flat towing off bumper

[GRMhick]

Ok, i just wanted to 2x and make sure i wont have any problems flat towing a scout behind my reg cab short bed lifted ram, with only the factory bumper? i think i wont have any problems, since it is rated at 5k lbs. Am i right?
thanks
Garrett

[That Mick]

Originally posted by Hick
Ok, i just wanted to 2x and make sure i wont have any problems flat towing a scout behind my reg cab short bed lifted ram, with only the factory bumper? i think i wont have any problems, since it is rated at 5k lbs. Am i right?
thanks
Garrett

Yep, you'll have problems

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67655&highlight=tow+rig
assuming you a talking about a Scout II:

100"wb requires 125"+, preferably 150" wb on the tow rig, no joy.

A SII has a rolling weight of 4500 lbs. So, you want something about 6000lbs+. You don't got that.

You could get away with less if it was just across town or such, but I wouldnt want to.

A Scout is so nose heavy, if it decides to go somewhere, a shortbox will just get pushed around.

I know that poeple have flattowed Scouts
with lighter then recommended rigs, OTOH, I'd hate to see a Scout bruised because someone underestemated what they needed.

[RE:Todd]

Agree, I flat tow an 85 4Runner with about 1/2 the body left. I use a 1997 Chevy 3500 Silverado, dually, CC and can still feel it. Get a trailer with brakes, thats what I'm doing.

[GRMhick]

i would get a trailer with breaks, but thus, i have no hitch. i want to tow the scout from oregon to the bay area.. and my truck weighs in at 5500 lbs with driver, so i am not that far off of the 6k point. But i am worried about being pushed around. problems problems problems.. and short on cash.. any ideas?

[GRMhick]

ok, the total towing distance is 700 miles. little far, i may want to look into a trailer.. but.. still woudl rather flat tow.

Garrett

[RE:Todd]

Get a receiver hitch put in that sucker so you can get a good ball height, then try a local pull and see how it feels. Take your time and give plenty of room.

[GRMhick]

scouts lifted, trucks lifted.. i think that the tow bar will be about level with my bumper.. which is why i didnt want to worry about it.. and dont think i have to.. but if people really think i need it, i will pick up a hitch.. also, it is something like 600 miles of flat i5 driving.. so i think that flat towing it will be OK.. Just keep it slow.. only will be a problem once i come back into the bay area.

Garrett

[That Mick]

I still think you will be pushed around on anything other then a perfectly straight road (I've not driven I5, so take that with a grain of salt.)
Do you honestly think you have the brakes to stop that combo??? Think about how far it take you to come to an under contol stop from 60 mph in your Dodge, then triple it. That is the minimum how far it will take to bring your Dodge/Scout combo to a halt.

[GRMhick]

very very true.. the truck has a hard time stopping itself.. and i know the only way to stop the combo woudl be to down shift,and on every downshift it woudl push the truck sideways.. even with good easment of the trailer.. i am currently lookin into a trailer.. anyone have any experience with a u-haul one way trailer? i am thinking that will be the most cost effective way to do it, and plus, if i decide i can flat tow it, i dont have to rent it.. but i think i will end up doing it.. and they all have centrifical (sp.) breaks, right? so i wont need a brake controler (even though it works a shit load better). Right?

[That Mick]

If you could borrow or rent a trailer from a buddy, thats the way to go.
U-haul, ect cost an arm an a leg.

[LCexplorer]

If you are towing back from Oregon I would go with a trailer as the tow back is anything but flat. Make sure you get brakes on the trailer as well. I have done the tow over the California Oregon border a few times (drove over it last week w/o trailer). The tow up to Siskiyou pass (elev 4310 ft) is not that bad but you come screaming down the other side pretty fast into California. They are also doing Highway improvement on the Northbound uphill grade from California to Oregon and they have closed that section. The southbound grade is now down to single lane with concrete barriers on either side which is not all forgiving when towing. There are also some corners that you have to negotiate on the downhill (southbound) grade that would make Flat towing with not so good brakes very hairy (not to mention the Scout you'd be towing). To give you an idea of the type of grade you are dealing with, at the top of Siskiyou pass I was doing 55 mph in my one ton Dodge diesel 4x4 (towing nothing and a 500 lb load ion the box) by the time I hit the first corner I was doing over 80 mph without touching the accelerator once. At that point I had to stomp on the brakes for slower traffic and it was 50 all the way to the little California fruit border crossing. The traffic was pretty bad with RVs as well and they go slow! If you can, I would also do that part of the tow during the day so you don't get any surprises. The tow through Weed is pretty easy and you have a little bit of hills through Lake Shasta but that's not to much of a problem if you get down from Siskiyou pass. I hope this helps!