Flat towing FJ40... Mountains and Apache saga (1 Viewer)

[Captn Conch]

I just got back From flat towing my '71 Fj40 with 2.5" lift, 10.50x33/ 15's with Harbor Freight towbar. After disconnecting one end of the driveshaft at the rear differential and zip tying it over to the frame, transfer in neutral, Warn lockouts in free, I Towed the 40 over 3 Colorado mountain passes. La Veta Pass, Cumbres pass and La Manga Pass. None are really hairy mountain passes, but two are over 10,000' above sea level and do involve lot's of turns and climbing through Spruce and pine forests as well as going down hill with that load behind. This was en route from
Colorado Springs to Farmington New Mexico. Towed with my 1992 regular cab, non dually regular cab 8' bed C-30 1 ton Chevy pickup with 454 ci engine. I also bought a magnetic tail light kit off Amazon for cheap and routed the wires along the 40 frame. Just to make sure, I used a strand of bailing wire to secure the tail light on the back steel diamond plate bumper...So nice to have working tail light functions when towing.

Results... I bought a tow bar chain kit on Amazon with the proper clips and links, to connect it properly. Fortunately the tow bar on my lifted Cruiser to PU was just about level. and the hookups felt good. The FJ 40 followed perfectly. I had no hairy moments and the trip ended with no problems. The Wife followed in the '07 Xterra with the Indian Drifter 1500 motorcycle securely trailered and likewise had no problems. It is a beautiful 360 mile drive. This trail takes you through the Jicarilla Apache Rez which is in beautiful mountainous country and their town Dulce, where the gas was cheap and the folks very friendly.

The tow bar and the chain kit performed flawlessly. Dang! Why didn't I take some pictures? BTW We encountered the Cumbres Toltec Narrow Gauge vintage Locomotive and vintage cars full of people at the top of Cumbres. They were taking on water and it was setting there huffing and chuffing at idle... so cool....as was the weather at that altitude. One of my most favorites routes to travel.

 

[pjohnson]

@Captn Conch Congrats on a good trip!

One question that is always a debate, did you have to secure the steering wheel?

 

[4x4veteran]

@Captn Conch Congrats on a good trip!

One question that is always a debate, did you have to secure the steering wheel?

Flat towed my 1970 fj40 with PS once and with a dolly once.
Didn't tie the steering wheel either time with no problems.

 

[A10Driver]

As

Flat towed my 1970 fj40 with PS once and with a dolly once.
Didn't tie the steering wheel either time with no problems.

Long as caster is good no need to tie steering wheel. If not be rdy for cruiser in tow to go left when u go right

 

[Living in the Past]

Toe in is important as well. My 79 had the tie rod between wheels bent that increased the toe in. Was awful to flat tow. Have flat towed thousand of miles and stock height 40 with good alignment have all towed well.

 

[Downey]

I always used a bungis strap from steering wheel to front cage roll bar- - -easy deal.

 

[Captn Conch]

I did not need to strap the steering wheel. I did a lot of curves uphill and down with no problems what so ever.

 

[4Cruisers]

I flat towed my '76 FJ40 to this year's Solid Axle Summit in Ouray a couple of weeks ago, did great. Disconnected the rear driveshaft, front hubs unlocked, transmission and transfer case in neutral, bungee cord on steering wheel. Took it over three passes going, and the same coming back - Coal Bank (10,610), Molas (10,912), and Red Mountain (11, 018). Towed it with my 2009 Silverado 2500HD crew cab long bed with the Duramax diesel and Allison automatic with tow/haul mode. Pulled the grades easily, even with the Lance cab-over camper. The tow/haul mode works well on the downhills, saving the brakes.

In the past I've flat towed my '71 FJ40 and my '76 FJ40 between Las Vegas, NV and northern New Mexico (quite a few trips) with my 2001 Silverado 2500 HD regular cab long bed with the 496 CI gas engine and ZF-6 6-speed manual transmission. The longer wheelbase of the crew cab definitely helps.

 

[Captn Conch]

@Captn Conch Congrats on a good trip!

One question that is always a debate, did you have to secure the steering wheel?

