Flat Towing?

[concretejungle]

I know the manual, every mechanic I have met, Mr. Slee (bow), Texican (bow again), and the rest of the very knowledgeable folks on here say not to flat tow an 80. My 1993 is old enough, and I was broke enough, that I thought I would try it, and if it tore up, then I would get something else.

I tow with a 400 HP diesel pusher motorhome, weighs maybe 37,000 pounds. The 80 has a supplimental towing brake system. My tow bar attaches to the tow hooks, no $300 baseplate needed. Transmission in Park, transfer case in Neutral. Key turned on, then off to unlock the steering wheel lock.

I checked while towing across the desert, and the transfer case is not even warm, usually about 10 degrees over ambient. No axle diffrential rotation, so the VC is not being exercised.

I have flat towed from DFW to Sherman, TX, to Fort Worth, to Amarillo, to Phoenix, to California border, to Phoenix, to Amarillo, to Eugene, Oregon, to Phoenix, to DFW to Amarillo.

I have had no issues, and the old dear is still chugging along, shifting just fine. The motorhome does not even know it is back there.

With all the advise to not flat tow, I cannot suggest it. But, it works for me. When I hit the lottery, and Ben and Christo get the 80 for a spa day (month), I will have the 12 volt powered oiler installed.

For lights I use magnet trailer lights on the roof. In Arizona the cross winds WILL blow them off, so have some duct tape handy.

Hey, I did not say it was a class act, just that it works for me.

Thank you for this post! Actual real world experience and plenty of it.

 

[dragr1]

Old thread Eric!

 

[Land Speeder]

Old thread Eric!

still relevant! Can't hate on folks for searching right? I did what every other folk says to do to noobs... searched and found this.
FYI... you missed an awesome time this weekend... hope you liked the pics.


SO.... flat-towed Lorena on 40's... it worked. 2 hours there 2 hours back. didn't drop the rear DS and unlocked the front aisin hubs.... Neutral and Neutral.... PERFECT.
The only thing I can say about lifted rigs... make DAMN SURE your castor is dialed in... mine is not perfect but has most... I noticed it, but oh well.

 

[dragr1]

still relevant! Can't hate on folks for searching right? I did what every other folk says to do to noobs... searched and found this.
FYI... you missed an awesome time this weekend... hope you liked the pics.


SO.... flat-towed Lorena on 40's... it worked. 2 hours there 2 hours back. didn't drop the rear DS and unlocked the front aisin hubs.... Neutral and Neutral.... PERFECT.
The only thing I can say about lifted rigs... make DAMN SURE your castor is dialed in... mine is not perfect but has most... I noticed it, but oh well.

I just had to post in the thread to sport my new avatar!

 

[CruisinGA]

The only thing I can say about lifted rigs... make DAMN SURE your castor is dialed in... mine is not perfect but has most... I noticed it, but oh well.

Eric, glad it worked for you this weekend, I'm gonna highlight this as it is a BIG deal with safety flat towing. Not enough caster in a rig makes it unsafe to be flat towed, no matter the row rig.

 

[Land Speeder]

Eric, glad it worked for you this weekend, I'm gonna highlight this as it is a BIG deal with safety flat towing. Not enough caster in a rig makes it unsafe to be flat towed, no matter the row rig.

OH YEAH!
I have castor correction... what I meant was I need a little more IMO...
A few weeks ago I had none... tried flat towing out of my drive to test the setup.... I turned right, the cruiser turned left! EEEEEKKKKKK!
corrected my castor by 3.5 degrees and it works great. I just would feel better had I gone a little bit more...
Bailey, u still in ATL? you missed a show at MM yesterday.

I just had to post in the thread to sport my new avatar!

LOL!

 

[Kaibigan56]

Looks like this is a pretty old tread but need to ask the same question so I can get current information - Can a 1997 LC be flat -towed?
Just recently moved to a Class A toy hauler and while the wife and I are okay using the motorcycles when we need to get around town at a campsite, it would be quite a challenge to balance our daughter and our 2 grandchildren on the bike - thus the need to tow our LC.
What I have is very similar to Jack Nicholas' rig - 97 LC with front, rear and center locking switches, ARB front bumper with 12K lb winch, dual battery set up riding on 265/75 R16 AT's.

 

[Land Speeder]

Yes. The 80's are primarily what's in this thread. I also flat tow my 2000 100-series.
Follow the instructions of the thread, and you'll be good
Neutral-Neutral, Transmission-Transfer

 

[CruisinGA]

Holy blast from the past thread.

 

[Kaibigan56]

Just wanted to make sure - Thanks Land Speeder for confirming !!!!Now if Jack Nicholas would chime in and show me how he set up his tow bar attachment points on the ARB bumper he had.

 

[Land Speeder]

He had additional tabs welded on. The ARB is not ready as it sits.
I've either made tow bars, or welded on to existing bumpers myself. Takes some fabrication to make it work for you. Good luck. FInd a good fabricator who's willing to take input from you.

 

[Land Speeder]

Looks like this is a pretty old tread but need to ask the same question so I can get current information - Can a 1997 LC be flat -towed?
Just recently moved to a Class A toy hauler and while the wife and I are okay using the motorcycles when we need to get around town at a campsite, it would be quite a challenge to balance our daughter and our 2 grandchildren on the bike - thus the need to tow our LC.
What I have is very similar to Jack Nicholas' rig - 97 LC with front, rear and center locking switches, ARB front bumper with 12K lb winch, dual battery set up riding on 265/75 R16 AT's.

SORRY!!!!
I thought we were in THIS thread... LOL!!!

Here's the info you need...

How to Flat tow your 80 series... safely.