Let's try this again... towing another vehicle long dist. behind a BJ60 - yes or no?

[peterdouglas]

I posted this in the 60 series forum, but then (attempted) to delete it and ask here instead since it's diesel related. There's a 50/50 chance that I will be moving to BC from Ontario by December. (I lived there before, should have never left). Of course, now I have a Quebec raised 1984 BJ60 with a class 3 hitch installed by the original owner. The 4 cylinder diesel seems OK around town but anyone else who has one knows that they don't exactly have neck breaking acceleration.

Do you think it would work out to rent a car-dolly from Uhaul and tow my 2006 Toyota Matrix behind the Land Cruiser? (it won't work the other way - I don't think I could tow the Land Cruiser with the Matrix)!

I want to load up both vehicles. Not too heavily, but clothes and maybe large, but light items, maybe a desk, etc. My friend thinks it will be fine, but I'm just wondering how my BJ60 would handle the 2800 mile/4500 km+ drive with all the hills in Ontario and the Rocky Mountains out west.

 

[brownbear]

Yup I think you can do it.

But I would install a pyro gauge prior to the trip. And make sure your idea temp is around 1000-1100 F. Then when your loaded make sure it doesn't go above 1250 under full throttle on a hill. You might have to slow down and down shift keeping the rpms a little higher to keep the engine cool. No lugging.

It will be a painfully slow trip.

Might even add a few extra days on the trip. So take hotels, and extra fuel into account. Also I would price a car shipper for the Matrix and compare the two.


But yes I think it could do it. Once you got out of Ontario then MB SK, AB should not be too hard going. BC will be painfull though. UUGh the mountain passes will be fun.

But your best speed might be 80 k.

Why not go rent the car dolly for the weekend and try hauling around your car first, before comitting.

 

[roscoFJ73]

It will tow it but be prepared for long hill climbs in 2nd gear. It will be ok if the traffic behind can get past otherwise there will be some pissed off drivers back there.

Thats a long way to tow a vehicle and you will need to allow lot of extra time.
Its easy to get impatient doing trips like that.
Make sure the BJ60 coolant system is good.

EDIT BB beat me to it

 

[David*BJ70]

You recently chance your tire for 31 ?...

Smaler tire should not be a bad idea... just for the trip... i.e. 235/75R15...

Just an idea...

 

[brownbear]

It will tow it but be prepared for long hill climbs in 2nd gear. It will be ok if the traffic behind can get past otherwise there will be some pissed off drivers back there.

Thats a long way to tow a vehicle and you will need to allow lot of extra time.
Its easy to get impatient doing trips like that.
Make sure the BJ60 coolant system is good.

EDIT BB beat me to it

Luckily rosco, Our worst hills in BC and other spots have a passing lane. The large transports often drop down to 40 kph in these hills so, he we fit in.

The 31's will be ok. But smaller would be better for heavy towing. I had 30's and went very heavy 1300kms thru the mountains(no trailer) and was doing ok. But it was slow and tiring...

Bring a good thermos full of coffee/tea. If your tall, make the seat tracks go back further before the trip.

 

[haryv]

BTW I will be buying a vdo pyrometer. Had one installed my my vw scirocco 17 years ago but it was overkill and had it removed. I just saw one again online for 99 dollars. Looks a little different.

Also here is a recomend on the pyrometer. Go and buy or make some very thin strips 1/16 or 1/8 inch wide of tape that is colored in red and green. Make them one inch long. Now stick them to the outside edge of the pyrometer where the green is the operating range and red is danger range. We had these installed on our aircraft for qucik glances. works great.

 

[brownbear]

How can a gauge be overkill...? wondering.

the tape works nice. I have seen that done. Nice for quick glance.

Best thing is though, none of these temp things happen to fast... and you have time at 40kph to look at it...LOL

 

[roscoFJ73]

Luckily rosco, Our worst hills in BC and other spots have a passing lane. The large transports often drop down to 40 kph in these hills so, he we fit in.

I thought you would and so do we but they seems eons apart when you have a 110 tonne roadtrain behind you with more power on the hills

The 31's will be ok. But smaller would be better for heavy towing. I had 30's and went very heavy 1300kms thru the mountains(no trailer) and was doing ok. But it was slow and tiring...

