looking for some advice on my flat towing setup

[fuelfox4949]

Not directly on subject but do you really back up with your toad hooked up? I was under the impression this was bad juju. Just checked my owners manual and it is pretty specific that bacon up when flat towing can cause damage. I would love to back up a bit at times without unhooking.

I wouldn't My tow bar says not to

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[roaniecowpony]

Not directly on subject but do you really back up with your toad hooked up? I was under the impression this was bad juju. Just checked my owners manual and it is pretty specific that bacon up when flat towing can cause damage. I would love to back up a bit at times without unhooking.

You really can't back up very far before the wrong way caster of the front axle flops the front tires over to full lock. You can get away with a bit more if you get a helper to steer the jeep while backing.

 

[Occam'sRazor]

• Tow only in the forward direction. Towing this vehicle backwards can cause severe damage to the transfer case.

From my owners manual regarding flat towing

 

[roaniecowpony]

The point of oil recommendations that deviate from the OEM recommendation is to provide more protection than the minimum recommended by the manufacturer.

If anyone wants to stick with the OEM recommendation for whatever their reasons are, they should stick with the OEM recommended oil. But all this nonsense about "the engine was designed for that oil" and any implication or flat out statement that an engine can't benefit from better oil protection, is just that: nonsense.

 

[roaniecowpony]

• Tow only in the forward direction. Towing this vehicle backwards can cause severe damage to the transfer case.

From my owners manual regarding flat towing

I think the statement there is derived from the lubrication issue with towing backward. Likely that the oil pump in T-case doesn't pump oil going backward.

 

[garykk]

The point of oil recommendations that deviate from the OEM recommendation is to provide more protection than the minimum recommended by the manufacturer.

If anyone wants to stick with the OEM recommendation for whatever their reasons are, they should stick with the OEM recommended oil. But all this nonsense about "the engine was designed for that oil" and any implication or flat out statement that an engine can't benefit from better oil protection, is just that: nonsense.

????? What’s oil got to do with towing

 

[garykk]

After looking at the pics of both jeeps being towed. I wouldn’t tow either one. Both have way too much stress on the hitch receiver , and the last photo has the Jeep out of the safe 3” range concerning level.

 

[roaniecowpony]

????? What’s oil got to do with towing

Late night...wrong thread.

 

[fuelfox4949]

After looking at the pics of both jeeps being towed. I wouldn’t tow either one. Both have way too much stress on the hitch receiver , and the last photo has the Jeep out of the safe 3” range concerning level.

Can you explain?
My hitch is rated for 10k, doesn't even put any weight on the back of the truck.
You think the weight of the jeep when braking will bend the hitch up?

 

[garykk]

Can you explain?
My hitch is rated for 10k, doesn't even put any weight on the back of the truck.
You think the weight of the jeep when braking will bend the hitch up?

when the height of the towed vehicle is higher than the tow vehicle and the tow bar is slanted down towards the tow vehicle, when you brake the tow vehicle , the towed will try to push up instead of a straight push( this is without braking system on the towed). The opposite would be true if the towbar on the tow is lower. According to towbar companies, the tow bar should not exceed 3” up or down From center,
so you’ll be putting strain on not only the towbar but the hitch on the tow and towed vehicle.

 

[fuelfox4949]

My tow

when the height of the towed vehicle is higher than the tow vehicle and the tow bar is slanted down towards the tow vehicle, when you brake the tow vehicle , the towed will try to push up instead of a straight push( this is without braking system on the towed). The opposite would be true if the towbar on the tow is lower. According to towbar companies, the tow bar should not exceed 3” up or down From center,
so you’ll be putting strain on not only the towbar but the hitch on the tow and towed vehicle.

My towbar is completely level

 

[fuelfox4949]

So I had to throw a new drag link joint on, went and got the balance beads removed from my tires and they did a static balance and used weights on the inner rim and the jeep drives smooth as silk.
So I'm pretty sure flat towing will be better this time around to test it out near home.

 

[RubiBlueJLU]

If I may, I would suggest a short tow WITHOUT the riser installed.
Every piece added to the system causes more wiggle in the system .
Tow bar straight to receiver = 1 wiggle.
Add the riser = 2 wiggles plus riser sway.
The wiggles (slip) multiply at each joint.
You get side to side AND up and down movement. The riser can also rotate side to side through the slop.

Just another thing to consider.

 

[fuelfox4949]

If I may, I would suggest a short tow WITHOUT the riser installed.
Every piece added to the system causes more wiggle in the system .
Tow bar straight to receiver = 1 wiggle.
Add the riser = 2 wiggles plus riser sway.
The wiggles (slip) multiply at each joint.
You get side to side AND up and down movement. The riser can also rotate side to side through the slop.

Just another thing to consider.

unfortunately it would be to steep of a angle to flat tow safely with out the riser.
I believe after fixing the bad drag link and re-balancing the tires will take care of the sway I was having.
I was lucky enough to pick up a aluminum car hauler to tow the jeep to Moab this year instead of flat tow.
I will keep looking into flat towing because I still want the option to flat tow in case of emergency.

 

[garykk]

My tow



My towbar is completely level

True but look at the length of the tow bar/ receiver. That I would think would exacerbate the problem.

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