Trailer to haul Jeep?

33426 Views 29 Replies 16 Participants Last post by rdvkb, May 24, 2019

LithuanianAlex

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2014

Hello,

We usually spend our summers out of state and are looking for a trailer to haul the Jeep behind the truck. We are in Colorado and are looking to travel to places such as California, Utah, and mountain locations in Co. I have an 02 Wrangler Sport with a 4 inch lift and 35" tires (not sure if that matters) We were not looking at enclosed trailers due to the height of the Jeep, but is it best to have enclosed while traveling? Any suggestions and advice is greatly appreciated as we have never had to purchase a trailer before!

Thank you!

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TJ4Jim

· #2 · Apr 21, 2014

A tow dolly is probably the most economical method of towing a vehicle. Anything else is going to add a lot of weight and cost a heck of a lot more in fuel.

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Water Dog

· #3 · Apr 22, 2014

JimsJeep said:
A tow dolly is probably the most economical method of towing a vehicle. Anything else is going to add a lot of weight and cost a heck of a lot more in fuel.

Your owners manual recommends against the use of a tow dolly. There's an apparent transfer case lubrication problem with the rear wheels on the ground but the front wheels on a dolly. They recommend either 4 down or trailering.

Reactions: 1

TJ4Jim

· #4 · Apr 22, 2014

Water Dog said:
Your owners manual recommends against the use of a tow dolly. There's an apparent transfer case lubrication problem with the rear wheels on the ground but the front wheels on a dolly. They recommend either 4 down or trailering.

Thanks, I didn't know that.

synful off-road

· #5 · Apr 22, 2014

Water Dog said:
Your owners manual recommends against the use of a tow dolly. There's an apparent transfer case lubrication problem with the rear wheels on the ground but the front wheels on a dolly. They recommend either 4 down or trailering.

Yeah that's actually really good to know!

jkjeeper06

· #6 · Apr 22, 2014

Water Dog said:
Your owners manual recommends against the use of a tow dolly. There's an apparent transfer case lubrication problem with the rear wheels on the ground but the front wheels on a dolly. They recommend either 4 down or trailering.

This is definitely true. There is 1 way around that tho. If you disconnect the driveshaft at the rear axle you can't dolly tow all day. If you aren't doing too many trips this may be a good option. If you're loading and unloading a lot re-Bolting up the shaft can become tiresome

4Jeepn

· #7 · Apr 22, 2014

I ran an open auto hauler for years. dual brakes, 16 foot with a slight dove tail at the end, wood deck... I had the base axles rated at 3500lbs each.. did fine, but for long hauls you might want to look at beefier axles. also consider an upgrade to ball socket to one that encases the ball. What kind of tow rig to you have?

Water Dog

· #8 · Apr 22, 2014

JimsJeep said:
Thanks, I didn't know that.

Even though I have read that and think I might understand, I also know that folks have driven Jeeps all over the place with no front drive shaft installed without issues....kind of makes you wonder what the difference would be.

srad600

· #9 · Apr 22, 2014

Water Dog said:
Even though I have read that and think I might understand, I also know that folks have driven Jeeps all over the place with no front drive shaft installed without issues....kind of makes you wonder what the difference would be.

I dont see how thats similar at all? Am I missing something? The Dolly is bad because the T-case is being "spun" while not being lubricated. Spun by the back shaft. Pulling the front shaft while driving in RWD does not change any of that.

Anywho......I think the bigger issue with tow dolly and the OP is, how the hell would it fit? lol. My 35" arent gonna fit on my tow dolly at all. Not even close. lol

Border Dave

· #10 · Apr 22, 2014

I just took a 4000 mile trip to California/Arizona and back last month. I had the Jeep on a tow dolly the entire way. I just disconnected the rear driveshaft from the pinion yoke, taped the u-joint, and bunjee corded the shaft up out of the way. I re-connected and disconnected a few times during the trip whenever I wanted to go wheeling. It wasn't a big deal and I got faster at it each time I did it.

srad600 said:
I dont see how thats similar at all? Am I missing something? The Dolly is bad because the T-case is being "spun" while not being lubricated. Spun by the back shaft. Pulling the front shaft while driving in RWD does not change any of that.

I think he was comparing having a jeep on a tow dolly to driving a jeep with the front driveshaft pulled. In both cases the rear output at the t-case is spinning and the front output is not.

srad600 said:
Anywho......I think the bigger issue with tow dolly and the OP is, how the hell would it fit? lol. My 35" arent gonna fit on my tow dolly at all. Not even close. lol

I know a lot of the tow dollies aren't wide enough, but the one I rented was plenty wide enough for 12.5 inch wide tires. I only have 10.5s on my jeep, but I had more than an inch clearance on both sides of the tires.

JeepersDave

· #11 · Apr 22, 2014

There are many of us that tow four down. It's less weight to drag, easier connects and disconnects, less parking issues for a trailer (when you're off Jeepin)....just a much more simple setup.

