Captn Conch
Life Begins Above Timberline.
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.
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.
