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Suitability Of My Old `74 Cj-5 For Flat-towing Behind My Rv?

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by BillT, Sep 25, 2024.

  1. Sep 25, 2024
    BillT

    BillT New Member

    Ashland, VA
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    So I am NOT asking "how to" flat-tow my CJ-5 - that answer is easily found on the web.

    However, I do know that I have a tendency to over-think and over-analyze things, so please humor me and bear with me here.

    I am considering flat-towing it behind my RV so I can have something to drive around in once we're in a campground, and also so I can do things like go driving out on the beach at Cape Hatteras.

    My only concern is that I feel like this 50 year-old Jeep is more of a slow-speed vehicle - I never drive it above about 45 mph, because it just doesn't feel like it likes going any faster than that.

    So I'm wondering how it will handle being dragged along at 65-70 mph. I know that it will be pretty much just freewheeling, so there won't be a lot of components spinning around. I'm just thinking of it bouncing along at that speed and possible wear on the parts that are spinning at that speed. I'm hoping someone has real-world experience to share.

    Just wondering if it's inadvisable, or is it no big deal and I'm overthinking it again? :)

    Pic to show my Jeep.

    Thanks!

    fllobs.jpg
     
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  2. Sep 25, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 New Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Pull the rear driveshaft off, bag each end, put it in the tow vehicle and unlock the hubs.

    Biggest issue is you need to have the front alignment dialed in with good balanced wheels. Basically if you can let go of the wheel on the highway and it stays on course you will be ok.

    The longer the tow bar the better. The shorter the distance from the tow vehicle rear axle to the hitch the better.

    Towing with a 99 ranger ext cab 4.0 4x4... marginal.
    Towing with a 2019 Expedition max ecoboost 4x4 is really comfortable. I've got something like 2000 miles flat towing with the Expedition.
    [​IMG]0404131311_zps606af311 by Joe the adapter guy, on Flickr

    [​IMG]20210912_103944 by Joe the adapter guy, on Flickr
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2024
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  3. Sep 25, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 New Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  4. Sep 25, 2024
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I flat-towed my '73 all over the SoCal desert behind my Dad's Ford pickup, with nothing but camping gear in the bed. If your Jeep feels unstable at highway speeds, there is something wrong with it. 80-plus was no problem in my '73 CJ-5 (304, 4.27s). I drove my CJ-6 an hour to work on the 405 freeway and got a speeding ticket (the CHP off-ramp trick).

    Is your Jeep lifted? Have you measured the caster angle?
     
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  5. Sep 25, 2024
    rejeep

    rejeep Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Rochester, NY
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    I drive my CJ6 75-80mph all day long.. speed doesn't bother it
    a bearing is a bearing...

    I personally don't like flat towing, had a bad experience with a lifted YJ 6 hrs through upstate NY...
    swaying got out of control more than a dozen times..

    alignment wasn't checked and the tow bar was crap...

    but loads of people do it very successfully with thousands of miles so Im blaming myself for that one
     
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  6. Sep 25, 2024
    BillT

    BillT New Member

    Ashland, VA
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    I just got this old thing a couple months ago and I'm still getting more intimately familiar with it and going through this and that. I do not believe it is lifted, and yep, caster angle was the next thing I want to check.

    The steering does feel pretty vague and slightly loose. I had the leaf spring shackles and bushings replaced and also all four shocks replaced, and that helped a lot with the wandering and instability. I also recently put four new wheels and tires on it, and that also helped improve things, but the steering is still pretty vague and it can wander a little bit - at least enough that I don't feel like going faster than I've been doing! I will continue researching and investigating, but it's good to hear several people saying it's no problem to flat-tow it! Thanks!
     
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  7. Sep 25, 2024
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Veradale, WA
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    If it’s got 5.38 gears, that rear pinion is going to be HUMMING at 70mph. Make sure your gears and bearings are in good shape, the oil is fresh and topped off, and check the temp of your year diff cover with an IR thermometer at every stop.
     
  8. Sep 25, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 New Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    When towed in a forward direction the draglink to steering wheel have no impact on it's behavior. I can take all the rod end off the steering box and zip tie the drag Link to the tie rod. You need to focus on ball joints/kingpin bearings, caster, toe, wheel balance and just eyeball that the center of the tire contact path falls in the line between the upper and lower ball joints (scrub radius? If you turn the steering wheel your front tires should not roll, the valve stem should stay vertical if vertical or horizontalif horizontal) To keep the wheels from kicking to the side with potholes.
    So if you are running super wide tires you may get more kick to the side with potholes and uneven terrain. In that case a tow dolly and added brakes are something to consider.
     
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  9. Sep 25, 2024
    Sierra Bum

    Sierra Bum Member

    The High Sierra
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    All very good advice up there. Assuming the front end sorted out well, people have always towed these things around for your stated purpose with few issues.

    I think it comes down to whether or not you want to connect, and reconnect the driveshaft all the time between towing and driving it. You can run a full float rear set-up with locking hubs if you can find the parts to make this easier. Although they also just might leak.

    Many guys just tow the rig to a trail, run it and then go home. But if your RV traveling for a bit, going from place to place, the driveshaft issue might get a little old.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2024
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  10. Sep 25, 2024
    BillT

    BillT New Member

    Ashland, VA
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    The rear axle is 3.73:1.
     
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  11. Sep 25, 2024
    BillT

    BillT New Member

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    Yeah, I don't think we will be towing it around a whole lot, but now and then, for sure. I know that there are a couple different quick-disconnect options out there, so if it does start to become an issue, I could look into that. I'm sure that as I get older (or maybe I should say "even older than I already am"), crawling around under the Jeep every time is going to become increasingly uncomfortable and annoying. Especially if we pull up to a campsite and it's pouring rain and I need to unhook the Jeep and move it out of the way...
     
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  12. Sep 25, 2024
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Veradale, WA
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    That’s really not an issue then.
     
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  13. Sep 25, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 New Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    That's why you want to completely remove the rear driveshaft if it is easy to do. Then you can lock the front hubs and put it in 4wd with the rear free spinning.
    The d18 brake drum on mine isn't easy. I'm really tempted to make a dummy frame mounted pinion yoke on bushings to carry the rear ujoint and allow for the occasional fuel pump ballet.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2024
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  14. Sep 26, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    We were fulltime RVers for 8 years. I had a '66 CJ6 before we got on the road and the common thinking was just get a Class A and tow the Jeep. I decided against it, mainly because:
    - it wasn't lockable so I'd always be worried about damage or theft, and nothing could be stored in it.
    - With the T18 and a stiff clutch it wasn't something MsBoyink would drive
    - It was a conglomeration of parts, any breakdowns would be a hassle to get parts for
    - It wasn't reliable enough

    Overall it was easily towable but wasn't a convenient driver. Our use-case was fulltime use, occasional use might be different. In the end I realized I was telling my kids they couldn't keep all their toys, so I couldn't either. I sold the Jeep and used the funds towards a chevy truck that we towed a 5th wheel with.
     
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  15. Sep 26, 2024
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Overthinking the issue; your words, not mine.
     
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  16. Sep 26, 2024
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Three words. Full float kit.
    Problem solved.
     
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  17. Sep 26, 2024
    BillT

    BillT New Member

    Ashland, VA
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    :D
     
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