Alright fawkers, the Scout saga continues...towing feedback

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 12:24 AM

Alright,
i'm pretty much ready to buy a 1979 scout II up here in MT. mebbe a lightweight jeep or toy will come my way in the next few weeks, but prolly not. i figure i have the best deal in the Scout...

so before i buy, my mind moves to how i'll get this fugger
to San Diego...... 1250 miles away.

my tow rig is thus:

2003 Ford Expedition- RWD, 5400lbs curb weight, 8900lb tow rating, class lV hitch.

(i've been told by two sources that the scout weighs around 4000-4200lbs before i load it down with about a hundred lbs of camping gear.)

option's

1. flat-tow that heavy sucker with wheels aligned for towing(caster) and BOTH driveshafts removed, with diff's full of fluid. (tires are brand new)

2. rent an underrated uhaul tow dolly for 150.00, and hope i don't have a breakdown/flat due to overweightness...

3. leave the fugger in MT.

4. some will say get a trailer, but i don't have the money...if thats the only option that seems smart, the truck stays here, un-bought.

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 12:28 AM

by the way, i searched and seemed to get the impression that some had ok experiences flat-towing and some had horrible experiences...

most horrible ones included not disconnecting d-shafts and have a drivetrain piece go into gear. or they had a religious experience going around a turn in bad weather or something.

the road to san diego is along the 15 freeway, pretty much all the way...there are a few mountainy area's but a lot of it is desert flatland stuff. i'll get baked in the nevada heat, but a least its flat and not too hilly...

MoonDog · 08-15-2006, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kodiak1232003

Alright,
before i load it down with about a hundred lbs of camping gear.)

Woah, dude, you're going to stuff a hundred extra pounds into that thing? I hope your Expedition is a diesel!

I'd go with a tow dolly. (well actually I'd put it on my trailer behind my F350) But if I were you picking from your options I'd go with a tow dolly. Flat towing can be done right, but for $150 the "roll it on, strap it down, go" is worth it IMO.

or hell if you don't mind waiting a month or two, I could move it for you relatively cheaply. I've been looking for a reason to visit MT

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonDog

Woah, dude, you're going to stuff a hundred extra pounds into that thing? I hope your Expedition is a diesel!

I'd go with a tow dolly. (well actually I'd put it on my trailer behind my F350) But if I were you picking from your options I'd go with a tow dolly. Flat towing can be done right, but for $150 the "roll it on, strap it down, go" is worth it IMO.

or hell if you don't mind waiting a month or two, I could move it for you relatively cheaply. I've been looking for a reason to visit MT

lol, thanks...

you'd dolly even if the rating was like dolly-3500lbs/scout-4200lbs?

MoonDog · 08-15-2006, 01:26 AM

is that what the dolly is rated to carry, or rated to tow? keep in mind that only about half of the weight of the truck is going to be on the dolly. And if it's from a rental company, count on that thing being way the fawk overbuilt for it's rating, just becasue of guys like you (well, and I)

My only complaint about dollys is they always seem to be soooo damn wide,

HalfFastFord · 08-15-2006, 01:34 AM

Why not just rent a Uhaul trailer? Or is that the money part?

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 01:36 AM

on the uhaul website it says "Max load":
-cars....3400lbs
-4x4.....3900lbs(suprising, cuz thats not what a uhaul dude told me)

anyways, i tried calling one place and the scout is listed as being too heavy...i could just tell them its a different model as long as its not gonna be unsafe...know what i mean?

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HalfFastFord

Why not just rent a Uhaul trailer? Or is that the money part?

yeah, they're both rated the same, it seems, at about 4k and the scout is just a bit over that...

trailer...$300.00
dolly....$140.00

this is totally on a shoestring budget, so if i can't do it for 150 or less, the scout is staying a missoulian...lol

HalfFastFord · 08-15-2006, 01:40 AM

I think you'd be good with the dolly, although, I'd problably put some stockers on it for the trip.

