I know, the best advise is to get a trailer. Well, that ain't going to happen in the near future anyway. I'm looking to flat tow my Traveler behind my 24' Class C Ford motor home maybe a couple times a year. The motor home has a 10k lb. reciever. The Traveler has no doors or hard top so is much lighter than your standard Traveler.

Here's the problem - the Traveler is sprung over with 2.5" lift springs and 37" tires. This results in a 16" difference between the motor home reciever and the bumper of the Traveler. I've towed a CJ7 behind this motor home for years without issue using a basic DrawTite tow bar. I'd like to use the same tow bar on the Traveler. In fact, I've already had some tow bar mounts welded to the front of the Traveler front bumper.

What I'm currently thinking - to minimize risk, I'm thinking about splitting the 16" difference: a 8" rise ball mount for the motor home, then modify my tow bar so it has a 8" drop (can you picture that?).

Anyway, I'm looking for some thoughts on my plan or new solution ideas that don't involve a trailer.

Thanks,
Mark
Boise, ID

I think we should make him post pictures of the rig before giving advise! ;)

Ha! Okay man, some pics. coming of your, I mean my, Traveler....

what ended up of that TBI problem you were having?

I'm thinking you two need to learn Engrish :laughing:

If your moho has the brakes to slow an extra 4k down with no extra help, you'll proabably be ok. I would cut the back 14' off the moho and add a little extension to the frame. Then you could have a flat deck hauler AND a wite trash camper-mobile in the same unit:flipoff2:

TOW DORRY!

They are Free->$600 used and about 1K new. You'll save that from wearing out your 37s on a few road trips.

TOW DORRY!

They are Free->$600 used and about 1K new. You'll save that from wearing out your 37s on a few road trips.

Tow Dorry?? Is that like a Tow Dolly?? Front wheels ride on the dolly type thing?

I didn't think a tow dolly existed that would accomodate 37" tall tires. The straps have to be big enough to around the tires.

If were talking about different thinks please explain.

Thanks,
Mark

what ended up of that TBI problem you were having?

Plugged cat. She purs like a kitten now. :D

Tow Dorry?? Is that like a Tow Dolly?? Front wheels ride on the dolly type thing?

I didn't think a tow dolly existed that would accomodate 37" tall tires. The straps have to be big enough to around the tires.

If were talking about different thinks please explain.

Thanks,
Mark


Got Engrish? :flipoff2:














































Yea, I'm in a very odd place tonight :)

I'm thinking you two need to learn Engrish

+ Tow Dolly = Tow Dorry!


I didn't think a tow dolly existed that would accomodate 37" tall tires. The straps have to be big enough to around the tires.


Big Off road tires are $, tow and wear like shit. So buy a cheap ass set of take off HWY terrains around 30" or so on some stock wheels to tow with. Craigslist usualy can hook you up for under $150 a set for those, and they would last you a long long time towing.

I never mentioned your posts....yet :evil:

:laughing:

So, are you the guy who bought Eagle Mark's old rig? pics biotch:flipoff2:

He bought Snoopys old Traveler/Terra. I have seen alot of very lifted jeeps flat towed behind motor homes so i don't think it would be that big of a problem. Still a flat bed trailer would be the best Idea. Does it have a Dana 20 or 300? The 300's don't oil very well being flat towed, You may get to where you are going and have a toasted T-case.

He bought Snoopys old Traveler/Terra. I have seen alot of very lifted jeeps flat towed behind motor homes so i don't think it would be that big of a problem. Still a flat bed trailer would be the best Idea. Does it have a Dana 20 or 300? The 300's don't oil very well being flat towed, You may get to where you are going and have a toasted T-case.

Correct! I put in a Dana 300. If I flat tow or do the tow dolly I will definitely disconnect the rear drive shaft.

Okay Snoopy, I finally got some photos for you:

http://www.binderbulletin.org/forums/showthread.php?p=418218&posted=1#post418218

+ Tow Dolly = Tow Dorry!




Big Off road tires are $, tow and wear like shit. So buy a cheap ass set of take off HWY terrains around 30" or so on some stock wheels to tow with. Craigslist usualy can hook you up for under $150 a set for those, and they would last you a long long time towing.

AHHHHH. I think I see the light! This might be the ticket - a little extra work changing out all the wheels before and after towing but might be well worth it. Thanks man, this option deserves serious consideration.

Mark

Do you already have a tow bar? If not you might have a little trouble getting a tow bar or tow dolly with a high enough weight rating.

At U-Haul the dollys we rented were not to be used with full sized vehicles .... they weren't wide enough and didn't carry a high enough weight rating.

Just a thought. Good luck. And post pics.

Do you already have a tow bar? If not you might have a little trouble getting a tow bar or tow dolly with a high enough weight rating.

At U-Haul the dollys we rented were not to be used with full sized vehicles .... they weren't wire enough and didn't carry a high enough weight rating.

Just a thought. Good luck. And post pics.


