Flat towing

[T1 Terry]

Well you did ask Leslie Why not do it the easy way and buy ours

What, bus and all and get an Alison Auto fitted?

T1 Terry

[Greynomad]

T1, I’d be wary about dropping the tailshaft of a 4WD. You might as well buy a 2WD in the first place!
Re-installing the driveshaft so you can go 4WDIng would become quite tedious.
When we bought Jim the Junior Jeep (Suzi Jimny) new in 2007, the handbook said NO FLAT TOWING under any circumstances.
Said even Gypsy-style stuff was VERBOTEN. If two wheels had to remain on the ground while towing, they had to be the FRONT wheels... impractical, as the steering lock was NOT to be relied upon to keep wheels in the straight-ahead position. (Rarely happened to lock dead-ahead anyway, so ‘crabbing’ would be the problem.)
Trailering was the only option.
Moral: Read the Owner’s Manual carefully!

[Swisslulu]

Well you did ask Leslie Why not do it the easy way and buy ours

Actually, I was thinking about asking because I remember you saying you would prefer to go for a 3 door Suzi. Do you know what yours weighs?

[Swisslulu]

Sorry Dot. I think George already said your Suzi is 1700kg.

[T1 Terry]

T1, I’d be wary about dropping the tailshaft of a 4WD. You might as well buy a 2WD in the first place!
Re-installing the driveshaft so you can go 4WDIng would become quite tedious.
When we bought Jim the Junior Jeep (Suzi Jimny) new in 2007, the handbook said NO FLAT TOWING under any circumstances.
Said even Gypsy-style stuff was VERBOTEN. If two wheels had to remain on the ground while towing, they had to be the FRONT wheels... impractical, as the steering lock was NOT to be relied upon to keep wheels in the straight-ahead position. (Rarely happened to lock dead-ahead anyway, so ‘crabbing’ would be the problem.)
Trailering was the only option.
Moral: Read the Owner’s Manual carefully!

Horses for courses Ray. A front wheel drive run around that can be driven up over a gutter or gully or to the local mechanic to get the tail shaft fitted or removed so you have a potential 4 X 4 and a run around that can be flat towed to avoid have to use a trailer.
The potential problem and solutions are my opinions based on 40 plus yrs as a mechanic who was also a transmission rebuilder, the manual is to cover the factories butt when dealing with those that like to blame someone else and sue for damages .......

T1 Terry

[Greynomad]

T1,
My other objection to flat-towing a 4WD is financial.
A/T tyres cost me $200+ each. Trailer tyres were under $100 each.
I’d rather wear out 2 x <$100 tyres than 4 x $200+ ones for no 4WD activity. Save the A/Ts for the rough stuff they’re designed for.

[T1 Terry]

T1,
My other objection to flat-towing a 4WD is financial.
A/T tyres cost me $200+ each. Trailer tyres were under $100 each.
I’d rather wear out 2 x <$100 tyres than 4 x $200+ ones for no 4WD activity. Save the A/Ts for the rough stuff they’re designed for.

A valid point Ray, but the difference in cost between the trailer, the fuel economy, the trailer rego and insurance and the wear rate of 2 tyres carrying the weight of the Jimny plus trailer
against
4 bigger tyres sharing the weight of the Jimny only and simply rolling over tar roads rather than tearing themselves to bits over stony surfaces trying to get traction
...... I still think the flat tow would win out cost wise. Maybe only marginal either way, but the convenience of not having to find somewhere to park the trailer and keep it secure would win out for me.

T1 Terry

[Greynomad]

We checked the fuel economy on Girt both with & without trailer/Jinmy behind.
The difference is 1 meter/litre. For a 200 litre fuel capacity, that means we travel 200m less per tank.
It takes us a touch more than 3 tanks to get from home to Loxton and back. Without a final splash of diesel, the difference would be that with the trailer on, we'd reach the middle of town, and without the trailer we'd make it to our front gate. We occasionally walk to town on fine days... 650m.
Trailer insurance is included in our m/h policy, Vic rego has rocketed up to $60 (from $54), and we carry a trailer-coupling lock.
Also, re-packing wheel bearings on the trailer is cheaper... and I think after 10 years the cost of the trailer (<$3000) has been thoroughly amortised.

But I think you miss my main point: wearing down expensive A/Ts while not getting the enjoyment of them in the environment for which they are designed... a bit like saving your 3-piece suit for special occasions. ( Although in my former line of work, it was considered almost a uniform.)

[T1 Terry]

Each to their own Ray, I'd much prefer to flat tow than tow a trailer, and I often have to tow a trailer. The difference with both the Mazda and the Hino with or without the trailer is about 200km per tank, so a huge difference in a lower powered motorhome. Those who upgraded from a V8 Cruiser to a Silverardo say the same thing, fuel economy improved and the driving was much easier with the heavier tow vehicle, so I guess that second part is the same when it comes to the size of the motorhome, is the driving easier without a trailer trying to wag the tail ...... After having a fully loaded trailer jack knife in both directions to the point of crushing the rear bumper both sides up a very muddy road in back country Victoria, and Brian's experience with dragging a trailer hanging over the edge trying to avoid it dragging the Mazda backwards over the side (Cuppa & Julie witnessed that one on the way to a Taggerty get together) a vehicle that will stay stable on the road is a real plus behind a smaller motorhome.

T1 Terry

[BernieQ2]

There was no discernible fuel difference with the Suzi behind or off the Isuzu motorhome .
Bernie .