MoonDog · 08-15-2006, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kodiak1232003

on the uhaul website it says "Max load":
-cars....3400lbs
-4x4.....3900lbs(suprising, cuz thats not what a uhaul dude told me)

anyways, i tried calling one place and the scout is listed as being too heavy...i could just tell them its a different model as long as its not gonna be unsafe...know what i mean?

You're close enough, I say go for it. I'm sure someone will jump my shit because "technically" I'm wrong by a hair and there could be insurnce & liability issues, so on so forth if you wreck and go up in flames, but I guarantee you, whatever you do to/with that dolly won't be the worst it's seen in it's lifetime. If you want to talk saftey I'd rather slightly overload a dolly than flat tow with two rigs of similar weight.

If you look at Uhauls requirements, they say they won't rent to you if your vehicle has an automatic, but they don't always enforce it. They also DON'T tell you they wont let you tow with an explorer. ...Found that out the hard way when a buddy and I went to go pick up a dolly with his exploder cuz my truck was already at the pickup location. "oh we can't let you tow with that, they spontaneously roll over"

*edit* oh, and yes, lie your ass off about what you're towing and what with. Believe me they rent LOTS of dollys and trailers to people wanting to move their VW bugs and Geo metros!

binderbasher · 08-15-2006, 02:18 AM

Drive the scout.

Joe_W · 08-15-2006, 05:37 AM

with something as big as the scout I'd rent the dolly. Flat towing has the potential to be a bitch if steering etc aren't up to snuff

fullygruntled · 08-15-2006, 06:19 AM

On a pure economics level, resell the Scout in MT.

If you must must must have it now now now, flatbed or dolly.

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullygruntled

On a pure economics level, resell the Scout in MT.

If you must must must have it now now now, flatbed or dolly.

thanks buddy, for the reply. let me clarify that i haven't completed the deal yet. i'm still trying to figure out this transport thing.

definitely like the scout, good price and all, but man i'd hate to have trouble at the like "570mile mark" in the middle of nowhere's-ville.

DavidVanVorous · 08-15-2006, 10:05 AM

Binder Basher brought up a good point, is the Scout driveable?

I used to do the 2600 mi SF bay area to Denver vacation round trip for years in my '73. It worked fine as long as one has the "magic" 7th qt of oil in the pan, is tolerant of 16 mpg and 65-75 mph for extended durations...

D.

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 10:10 AM

sure, it drives fine but i have to get a sh#tload of our stuff and our expedition moved back to san deigo.

the default setup is the expedition towing a small uhaul trailer. this is what we would do with no scout in the equation.

if we decide to get the scout, it would be towed full of the stuff that we woulda put in the trailer. does that make sense?

regards,
brian

Budd · 08-15-2006, 10:13 AM

There are two guys in our Jeepster club that flat tow religiously - never had a problem. One - from San Diego - tows with his Grand Cherokee, he just takes it easy and doesn't follow too closely. He flat towed all the way to Moab that way.

The other flat tows behind his motor home - no problems either.

chris408 · 08-15-2006, 10:20 AM

I towed my 1976scout terra with a uhaul tow dolly from Fordyce to San Jose. No problems. 36" tires, 392 engine, longer frame, etc...

61scout80 · 08-15-2006, 10:21 AM

i've towed my scout 80 on a dolly a few times w/ a pick up truck. i never had any trouble. if you rent from u-haul tell them is a jeep cherokee or similar you have to tow. i got a quote of $220 for a dolly from sacramento to phoenix.

chris408 · 08-15-2006, 10:24 AM

why are you so set on this scout? there are cheap RUST FREE scouts you can buy all day in California...

