Thoughts on towing a '90 GW 600 miles? [Archive] - International Full Size Jeep Association

jeepshots

03-31-2008, 04:58 PM

Okay - noobie with a noobie question. I'm in the process of purchasing a '90 GW. It's in Georgia. I'm in Arkansas. Would love to just drive it home, but the PO has lost oil pressure, and instead of sniffing it over in his back yard, was planning on getting a tow-dolly, driving over and pulling it back. However, I'm having difficulty finding anyone willing to rent a tow-dolly for this FSJ. Budget wants to rent a truck with the dolly, at the tune of $700 one way. U-Haul and Penske doesn't have anything big enough to haul it, they claim. So, I'm now thinking about flat towing, but need to figure out how to get the tow bar on there without drilling the bumper. Don't wanna mess the bumper up just for one trip. Any body got measurements for framehorn-to-framehorn? Bumper mounts? Other tow-related thoughts on solving this?

bigwoody

03-31-2008, 05:54 PM

I rented this from u haul. I neglected to mention it was for a 131" wheel base j10. They where happy to rent me one for a CJ5. I had no trouble towing it 250 miles with my 2006 trail blazer. I did take some extra chains and binders to hold it on the trailer. I don't trust those tire straps. It cost me 50 bucks a day to rent. What they don't know wont hurt them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/ssanoobab/1006071805a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/ssanoobab/1006071805b.jpg

Lindel

03-31-2008, 05:59 PM

Tell em it's for an XJ, no biggie. That's what I did when I towed my wife's 88 GW home from N. Little Rock, and my J-10 from Oklahoma City.

Diesel

03-31-2008, 06:06 PM

That trailer is rated at 4000lbs and weighs 2000lbs. Should be fine..long as you have the rig to pull, and stop it.

chrisnsarah

03-31-2008, 06:53 PM

That U-haul trailer will work fine. I always managed to get the newer galvanized ones. They are supposed to be a tad wider.

I did the same thing last year-retrieve a WT Cherokee 700 miles away. I rented the trailer locally and hauled it down empty. $48/day and didn't have any trouble with it. The transports have their own surge brakes. They can be a PITA if you are going downhill.

Tell the Uhaul people you are putting a CJ or XJ on it.

fulsizjeep

04-01-2008, 05:38 AM

UHaul trailer is the ticket. :thumbsup:
http://jubileejeeps.org/ourfsjs/phoebe/luna_phoebe093000.jpg

Ristow

04-01-2008, 06:37 AM

'90 GW. It's in Georgia.

i saw that one on ebay,nice clean one. i think i threw a grand on it,but the reserve wasn't met.

jeepshots

04-01-2008, 07:16 AM

Yep - off of ebay. I missed the end of the auction (thought it was two days later), so I contacted the seller. He was still interested in selling, I was still interested in buying. So we made the deal. Now just gotta get it home.

I went out and got a tow-bar setup, as I'm having difficulty getting a trailer/tow-dolly (I'm in Arkansas, remember - here it's assumed you have your own trailer!). I'm not wanting to drill the bumper, just for this one trip (nor do I think the bumper could handle being the tow-point). What I would like to do is remove the bumper and slap on some iron across the frame horns/bumper mounts. Problem is, I don't know the measurements of the attachment points for the bumper, nor it's configuration. Just can't seem to find that data. Anybody got any pics of the frame horns, sans bumper? I see attachment points at the top of the bumper mount, but is there bottom attachment points?

Diesel

04-01-2008, 07:51 AM

Check the price on a one way rental. Ga to AK, might save the diff on fuel.

Lindel

04-01-2008, 08:23 AM

Check U-Haul.com and see what they have. You can pick up a trailer in GA and bring it back to Conway. There's got to be a U-Haul dealer near there somewhere.

I know for a fact that Maumelle has one or two.

jeepshots

04-01-2008, 08:52 AM

Had a dolly on reserve at one of the gas station u-hauls. Drove by it after hours, and it's the smaller dolly. He didn't have a larger one available. I'm gonna go to the full U-Haul store here in Conway and see if they've got either a larger dolly, or the larger auto-transport. In the meantime, I've picked up a tow-bar as a last-ditch backup - but don't have the connection points on the GW ironed out yet. Would rather tow-dolly or even trailer it back home.

