Towing with a 2H (1 Viewer)

[Touz]

Morning,

Anyone done much caravan towing with their 2H? I have a caravan with tare weight of 2300kgs, my HJ75 (1989) has a towing limit of 2500kg. The car struggles up hills as it is, I wandering whether towing a caravan that heavy over a considerable distance will just be too much for the old girl?

Just curious for some opinions on the matter. Could I possibly do damage to the thing by towing a long distance (800kms) so close to the towing limit?

Any advice would be much appreciate, thanks

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

I would not. How are your brakes?

 

[Sundowner]

I don't think you're going to hurt anything, you just might not have any kind of acceptable performance on those hills with that much weight in the back. Also, yeah, I'd be more concerned about your brakes, steering, etc. Make sure that's all up to spec.

 

[Touz]

I would not. How are your brakes?

For safety reasons or for the car? I just had the brakes worked on by a mechanic - drums machined, new pads, lines inspected and replaced - so I feel as confident as I can be on the brakes.

 

[FJ73Texas]

I don't think you're going to hurt anything, you just might not have any kind of acceptable performance on those hills with that much weight in the back. Also, yeah, I'd be more concerned about your brakes, steering, etc. Make sure that's all up to spec.

Second this. Doubt you will hurt anything if maintenance of mechanical components are kept up and you go slow, painfully slow.

 

[Touz]

I don't think you're going to hurt anything, you just might not have any kind of acceptable performance on those hills with that much weight in the back. Also, yeah, I'd be more concerned about your brakes, steering, etc. Make sure that's all up to spec.

I was thinking just straining the engine over such a distance, but i suppose that'll really be on hills.

You're right, "acceptable performance" is the issue. I can't be crawling up hills in 2nd, that would be dangerous with other cars around.

 

[Sundowner]

I was thinking just straining the engine over such a distance, but i suppose that'll really be on hills.

I pulled a seriously heavy trailer with my 1HZ for over 800km, and it didn't hurt anything; I just had to go a bit slower up the passes.

You're right, "acceptable performance" is the issue. I can't be crawling up hills in 2nd, that would be dangerous with other cars around.

Depends on the route. In a lot of places, road tractors are doing exactly that and going 40km/h up the steep hills, and part of being a responsible driver is not running directly up on their bumpers and demanding that they go faster when they can't. By all means, be responsible for yourself...but you can't preemptively account for other people's choices.

If this was my nut to crack, I'd throw on a fresh set of brake pads, check my braking on some deserted asphalt, and if everything was kosher I'd throw on the hazards and crawl the hill.

 

[Hulsty]

A few of my mates have 2H cruisers who both remarked the 2H enjoyed the load on the back. Wasnt fast, but got it done.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

I've towed heavy a few times with a 2H, make sure your cooling system is up to scratch and go for it. Don't be afraid to let it rev up the hills and don't be in a hurry, but you'll struggle to hurt it.

 

[HZJ75 FARMER]

No problems at all, might just have to change gears a bit. What do you think people towed with in the 80's and thought nothing of it?

I would suggest it's the transmission that is the weaker point, I would suggest not using 5th gear for towing.

 

[Touz]

I pulled a seriously heavy trailer with my 1HZ for over 800km, and it didn't hurt anything; I just had to go a bit slower up the passes.



Depends on the route. In a lot of places, road tractors are doing exactly that and going 40km/h up the steep hills, and part of being a responsible driver is not running directly up on their bumpers and demanding that they go faster when they can't. By all means, be responsible for yourself...but you can't preemptively account for other people's choices.

If this was my nut to crack, I'd throw on a fresh set of brake pads, check my braking on some deserted asphalt, and if everything was kosher I'd throw on the hazards and crawl the hill.

Thanks mate, gives me confidence. I just had the brakes down, though hazards aren't working so that'll be next job!

 

[Touz]

I've towed heavy a few times with a 2H, make sure your cooling system is up to scratch and go for it. Don't be afraid to let it rev up the hills and don't be in a hurry, but you'll struggle to hurt it.

Cheers, my thermostat has got a leak so I'll attend to that before hitting the road.

 

[Touz]

No problems at all, might just have to change gears a bit. What do you think people towed with in the 80's and thought nothing of it?

I would suggest it's the transmission that is the weaker point, I would suggest not using 5th gear for towing.

hahah good point. Funny thing is my caravan is from the 80s as well!

Good to know about the transmission, just had it rebuilt so feel confident there.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

hahah good point. Funny thing is my caravan is from the 80s as well!

Good to know about the transmission, just had it rebuilt so feel confident there.

On the transmission, just don't pull in 5th with a H55 gearbox.

 

[Sundowner]

On the transmission, just don't pull in 5th with a H55 gearbox.

I'll readily admit that I did that on flat ground, but the trailer was unloaded at the time. Pulling it fully-loaded: nope. That was a 4th-gear thing.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

I'll readily admit that I did that on flat ground, but the trailer was unloaded at the time. Pulling it fully-loaded: nope. That was a 4th-gear thing.

Flat ground is fine, especially when empty.

 

[sodafeld1]

I have towed heavy in my hj75 1988 troopy. She can do it , but I don't really enjoy it or her, besides in low 4 on goat tracks, like a tractor , she loves that.
It stresses the diff and tests out your cooling which is ok if it's ok , goes real slow uphill. As others said don't use 5th with a heavy load as the little 5th cog is a long way away from the main action, it was tacked onto a 4 gear box.

Every now and again is ok but it tests out your maintenance schedules on a pretty old car. If I had to tow often I would go for something newer admittedly, it even got me looking at heaven forbid for a toyota lover, a ram. Or the newer lc s with newer gear boxes.
I try to limit to what I can fit in the troopy, even then not more say than 200 bricks, with 500kg constant springs.

But a slow 800km, you shall be fine. Check your gear box, diff, driveshaft play and proper torque on the driveshaft nuts, rear axles and hubs, it all needs to be tight no slop. And the cooling. Brakes are handy too! Most susceptible to damage is transfer output bearing shim, diff pinion bearing and rear hubs from my experience if they were not well maintained.