead. I checked the clutch linkage and adjustment everything was good. But I could not get the clutch to disengage. The way I got out was by switching to dual battery mode, gassing it and turning the motor over until it freed it self. My guess was body flex torqued it just 'wrong'. Any other thoughts?

 

[coldwater]

I'm not sure I understand the question completely. Are you saying the clutch bound up? If so, one of the weak links on a cj is the funky clutch linkage. It ties from the frame to the engine, and in some situations will bind when the torque is laid on. As they get older and a little worn the bell crank will actually flip right off and leave you locked right up mine did it once too many times and I replaced the whole thing with a hydraulic system.