Hi, I wonder if someone may be able to suggest a safe simple rigid towing arrangement for a non-running BJ40. I can have a person steer the non-running cruiser. I do not have finance to purchase an A frame or other such product. I am thinking of using a 75mm x 75mm x 8mm thick angle iron, fixing a tow hitch to it and want some way of connecting to the non-running cruiser. The front hook is not really suitable to connect the angle iron to. Any suggestions please? Thanks for any replies.
Simple Safe Towing of BJ40
- Thread starter forrie1
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inkpot
SILVER Star
Back when I lived in Cheyenne, we used to use a "Wyoming tow bar" as long as you have someone to steer the towed rig. I ran a 16 foot log chain thru a 10 foot piece of 3" heavy pipe. Ran the end of the chain around the bumper and hooked it back onto itself on each rig. Used a bit of safety wire to insure the hook did not come loose. This way the dead rig cannot rear end the tow rig. Can be done with almost no slack in the chain so it is almost as solid as a wagon tongue. Some may not think this is a safe method, but it is a whole bunch better than towing with cheap straps or jumper cables, both of which I have seen fail. John
Your safety, and that of the others around you is not worth half-assing this. Tow straps and chains are for short distances. Proper tow bars and trailers are the way to go.
Rent a trailer.
inkpot
SILVER Star
What distance, speed, tow vehicle, and conditions are you wanting to tow?
Sorry, but I agree with several of the other posters.
This is just stupid and dangerous.
Invest the $60 to get a proper "A-arm", or do not place myself and my fellow drivers at risk with a 1/2 assed plan.
I use an A-arm in conjunction with a device for activating the brakes and I have pulled my LC over 4400 miles SAFELY.
If you want to play with old cars, you need to invest the proper time, thought, and $$$.
If you are too hard up or too cheap to spend 60 clams then you have no business placing that vehicle on the road.
No offense intended.
T
I bought a Reese tow bar from Tractor Supply for $89 to flat two our FJ40 Reese Farm & Ranch Adjustble Tow Bar - 1890864 | Tractor Supply Company. The manager at Tractor Supply matched the online price from Walmart.com.
I pull our '40 with a 1/2-ton Chevrolet truck with no problems. I'm looking for a high-quality magnetic tow light similar to this one: Blazer Towing Light Kit with Magnetic Base - 1069332 | Tractor Supply Company.
The installation was rather simple, and it took about 30 minutes to put it all together and tighten up all of the nuts and bolts. The hardest part was centering and measuring the brackets that need to be attached to the front bumper, and this took another 30 minutes or so. I used a step bit with a continuous spray of WD40 to act as a cutting oil as I drilled the holes through the front bumper. The whole setup turned out great.
Whatever you two your vehicle with, remember that you have 4,000 to 5,000-pound "trailer" with no brakes behind you, so give yourself adequate stopping time and take it easy on your brakes so as not to overheat your brakes and or warp your rotors.
I pull our '40 with a 1/2-ton Chevrolet truck with no problems. I'm looking for a high-quality magnetic tow light similar to this one: Blazer Towing Light Kit with Magnetic Base - 1069332 | Tractor Supply Company.
The installation was rather simple, and it took about 30 minutes to put it all together and tighten up all of the nuts and bolts. The hardest part was centering and measuring the brackets that need to be attached to the front bumper, and this took another 30 minutes or so. I used a step bit with a continuous spray of WD40 to act as a cutting oil as I drilled the holes through the front bumper. The whole setup turned out great.
Whatever you two your vehicle with, remember that you have 4,000 to 5,000-pound "trailer" with no brakes behind you, so give yourself adequate stopping time and take it easy on your brakes so as not to overheat your brakes and or warp your rotors.
Legally you need brakes for the vehicle being towed. Here on the west, anything over 1500 lbs has to have brakes.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
Don't believe there is any such law in AZ. I have flat towed cruisers all the way thru NV more than once. Starting north by Susanville, CA and driving across Hoover Dam in the south, was never looked at twice by any law enforcement.
Arizona is 3000#, Nevada and California are 1500#. Over those amounts you need brakes for the towed vehicle. Some of these regulations are pretty new. You were lucky!
Well are there brakes in the dead cruiser? If yes then I'd just strap it and go with a driver in each one. Its not really safe or responsible, but I'm being honest, its what I'd do.