Gotta have wire AND duct tape to haul a fullsize :flipoff2:

Correct! I put in a Dana 300. If I flat tow or do the tow dolly I will definitely disconnect the rear drive


Why not tow it with the rear on the dolly?
(& a strap on the steering wheel).

EDIT: Oh yeah I have some Curry shackles if you want. They are for flat towing (tow bar connects to to a bolt located between in the middle of the shackle, lower the mount several inches.

Why not tow it with the rear on the dolly?
(& a strap on the steering wheel).

EDIT: Oh yeah I have some Curry shackles if you want. They are for flat towing (tow bar connects to to a bolt located between in the middle of the shackle, lower the mount several inches.

Tow it with the rear wheels on the dolly??? Are you sure you can do that? I was under the impression that the tow dolly required the front wheels on the dolly for it to track correctly.

I'm very curious about the shackles you mention. You have a picture??

Thanks,
Mark

http://www.currieenterprises.com/CEStore/Product569.aspx?id=992

I'll second the "short tires" when towing - cheaper in the long run, though it can be a PITA.

Just make sure the tow-bar is about level when in use - you don't want a heavy Scout in the back pushing down under hard braking (bar slopes down to the tow rig) and lifting the nose of the tow rig (OK, what's the chances with a motorhome?) and reducing your braking.

A lot of states want brakes on your "trailer" actuated from the tow rig if you're over a certain weight. I never got stopped in all my miles of flat-towing my SOA Scout II with another Scout.

I've heard of people using a tow-dolly and towing something backwards with the steering tied up.. I might try it for 5 miles, but IMHO that's no way to PLAN to do things.

Get a drop hitch like the lifted wantabee monster trucks , turn upside down , wala tow hitch thats high enough .:smokin:

Get a drop hitch like the lifted wantabee monster trucks , turn upside down , wala tow hitch thats high enough .:smokin:

X2

Get a drop hitch like the lifted wantabee monster trucks , turn upside down , wala tow hitch thats high enough .:smokin:

Remember, my difference between mohome and Traveler is 16"! No one makes a ball mount with that kind of rise (or drop).

A local shop that did the custom reciever on my motor home refused to make me a ball mount with so much rise. The concern is the force applied during heavy breaking to such a high ball mount.....The tall ball mount acts like a "moment arm" and can put (apparently) tremendous forces on the reciever even perhaps tearing it off the frame (that was the concern anyway).

That's why my original thought was to split the differnce - 8" rise ball mount and modified tow bar that has an 8" drop.

I need to investigate these tow shackles some more....

Mark

Mark, i don't think the tow shackles will work for you since your scout is Reverse Shackled. By the way the scout looks realy good.

*I* think your 'split the difference' idea has merit and is probably the better way to go given your circumstances.


small 'stock sized' rollers would help lessen the difference to make up. Look funny as hell but who cares, it would be safer (potentially).

I would try to lower the truck mount as much as possible. Brace it good. That way, as the hitch guys said, lessens the bending force and moment on your MH hitch. Plus you should be able to make something on the scout that is hella stout, easy to remove and lowers the tow bar down a good distance. I'm thinking a couple of 2" receivers under the front crossmember would be a good start... or something off your RS towers (depending on their design).

Why not tow it with the rear on the dolly?
(& a strap on the steering wheel).

EDIT: Oh yeah I have some Curry shackles if you want. They are for flat towing (tow bar connects to to a bolt located between in the middle of the shackle, lower the mount several inches.


The Hwy Patrol will not let you dolly the rear. At least not in all states.

Is that on the books?

I only ask because I liken it to tow trucks that tow vehicles from the rear.

As for the towing question ~ get a trailer.

As for the towing question ~ get a trailer.

I actually had a trailer for my CJ and sold it because loading and off-loading the CJ was such a PITA. The tow bar is so quick and easy.

So what's more of a PITA:

1. loading/unloading & strapping down a rig to a trailer.
2. swapping out all 4 wheels before and after flat towing.

They both are a PITA. The beauty about flat towing with smaller tires is it would also lower my Traveler making it easier to come up with a tow solution (as RustoluemWhite pointed out). The bad part is that I'd have to use the back of the Traveler to carry the tall tires and wheels. I want to use the back of the Traveler to carry bikes, strollers, camping gear, etc. ...even thinking about loadking a DRZ400 DualSport in the back while pulling it.

The easiest thing would be to flat tow the sucker on the 37" MTR's and not worry about the accelerated tire wear. I don't know, maybe this thing was just not meant to be towed...

Maybe you should tow your motor home with the scout...

Just an idea:flipoff2:

go back to the tow dolly idea... and only swap out the front tires to the smaller stock size to fit the tow dolly straps.

Either when flat towing or with the tow dolly setup, I would recommend pulling the rear driveline if traveling long distances

this thread is sooooo lame:zzz:

either get a trailer or a tow dolly or a tow bar...pick one and roll!....just drive the shit to the trail and pitch a tent...quit himing and hawing...

give me an address and i'll pick the shit up and tow it to my house...end of problem!:flipoff2: