Towing a vehicle

[Billysurf]

We are having a hitch installed on our MCI 102 A2 (24V) and have a couple of questions.  The toad is still debatable as we've found out our Ford Explorer is not towable except on a flat bed or with modification.  We'll be traveling across the country and need it to be road legal (braking, lights etc.).  I know some of this is vehicle specific, but for arguments sake, what is the most economical way to tow a Land Rover for example (2002 Land Rover Discovery ALL AWD V8 4.0L cyl 4-Speed Automatic).  Flat, dolly etc.  I was on the phone with Blue Ox (very helpful) but the cost with braking, light kit etc.  was racking up to be more than this vehicle is even worth!  Looking for insight and appreciate your time!

[luvrbus]

When in doubt trailer it, car hauler trailer are cheap used or new they are a pain to deal with but so is dolly.LOL I have friends that trailer their Jeeps of all things   

[Oonrahnjay]

We are having a hitch installed on our MCI 102 A2 (24V) and have a couple of questions.  The toad is still debatable as we've found out our Ford Explorer is not towable except on a flat bed or with modification.  We'll be traveling across the country and need it to be road legal (braking, lights etc.).  I know some of this is vehicle specific, but for arguments sake, what is the most economical way to tow a Land Rover for example (2002 Land Rover Discovery ALL AWD V8 4.0L cyl 4-Speed Automatic).  Flat, dolly etc.  I was on the phone with Blue Ox (very helpful) but the cost with braking, light kit etc.  was racking up to be more than this vehicle is even worth!  Looking for insight and appreciate your time!  

   There are lots of factors, meaning that "my way" might be different from other bus owners but you're looking at two different issues:

1)  The suitability of the vehicle for towing.  If you're looking for "four-down" tow, there is the question of whether your vehicle's powertrain allows it without damage.  Some vehicles are OK if you just put the transmission in neutral and unlock the steering.  Others may have some complication, such as the transmission won't circulate lubrication unless the engine is running and you'd damage the transmission (or for a 4WD, and/or the transfer box) if you just put it in neutral and tow it four-down.  Some 4WD vehicles have a specific disconnect on the transfer -- put the transfer in neutral and everything idles along OK as the vehicle is being towed.

You have to check the towing information from the manufacturer; many tow-equipment companies compile a list of vehicles and list each model's suitability for towing.

In some cases, you can modify a vehicle (such as adding an auxiliary lubrication pump to a transmission or transaxle, or installing locking hubs on a 4WD or a locking driveshaft disconnect).  Don't expect most of these mods to be cheap.

2)  If you're towing a vehicle, you're going to have the costs of trailer hitch, wiring and brake.  If you're putting your towed car up on a trailer, the issues of wiring/lights and brake are taken care of on the trailer, but they're still costs you're going to incur.  If you're towing four-down or on a two-wheel dolly, you're going to be looking at the cost of a tow-bar or dolly and also wiring/lights and brake.  It's all going to cost you, it's just going to cost you differently.

IN MY OPINION!!!  (And other people's needs and preferences may vary, and that's OK.)  Cars/SUVs/pickups are made to travel down the road on their own four wheels.  Putting one on a dolly means that you're converting a stable vehicle into a wheelbarrow and putting one on a trailer is a big, heavy and complicated way of moving one.  On the other hand, a trailer puts the rubber-on-the-road, suspension, wiring, braking, and tow connection all on one place and it makes backing up pretty easy.
A dolly is hard to back up and you pay a lot for the equipment and still have to work out the wiring/lights and braking; towing four-down, backing up is very close to impossible and you have the tow bar/connector, lights/wiring and brakes to buy and install, but towing is usually easy and stable (if the power train of the vehicle allows it).

It's all compromises, and different questions for everyone, different buses, and different vehicles. Sorry, there are no quick, easy answers.

HTH, and JMO,  BH

[Dave5Cs]

The Quick and easy is, Buy a Jeep. Tow Bar plug in lights, Put it in Neutral -Neutral, surge Brake cable and safety disconnect cable. 4 minute hookup and your on the road again with the toed again......

[scanzel]

I tow a Jeep Liberty four down, put transfer case in neutral, disconnect battery neutral, turn key to unlock steering and connect tow bar. For lights I made a light box to duplicate the 24v lights on the back of my Prevost, I mount it to the roof attached to luggage rack and plug a long cable into 24v plug on bus. Take it off when arrive at destination. When time exists would like to wire directly into Jeeps lights on back but for now this works fine.

[luvrbus]

My Jeeps were all manual transmissions you put the transfer case in neutral and the transmission in 4th gear and off you went in a few minutes, I think the 4th gear deal was just to check to be sure the transfer was in neutral not sure really why they did that  

[lostagain]

Jeep.

[dtcerrato]

There are numerous vehicles out there that allow for easy towing without formalities. We've towed all kinds of vehicles through the years. Some required driveshaft disconnect which we joyfully :-/ did to tow it. Sometimes looking for a tow vehicle that accomodates you is the better choice. Presently (& by our surprise) we ended up with an extremely accommodating tow vehicle, & it would surprise you. It's a 2005 full size Sierra 4x4 Quadrasteer (4 wheel steering). The 4x4 section is all electric push button. Upon hooking it to the tow bar, running in neutral with brake applied you hold 2 wheel high & 4 wheel low buttons for 10 seconds & the whole system dumps into neutral. You put it in park, there is no lock steering on this truck, & drive away forever. It's the coolest setup we have seen & didn't know of it when we purchased it. It pushes the bus well, if needed... The only negative as any 4 tires down is very limited if any reversing.

[luvrbus]

Our GM Envoy is easy you flip a switch and hold it for a few second it unlocks the steering wheel and you can remove the keys and lock the doors and off you go but it is heavy so I had to install a M/G breaking system for brakes I never had to do that on a Jeep.I thinking about going back to a Jeep 

[lvmci]

hi Billy, don't forget about the auxiliary brake for the toad, that some states require. my wrangler was the easiest to tow, but the hardest driving on the freeways in LA. the fiat was the lightest and most comfortable. I felt the most secure with manual lockouts on the jeep, with 4wheel drive had the most adventures. but the fiat gets 40mpg, all were a hassle in LA stop & go. fiats shifter was the easiest. the first toad was a 1997 Honda Accord automatic that was flat towable, that was the best one, lvmci...

[luvrbus]

Tom,no states requires supplemental on a toad,Canada does though ,these supplemental brake manufacture try to do a spin about the weight making you think they are the same as trailer   

[somewhereinusa]

I tow a 95 Disco, but it's a 5 speed. Your owners manual will have the details about towing an automatic. I built my own attachment points for my tow bar and tied into the Disco's wiring for lights. I disabled the steering lock as I have done on other vehicles I have towed. I found an auxiliary braking system on line for less than $100, tow bar was about $100 too.

[B_K]

I tow a 95 Disco, but it's a 5 speed. Your owners manual will have the details about towing an automatic. I built my own attachment points for my tow bar and tied into the Disco's wiring for lights. I disabled the steering lock as I have done on other vehicles I have towed. I found an auxiliary braking system on line for less than $100, tow bar was about $100 too.

Dick I guess I'm going to show my ignorance! But what the heck is a '95 Disco?
I thought Disco was a form of dance that went out of style in the '70's!
  BK 

[luvrbus]

Good one BK but the disco is a range rover model

[Lee Bradley]

I have a 95 Disco (short for Discovery) with automatic and it can be towed any distance any speed. They have a true transfer case that allows a complete disconnect.