Dingy towing a jeep

[Skip43]

Hays anyone had experience putting the rear wheels on the dingy and pulling with front wheels on the ground?

[DIMDave]

Preface: ANYTHING is possible...

Reasons I can think of not to tow with rear wheels on the dolly:
1. My CJ soft top was not made to go backward at highway speed.
2. If the front wheels cannot spin freely.
3. In 2WD the front drive shaft is(should be) spinning free in the xc but may not lube it correctly. Take off shaft at axle yoke and hang it with a bungee.
4. If the steering does not lock the toad will immediately head for the ditch.

[Ponderosa]

You can't tow with the front wheels down (backwards) unless you have a way of locking the front wheels so they can't turn. They will try to rotate because of the caster. Think of pulling a shopping cart backwards.

[mowermech]

paulcardoza wrote:
to answer the OP's question, 4x4 vehicles CANNOT be towed on a Dolly.......

There are almost always exceptions...
IF you remove the rear drive shaft, you can tow a 4X4 on a dolly.
IF the 4X4 has unlockable hubs on the front axle, you can put the rear on the dolly, with the hubs unlocked, and tow it. No, the dolly manufacturers do NOT recommend putting a vehicle on their dollys this way, but it is done frequently!
IF a full-floating axle kit has been installed on the rear axle, with locking hubs, it can be dolly towed with the hubs unlocked.
Yes, there are almost always exceptions...

[paulcardoza]

to answer the OP's question, 4x4 vehicles CANNOT be towed on a Dolly.......

[dons2346]

The tow dolly manufacturers will tell you not to tow with the rear wheels on a dolly. They probably know more about it than we do.

[FIRE_UP]

Medico wrote:
Towing 4 down is more expensive to set up, but IMO the better alternative as it is far more convenient when arriving at a campground.

Towing 4 down is more expensive HUH???? Not sure how you're figuring that. You can get a great deal on a nice tow bar setup on ebay all day long, usually about 1/2 price if not less. And about 99.9999% of the time, it includes EVERYTHING, including cables, pins, pig tail, and more. The wiring of, lets say a Jeep wrangler, couldn't be more cheaper if you do it yourself and use the stock tail lights as we've done for (7) different model/year Wranglers.

I have no idea what used dolly would go for but, I "suspect" it's more than a tow bar setup. And the convenience factor, it's a no brainer on tow bar over a dolly.
Scott

[tropical36]

Medico wrote:
Towing 4 down is more expensive to set up, but IMO the better alternative as it is far more convenient when arriving at a campground.

It's like anything else expensive, including the coach, repairs and other associated traveling expenses, so when it's not affordable new, you go with used. Some don't like anything used, but as soon as they own it, it becomes used anyway.

[Medico]

Towing 4 down is more expensive to set up, but IMO the better alternative as it is far more convenient when arriving at a campground.

[tropical36]

mowermech wrote:
with a Jeep, 2 down towing is strictly forbidden in the Owners Manual, whether it is four wheel drive or two wheel drive.
READ the Owner's manual, and follow the instructions contained therein. The manuals for many Jeep models are available online.
Actually, you CAN tow a Jeep (and many other vehicles) on a dolly or even four down, by simply disconnecting or removing the rear drive shaft. I used to have a Datsun pickup that I had to do that with. It was no great problem.

Yes, and assuming the Jeep is a 4x4, why would anyone not want to pull it, all four down?

[mowermech]

with a Jeep, 2 down towing is strictly forbidden in the Owners Manual, whether it is four wheel drive or two wheel drive.
READ the Owner's manual, and follow the instructions contained therein. The manuals for many Jeep models are available online.
Actually, you CAN tow a Jeep (and many other vehicles) on a dolly or even four down, by simply disconnecting or removing the rear drive shaft. I used to have a Datsun pickup that I had to do that with. It was no great problem.

[othertonka]

Skip43 wrote:
Hays anyone had experience putting the rear wheels on the dingy and pulling with front wheels on the ground?

Do you mean putting the rear wheels on a "Dolly"??? Dingy is a term used for the vehicle being towed. Dolly is a 2 wheel trailer that you usually drive the dingy front wheels up onto and the rear wheels stay on the ground. So what ae you asking?