1300 klms under those conditions must be hell

Bring a good thermos full of coffee/tea. If your tall, make the seat tracks go back further before the trip.

Ive got a piece of 500x500 high density foam covered with a zippered corduroy material.
I cant go back in the 75,but I can go up and it has the same effect of of putting you further away from the pedals.
I did it after my knee started aching from a long drive and I had to pull over into the emergency lane on the freeway to get some circulation back into it

 

[saskdiesel]

You will have little trouble doing this type of towing as you pass through Saskatchewan!

 

[peterdouglas]

Wow, thanks for all the great input everyone!

I've actually got 30" tires (BFG AT KO's), luckily. I supposed 235/75R15 would have been a touch better, but these are only marginally bigger, and quite tough I would think since they're floation tires. Maybe I'll do some off-roading while I'm all loaded up and towing the Matrix behind me, what do you think?

The pyro gage would be a good idea - I should have one anyways. I remember you recommended me one when I first got the BJ60, BB.

That's also a good idea to rent a dolly for a day to just try towing the Matrix around here to see how my BJ60 handles it. This may be a long and tiring trip, but I only have to do it once. It's been a while since I made the cross-Canada drive, but you're right, I do recall some steep hills that were a bit of a challenge even then (once in a lightly loaded Hyunadai Pony - yes, go ahead, laugh, and another time in a fully packed 4 cylinder Nissan King Cab 2wd pickup. I towed a fully loaded enclosed 8 foot Uhaul trailer with my dad's 4.3 liter GMC Sonoma from Montreal to Barrie, and it handled the load fine. But, it's a gutsy V6 5speed and on flat or moderately hilly highways.

Yeah, I guess there might be a few pissed off drivers behind me, but like BB said, I'll fit in with the truckers doing 40kms up those hills. BTW, it will cost only about $150 to rent a car dolly (one way). Maybe count on an extra night or two of hotels due to the slower pace, and I think it would still work out cheaper than shipping the Matrix. Plus, I can take more things with me since I can load up both vehicles. And like I said, it's just once that I have to do this - short term pain for long term gain..?

 

[peterdouglas]

You will have little trouble doing this type of towing as you pass through Saskatchewan!

You're joking, right? Or is there something I don't know about?

 

[83bj60]

I posted this in the 60 series forum, but then (attempted) to delete it and ask here instead since it's diesel related. There's a 50/50 chance that I will be moving to BC from Ontario by December. (I lived there before, should have never left). Of course, now I have a Quebec raised 1984 BJ60 with a class 3 hitch installed by the original owner. The 4 cylinder diesel seems OK around town but anyone else who has one knows that they don't exactly have neck breaking acceleration.

Do you think it would work out to rent a car-dolly from Uhaul and tow my 2006 Toyota Matrix behind the Land Cruiser? (it won't work the other way - I don't think I could tow the Land Cruiser with the Matrix)!

I want to load up both vehicles. Not too heavily, but clothes and maybe large, but light items, maybe a desk, etc. My friend thinks it will be fine, but I'm just wondering how my BJ60 would handle the 2800 mile/4500 km+ drive with all the hills in Ontario and the Rocky Mountains out west.

First of all, how is the frame and the hitch attachment? I hope there is no major rust there!

Things to check prior to leaving:

-your CV joints and input bearings in your rear driveline for wear
-fluid levels in the tranny and transfer case
-of course, engine oil, and bring some extra, under heavy load you will burn more oil. I would recommend you do a fresh oil change prior to leaving, and use the toughest there is for that engine, Rotela 15W40.
-coolant system condition is also important, if there's a leak with no pressure applied it will quickly boil on the hills and then you can be in trouble.
-oh yes, tire condition. Make sure the air pressure is right, it can be on the high side a bit since you are going to be loaded. If they are underinflated you are asking for big trouble!

lilke everyone else said, don't lug the engine, ideal range would be around 2400 if you are heavily loaded, and don't use the 5th gear, it is more sensitive to loading than the others and can suffer from lack of lubrication.