We have a 16' Clark trailer with ramps,....bet I haven't used it twice for Jeep haulin....projects, yes!

srad600

· #12 · Apr 22, 2014

Border Dave said:
I just took a 4000 mile trip to California/Arizona and back last month. I had the Jeep on a tow dolly the entire way. I just disconnected the rear driveshaft from the pinion yoke, taped the u-joint, and bunjee corded the shaft up out of the way. I re-connected and disconnected a few times during the trip whenever I wanted to go wheeling. It wasn't a big deal and I got faster at it each time I did it.

I think he was comparing having a jeep on a tow dolly to driving a jeep with the front driveshaft pulled. In both cases the rear output at the t-case is spinning and the front output is not.

I know a lot of the tow dollies aren't wide enough, but the one I rented was plenty wide enough for 12.5 inch wide tires. I only have 10.5s on my jeep, but I had more than an inch clearance on both sides of the tires.

Yeah but on the tow dolly the jeep is not running and the t case is not being lubricated properly. With no shaft in the front and driving that is not an issue.

I was just trying to be funny-ish with the tow dolly thing. I didn't know there was one big enough tho.

freeltm

· #13 · Apr 22, 2014

JeepersDave said:
There are many of us that tow four down. It's less weight to drag, easier connects and disconnects, less parking issues for a trailer (when you're off Jeepin)....just a much more simple setup.

We have a 16' Clark trailer with ramps,....bet I haven't used it twice for Jeep haulin....projects, yes!

What he said. Just get a tow bar set up, some magnetic lights and a brake system. I tow mine all over the state like that.

my996duc1

· #14 · Apr 22, 2014

3

I flat tow mine and have a trailer for hauling it..... just depends on where we are going as to which way the Jeep follows us.
Advantages and disadvantages with both ways so it is nice to have the option of either way depending on where we are going and how many toys we are dragging with us.

If we are going camping with a lot of extra room either in the spot or dry camping where we have unlimited room then I trailer it. If we are going camping where the space is limited and no extra room for the trailer then I flat tow the Jeep. I would rather trailer it so if I have anything breaks it is super simple to load it on the trailer and bring it home... OR.... if someone else has something break then I can put their Jeep on the trailer and they can drive mine home. I would also like to think it saves some wear and tear on the Jeep too.

Flat towing is super simple. Craigslist $60 Reese tow bar with a set of Warrior adapters to hook it up to the tow points on the Jeep. Etrailer online for a simple plug and play wiring harness so a person doesn't have to hassle with the magnetic lights. DONE.

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For trailering I have a Carson Heavy Duty 20' open trailer with tube railing added and the dovetail deleted. The extra room is great for hauling fire wood, dirt bikes, and extra 'stuffs' out camping.

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Border Dave

· #15 · Apr 22, 2014

srad600 said:
Yeah but on the tow dolly the jeep is not running and the t case is not being lubricated properly. With no shaft in the front and driving that is not an issue.

So you're saying that in order for the oil pump in the transfer case to function, it needs power from the motor, not just the rear driveshaft spinning?

Water Dog

· #16 · Apr 22, 2014

srad600 said:
Yeah but on the tow dolly the jeep is not running and the t case is not being lubricated properly. With no shaft in the front and driving that is not an issue.

I think you missed the point. The engine running has nothing to do with the tc getting lubed. The engine is not running when towing 4 down either. The problem is when the front yoke is not turning, but the back one is.

srad600

· #17 · Apr 24, 2014

Water Dog said:
I think you missed the point. The engine running has nothing to do with the tc getting lubed. The engine is not running when towing 4 down either. The problem is when the front yoke is not turning, but the back one is.

I did in fact miss half the point because I miss read a post also. I thought it was lubed only when engine running so I learned there. Never considered flat tow personally because of my thoughts on the engine needing to be running. Figured flat tow was just as bad. I was under the impression the only way to safely tow with out pulling shafts was flat bed/trailer.

TJDave

· #18 · Apr 24, 2014

2

I flat towed for a while before buying a trailer. The TJ is a gread toad. Flat towing is even covered in the owners manual. Towed miles do not register on the odometer. Less weight for the tow rig to pull. You can't back up with a towed vehicle behind you. Supplimental brake and tow bar systems are expensive, and you may be able to find a good used trailer for a little more.

The decision to buy a trailer was easy for me. I started playing on harder trails and always worried about getting home if I break something.
Where we camp, and at home, there is plenty of room for it. It comes in very handy for all sorts of stuff besides hauling the Jeep.
Saves the wear and tear on the Jeep, and expensive MT tires.

Mine is a PJ 18' dovetail I found used for a great price. I've had it for 4 years and it's been great. Be prepared for friends and colleagues wanting to borrow it! Lol.

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Border Dave

· #19 · Apr 24, 2014

Water Dog said:
I think you missed the point. The engine running has nothing to do with the tc getting lubed. The engine is not running when towing 4 down either. The problem is when the front yoke is not turning, but the back one is.

If that's the case, how does the transfer case get lubed in jeeps that are running unlocked with manual hubs?

Border Dave

· #20 · Apr 26, 2014

Anyone have any thoughts???

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