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Campincarters's avatar
Campincarters
Explorer
Jul 29, 2016

Dolly Towing a 04 Chevy Tracker

Hello all. I know you can tow a chevy tracker 4 wheel down but I am not able to do that currently. My question is in the tracker manual it states it is best dolly tow the vehicle from the rear wheels. If I was towing 4 down I would simply place the transfer case in neutral. Would I not do the same if the front 2 wheels were on a dolly. I would probably have to start the car every 200 miles like the manual says when towing 4 down to circulate the fluids. If I were tow with the dolly with the car backwards it does not require you to circulate the fluids. My concern with towing backward is the steering of the dolly. My dolly does not pivot so I would expect the car front wheels to turn rather than the dolly. Would it be wrong to place the 2 front wheels on the dolly.
  • Campincarters's avatar
    Campincarters
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2016
    Thanks all. I am planning on magnetic lights with the Blue Ox Adventurer tow bar. I should be in under a grand when all done.
  • johnhicks's avatar
    johnhicks
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2016
    I just put a Roadmaster baseplate on a Tracker for about $500 + $100 install. I paid for it to be installed because I'm too old and fat to get under there knuckle-busting. You could get away with magnetic lights. I'll leave you to consider the legality/liability of not having a brake system.
  • hilldude's avatar
    hilldude
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2016
    Tracker makes a great toad,base plate is easy to install.Do it yourself or any mechanic can do it.Cheaper than tow dolly.
  • mowermech's avatar
    mowermech
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2016
    Exactly. the last time I looked at a Reese Universal Towbar at Walmart, I think it was $165, including brackets. the brackets mount with 2 grade 5 half inch bolts in each one. When I was using a similar towbar for my Jeeps, I just drilled holes in the bumper and installed 1/4 inch steel backing plates behind the bumper. the stock bumper held up just fine, and after market bumpers were no problem at all.
    According the the Harbor Freight catalog I got in the mail yesterday, their 5000 pound capacity Haul Master towbar is $69.99 at the present time. They say it has a 5 star customer rating.
    They have two magnetic towing light kits, $19.99 or $31.99.
    I towed Jeeps a lot of miles using one of those fixed arm universal towbars. They work!
  • SoCalDesertRid1's avatar
    SoCalDesertRid1
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2016
    I can't imagine tow bar mounts for a Tracker costing $2000. Buy a universal tow bar for about $150, which comes with it's own mounts, and have a local welder fabricate some brackets to weld the tow bar mounts to.
  • Campincarters's avatar
    Campincarters
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2016
    While I like your suggestion would this still require a baseplate to be installed. I priced out being able to tow 4 wheel down and it was coming in around 2000 with out any braking. I can purchase a tow dolly for about 700 used. 2 grand just seemed like a lot to spend on when I will only tow once or twice a year.
  • mowermech's avatar
    mowermech
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2016
    You can put the front wheels on the dolly IF you remove the rear driveshaft before towing.
    I do not know of ANY 4X4 or all wheel drive that the manufacturer says can be dolly towed!
    If you put the rear wheels on the dolly and unlock the front hubs, the steering MUST be firmly tied with the front wheels exactly straight.
    A perfectly adequate towbar can be bought at Walmart for about $165, or from Harbor Freight for about $60. Magnetic lights for the rear of the vehicle can be bought at Harbor Freight for about $10 to $20, depending on the current sale price. A tracker is light enough that a braking system should not be a worry.

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