flat tow or not

[mgt]

My xj has 6" lift ,33" tires, no-slip in rear,It's a 99 auto with part time
t-case. Is it ok to flat tow 2000 miles with t-case in neutral and tranny in ?
It's going behind a class A diesel motorhome. Or should i just put it on a trailer.

 

[rockwerks]

towing flat is fine, you ar not locked in the front so no worries, tc in neutral and auto trans in park

thousands and thusands of miles with this setup and never a problem

 

[XJnBama]

If you have a trailor id use it

 

[rockwerks]

If you have a trailor id use it

Why? a trailer is longer and hs its tires much closer together adn a much higher center of gravity. Flat towng an xj behind a MH you dont even know its there, I have done it both ways and I will flat tow rather than trailer anyday much much more stable

 

[mgt]

I do have a locker in front but it's an arb. I have heard to remove the ds because the tranny is turning with no cooling to it. Is that true? I don't understand if u have the trans in park how do the wheels move.

 

[XJnBama]

why wear out your tires?

 

[xjj33p3r]

I would also recommend removing the driveshafts. Doesn't take long anyways, and it's good insurance

 

[baronf]

why wear out your tires?

the tire thing actually does make sense, if you are on M/Ts. do you ever plan on selling jeep? because that will also be 2000 more miles on the odometer. either way is fine in the end. do what is more conveniant.

 

[2offroad]

The T/C is in neutral, so the tranny does not move. The pump for the T/C is on the rear output so it gets lubed, the only thing bad about flat towing is the tires get miles on them. I flat tow my '98 with Detroits in both ends, with a '99 1500 GMC with no problems.

 

[mgt]

I forgot one thing. i have a front arb bumper on it, is it hard to put a tow bar with that bumper ?

 

[XJnBama]

yeah i was gonna say it will add miles on yer truck not to mention your really putting miles on alot of parts if you got a trailor id rather spend the money in gas rather than wearing things out and not even using them

 

[2offroad]

I forgot one thing. i have a front arb bumper on it, is it hard to put a tow bar with that bumper ?

I have a home made bumper, I made a tow bar to go to the d rings and it works great.

 

[mgt]

I don't have a trailer i would have to rent one

 

[XJnBama]

well then i would undo the drive shafts its easy and have a good vacation peace...

 

[rockwerks]

well then i would undo the drive shafts its easy and have a good vacation peace...

No need to disconnect the DS why cause more work for yourself? I have flat towed my lifted xj with 33" tires and 6.5" over 10,000 miles...never took off the damn DS's TC in neutral, auto in park and go..I used magnetic towing lights so I didnt have any thing to worry aobut..

 

[mgt]

One more thing. I've been looking at tow bars,most are rated at 5000#.the jeep is 4900 stock. It might closer to 5500 or 5600# now with the arb and bigger tires. any comments ?

 

[OT]

That hitch doesn't see 5000# unless you pull 2 trucks behind it in park.
Think of it like a winch.
A winch is rated for the poundage it actually pulls.
A hitch is the same.
Pulling, it may only actually see 1500#.
Pulling weight is much lighter than actual weight.

 

[BrettM]

if you're worried about the extra miles on the odometer, it takes about 1 minute to pull the speedo gear out of the t-case.

(not sure if that's honest/legal or not when you sell it, it rolled 2000 miles, but it didn't drive 2000 miles...)

 

[DrMoab]

Pros and Cons of trailers and flat towing.

Trailer Pros
You have brakes
You can back it up
no miles on the jeep
trailers don't push you around as bad as tow bars

Trailer Cons.
Heavier
in your case have to rent it.
trailer tires blow more then jeep tires (if both are in good shape)
parking issues of trailer.

Tow bar Pros
Light weight.
easy to store
less weight behind the moterhome....easier towing=better milage.

TowBar Cons
Jeep will really push you around
No brakes
can not back up
milage on jeep

no brakes
no brakes
no brakes.

 

[rockwerks]

Pros and Cons of trailers and flat towing.

Trailer Pros
You have brakes
You can back it up
no miles on the jeep
trailers don't push you around as bad as tow bars

Trailer Cons.
Heavier
in your case have to rent it.
trailer tires blow more then jeep tires (if both are in good shape)
parking issues of trailer.

Tow bar Pros
Light weight.
easy to store
less weight behind the moterhome....easier towing=better milage.

TowBar Cons
Jeep will really push you around
No brakes
can not back up
milage on jeep

no brakes
no brakes
no brakes.

see now I think the jeep pushing you around while flat towing is wrong my experience is just the opposite, the heavier trailer with closer together tires pushes you around more