hey folks, ive done plenty of research on the topic, but everyones situation differs and feedback is always relative...

Firstly here is my situation, my buddy needs me to tow his car to a race track 350 kms away from where we live, montreal,qc <> shannonville, on . Canadian eh?
So, were planning on doing this with a tow dolly (uhaul 2 wheels towed, 2 wheels on road). Any help hints, advice, comments welcomed, id liek to be prepared for it.

MY Jeep:
4dr jk sahara 2007
auto
Tow package
Swapped out 4:10 for 4:56
Detroit locker in the rear
db performace exhaust by corsa
flat fenders
Superchips (posible tow tune)
275/70/18 Fierce attitude M/T 33" (33.4 inches) (e load range) on XD CRANK rims.
no bumpers winches anything.

HIS car.
1992 honda crx
weight ~2000lbs


Desination:
Montreal to shannon ville, the elevation change is very small, from 100 feet above sea level to around 500 feet above seal level, so the trip will mostly be flat highway.

Questions:

Aux tranny cooler? will i need it?
Should i tow with or withotu o/d? my concern is that od/off im hitting 3k rpm at 90 km/h!!!
Anything i should worry about?
What hitch should i get 2 inch drop 3 inche drop?
Anything i need to know? concerns?

Thanks in advance, i really dont wanna end up getting hurt or hurting my jeep in the process!

 

I can't speak to the gear change. That might offset the need or O/D. As for the weight, you are going to have zero issue with 2000lbs as the Jeep is rated 3500. I assume the detroit locker isn't a welded locker, but allows for outside wheel spin when not engaged so no problems there.
I've towed a 2k boat/motor and trailer 4 hours down highway with zero issues.
You should be fine.

 

Thanks for your swift response! i forgot to add the dolly is an extra 750 lbs apparently, which would push it to towing 2750 if im correct?

Would you advise i put in a trans cooler?

 

I just towed a trailer with 2 atvs and about 500 pounds of wood on it.

4.10's, automatic, 35" tires, also a 2007 so, weak engine and 4 speed auto.

It was sluggish, but I was just hanging out with the truckers at a cool 60mph in overdrive, which put me at about 1550 rpm (yeah, really low). Total trailer weight was probably around 3000 pounds, and the entire back of the jeep was backed to the brim with camping equipment. Yes it was sluggish, yes it would downshift to third at any incline really, but it worked.

And surprisingly, I got 17mpg.

You have slightly smaller tires, and 4.56's, with a little bit less weight, you should be fine really.

About the trans cooler, I would recommend it, not because you'll need it (I don't have one and it was still fine), but because they're nice to have in general, and pretty cheap to put on, but in no way necessary.

 

I'll throw my 0.02 out there. I have a 13 JKUR auto with 4:10's. I recently towed a UHaul 5x8 trailer loaded to the gills from North Carolina to Alabama. Total weight 2685 lbs (had to weigh everything to get reimbursed), total distance 587 miles (944 km), varying terrain from flat, to rolling hills, to fairly decent inclines. I set the cruise control on 71 mph and sat back. It would down shift half way up long hills or earlier on the steeper ones. Only rarely would it drop more than one gear and if it did I came off of cruise control. Overall an easy drive. Trailer followed well, very little if any sag on the rearend, and no loss of control when passed by a semi. I averaged about 14-15 mpg through the entire trip. I am about to tow the same configuration from Alabama to Georgia with no hesitation.

 

I tow a 2200 lb boat almost every weekend for about 150 miles to the keys. I have Toyo 37 and a 6 inch lift on 488 gears. Stock configuration on the motor and i have yet to have an issue. Once you get it rolling the weight doesn't matter anymore. Only thing i would watch is don't accelerate like a bat out of Hell and watch your stopping distance. We all know these things don't stop very well already.

 

hey guys thanks for the input, i will instal aux cooler.
regarding brakes, ill see into swapping to drilled and slotted disks, should help a bit i suppose!

 

To get the total tow weight you need to know how much the tow dolly weighs.

Also, the tools, ice chests, spares, etc all get added to the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight regardless of whether they are in the Jeep or in the Honda.

Edit: Knowledgeable people here on the forum recommend against drilled rotors on vehicles that go off-pavement because the holes tend to get particles in them which then score the brake pads. Just drive a bit slower, look ahead, and try to avoid panic stops.

 

Are you renting the tow dolly? If so there is a chance u-haul won't rent it to you unless you have the hard top on your jeep.

 

Get a cooler, regardless of towing. Cheap insurance.

Base OD On/Off on how often it downshifts. OD Off will be better for the transmission, but if it will stay in OD for the flatter roads, go for it.

You know which trailer you will be using, so just drive over there, back up to one, and compare the heights. much easier than guessing.

Towing a light vehicle on a light dolly, the weight won't be an issue at all.

You're going to a race, not 'in' a race, just drive easy and you'll be fine.