FJ45 12 hours away - how to move

[lavarunner]

Just Get It!!!

 

[timbercruiser]

I've towed 3 LV's without the engine. All 3 on Uhaul Car trailers. All 3 with an 80 series cruiser. From my experience loading the truck on the uhaul nose first will cause allot of fishtailing over 50mph. However if you load tail first there is none. I'd test this out for 10 miles, 5 from the pickup and 5 back to see what works best for you before starting out on your 12 hour trek, which often turns into 14-16.

Interesting. What I know about hauling says heavy on the back of the trailer causes fishtailing. That seems to run contrary to your experience

 

[fj40z]

Did the same exact thing. Good to have friends with diesels! I had a one day trip to Knoxville and back. The frightening thing was tying the truck down with what we had since the trailer straps wouldn't fit over the 35s!

Yeah that happened to me also, the tire straps wouldnt fit over my 33's either so we had to let all the air out of the front tires to get the straps over them, then you couldnt get a tight squeeze on them so we had to use some extra straps, so I would be sure to take some with you.

 

[GJCruiser]

I suppose this warning wuld apply to any rental company but it happened to me with U-Haul.
Rented a dolly to retreive a 40 about 3 hours away. Towed it up there and unrolled the tie-down straps which go over the tires to secure down to the dolly. One strap was 60% worn through like it had been dragged for 100 miles.
I was able to go go a Wal-Mart and buy a nylon strap to anchor that side of vehicle around axle and down to dolly. It worked but I could have been stranded.

Warning-if you rent dolly, unroll and inspect straps before leaving.

 

[Mikesta]

I've towed 3 LV's without the engine. All 3 on Uhaul Car trailers. All 3 with an 80 series cruiser. From my experience loading the truck on the uhaul nose first will cause allot of fishtailing over 50mph. However if you load tail first there is none. I'd test this out for 10 miles, 5 from the pickup and 5 back to see what works best for you before starting out on your 12 hour trek, which often turns into 14-16.

Interesting. What I know about hauling says heavy on the back of the trailer causes fishtailing. That seems to run contrary to your experience

Yes. The thing about the LV is that it has a huge A$$ end.

Here are some pictures. It better to have more on the toung than too much weight in the rear like you state. It will definitly be different with an extra 1,000 lbs under the hood, but here are 3 examples.

FZJ80. Perfectly ballanced - 70mph tow
FJ45LV Brando. Nose first - 50mph max tow anything over = fishtails
FJ45LV LV80 donor. Rear first - 70mph tow.

I recommend towing rear first for 5 miles. If poor towing, switch..... oh yea... all with UHAUL. Ack. Need to buy my own trailer.

 

[WesternMaryland]

No VIN, no pics - I haven't seen the rig since 1990 (really) but my father in law was just there and the reports are good. As soon as I get it pics etc will be forthcoming.

My trailer has 2-3500lb axles, both with brakes. There are a few decent grades between here and there - something to consider. Don't the rental trailers have surge brakes? We'd waste a lot of gas towing the empty trailer out there.

 

[Gus]

It sounds like your landscaping trailer will work fine, I'd go with that, the extra money for gas will be a small price to pay to avoid having to deal with U-Haul. I've rented from U-haul numerous times, everty time something went wrong, trailer lights not working, the trailer not being at the place I was supposed to pic it up, etc. When dealing with U-Haul you need to expect to be screwed over. I eventually threw down the cash for a car hauler just so I didn't have to ever deal with U-Haul again.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Use your trailer. You know it. Around here anything unregistered can't touch the pavement, so a dolly is right out.

Here's Wilma on my car trailer (basically same setup, 2-3500# axles, electric brakes, Chevy 1500 towing). The yellow mark is between the trailer axles, so you can see how far forward on the trailer it had to be. I'm guessing it was shy around 750# so yours would probably be back a little further to get the tongue weight right. The deck of a U-Haul or Penske isn't long enough to let you work with the weight.

Take it slow.