DavidVanVorous · 08-15-2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kodiak1232003

sure, it drives fine but i have to get a sh#tload of our stuff and our expedition moved back to san deigo.

the default setup is the expedition towing a small uhaul trailer. this is what we would do with no scout in the equation.

if we decide to get the scout, it would be towed full of the stuff that we woulda put in the trailer. does that make sense?

regards,
brian

Yes and no, yes if theres only 1 driver. The Scout has a 6200 GVWR which iffen one subtracts 4200 from 6200 comes out to ~ 2k lbs cargo capacity in the form of of humans, gas and "stuff". Course the 2k number is an IH number and sorta suspect given axles etc...

D.

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 10:30 AM

nice. i lean towards this for several reasons..

1. scout has brand new tires
2. i get to keep the tow bar
3. the weight on a trailer/dolly becomes a non-issue
4. w no driveshafts, i can isolate the engine/tcase/tranny

thanks for the input.

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris408

why are you so set on this scout? there are cheap RUST FREE scouts you can buy all day in California...

just cuz...lol.

welndmn · 08-15-2006, 10:32 AM

get a dolly or a trailer
Flat towing is a stupid Idea.

kodiak1232003 · 08-15-2006, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris408

I towed my 1976scout terra with a uhaul tow dolly from Fordyce to San Jose. No problems. 36" tires, 392 engine, longer frame, etc...

sweet...thanks. now im going back and forth...

it seems like i have nothing to worry about with either a dolly or flat-towing if i do it right and take it easy.

i'll think on it some more...

regards
brian

08-15-2006, 12:24 AM	#1
kodiak1232003 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44006 Location: San Diego = northern mexico Posts: 2,426	Alright fawkers, the Scout saga continues...towing feedback Alright, i'm pretty much ready to buy a 1979 scout II up here in MT. mebbe a lightweight jeep or toy will come my way in the next few weeks, but prolly not. i figure i have the best deal in the Scout... so before i buy, my mind moves to how i'll get this fugger to San Diego...... 1250 miles away. my tow rig is thus: 2003 Ford Expedition- RWD, 5400lbs curb weight, 8900lb tow rating, class lV hitch. (i've been told by two sources that the scout weighs around 4000-4200lbs before i load it down with about a hundred lbs of camping gear.) option's 1. flat-tow that heavy sucker with wheels aligned for towing(caster) and BOTH driveshafts removed, with diff's full of fluid. (tires are brand new) 2. rent an underrated uhaul tow dolly for 150.00, and hope i don't have a breakdown/flat due to overweightness... 3. leave the fugger in MT. 4. some will say get a trailer, but i don't have the money...if thats the only option that seems smart, the truck stays here, un-bought.

08-15-2006, 01:26 AM	#5
MoonDog Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3455 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 848	is that what the dolly is rated to carry, or rated to tow? keep in mind that only about half of the weight of the truck is going to be on the dolly. And if it's from a rental company, count on that thing being way the fawk overbuilt for it's rating, just becasue of guys like you (well, and I) My only complaint about dollys is they always seem to be soooo damn wide, __________________ '84 Toyota HooptieRunner

08-15-2006, 06:19 AM	#13
fullygruntled Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Member # 9614 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 932	On a pure economics level, resell the Scout in MT. If you must must must have it now now now, flatbed or dolly. __________________ [url="http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10154905#post10154905"]Trading stuff[/url]

08-15-2006, 10:05 AM	#15
DavidVanVorous Curmudgeon Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 36733 Location: Bozeman MT Posts: 1,369	Binder Basher brought up a good point, is the Scout driveable? I used to do the 2600 mi SF bay area to Denver vacation round trip for years in my '73. It worked fine as long as one has the "magic" 7th qt of oil in the pan, is tolerant of 16 mpg and 65-75 mph for extended durations... D. __________________ The biggest proponent for fly fishing is the worm. P.F. McManus Last edited by DavidVanVorous; 08-15-2006 at 10:05 AM.

