tow bar

[greasemonkey71]

ok so the uhaul trailer is out of the question

way to much money almost $500 for a one way

has anyone used a tow bar?

ive used one to tow my bugs before and didnt have a problem

wondering if anyone has ever used on one of these trucks

i have a 71 LWB 2wheel auto

[Jurassic-1]

Tow bars work ok. If it is an auto. remove the driveline. If you buy a towbar or make one it works better to remove the bumper. If you are traveling far it is better to build a brace to tie the frame horns togather it is cheap insurance.

[lofly'a]

I towed my blazer about 200 miles behind my 92 GMC with no problems. thats as far as i have ever towed with a tow bar, and had no problems. the thing that makes me nervous about towing with a bar is that you have to leave the steering wheel free to turn with the tow vehicle.

[CCCC]

Wanting to tow a 4 speed 72 Blazer behind a MoHome for hunting trips, I had a crossbar added between the frame horn up under the front of the Blazer to include the ears for the tow bar hookup just under the bumper, so the hookup ears are always on the Blazer. I have towed the Blazer hundreds of miles with a toe bar this way with no issues - but have to make certain everything is free/disengaged in the Blazer.

Also had a receiver welded into the crossbar at the same time, so can insert a slug with ball and move a trailer with the front of the Blazer - amazing how much easier it is when you can see everything happening in front of you and the steering action is so responsive.

[69DMC]

I towed my 72 home with a u haul trailer and it was going to be 5 or $600 to pick up the trailer there and bring it home. Instead I picked one up locally and hauled it both ways, only 50 or $60 a day. I ended up only paying just over $200 with taxes. Could hardly tell the trailer was there when it was empty and it towed great loaded. Just try to get one of the newer trailers, they're a bit wider.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by CCCC

Wanting to tow a 4 speed 72 Blazer behind a MoHome for hunting trips, I had a crossbar added between the frame horn up under the front of the Blazer to include the ears for the tow bar hookup just under the bumper, so the hookup ears are always on the Blazer. I have towed the Blazer hundreds of miles with a toe bar this way with no issues - but have to make certain everything is free/disengaged in the Blazer.

Also had a receiver welded into the crossbar at the same time, so can insert a slug with ball and move a trailer with the front of the Blazer - amazing how much easier it is when you can see everything happening in front of you and the steering action is so responsive.

A couple things come to mind here, when normally towing a vehicle with a 4 speed there is a transmission mod that allows the output shaft to lubricate the transmission by means of adding some type if an oil slinging device as the lubrication is normally done thru the input shaft and gears which are not turning while towing, I know this is not your situation but..
Being as you have a 4wd i'm not 100% certian but the transfer case may be the same design for internal lubrication provided by the input gearing, if so you still need to ether disable the driveshafts or if possible have this lubrication mod done to the transer case as well so the output shafts can provide the lubrication. If this mod does need to be done then the only other option would be for the front to unlock the hubs if you have them (which i'd do anyway) and unhook the driveshaft.

Someone in the 4X4 forum may be able to answer this for you, or call some of the specialty 4X4 shops or transmission differential rebuilding places after you find out which transfer case you have.

[CCCC]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

A couple things come to mind here, when normally towing a vehicle with a 4 speed there is a transmission mod that allows the output shaft to lubricate the transmission by means of adding some type if an oil slinging device as the lubrication is normally done thru the input shaft and gears which are not turning while towing, I know this is not your situation but..
Being as you have a 4wd i'm not 100% certian but the transfer case may be the same design for internal lubrication provided by the input gearing, if so you still need to ether disable the driveshafts or if possible have this lubrication mod done to the transer case as well so the output shafts can provide the lubrication. If this mod does need to be done then the only other option would be for the front to unlock the hubs if you have them (which i'd do anyway) and unhook the driveshaft.

Someone in the 4X4 forum may be able to answer this for you, or call some of the specialty 4X4 shops or transmission differential rebuilding places after you find out which transfer case you have.

LONGHORN MAN, do you have any insight on this issue? Of course, I tow the 4x4 in neutral on the trans and transfer case, and with the front hubs disengaged, and have not noticed any wear issues, etc. BUT - could a wear problem occur in this manner?

[Longhorn Man]

I used a tow bar to get my old 69 GMC to Ohio from Texas about 10 years ago.
Same tow bar was used to get my longhorn from eastern PA to central ohio
Many many short trips with my old GMC, with my longhorn, and even with my burb hooked on the tow bar, not to mention some otherr local runs with an 84 LTD, 89 ranger, 87 S-10... and on a slightly larger scale, hundreds of hrs towing M1 tanks on tow bars.
As long as you keep your head in the right place, keep your distance, and make wide turns, you should be fine. I always recomend going into a large empty parking lot and learning how to drive when using a bar. Learn how to back up (you WILL need to at one point or another, normally at a gas station) learning how slow you'll take off from a stand still, and learn the brakes... esp in a turn. The load will push you a bit, but as long as you are paying attention, you'll be fine.

