FrankTheDog Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Posting error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 I've done two large foolish hauls with my 98 XJ. First one daughters boyfriends Volkswagen camper van broke down in Knoxville. I had no clue how much they weighed, (4200 lbs). Uhaul wouldn't rent a dolly so I went to a music store that also had uhaul dollys and told him I'd be pulling a 1980 golf. Luckily I had 4.10 gears so it pulled it ok but I didn't go over 50 all the way back to CT. I didn't learn the first time and went to Virginia to pull back a MJ. It was a lot lighter because there was no drivetrain in it. Trouble with no drivetrain is that there is no weight on the front end and it death wobbled at any speed over 40 mph so an 8 hour trip turned into 14 up I95. My advice? Haul with a real truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reprod89 Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 if you still have a jeep manual fallow the rule 60/40 when towing having a old boat Lincoln on a 4 ton trailer with my dads old GMC if you don't have most of the weight forward on the trailer you will git what the video show "fish tailing" that was no fun but got home in one peace. going with U haul would be the better option for a Cherokee to haul. If you have a bigger truck that you can git your hands on best to haul with trailer. a dolly is better for FWD but if you have no choice a dolly is still and option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Hunter Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Ha definitely the 'tail wagging the dog' that I warn people about when towing with a light tow rig. Just not enough tow rig weight to keep the sway under control. Now some vehicles are being built with sway control, such as the new Grand Cherokee, that uses the computer to bring that type of trailer sway back under control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndiesel Posted April 8, 2013 Author Share Posted April 8, 2013 I made it back safe and sound! Thanks for all the advice! I'll be starting my restoration soon and will be making a build thread.... mercedes diesel engine to be installed :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Never mind. Brain not working when I posted. Please delete this message. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 so you are in or around WI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reece146 Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Interesting colour... maybe your camera is blowing out the red. Is it supposed to be red or is it faded to the orangey colour I am seeing? Just curious if it is a factory colour. Was orange even offered? I don't think so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 I've towed a ton with my WJ. I usally keep the speeds really slow. If the trailer starts swaying I hit the brake controller to stop just the trailer. If you tow you need a brakes on the trailer, period. Even surge brakes on a dolly are better than nothing. Powering out of a trailer wag is a horrible idea as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92tanMJ Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Nice color!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mndiesel Posted April 9, 2013 Author Share Posted April 9, 2013 Yep, I am in Minneapolis. I picked the Comanche up in Green Bay...I went to school in Madison so used to being around those parts every once in a while. The color is actually red, it has been sun faded to an orange. It was in storage the last 15 years...the guy blew the 2.5 liter revving it too high. You can see the piston failure with the head off. The body is in amazing shape, only rust is on the driver floorpan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Powering out of a trailer wag is a horrible idea as well. Explain how its a bad idea. To stop the sway you have to pull the trailer and tow rig tight, this will pull them both in line stopping the sway. The best way to do this is to activate your trailer brakes but if you don't have trailer brakes you need to accelerate the tow vehicle a little basicly doing the same thing. A trailer rarely sways during acceleration and it doesn't take much to pull everything straight. If you don't have trailer brakes and you hit the brakes on the tow rig the swaying trailer is now pushing you which IS a bad idea and exactly what happened when my wife rolled our XJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 accelerating during a sway ends up increasing the sway. the sway is occuring because there isn't enough weight in front of the trailer to keep the trailer going straight at certain speeds. slamming on the brakes isn't a good idea. but dropping speed by pulsing the brakes will get you to a reasonable speed, reduce sway, and allow you to regain control. accelerating does just what that video showed. period. end of story. any argument otherwise is wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Pat speaks the truth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 I've done a lot of towing over the years and it has always worked well for me. Pulse braking as Pat suggested would work as well. The main thing is you don't try to steer or hard brake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 the only time controlling trailer sway works with acceleration is when your vehicle is heavier than the load being towed. and if you have trailer sway in that instance, the load wasn't balanced and should be adjusted accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 You can't always adjust the load, sometimes it is what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 yup. which means that you are going faster than you should by the time you get trailer sway. end of story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 You've never towed a big enclosed trailer have you? An 18 wheeler going past on the freeway can cause a sway reguardless of speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 I've towed a 5 hauler enclosed sled trailer (steel frame) with an MJ. and several sleds. not far, but i've done it. the trailer alone weighed darn near as much as my truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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