sinnaevd Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 how does it tow a flat bed? think it would pull A yj on a flat bed super easily? or would it flat tow a lot easier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whowey Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 You want to tow a YJ on a flat bed behind your MJ????? Holy $#!& dangerous, batman!!!!!!!!!!(when did we get word censors?) Yea, the longer wheelbase of the MJ helps, but the brakes are barely strong enough to stop the MJ without the extra weight. Second, the tow rating is a maximum of 5k lbs, with the tow package. A YJ on a flat is more than that. A trail ready YJ probably tips the scale at close to 4k, add a 1600-1800 lbs flatbed. Your already looking at 5500 - 6000 lbs. Flat towing, while safer would still be an adventure without a brake toad installed in the YJ. The toad is a device that either operates the brakes on the YJ via a radio control, or a regular wire like trailer light hook-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 31, 2006 Author Share Posted July 31, 2006 i wasn't sure, a buddy of mine was interested in possibly buying one, but he needs a serious truck. so i though maybe with a d44 and upgraded leafs it would work. i guess not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 Your #1 problem would be brakes and #2 problem would be engine power. Uphills'd be a nightmare, and without trailer brakes and upgraded MJ brakes, downhill's be a nightmare too. I do believe with stiff enough suspension, upgraded brakes, trailer brakes, a stronger rear axle, and an engine upgrade, you'd be able to do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 The 4.0 will haul crap no problem, just you can't stop worth $#!&, and the 'tail wags the dog' all the time. I put a couple thousand pounds of rock in my bed (yeah, the springs loved me) and drove about 200Km. It was kinda like "Hmm, that light off in the distance, it's green now, but it might be red before I get there, I'll start braking...." and 10 minutes later I stop just in time for the light. But if you ain't going far, like 10-15K and nobody's around, what the heck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 31, 2006 Author Share Posted July 31, 2006 lol more like 400 one way. i'll let him know to go chev or ford thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 maybe one day I'll use my new street MJ to tow my rock buggy MJ... stroker, better brakes and trailer brakes, 1-ton rear axle and a few other mods would be considered essential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 If he's going to tow this rig far and/or often, he really NEEDS a full-size rig rated at least 3/4-ton. I'd suggest a Dodge 2500 in deisel. The MJ can pull that load, but you asked about "easily." It won't do it easily. Braking actually shouldn't be an issue, because any rig that heavy should have trailer brakes (probably required by law). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 31, 2006 Author Share Posted July 31, 2006 hey brett hows that shifter install coming? (if you got to it yet) i'm super excited to see the outcome. i don't know if the flat bed is an immediate option, i would consider tow bar first or tow dolly...definatelyy better to go with a normal truck. he's been crusing around on here so I'm sure he's read this post already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonkatruck Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 I think he has, hes probably been keeping an eye on it from the get go but who knows for sure. Basically the story is i hate the cavalier i drive everyday and would much rather be in a truck that would be able to suit my daily needs. I can get an unbelievable deal on an 90 manche that would be quite sweet. Plus i have enough parts to maintain it indefinately and i'm a diehard jeeper.... but... i'm concerned with a commanche being able to do it safely - mianly the breaking because those 4.0s do have quite a nice bit of torque and power but i've never actually tried it. I've towed a yj tub and axles on a 4x8 trailer with both my 90 cherokee on 33s and my 94stock cherokee and it wasnt even a hiccup really. Not the same as built yj but gives me an idea. Now i don't have either of those vehicle tho so unto something else. On a daily basis, a small truck like a manche would fit the bill for my needs, but figure if i'm going to go to a truck might as well have something to tow my yj and start towing it from now on so that if i break 4, 5,6+ hours away from home, i still get home the next day if Shyte hits the fan. Soo... thats why we got into this debate and sinnaevd posted asking. Tho my dream truck ( a cummins TD 4dr 2500) is completely out of my pricerange and will likely be for the next 5-10 yrs, i'm looking at either this awesome of a deal commance and be able to afford to keeep my car till i get this one on the road for 100% safe, or sell everything i own and get eitehr a Chev 1500 or Ford f150. However, if the opinion is that i could get a Commanche and then spent the extra money on a flatbed which i want mainly just cause they're cool and useful, i would probably do that, however my biggest concern is the 'wag the dog' syndrome where my tailend Yj is gonna try to steer the manche. Soooo..... Opinions??? Tonka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 It'll wag the dog. Trust me. Comanches are so light that they get thrown all over the place by a heavy load. They're great little trucks, don't get me wrong, but they aren't ment for towing heavy things. And I'm not going to tell you they are just because I like to know that they're all in hands of people who will take care of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I towed the remains of a