The tow dolly was all set up for the entire weekend for only $39. Still, I'd rather have the right size instead of getting it all the way there and not able to use it.

Greenfire

04-01-2008, 04:41 PM

Save yourself some aggravation and just get the trailer. Tell them its for an xj wagoneer. Its safer and easier.

Wagabond

04-01-2008, 06:52 PM

Go with the trailer. If you have to dolly it, take off the driveshafts.

For future reference, nobody ever discloses their true intentions to the rental guy.

jeepshots

04-01-2008, 06:59 PM

The big U-Haul didn't have the transport, but would have the extra-wide tow-dolly. Said it's 84" between the wheelwells. That's big enough for sure. Told him it was for a Cherokee with big oversized offroad tires. I pick it up Friday afternoon. Got the tow-bar with me just in case. Of course, that'll be a funny train coming home - a GMC 4x4 tow-baring a GW that has an empty tow-dolly behind it...

chrisnsarah

04-01-2008, 08:13 PM

jeepshots

04-01-2008, 10:28 PM

If you are using the tow dolly or towbar, is the vehicle currently registered or can you secure a moving permit? The transport will take that factor out of the equation.

Oh, and beware. If you have a reservation and tell the Uhaul dude you'll pick it up at a certain time, don't be 1 minute late, or they reserve the right to rent it to the next walk in.

Hrmm... good questions. I think it's registered. Pics show a license plate on it, but could be outta date. Will it be that serious of a deal? Going from Georgia back to Arkansas (don't know if we'll go back up into Tennessee, or across Alabama).

And I plan on picking up the dolly (or mebbe now the transport) a bit early on Friday.

Diesel

04-01-2008, 10:34 PM

Good point. Dolly or in tow requires the vehicle in tow to be licensed and registered.:(

jeepshots

04-01-2008, 11:01 PM

Good point. Dolly or in tow requires the vehicle in tow to be licensed and registered.:(

Even if I've just bought it that day? Will have a bill of sale showing the transaction for Saturday. Wouldn't have had time to register it (if it even needs it). Besides, I'd have to do it in Arkansas where i live - which is where I'd be hauling it to in the first place. Or is this one of those quirky laws designed to bring in money?

chrisnsarah

04-02-2008, 08:44 AM

I'm not sure how Georgia works, but if the seller hasn't kept the GA registration up to date, you may have trouble legally towing it with a dolly.

You won't be able to register it in AR until you get a title, which may require a VIN inspection, so the vehicle has to physically be there. You may be able to get a temporary permit from AR if you pay the title application fees.

If GA is one of those states where the plates stay with the owner, then the owner should provide you with a bill of sale, signed title, and a temporary paper tag.

Can you contact the seller and see what the current status is?

jeepshots

04-02-2008, 10:12 AM

Yep - I'll get in touch with him and find out. I'm carrying bill-of-sale and other forms with me out there, just in case he's not up-to-snuff on private car sales. Thanks!

Billygoat

04-02-2008, 10:24 AM

Get a hold of the states you are traveling thru, with DOT or state patrol and see what they have to say.
Also check with your insurance agent to be sure you are covered! (both your property and others)

GA84GW

04-02-2008, 10:45 AM

I towed a car from the Birmingham, AL area to south Georgia using a u-haul dolly. The car was not tagged and all I had was a bill of sale(all that is required in GA for the vehicle I bought). Not sure what the laws are but it was a 6 hour trip and I didn't get stopped or even a second look by the cops. If I had, I was just going to play dumb(hmmmm not much acting required for that :rolleyes: ). There are probably numerous legal requirements but it is just a gamble that the cops would even care. So many towed vehicles that they probably don't pull out the rule book.

One thing I did do was hook up some temporary brake/turn signal lights on the back of the car. The kind that are magnetic(picked them up at a farm supply store).

