Towing a CDNM101 with a locked jeep....

GzrGlide · 08-13-07, 11:24 AM

Hey folks;

Ok. I know this is a Toyota forum, but I hope you guys can help a jeep guy out with a beloved CdnM101.

We just came back from a camping trip towing our CDN M101 behind our TJ that has a new Detroit locker in the rear.

Noticed that when we shifted from 4 to 5 or when letting off the gas in 5th, that the jeep pulls to the right pretty quick and severely. Enough that you have to counter steer to keep it in the lane.

Is this normal in a swb, locker equipped vehicle pulling a trailer?

I know that its common for the locker to make the back end twitch a little in the back when shifting, but does the heavy trailer with short tongue make it that much worse? Not enough tongue weight? I'm pretty careful when loading any trailer to make sure I have some amount of tongue weight.

Open to any ideas!

Thanks for any help/advice.
Mike

KY854RUN · 08-13-07, 01:00 PM

Hi Mike,

Check to see that the trailer's brakes are not dragging. If they are, then you should notice it some in any gear. So, I don't think that it is the trailer's brakes. Also, unless you have the trailer loaded really heavy, it should not push your TJ around like that.

I would suspect that the new locker in the rear is not working exactly as it should. Try driving the TJ without the trailer and do the things that were making it pull with the trailer attached. If it does the same things without the trailer then it is the locker.

I had a Power Trax No-Spin that didn't work correctly and it gave me the same troubles that you are having. Power Trax warrantied my locker and the new one has worked flawlessly.

The Detroit Locker is a good unit, but even they can have a bad one slip through quality control.

REZARF · 08-13-07, 02:44 PM

Maybe try driving the trailer absolutley empty, to determine if it is a weight thing or not.

KevinNY · 08-14-07, 09:44 AM

Rear Steer when letting on and off the gas is usually associatted with bad suspension bushings in the rear.

GzrGlide · 08-14-07, 10:33 PM

Firt off thanks for the replies! I now have a short list of things to check.

I had to pull our other utility trailer today and had absolutely no problem whatsoever. The only movement was the typical Detroit twitch when shifting, but nowhere near wht we experienced on our trip.

I'm going to pull the M101 empty tomorrow and then check to see if the brakes are dragging at all.

I'll keep ya updated.

Mike

bj70_guy · 08-16-07, 06:27 PM

off topic here, but going by your handle, do I assume there's an FLHT in your garage?

atavuss · 08-16-07, 09:00 PM

I have a 77 CJ7 that I ran a detroit locker in the rear for many years. the locker was great off road but on the road made for a beast to drive, especially on twisty mountain roads. really had to watch your driving. finally got tired of the locker and took it out.

GzrGlide · 08-16-07, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bj70_guy

off topic here, but going by your handle, do I assume there's an FLHT in your garage?

Yup! 02 Classic. Most of it is blacked out. I hate chrome!
http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/44...500x500Q85.jpg

Ride hard or stay home!

"Kleine Sheisse-wagen" <<<< Cute!

bj70_guy · 08-17-07, 01:02 PM

Thought so! Mine's a '00 FLHT with a tour pak and a 95" kit. Love it.
My other toy is an '81 Sturgis, so I'm with you on the chrome thing...

Rubiconcruiser · 08-20-07, 06:56 PM

There should be no pull, left or right, or when applying the brakes, locked axel or not, you may need to check the alignment on the tongue of the trailer as a start. I have pulled my trailer several thousand miles with both my FJ40 as well as my TJ and never had an issue as you describe. I even did a power brake from 70 MPH and she was as steady as a rock.

