Is it reasonable to try to pull my trial rig behind an LWB?

[PTSchram]

I'm contemplating putting my trail rig and trailer on a HUGE diet to try to get the weight down to around 5000#, trailer and rig together. Even at that, I'm thinking I'm way over what my LWB really wants to be towing.

I'm thinking of cutting the dovetail off the trailer-ought to get me a weight savings of 100-150#. Removing the decking forward of the stops-maybe 50# savings. Speed holes in the decking where the truck doesn't sit when stationary on the trailer-30-35#. Speed holes in the side rails of the trailer-30# maybe.

The truck is pretty well gutted, two seats, no interior. I do still need to pull the A/C compressor and box/fans-might gain me another 100# savings. I also intend to remove most of the sheetmetal from the footwells forward and tube it. Get rid of the ARB, mount the winch directly somehow.

Currently, the trailer weighs about 1200#, not sure about the Rangie, it does have a Salisbury in the rear with drums (for the time being).

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Puffdragon]

Just don't drive uphill!

I know it's not the sAme, but I used to tow 8,000lbs or so with a 4.6 p38 and it did fine

[PTSchram]

I keep hearing this KC, but my experiences haven't been positive, hence my eagerness to lose as much weight as I can.

It's unrealistic for me to think of buying a real tow rig for many reasons, but if I can get the weight down just few hundred pounds, I think it might make all the difference in the world and I'd be able to go wheeling far more often.

I'm only about three hours from the badlands and it's fairly flat Indiana countryside from here to there. Fuel economy will be the cross to bear, but I don't want to put my LWB into a grave any sooner than necessary.

The trailer needs a lot of work and modifying it would mean that it would pretty much only be useful for towing the one truck, but then again, that might be more of a benefit than detriment

[Puffdragon]

If your towing flat lands and only a couple hrs, just tow what you have and be done. All my tows in the P38 were 13-14hrs through varied terrain and mountains.

Just drop your speed a bit and relax.

[PTSchram]

KC-I already drive like an old man. Speed limit for me.

I'll see if I can get the AG-Plus guys to let me weigh my trailer and truck early next week so I can have a before and after mass. Then, I'll start cutting!

[sedat]

I've thrown 6-7K behind a SWB and came out OK. little fishy with winds and slow as hell but not much worse than air cooled VWs. the 4.2 will make a difference vs a 3.9.

[BigBlueToy]

I wouldnt worry about anything except the transmission.

[uninformed]

everyones budget is differnt and priorites are the same....but living over here all we hear about is these big engined pickups that would tow a house up everest and only cost a weeks wage.............

seriously though, I cruised Dodges website a few months ago and a brand new diesel 4500 2wd 2 door was $38000....hell over here that is freakin amazing. so how much for a second hand diesel dodge/chev/ford pick up that would do the job?

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by uninformed

so how much for a second hand diesel dodge/chev/ford pick up that would do the job?

More than I have to spend.

[john78]

is lwb "long wheel base" or you referring to a certain truck ?

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by john78

is lwb "long wheel base" or you referring to a certain truck ?

Um, yeah, you know, the ones that Land Rover made between 1993 and 1995.

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by BigBlueToy

I wouldnt worry about anything except the transmission.

I have plans to add cooling capacity for the transmission along with ATF temp gauges.

[john78]

uh no I had no idea land rover ever made a truck, so not much help on what it will pull. as far as pulling though a long wheel base will be better with wind our trailer sway then a short will be

[jafir]

Originally Posted by john78

uh no I had no idea land rover ever made a truck, so not much help on what it will pull. as far as pulling though a long wheel base will be better with wind our trailer sway then a short will be

In the rover world, LWB is talking about the Range Rover Classic Long Wheel Base, not a truck. Though there are Defenders that are available in truck form, some of them with a 110 or maybe even 130 inch wheel base.