No I did not. No problem.

 

[Captn Conch]

I flat towed my '76 FJ40 to this year's Solid Axle Summit in Ouray a couple of weeks ago, did great. Disconnected the rear driveshaft, front hubs unlocked, transmission and transfer case in neutral, bungee cord on steering wheel. Took it over three passes going, and the same coming back - Coal Bank (10,610), Molas (10,912), and Red Mountain (11, 018). Towed it with my 2009 Silverado 2500HD crew cab long bed with the Duramax diesel and Allison automatic with tow/haul mode. Pulled the grades easily, even with the Lance cab-over camper. The tow/haul mode works well on the downhills, saving the brakes.

In the past I've flat towed my '71 FJ40 and my '76 FJ40 between Las Vegas, NV and northern New Mexico (quite a few trips) with my 2001 Silverado 2500 HD regular cab long bed with the 496 CI gas engine and ZF-6 6-speed manual transmission. The longer wheelbase of the crew cab definitely helps.

Now that is a beautiful drive! Nothing like the San Juan Mountains and the Million Dollar Highway.

 

[4Cruisers]

Now that is a beautiful drive! Nothing like the San Juan Mountains and the Million Dollar Highway.

Late one night many years ago I followed a snowplow over Red Mountain Pass in a complete whiteout blizzard. Snow was coming down like crazy. Dicey to say the least, along with white knuckles and sore hands from gripping the steering wheel tight.

 

[SteveH]

Reviving this thread - I'm going to flat tow my FJ40 to the paint shop. I have never flat towed it, but installed the equipment so I could flat-tow it out during a forest fire evacuation.

Is the idea behind 'bungee cord through the steering wheel' to allow some wheel turning, but not lock-to-lock? I have minitruck PS in my FJ40, so it may not easily turn with the engine off. 1978, so no steering wheel lock.

I presume when you turn a corner flat towing, the front wheels will turn a little from the road force and keep from skidding things?

Steve

 

[TheHardWay]

Reviving this thread - I'm going to flat tow my FJ40 to the paint shop. I have never flat towed it, but installed the equipment so I could flat-tow it out during a forest fire evacuation.

Is the idea behind 'bungee cord through the steering wheel' to allow some wheel turning, but not lock-to-lock? I have minitruck PS in my FJ40, so it may not easily turn with the engine off. 1978, so no steering wheel lock.

I presume when you turn a corner flat towing, the front wheels will turn a little from the road force and keep from skidding things?

Steve

If you can avoid making any sharp turns, you're gonna be okay. Those sharp turns are what cause the wheels to go the wrong direction.

 

[Mike Shull]

I used to flat tow a Willys and even though the steering seemed good, the wheels would turn full lock in the opposite direction around a tight corner. I tried the bungee cord method and it didn’t hold the wheel tight enough.

Instead I used a rope lightly ran through the steering wheel and back to the seat brackets with just enough slack for the wheels to turn a bit but not enough to make a full revolution of the steering wheel.

 

[SteveH]

@Mike Shull - thanks, that's what I had heard and wondered what it took to prevent that. Your method sounds good!

I will do a test-tow around my 'hood and be sure it's ok to go across town.

 

[SteveH]

Follow-up:

I ended up using my tow dolly for various reasons...but appreciate the advice on the tow-bar, as that may get called to use someday.

Off to the day spa for some paint work...

 

[knuckle47]

Reviving this post has served to re-think my REALLY simple tow issue. Something I have zero knowledge of. My ‘75 FJ40 has a bumper with tow provisions welded in place. My biggest tow could be 50 miles? I have towed trailers, smokers on home-made trailers but I have never flat towed anything like a vehicle. My towing needs might be if my 40 breaks down somewhere, I don’t need a tow service if my wife can drive my pickup or her Suburban and meet me. Looks like a tow bar in my future.

Thanks @Captn Conch for that inspiring first post, where I am in NJ we have elevations as high as 180’

 

[4Cruisers]

Thanks @Captn Conch for that inspiring first post, where I am in NJ we have elevations as high as 180’

That's higher than anywhere in New Orleans - Monkey Hill at 14 feet AMSL.