08-13-07, 11:24 AM	#1
GzrGlide IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 23	Towing a CDNM101 with a locked jeep.... Hey folks; Ok. I know this is a Toyota forum, but I hope you guys can help a jeep guy out with a beloved CdnM101. We just came back from a camping trip towing our CDN M101 behind our TJ that has a new Detroit locker in the rear. Noticed that when we shifted from 4 to 5 or when letting off the gas in 5th, that the jeep pulls to the right pretty quick and severely. Enough that you have to counter steer to keep it in the lane. Is this normal in a swb, locker equipped vehicle pulling a trailer? I know that its common for the locker to make the back end twitch a little in the back when shifting, but does the heavy trailer with short tongue make it that much worse? Not enough tongue weight? I'm pretty careful when loading any trailer to make sure I have some amount of tongue weight. Open to any ideas! Thanks for any help/advice. Mike __________________ Mike 98 TJ w/ Cdn M101 in tow 33 x 10.5 BFG MTs 4.88s with Super 35 & Detroit Locker 2 kids seats in back and the wife behind the wheel

08-13-07, 01:00 PM	#2
KY854RUN IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Arizona TLCA# 3200 Posts: 337	Hi Mike, Check to see that the trailer's brakes are not dragging. If they are, then you should notice it some in any gear. So, I don't think that it is the trailer's brakes. Also, unless you have the trailer loaded really heavy, it should not push your TJ around like that. I would suspect that the new locker in the rear is not working exactly as it should. Try driving the TJ without the trailer and do the things that were making it pull with the trailer attached. If it does the same things without the trailer then it is the locker. I had a Power Trax No-Spin that didn't work correctly and it gave me the same troubles that you are having. Power Trax warrantied my locker and the new one has worked flawlessly. The Detroit Locker is a good unit, but even they can have a bad one slip through quality control. __________________ Kevin `85 4Runner - work in progress M416 Trailer - ukn year, rebuilt July 2007, build thread `68 FJ40 - planning stages of a build Green Country Cruisers - member Wish List - to long to post

08-13-07, 02:44 PM	#3
REZARF IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Louisville, CO TLCA# 13041 Posts: 2,812	Maybe try driving the trailer absolutley empty, to determine if it is a weight thing or not. __________________ Drew F. Rising Sun 4x4 Club 76 FJ40, 85 fj60 Engine and Ignition, 35" MTR's, Warn 8074, 4" of lift TPI, snorkeled, racked, Mini-truck P/S... and sometimes running. Friends don't let friends drive Thornbirds... My camping trailer build up thread.

08-14-07, 10:33 PM	#5
GzrGlide IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 23	Firt off thanks for the replies! I now have a short list of things to check. I had to pull our other utility trailer today and had absolutely no problem whatsoever. The only movement was the typical Detroit twitch when shifting, but nowhere near wht we experienced on our trip. I'm going to pull the M101 empty tomorrow and then check to see if the brakes are dragging at all. I'll keep ya updated. Mike __________________ Mike 98 TJ w/ Cdn M101 in tow 33 x 10.5 BFG MTs 4.88s with Super 35 & Detroit Locker 2 kids seats in back and the wife behind the wheel

08-16-07, 06:27 PM	#6
bj70_guy bj74_guy? Join Date: Oct 2003 TLCA# 6257 Posts: 599	off topic here, but going by your handle, do I assume there's an FLHT in your garage? __________________ norm '85 BJ70 - old yard decoration '89 BJ74 - newer yard decoration

08-14-07, 09:44 AM	#4
KevinNY IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 17	Rear Steer when letting on and off the gas is usually associatted with bad suspension bushings in the rear.

08-16-07, 09:00 PM	#7
atavuss IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 53	I have a 77 CJ7 that I ran a detroit locker in the rear for many years. the locker was great off road but on the road made for a beast to drive, especially on twisty mountain roads. really had to watch your driving. finally got tired of the locker and took it out.

08-17-07, 01:02 PM	#9
bj70_guy bj74_guy? Join Date: Oct 2003 TLCA# 6257 Posts: 599	Thought so! Mine's a '00 FLHT with a tour pak and a 95" kit. Love it. My other toy is an '81 Sturgis, so I'm with you on the chrome thing... __________________ norm '85 BJ70 - old yard decoration '89 BJ74 - newer yard decoration

08-20-07, 06:56 PM	#10
Rubiconcruiser IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 157	There should be no pull, left or right, or when applying the brakes, locked axel or not, you may need to check the alignment on the tongue of the trailer as a start. I have pulled my trailer several thousand miles with both my FJ40 as well as my TJ and never had an issue as you describe. I even did a power brake from 70 MPH and she was as steady as a rock.

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