Flat Towing

[rboltz]

Airborne is correct. When I was looking for my truck, I found some a few hundred miles away and was going to buy or rent a dolly. None found wide enough and/or able to handle the weight. Not to mention brakes, which are required in PA, for anything over 2,999 lbs towed weight.

[randyscycle]

I dollied my full-size Dodge 3500 extendo-cargo van home and it just barely fit a standard car dolly, and to get it loaded, I had to pop off the center caps so they wouldn't hit the fenders on the dolly. I can't imagine the 715 even trying to squeeze between the fenders on that dolly.

[Binford]

...I worried about it and talked to a friend who pointed out that, during braking, this setup would load the rear of the van and plant the rear tires which would help in braking situations...

Curious here...most of your braking power is provided by the front wheels, which would be lifted in that scenario (not off the ground, but you know what I mean....) Would that not be a bad thing?

Just because of the weight of the M715, unless I were towing with a Deuce, U-Haul or whatnot, I'd want the thing on a trailer with brakes.

[porkchop]

When I hook the tow bar to my truck it has a slight down angle, everything I find on the net tells you that you should have a slight down angle to help with the braking. I have towed my truck with out a single problem and I will continue to flat tow it with my 1500 GMC that has 4 wheel disc brakes. I have also flat towed another M715 from TN to NC with a Yukon XL without any problems. It also had a down ward angle on the tow bar. Never even knew it was back there unless I tried to pull out of a parking lot to quickly then it would drag the rear end of my GMC because there wasn't enough weight in the back. I feel comfortable doing it.

Isn't the reason they didn't want the M715 to be flat towed is because of the steering box, I remember a discussion about this some time ago.

[airborne]

P-C, I think your right! I put power steering on mine, but have NOT towed it since doing that, so I'm hoping it will work. I know that since I put the 38"s on it doesn't like to return to center after a turn.

[brute4c]

The steering box should be disconnected or the inputs from the tires back to the box WILL ruin the box...

The brake situation makes us wonder, along with the total lack of procedures in any manual for any kind of towing is...odd...compared to the other vehicles that are made to be towed...like 6X6's.

Barrman mentioned the possibility that these trucks were only intended to be flat towed short distances, like to get unstuck and back for repairs, but nothing more than that, maybe they werent built with that intention from the start...and I find it impossible to argue with that...in fact, it is very logical and points in a very easy to understand diretion...lowest bidder, lowest level of equipment or setup...

Not too say its fact but do we really know that these trucks are made for this purpose?

Tow driver beware...

[brute4c]

Airborne, according to the Jeep Owners Bible by Moses Ludel the steering box we have stock and many of the older full size Jeeps use...if one tows, the tires sending turning inputs back to the box ruins the box...inputs need to come from the steering wheel to the tres, not the reverse.

[porkchop]

I can only comment on what I have experienced. I have flat towed a M715 5 times and have never had a problem with it. The tow bar was at a slight down angle at all times and I used a GMC 1500 (Sierra and a Yukon XL). While towing I would stop every hour to check for any problems. I didn't get any significant heat from any wheels or diffs. It might be due to the fact that my truck has been completely torn down, re-greased and put back together. Either way I feel very comfortable flat towing my truck. Would I rather put it on a trailer, yes, but that is not an option so I will go with my experience and flat tow it.

Here are some pictures of the first truck I flat towed:

[airborne]

That's one reason to change out the stock box to p/s. I know it is heavy enough to feel stopping and starting! Ha,ha, I don't know which is cheaper, the 715, or the Dodge w/diesel, pulling the 715.

[randyscycle]

according to the Jeep Owners Bible by Moses Ludel the steering box we have stock and many of the older full size Jeeps use...if one tows, the tires sending turning inputs back to the box ruins the box...inputs need to come from the steering wheel to the tres, not the reverse.

Does he give a reason why, or does he just summarily say no to tire input without a reason?

I can't see where it should have a huge effect just towing occasionally. The manual steering gear is just a worm gear/sector shaft type and if properly adjusted, it should be OK, again only for occasional towing.

The power steering gear is a recirculating ball type and I could see more things to go wrong in there than the old type stuff, particularly when the fluid isn't flowing from the pump to lube and cool the internals of the powersteering box..