 

[brownbear]

I doubt 5th can even be used. The 3B would never have the power to get into 5th with a load. Not unless your going for 30 mins at full throttle on a flat or slightly declined surface...LOL

I agree check the mechanicals really good. Pressure test the coolant system too.

Make sure you engine brake as much as possible.

 

[peterdouglas]

Once again, thanks for the excellent advice. I'll definetely do a full mechanical check-up, paying particular attention to what you suggested. There's a small oil leak and also a small coolant leak that I want to take care of in the near future (a couple of new gaskets and a whole lot of time), ideally a few weeks before leaving to test and make sure it leaks no more.

Do you know where I can buy Rotela 15W40? I'm currently using Motomaster Diesel 15W40 oil. Just changed the rear diff gear oil as well with Motomaster 80W90.

Not sure if I'll have my veggie oil kit by then, but it would sure save on fuel costs if I did! It would probably almost pay for itself on that trip alone. Driving in 4th gear across Canada with a huge load would sure suck back the fuel. At least it looks like this is possible. Maybe not ideal, but possible.

 

[peterdouglas]

I doubt 5th can even be used. The 3B would never have the power to get into 5th with a load. Not unless your going for 30 mins at full throttle on a flat or slightly declined surface...LOL

Maybe if I floor it in Manitoba in 5th gear, by the time I get to Alberta I should be up to speed!

Make sure you engine brake as much as possible.

Good idea, thanks!

 

[83bj60]

Once again, thanks for the excellent advice. I'll definetely do a full mechanical check-up, paying particular attention to what you suggested. There's a small oil leak and also a small coolant leak that I want to take care of in the near future (a couple of new gaskets and a whole lot of time), ideally a few weeks before leaving to test and make sure it leaks no more.

Do you know where I can buy Rotela 15W40? I'm currently using Motomaster Diesel 15W40 oil. Just changed the rear diff gear oil as well with Motomaster 80W90.

Not sure if I'll have my veggie oil kit by then, but it would sure save on fuel costs if I did! It would probably almost pay for itself on that trip alone. Driving in 4th gear across Canada with a huge load would sure suck back the fuel. At least it looks like this is possible. Maybe not ideal, but possible.

You can always refill the oil seeping out of the lifter cover, but if the coolant leaks and you lose cooling system pressure, the coolant may start to boil off and cause havoc on your hoses. Been there!

Rotella is available at CDN Tire...

 

[peterdouglas]

You can always refill the oil seeping out of the lifter cover, but if the coolant leaks and you lose cooling system pressure, the coolant may start to boil off and cause havoc on your hoses. Been there!

Rotella is available at CDN Tire...

I'd like to fix everything before I go. There isn't much to do, since I just had to pass a safety inspection. The oil leak could probably wait, but it's annoying to have it make a mess on the driveway. The coolant leak, like you said, could be quite serious.

I'll check for Rotella at Canadian Tire next time I'm there. Never noticed it before - I just grabbed the Motomaster brand diesel 15W40 oil since it was on sale. Next oil change I'll use Rotella though.

 

[60wagondiesel]

hey peter i dont think you should have too much trouble pulling your matrix, i have a car dolley and ive pulled a old monte carlo, full size jimmy, full size fordtruck and a grandmarquis with my bj and it has 33" tire and stock gears, max speed 80 in 4th gear thats it slow and steady you should be ok

.

 

[David*BJ70]

For the oil... I sugest you to check sometime the weekly "circulaire". Every 3 or 4 weeks, you can find a very good deal on Quaker stade synth or Valvoline synth oil. Si les spéciaux sont les mêmes ici comme chez vous !

 

[cruiser_guy]

My daughter hauled the FJ55 behind our old '84 BJ60 that was burning oil. She left, picked the '55 up in Minot, ND and was back in Vancouver, B.C. three days later.

Pyro for sure and a turbo would be really helpful.

We towed a '55 body and some other stuff on a tandem flatbed from LA to B.C. as well. The hill out of LA is a killer hill and the BJ60 did fine but was a little slow. We used the '82 with a turbo for that trip.