partially stripped XJ on a long-ish, borrowed ALUMINUM flatbed from Massachusetts to Connecticut with the 88 MJ, which is a shortbed. I had 3.73 gears in it and I believe at that time I was still on 31s. And the electrical connection on the trailer didn't match the pigtail on my truck, so even though the trailer had electric brakes, they were useless. Stopping really required driving much farther ahead than even I am accustomed to, but that was no surprise. After all, I was towing more than the weight of the MJ and trying to stop with the MJ brakes. What surprised me, though, was how much that weight bogged me down on upgrades. The route went through the Berkshire Mountains (or Hills, depending on who you talk to and where they live), so there were plenty of climbs to negotiate. We made it, but the poor truck was really straining on the hills. I would say the only sensible way to do it would be with a stroker -- you need the extra torque. And if possible a longbed MJ will tow a lot better than a shortbed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Hunter Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I'd consider flat-towing or using a dolly, I'll eventually be flat-towing my YJ with the MJ. Trailer/jeep combo is too much strain, and too much to handle and stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whowey Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 I just got back from the trailer dealer. An 18 foot long, 102" wide steel deck, 10k load trailer weighs 2275 lbs. Without a winch, a tool box, spare tire, etc... That's over half the weight of the MJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted August 2, 2006 Author Share Posted August 2, 2006 what bout with a ZJ? i know the engine might be a problem if you go withthe 6 but with the 8 is it do-able? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Hunter Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 Doable but not recommended. Still too light a vehicle and too short a wheelbase for the weight of a trailer and jeep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 what bout with a ZJ? i know the engine might be a problem if you go withthe 6 but with the 8 is it do-able? I know a guy who has towed his XJ with his 5.9l ZJ, it was doable but he said he would never do it on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 I towed my MJ with a diesel KJ and, while accelerating was a piece of cake for the diesel, braking was iffy and it always felt like the wiggling on the freeway was one or two oscillations away from disaster. The advanced traction/stability control was a huge help, as was the awd t-case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whowey Posted August 2, 2006 Share Posted August 2, 2006 what bout with a ZJ? i know the engine might be a problem if you go withthe 6 but with the 8 is it do-able? Enough engine wasn't the problem with the MJ. I flat towed an XJ with my wife's 5.2l ZJ a couple of weeks ago. It only took 7 miles for her to decide, I get a 'newer' truck and trailer before wheeling season next year. Once again, its not the engine power. It felt like we were about two or three freeway speed 'wiggles' away from serious problems. Braking needed to be planned out. Our ZJ has the factory 'towing' package on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 what bout with a ZJ? i know the engine might be a problem if you go withthe 6 but with the 8 is it do-able? My girly's madre pulled their 3 horse trailer with 2 horses in it all the time with their Durango (ZJ equivalent). It did fine on uphills, it did fine on downhills, and each horse weighed over 1,000 lbs, plus the weight of the trailer. It would still be doing it but an unfortunate accident rendered it totalled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 On the subject of Jeeps and towing, check this little nugget out: Jeep Vs. Sea Ray Death pool http://www.hotboat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123275 :popcorn: :roll: Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 The Durango has a longer wheelbase than the ZJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 The Durango has a longer wheelbase than the ZJ. 119 vs what? 107? A longbed MJ is 121 and I think could be made a great hauler if you were really motivated. Stroker, cooling mods for engine and tranny, t-case upgrades if 4wd, 1 ton rear axle, plate the frame both for added strength and weight, put a big fuel cell in the back for more weight, etc..... doable, but you'd have to be really comitted to the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 The Durango has a longer wheelbase than the ZJ. 119 vs what? 107? And it weighs more too. Every little bit counts. The idea of a towing MJ is intreguing, but yeah, you'd have to be real committed to it. Don't forget to upgrade to a dual diaphram booster. Oh, and a longbed MJ is 119. I flat-towed my MJ with a Durango last fall and there was still a lot of wiggling. Just less than with the Libby. Flat towing sucks, but a 2000 lb trailer would probably put the weight of my junk to almost 7000 lbs. And that's a lot of weight. :( I can't wait til my buddy buys that diesel Ford he's been dreaming of. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4play Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I agree about the Durango weight. Dodge makes heavy vehicles; I had an ex-cab 4x4 ram 1500 that weighed over 5600 lbs if I recall correctly. I feel certain that the bigger, heavier vehicles come with beefier brakes and suspension. Regardless of overall wheelbase, the weight of the vehicle and its intended use will be the determining factor there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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