For the distance you have to go, it would be best to at least know the rules and then you can decide your plans from there.

ps. If it is a problem I will just pick it up and hold/use the GW for you....you know, just to make sure it works. :thumbsup:

jeepshots

04-02-2008, 10:54 AM

Was planning on getting some magnetic lights. I'll get a bill-of-sale and an odometer statement (don't know that it's needed, but might as well get it while I'm out there). I'm just gonna tow it and see what kinda trouble follows me. :)

Billygoat

04-02-2008, 10:59 AM

Not sure if it has been said or you know.........
If you flat tow PULL THE DRIVE SHAFTS!!!!!!! (rear only if from is on a dolly)

jeepshots

04-02-2008, 11:32 AM

Not sure if it has been said or you know.........
If you flat tow PULL THE DRIVE SHAFTS!!!!!!! (rear only if from is on a dolly)

Definitely plan on pulling the shafts. However, since I haven't been under one, I'm assuming it uses saddle clamps with the two little bolts? What's the bolt head size? Or is it one of those 12 point bolts? Gotta get me a manual...:banghead:

yankeedog

04-03-2008, 05:46 AM

jeepshots

04-03-2008, 07:40 AM

You could make up your own tow bar out of angle iron take off your front bumper and bolt it directly to the frame.tie your steering wheel off as well give it a little play but not enough to let it steer you into a ditch.put a "CAR IN TOW" sign in the back window.and run your four way flashers.If the local PD stops you tell them thats the legal way to do it in Arkansas.if you arent driving like an idiot chances are they wont give you a second look.dont forget safety chains.

I've got a tow-bar, and that's crossed my mind. But I don't have access to a GW here in Arkansas to do the measurements to make the tow-bar base plate to bolt onto the GW. Got any measurements you could share?

Diesel

04-03-2008, 07:58 AM

Last weekend the price difference at Uhaul between the tow dolly and the transport was $10.00. Might want to check that out. Eliminates a lot of the concerns associated with the dolly. :drivin:

jeepshots

04-04-2008, 08:03 AM

Last weekend the price difference at Uhaul between the tow dolly and the transport was $10.00. Might want to check that out. Eliminates a lot of the concerns associated with the dolly. :drivin:

U-Haul just called. They don't have the tow-dolly after all. So they're bumping me up to the auto-transport for the tow-dolly price. So it's all worked out in the end. :D

76'wago

04-04-2008, 09:35 AM

i was one of the lucky few, i drove my girlfriends 93' s-10 blazer from NJ to vermont to pick up my 76 wagoneer. put 2 new calipers on the front of the jeep, went to u-haul picked up a dolly and towed the s-10 back. 6.5 hours only issue was i lost a quart of trans fluid due to a leaky pan.
now 4 months later, put exhaust on it from the y-pipe back, with no CAT. and went through NJ state inspection without a problem.
got lucky for the $900 i spent on it. only had 78'000 mile when i picked it up, all original with the 2brl carb. , bench seats, and am radio.
now my daily driver and loven it...
but good luck with yours

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r40/JKEDUB/jeep-ny037-1.jpghttp://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r40/JKEDUB/jeep-ny038-1.jpg

jeepshots

04-04-2008, 10:18 AM

...but good luck with yours

Thanks. I'm getting excited. Would love to drive it back, but since I'm doing this on a limited time schedule, I just wanna get it back home so I can sniff it over.

jeepshots

04-07-2008, 10:50 PM

Got it home in one piece on Sunday. Sunday night, actually. Was a long weekend - driving out to Georgia on Saturday, and back on Sunday. But we did take a quick side trip to Talledaga Speedway Sunday morning. Waggy towed like a dream behind the GMC 2500HD. Fuel tank acted like it had a hole in it tho - cost close to $300 just for the return trip. :eek:

Battery was close to dead on the Waggy, so it's being charged. Will piddle with it tomorrow. Want to change the oil and all that stuff before trying to start it. Gonna start a new thread about oil pressure problems (will search the archives before doing so). Thanks for everyone's thoughts/postings on this thread.