Can a 40 series be pulled 2400 miles, or must it be trailered?

[TOBASH]

I just found out today that I am to return to training in central Canada. I need to pull my BJ44 there, as well as my Durango. My Durango is under warranty and is more reliable, so I want to use it as the puller car, and let the BJ be the pulled car in back. (Yeah, I know it will be more expensive to pull the Diesel car with the gasoline powered car.)

Can I pull my new-to-me BJ44 there with a front "A" shaped hitch attached to the bumper, or must I trailer it. It makes the difference of several grand if I need to trailer.

If I can pull it, how exactly do I set up the axles, tranny and transfer case to prevent damage? I don't want to kill the diff's, transfer case or tranny.

Best,

T

 

[e rock]

If you have the available cash, I'd buy a used trailer, then sell it once you get there. Maybe you lose $100, maybe you actually make money if you get a good deal. For me, that's pretty cheap insurance against all the crazy crap that can happen flat-towing.


Otherwise, I'd just pull the rear driveshaft. If you have selectable hubs on the front, make sure they're unlocked, or pull the front driveshaft to be sure. The diffs will be fine in their oil bath, and the rest of the drivetrain is none the wiser.

IMO, that's too long of a trip to be your first foray into flat towing. Not that it can't be done, but if you don't know how well your rig responds to being pulled (caster good?), 2300 miles from your destination is a bad place to find out.

 

[ontherox]

unlock the front hubs and remove rear driveshaft,should be just fine!

 

[CruisinGA]

I've flat towed my 40 with various vehicles way over 2000 miles over the last 6 years, however, none of the trips were over 150 miles one way.

Have just recently driven 1500 miles from Wyoming to Atlanta, and knowing how a flat towed 40 handles, I would not want to do it.

Flat towing, when set up correctly (search for some of my posts) is ok, but just that, only ok.

Are you sure your Durango can handle the weight of a trailer and Bj44? That is a lot of weight for a 1/2 (Dodge) suv.

 

[74fjsemistock]

Trailer it.The learning curve is going to cost much more.You can disconnect everything...and still learn.That's a long flat tow for your first go-around.Trailer it.

 

[SLOonTheGo]

I have flat towed my 40 twice now, about 200 miles each time and I can tell you it really takes a lot out of you. I would get a decent trailer with brakes and tow it that way. Flat towing is fine and dandy for short trips, anything longer than 300 miles and you will be exhausted from worrying about it and the way it makes your tow rig feel. Your rear end is going to feel loose, you have to pull through every turn or it will push you, even downhill...

If you're set on flat towing it, have your brakes on your car checked. Pull the rear drive shaft on the fj, make sure both tranny and transfer are in neutral, tie the steering wheel so it can't turn too much, and make sure your hubs are unlocked up front. Thats how I do it with mine and how many of the others on the board do it.

hope that helps.
Jon

 

[malcb]

Put it on a truck? If your cargo is going against the flow of goods you can get some good prices but you might not have much choice about when and there is a risk of damage.

 

[Zekester]

My plane ticket back will be cheaper than a trailer : ) I'll drive it for you, I'll leave two days before you, so we get there at the same time...

 

[ontherox]

hmm.... i think i initially read 240 miles.2400 is a big difference lol.

 

[Weedhopper]

I recommend a trailer too. For that distance you should get the wheels off the ground.

One thought, and others here can smoke me if I am wrong. How about renting a tow dolly ? That gets the front wheels off the ground, and with the rear driveshaft removed there would be very little drivetrain wear. Something to investigate. Good luck !

 

[Copenhagen1]

I don't think a tow dolly is made for the weight of a 40. I know I bought a heep grand wagoneer to use on the deer lease and found out I could not flat tow it because of the transfer case. I subsequently thought of a tow dolly and when I started checking, found out that the heep weighed way too much. Tow dollies are made for lighter vehicles.

