Pro's and Con's of flat towing

[chilidipper]

I wanted to get some feedback on flat towing. The obvious issues of "wear on tires" , but is there potential to damage anything in the drive train? Do i need to do anything besides put it in neutral ?

[Materdaddy]

I hate to be the "USE THE SEARCH" guy... but... USE THE SEARCH!!!

This is a pretty common topic and there have been a couple recent thread worth reading:

http://www.myjeeprocks.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12284
http://www.myjeeprocks.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=13694

[GP4Play]

I hate to be the "USE THE SEARCH" guy... but... USE THE SEARCH!!!

Mat ,you are the guy!

[Double AA]

Here, a little more direct for you.

Pro's
Less towed weight
You don't need a place to store the trailer at home or on the trail.


Con's
Wear on the tires and drive train
No need to disconnect driveshafts
Brake bad enough on the trail and you have to trailer
Can't back up and turn
Lots of vehicle sway
No need to air up with a trailer

[dirtman13]

Brake bad enough on the trail and you have to trailer

This is why I trailer versus flat tow. A little added comfort when your far from home.

[OU812]

I think most of the time people flat tow as a last resort. If you don’t have room for a trailer, if your tow rig can’t handle the extra 1000 lbs the trailer adds. It’s a compromise. If you can, get a trailer.

[Double AA]

Car hauling trailers with tandem #3,500 axles start at ~ #1,700 for aluminum. Even the lighter (cheaper) steel trailers are around #2,500.

Trailers are much safer. They won't try to steer your tow vehicle like a wide, mud tired, flat towed Jeep will. They provide extra braking capacity. And if a trailer tire blows while being towed, it's much easier to control then if your Jeep tire goes out while being flat towed.

[tgregg]

In California you must have trailer brakes on anything over 1500 pounds. A brake Buddy is $1000. For $1600 I got a Carson Trailer with brakes.

[Lumpy Grits]

Hi, you don't need a braking setup to tow a vic. behind you. That section is for TRAILERS.......
One of the "cons" to "flat-towing" is the lube issue(rear output shaft bearing)with Dana 20 & 300 t/cases(Jeep CJ's).
I have rebuilt few of them over the years and that is WHY that I pull the rear D/S when I tow mine.
Respectfully,
LG

[FishPOET]

Hi, you don't need a braking setup to tow a vic. behind you. That section is for TRAILERS.......

CVC26454. (a) The service brakes of every motor vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle or combination of vehicles under all conditions of loading on any grade on which it is operated.

[Guest]

In California you must have trailer brakes on anything over 1500 pounds. A brake Buddy is $1000. For $1600 I got a Carson Trailer with brakes.

26303. Every trailer coach and every camp trailer having a gross
weight of 1,500 pounds or more, but exclusive of passengers, shall be
equipped with brakes on at least two wheels which are adequate,
supplemental to the brakes on the towing vehicle, to enable the
combination of vehicles to comply with the stopping distance
requirements of Section 26454.

[Lumpy Grits]

Hi, That 1500 lbs. is for a dedicated trailer.
NOT your Jeep etc. that you tow behind you.
Call CHP or DMV and they will tell you.
Respectfully,
Lg

[TJ Clay]

I flat tow mine all the time behind my motorhome without any issues whatsoever. Just got back from yellowstone,almost 2000 miles. Put the T-case in nuetral and the tranny in gear. Only problem there is you can't back one up so you have to pay attention when you pull into a parking lot or such. The jeep has never swayed at all and i've got a rear camera on the motorhome so i see what it's doing at all times. I've even flat towed it behind my Tacoma for short distances but i would recommend at least a long wheelbase full size truck.

[Lumpy Grits]

Hi TJ Clay, the TJ's seem to do well for lack of driveline lube issues with F/towing. The CJ's sure don't.
Half the time I forget my Jeep is behind me when I tow it(Chev. K-3500 "dually" w/11' Lance camper).
Respectfully,
LG

[FishPOET]

Chev. K-3500 "dually" w/11' Lance camper

You don't have brake assist on 17,000 lbs going down the highway on a truck engineered to effectively stop 11,000 lbs?