[sterlingautosport]

Go for it PT. I did. A little scary going down hill but it just makes life more exciting

[junkbuilder]

Whats the worry in england and europe landrovers are tow rigs!
I used to make return journeys between england and france towing 4t plus with a old 200tdi disco ,slow but the old girl did it

[PTSchram]

Yesterday was a big day for weight reduction. I think I may have lightened the rig by a whole 20 pounds!

Yet another glaring example of the law of diminishing marginal returns!

[Nevada Ben]

I'm sure you could trade your Stage 1 for a real nice tow rig, but you're stubborn. If you took a vacation on an airplane, I bet you'd rent a Land Rover as soon as you got there. I mean, to Hawaii or Fiji or something so you couldn't drive your own there.

Seriously, it seems like a body in your business could make more than enough with a roll-off to pay for itself.

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by Nevada Ben

I'm sure you could trade your Stage 1 for a real nice tow rig, but you're stubborn. If you took a vacation on an airplane, I bet you'd rent a Land Rover as soon as you got there. I mean, to Hawaii or Fiji or something so you couldn't drive your own there.

Seriously, it seems like a body in your business could make more than enough with a roll-off to pay for itself.

The Stage One is for sale

I'm in the parts and service business, not the towing business. I've thought about it but the main impediment is the cost of insurance. I'd have to do a lot of towing to justify the insurance-which is even more for a roll-back than a standard tow truck.

I'm just glad I have a trade I could fall back on when I got fired from my last job.

[RoverDan]

I towed my 109 5door trail rig on a 16ft open deck trailer for several years behind my 94 LWB. It pulled fine, now problem with power. It did get a bit squirelly if you didn't get the tongue weight just right. In the long run the transmission was starting not to like it too much. I think I was about 1000 lbs or more over what you are shooting for. I think your plan should work ok.

[aloharover]

Originally Posted by PTSchram

if I can get the weight down TO just A few hundred pounds, I think it might make all the difference in the world and I'd be able to go wheeling far more often.

fixed it

[Breg90]

Don't understand the problem. In the UK your 104" wheel base rangey woud be an ideal tow rig for 3.5T, up to 4.5 T if you have air brakes on the trailer. Just make sure your trailer nose weight is within the limits and it will drive fine. My 300Tdi discovery will pull 3.2T easy and if I want to it will cruise at 80 mph (don't advise this!).

Crosses my mind that all the USA trailers I have seen on the internet have the wheels near the back, i.e. they have a high nose wieght. European trailers have wheels in the middle and therefore have lower nose wieghts?? If true will have a big influence on the handling.

My brother pulled a trialer that we later wieghed at 4.2 ton 300 miles, no issues, (slightyover wieght .... opps) again a 300 TDI disco. However we were carefull to load to give a reasonaable nose wieght. Then went for a test drive, moved the load to get the nose weight/handling right.

Just do it......

Adrian

[FrankenRover]

Having towed many a load with many different rigs I'd say find a beater 90's era pickup. US highways and interstates =\= to Europe/Uk roads. So taking advice from across the pond might not be prudent.

When in doubt always err on the side of too much tow rig. Not the other way around. You will arrive at your destination safer, faster, more relaxed with less chance of a breakdown in the long run.

[discodaze]

Let's see a link to the stage one for sale! How much are you asking

[tobbjo]

I'm not sure what you're worried about.
I would imagine it's mainly tranny.
Keep it serviced/all oils ok, cooling of both engine and tranny sufficient and it will work well. perhaps not forever, but you know that it won't even if you do not tow with it ;-)

I towed with the D2 TD5, whish is a lump and I drive with my head and not my balls, so approaches to intersections and so on were taken with care. Now tow with a P38, which is a huge improvement, both wheelbase and power-wise. Now I keep a steady speed, at the speedlimit of 80kph (50mph), even uphill...
The trailer and RRC is 2770kg (6100lbs) combined, weighed on the wheels, thus excluding the tounge weight, which I keep higher than the norm here, for increased stability, but slightly exciting braking behaviour.

Tobias

PS a new job seems to be taking me to Indiana in January... How's that?