I'd tend to agree with Aaron. Definitely don't want to do this without
electric brakes on the trailer. I've used my full-size conversion van to tow
my CJ-7 to the trails on a trailer with no brakes and to bring my Scrambler
back from Michigan where I bought it on a trailer with brakes. Night & day
difference. You do not want to have a lapse in judgement or have to
otherwise make a panic stop without trailer brakes. The last time I towed I
had a large enclosed trailer hitched up to go buy some parts. Was cruising
in the left lane looking for my turn-off when a cop pulled a u-turn,
followed me for a bit, flashed his cherries as a warning for me to move to
the right, then continued to follow me hanging in the left lane just behind
the trailer...needless to say I blew past my turn because of this jerk.
Ticked off, I whipped into a gas station to double-back and realized I was
coming in a bit too hot and had to jam on the brakes to avoid barreling into
the cross street. If not for those trailer brakes I'd have probably
jack-knifed and hit someone. I'm kinda in the same boat as you right now. My
wife wants to get rid of the van since she has to drive it every day (she
refuses to drive my CJ-7) so I'm looking at Durangos, Grand Cherokees, and
Explorers. Even though I don't really want to end up with four vehicles, I
am considering just buying her a car and then doing what Aaron
suggested...buying an older full-size pickup to use as a tow vehicle and
parts/equipment hauler..I do too much DIY stuff around the house to be
without a vehicle with some cargo capacity, and I don't think I want to be
trying to load stuff into the back of a Scrambler with 8"-9" of lift :-)
-Rodney
-----Original Message-----
From: A. S. [mailto:adakota4x4@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 6:51 AM
To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
Subject: Re: DML: 2000 R/T Gooseneck Towing...
Just some thoughts. If you load a conventional double axle trailer
correctly, most of the weight will be on the axles of the trailer.
Personally, I have a 14' double axle trailer that would be more than capable
of pulling a jeep. However, I would look at getting some type of electric
break set-up if I were going to pull that much very often.
Here's another thought that I'm not sure why more people don't take
advantage of. There are tons of old trucks out there. I'm talking anywhere
from late 70's to mid 80's. These trucks may not look like much the
majority of the time, but can be bought for pretty cheap. Heck, if you
eventually tear it up (which for some reason is hard to do on beat up trucks
and easy to do on nice trucks) what have you really lost? I saw a truck
just yesterday that reminded me of this idea. It was a 1987 F-150 300 6cyl
std tranny. I think they were asking 1500 or so. Perfect truck to
use....strong engine....low first gear...may need to beef up the rear
suspension a bit. Anyway, I'll stop rambling now. I wouldn't want to pull
a lot if I had an R/T (personal opinion)
--Aaron--
95 DSRC 4x4 V6
www.geocities.com/adakota4x4_95/
>From: "Andy Rosen" <arosen@s5di.com>
>Reply-To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
>To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
>Subject: DML: 2000 R/T Gooseneck Towing...
>Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 00:01:52 -0500
>
>Hello...I have wild ambitions of using my 2000 R/T to pull a car trailer of
>one form or another (conventional or gooseneck) in order to pull our Jeep
>Wrangler around on our weekend trips. The Jeep weighs in at roughly 3,000
>lbs which is why I was thinking a gooseneck to keep a majority of the
>weight
>off the truck, and on the axles of the trailer.
>
>Anyone have thoughts/opinions on this?
>
>Thanks!
>
>
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