[CCCC]

Deleted - duplicate

[nasqar]

I had the same issue with one-way rentals from UHaul. $200 for a 100 mile one way rental or $60 for a 200 mile round trip rental. The trailers are pretty sweet to haul with. Seemed to be light weight and I like the strap downs for the tires.

[CCCC]

Originally Posted by longhorn man

as long as you keep your head in the right place, keep your distance, and make wide turns, you should be fine. I always recomend going into a large empty parking lot and learning how to drive when using a bar. Learn how to back up (you will need to at one point or another, normally at a gas station) learning how slow you'll take off from a stand still, and learn the brakes... Esp in a turn. The load will push you a bit, but as long as you are paying attention, you'll be fine.

good info -- good advice !!

[CCCC]

Duplicate

[gkesseru]

I have a home-made adapter that bolts directly to the frame horns in place of the bumper. Works fine. When towing a truck without an engine I have to tie off the steering wheel since the front end does not self-center without the weight.

[Longhorn Man]

I have no input on the 4 speed thing... the only 4 speeds I have ever owned was an 81 Citation and an 80 Horizon.
Yeah, lame, I know.
The cool part thoguh, I did literally break the Citation in half.

[Longhorn Man]

oh yeah, this is how I normally hook up. Remove the bumper and bolt on my 'tow bumper'. I only have one bolt per side on this car, it was only going 5 miles, and I had the engine running (with the power steering 'turned on' it doesn't stress the bumper bolts as much) I'd usually install 2 per side if frame design permits.

[Longhorn Man]

I can't remember the angle wanted, but the width of the mounting legs will determine how well it tracks. This was not opend up enough, but too wide is just as bad as not wide enough.

[greasemonkey71]

has any one ever towed through mountains with one?

im driving from san diego to denver in a few weeks


does any one have a picture of one bolted up to your truck?

[Longhorn Man]

from PA to central Ohio was some mountains... nothing too bad. The tow bar shouldn't be an issue if you hook it up right and check it frequently. The 2 things you need to worry about, is the ability of your tow vehicle to stop an extra 2 tons on a hill, and your driving ability.

[gkesseru]

Also, I always hook up a safety chain from the frame of the towed vehicle to the front vehicle. Safety first.

[greasemonkey71]

what do u guys tow with?

[MAK191]

I used a tow bar couple times. I removed the front bumper and cut a piece of angle iron to fit in between the frame rails. drilled some holes to match the holes in the frame then mounted the tow bar to the angle iron. Only problems I had was the truck had no engine so the steering didn't follow very well on tighter turns in my neighborhood. Also the posi didn't like the turns either. I also towed a bare rolling frame but had to ratchet strap the steering or it will do what it wants with no weight.

[heeroyue2002]

ive never used one, my friend towed his 72 ford truck with a tow bar and the the rear wheels popped off on the highway. maybe the pins broke though.

[72 tigger]

I've pulled a truck from CA to IN,TX to IN (3 times) AK to IN (2 times) with a tow bar - no problems!

[rsavage]

I have never used a tow bar but I have rented the U Haul trailers for under $60 a day as long as you do a two way. They pull well and are a safe way to tow a vehicle a long distance as long as you have the correct hitch and tow vehicle. I sold a 63 Nova SS project to a guy who lived about 30 miles from me. He showed up with his tow bar, clamped it on the bumper of the Nova, and started out around the circle of my driveway. The wheels didn't follow and he proceeded to drag it with the wheels turned full left until I hollered loud enough for him to stop. He ended up putting his teenage son in the Nova on a seat that wasn't bolted down to steer the car so it would follow. I don't know why it didn't follow correctly (front end not aligned? tow bar too narrow or wide?) but if I didn't know the vehicle and how it was going to tow, based on that limited experience, I wouldn't use a tow bar. If it's on a trailer, I have lots less to worry about. JMO.

[Shyguy]

A tow dolly is another option, but I have never used one. The only time I used a tow bar was when we were making a round trip from California to North Carolina and back with a motorhome towing a '74 VW. The only problem I had was I had to remember to start stopping sooner than normal.

That was one heck of a trip, the motorhome would die for no apparent reason and I would have to jump in the VW while my wife steered the motorhome and push the motorhome thru intersections and to the side of the road. Turned out the motorhome was vapor locking, finally figured it out and fixed it Barstow.