08-15-2006, 10:13 AM	#17
Budd Pilot in training Join Date: Mar 2004 Member # 28368 Location: OC, California Posts: 2,087 Blog Entries: 13	There are two guys in our Jeepster club that flat tow religiously - never had a problem. One - from San Diego - tows with his Grand Cherokee, he just takes it easy and doesn't follow too closely. He flat towed all the way to Moab that way. The other flat tows behind his motor home - no problems either. __________________ 1968 Jeepster, turbo'd

08-15-2006, 12:28 AM	#2
kodiak1232003 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44006 Location: San Diego = northern mexico Posts: 2,426	by the way, i searched and seemed to get the impression that some had ok experiences flat-towing and some had horrible experiences... most horrible ones included not disconnecting d-shafts and have a drivetrain piece go into gear. or they had a religious experience going around a turn in bad weather or something. the road to san diego is along the 15 freeway, pretty much all the way...there are a few mountainy area's but a lot of it is desert flatland stuff. i'll get baked in the nevada heat, but a least its flat and not too hilly...

08-15-2006, 01:34 AM	#6
HalfFastFord tits or gtfo Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17904 Location: OKC Posts: 1,885	Why not just rent a Uhaul trailer? Or is that the money part?

08-15-2006, 01:36 AM	#7
kodiak1232003 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44006 Location: San Diego = northern mexico Posts: 2,426	on the uhaul website it says "Max load": -cars....3400lbs -4x4.....3900lbs(suprising, cuz thats not what a uhaul dude told me) anyways, i tried calling one place and the scout is listed as being too heavy...i could just tell them its a different model as long as its not gonna be unsafe...know what i mean?

08-15-2006, 01:40 AM	#9
HalfFastFord tits or gtfo Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17904 Location: OKC Posts: 1,885	I think you'd be good with the dolly, although, I'd problably put some stockers on it for the trip.

08-15-2006, 02:18 AM	#11
binderbasher Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 65726 Location: SUSANVILLE, CA Posts: 557	Drive the scout.

08-15-2006, 10:10 AM	#16
kodiak1232003 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44006 Location: San Diego = northern mexico Posts: 2,426	sure, it drives fine but i have to get a sh#tload of our stuff and our expedition moved back to san deigo. the default setup is the expedition towing a small uhaul trailer. this is what we would do with no scout in the equation. if we decide to get the scout, it would be towed full of the stuff that we woulda put in the trailer. does that make sense? regards, brian

08-15-2006, 10:20 AM	#18
chris408 Granite Guru Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 37354 Location: Mountain View, Kali Posts: 750	I towed my 1976scout terra with a uhaul tow dolly from Fordyce to San Jose. No problems. 36" tires, 392 engine, longer frame, etc... __________________ The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves. George Washington

08-15-2006, 10:21 AM	#19
61scout80 something witty! Join Date: Jan 2003 Member # 16722 Location: Maricopa, AZ (PHX) Posts: 965	i've towed my scout 80 on a dolly a few times w/ a pick up truck. i never had any trouble. if you rent from u-haul tell them is a jeep cherokee or similar you have to tow. i got a quote of $220 for a dolly from sacramento to phoenix.

08-15-2006, 10:24 AM	#20
chris408 Granite Guru Join Date: Oct 2004 Member # 37354 Location: Mountain View, Kali Posts: 750	why are you so set on this scout? there are cheap RUST FREE scouts you can buy all day in California... __________________ The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves. George Washington

08-15-2006, 10:30 AM	#22
kodiak1232003 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44006 Location: San Diego = northern mexico Posts: 2,426	nice. i lean towards this for several reasons.. 1. scout has brand new tires 2. i get to keep the tow bar 3. the weight on a trailer/dolly becomes a non-issue 4. w no driveshafts, i can isolate the engine/tcase/tranny thanks for the input.

08-15-2006, 10:32 AM	#24
welndmn Well Done Man! Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 398 Location: Brentwood, CA (East Bay Area) Posts: 16,393 Blog Entries: 3	get a dolly or a trailer Flat towing is a stupid Idea. __________________ Mark 71 Bronco. 42's and bolt on goats.

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