Towing

[jrjr2u]

I have a 97 sport thats pretty rusty. Recently I found a 98 thats about 300 miles south of me... it has a bad motor but is rust free and cheap. Would I be able to tow that home? I was thinking about using a tow bar.

My sport has the towing package with tranny cooler. It's got 113,000 on it and runs good.

The 98 has an automatic tranny. Will that be an issue? Would I have to unhook the driveshafts to prevent tranny damage?

Any other concerns with towing? I will have a few mountains to climb....

Thanks

 

[my pos mounty]

I would find a friend that has a full size pickup truck, and rent one of those car dollies.

 

[kert0307]

A tow bar would probably work, but you would want to take the drive shafts out of the one being towed because it's bad to tow them in neutral.

I have towed a B2 with my sport. I don't know if I would want to tow it 300 miles though. I pulled this down I80 for about 50 miles, and it was do-able, but I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[96eb96]

I have a 97 sport thats pretty rusty. Recently I found a 98 thats about 300 miles south of me... it has a bad motor but is rust free and cheap. Would I be able to tow that home? I was thinking about using a tow bar.

My sport has the towing package with tranny cooler. It's got 113,000 on it and runs good.

The 98 has an automatic tranny. Will that be an issue? Would I have to unhook the driveshafts to prevent tranny damage?

Any other concerns with towing? I will have a few mountains to climb....

Thanks

You can pay a dealer to program the GEM to set the transfer case into a tow mode. I know it can be done on my 96. Just be aware that there is an option there, but you would have to bring the dead ex to the dealer.

Probably taking off the driveshafts are your best bet.

Problem with towing is that there is no active lubrication in the rear section of the trans and your risk damaging seals and even gears.

Also, isn't the weight limit for towing on the V6 ex 3500Lbs? And mountains! If you do this make sure you have pristine trans fluid.(I wouldn't!). You may need the donor trucks trans after this.

 

[my pos mounty]

I wouldn't tow one with a tow bar up and down mountains. No thank you.
Yep, remove those driveshafts, but mark 'em how they came off first. Made that mistake on mine, took a while to get them back in the right orientation to rid myself of that annoying vibration.
Seriously consider borrowing a friends (or relatives) full size pick up and renting a dolly. Safest, easiest way to go. Rental place might give you a hard time about towing an Exploder on the dolly, they wouldn't let me rent one because I mentioned a Mountaineer. They told me the truck was too heavy for the dolly, it was total bullshyt. I told them I was going to tow an Escort, no problem then. Towed the Mountaineer from Southern Connecticut to Eastern New Hampshire (230 miles, a few big hills in western Mass) without a problem. Used an Expedition to tow it with.

 

[Verno]

If you don't have a friend with a pickup, you could still do it with a trailer like Kert did. Biggest issue you face is lack of pulling power. Remember that it will also take you longer (farther) to stop.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I don't think the sport would be up to pulling it on a trailer. The mono leaf rear probably isn't stout enough. I also wouldn't be looking forward to a tow bar, up and down the mountains as mentioned before. 300 miles of hills is asking quite a bit. Is your sport a 5 speed? What's the gear ratio?

 

[kert0307]

If you don't have a friend with a pickup, you could still do it with a trailer like Kert did. Biggest issue you face is lack of pulling power. Remember that it will also take you longer (farther) to stop.

If you are towing through mountains, I would NOT tow it like I did. I have "custom" leafs in the rear that are about 1000 lbs over stock and 4.10 geared axles. The few hills I encountered in my drive were fun to say the least. That was one of the few times that my sport's engine was actually lugged down with OD off.