I know you can get a vehicle shipped across the states for $600 - $900. I don't know if it works the same to Canada but $1000 or $1200 would be much cheaper than the damage you might do otherwise to your Dodge or to the 44 trying to trailer or flat tow.

Copenhagen1

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

Many good questions here, except ....where are you starting from, and where exactly (province/city) are you going?

For instance...I wouldn't even think of going over the rockies with it, trailered or not, behind your Durango. I once thought of getting a 40 from the BC coast to Montreal via CP rail...would have cost around $1200...worth thinking about.

 

[apeterson]

I have tow dolly my fj before it is fine and my tundra got 17 mpg doing it.............

 

[Weedhopper]

The reason I mentioned tow dolly is because my neighbor at the shop has one. IT IS BUILT. It has a beefy frame and electric brakes, not a U haul, for sure, but some local private renters have that stuff. ( private meaning local dealer, not a big chain store.)

 

[TOBASH]

Many great replies. As far as where am I going...

...I am going from NYC to Saskatchewan. No real mountains, and as I recall, the only hairy part is going through Chi Town at rush hour. I believe somewhere I hit route 80 for like a thousand miles.

The route is flat, and the destination is so flat that you can watch your dog run away for 5 days before it disappears.

My dilemma is I need a reliable car for when the new-to-me Toyota BJ dies and I need to absolutely positively get there without problems.

Maybe I will just take the Toyota, but I would hate to die midway in a car that I really never got to shake out as far as motor, tranny, brakes, etc...

I have flat towed w/the Durango before, including a Saab Sonett, and a Saab 9000 turbo. If I dial in at 55MPH and stay in the right lane and drive mostly at early morning 4AM start time I think I will be OK as far as pulling of a load. Brakes and rotors are new, and the Durango is 2003 and under factory warranty.

Trailer concerns me as it is an additional 1000 lb at least of weight pushing the Durango, in addition to the cost.

I had already bought the BJ, and then I found out about the job, so this was not a case of bad planning. Just wanted to through that out there.

Please keep the answers coming as I am reading each and every one carefully.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

You'll have to call the border, and discuss your trip. When buying a car state-side and importing in into Canada, you need to inform US customs so that they can export the car...THREE DAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE BORDER. Check it out just to be sure, as I think there are other options if you are a US resident, and plan on returing. You might want to call a customs broker...I did, and it was worth every penny.

Can't help you on the flat towing...never towed anything that heavy for that long...so I am looking forward to reading what others have to say as well!

Good luck, and let us know what you end up doing, and how it turned out!

 

[FJn00b]

They tow LC all over the world without any problem . put in neutral and free the front hub and tow it.

Trailer is for bunch of pussies who do not know trucks.

 

[e rock]

They tow LC all over the world without any problem . put in neutral and free the front hub and tow it.

Trailer is for bunch of pussies who do not know trucks.

Put what in neutral? I ask because it does make a difference.

 

[TOBASH]

You'll have to call the border, and discuss your trip. When buying a car state-side and importing in into Canada, you need to inform US customs so that they can export the car...THREE DAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE BORDER. Check it out just to be sure, as I think there are other options if you are a US resident, and plan on returing. You might want to call a customs broker...I did, and it was worth every penny.

Can't help you on the flat towing...never towed anything that heavy for that long...so I am looking forward to reading what others have to say as well!

Good luck, and let us know what you end up doing, and how it turned out!

I will register and insure the BJ44 in New York. I will then just pull accross the border. Good idea about calling customs though, and I will do it just to make sure, but as both cars will be registered, insured, inspected, etc, I don't forsee a problem.

Thanks for the good advice.

 

[TOBASH]

FJNoob, that is hillarious.

They tow LC all over the world without any problem . put in neutral and free the front hub and tow it.

Trailer is for bunch of pussies who do not know trucks.

Can't say I'm a p__sy, but I can say I have concerns about weight and stopping and blowing out a diffferential or tranny.

Definatley thinking about pulling both drive shafts.