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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: KingNeptune on September 04, 2014, 09:01:52 pm
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Hey all. I need to get my 1974 GMC Jimmy from Boise Id to Coeur d'Alene Idaho. (about 400 miles) It doesn't run. Needs carb, battery, and new crank and bearings. Nobody rents tow dollies or flatbed trailers for these full sized rigs. So, I need to flat tow it. Here's the setup: 350, 4spd Transmission, NP203 Transfer case. Manual lock out hubs. Can I flat tow this by making sure the hubs are unlocked, tranny and transfer case in neutral? I thought I read somewhere that to flat tow it, the tranny needed to be in 2nd. Or would I just be better off removing the drivelines and making sure the hubs are running free? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Eric
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This is the service manual, check page 8
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/7387CKMans//Service/ST_330_74_1974_Chevrolet_Light_Truck_Service_Manual.pdf
If you are going for a long distance, I would remove both driveshafts and put the front hubs unlocked and you need to lock the steering wheel straight.
I would find a dolley and remove the rear driveshaft though...
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This is the service manual, check page 8
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/7387CKMans//Service/ST_330_74_1974_Chevrolet_Light_Truck_Service_Manual.pdf
If you are going for a long distance, I would remove both driveshafts and put the front hubs unlocked and you need to lock the steering wheel straight.
I would find a dolley and remove the rear driveshaft though...
This for sure. I have tried to rent a dolly for these trucks, they do not have them wide enough. I have seen only a couple wide enough and they were modified especially for trucks.
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Why lock the steering wheel straight? What happens? I would have thought that I would need to leave it unlocked?
Thanks for the info.
Oh. And thanks for the service manual link CaptKaos.
Eric
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if you mean flat tow as in hook a chain/strap to the tow vehicle and just pull the vehicle being towed that takes two people one person in the tow rig and one in the truck being towed to steer and operate the brakes.
locking the steering wheel isnt going to work at all.
400 miles is a heck of a trip and i dont know about your state but it may be illegal.
removing both driveshafts would be the best bet. after that it doesnt matter what gear the tranny or case is in.
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I would highly recommend you get a truck and trailer to haul it. If you attempt to hook it up without a tow bar, you will be dragging a tin can on a string behind your truck. Even if you remove the drive shafts, free the hubs and lock the steering wheel, your truck in tow will end up veering from one side to the other until something really bad happens. If you have a tow bar then its different. Its like the tongue of a trailer that mounts to the from. At that point you can pull and stop the vehicle by the power of the towing truck. I would recommend either the tow bar or the flat bed. Everything else is too unsafe and illegal.
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Yeah. I'll be using a tow bar. Guess I should have specified that in my original post.
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if you keep the drive shafts in the shaft will turn the transmissions gears and what not but not the pump to lube everything and it will burn up
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Thanks Irish. Is the steering wheel lock strong enough? Or do I need something stronger? And If I need something stronger, what would you suggest?
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It will fit on a normal U-haul auto transport trailer
Depending on the tires
I got a 76 K-10 on one. 31x10 Tires scrubbed the trailer fenders
So you may need skinny tires
What is your tow vehicle ?
It's gotta be larger than the car you're towing
You will need a small winch to get a dead vehicle on he trailer
A 2500 lb winch and a portable jump box or long jumper cables
Just don't tell the rental clerk what you're hauling
Tell em it's a Toyota 4 runner or jeep
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My tow vehicle is my 1979 K10. So, that's another problem with using an auto transport trailer like the ones U-Haul carries. I think with the Jimmy and the trailer, the weight will be too much for the 1/2 ton.
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It should be fine
I towed mine with a 04 expedition
I'm sure it handles better than an older truck but the wheelbase and power is about the same
THe u haul trailer has automatic brakes
Just don't get in a hurry
50-55 max
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You can haul it with a k10. Ive hauled 5 ton of alfalfa on a 25ft goose neck with my k10 wouldnt do it again, but it was a necessary risk and it was short distance on mostly flat ground and the trailer axles supported most of the weight. A tow bar and a k10 would be enough. Just try to get the wheels as straight as possible when you lock the wheel. The wheel lock already in the vehicle would be enough. Free the hubs and pull the drive shafts. Dont forget safety chains and the "in tow" sign and trailer lights that plug into your trailer plug. The lights mount on the back of the vehicle for safety. Youll be fine.
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You go to uHaul and rent car trailer cuz you need to tow your brothers 95 Honda Accord. It's the kinda blueish 4-door model.
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reg steering lock will be ok. farmers do it all the time behind tractors. just make sure to give yourself plenty of room to stop and watch the speed
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U-haul trailers will not fit one of these trucks on it.
Unless it is an extra wide one (depending on the size of the tires, my truck with 33x12.5x15 tires measures out to 82" wide, which is what you will need between the wheel wells of the trailer) or unless you load the rear of the truck first, in which case if it has a engine in it all the weight will be at the back of the trailer instead of the middle or towards the front.
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http://www.etrailer.com/question-60389.html
This link from trailer.com says not to lock out the steering. And I've flat towed a vehicle before, a 1951 chevy, and we didn't lock the steering on it. And it towed perfectly. And I know I've seen vehicles flat towed behind motorhomes, and when they pull into a parking lot, I've seen the steering wheel turn.
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http://www.etrailer.com/question-60389.html
This link from trailer.com says not to lock out the steering. And I've flat towed a vehicle before, a 1951 chevy, and we didn't lock the steering on it. And it towed perfectly. And I know I've seen vehicles flat towed behind motorhomes, and when they pull into a parking lot, I've seen the steering wheel turn.
Technically you are right. If you lock the steering wheel straight and you are towing with a tow bar, as you turn the truck would want to go straight.
I think everyone was thinking tow dolly, in which case you do lock the steering wheel, the dolly does the turning.
Are you going to be towing with a tow bar that is attached solid to the front of the truck ?
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no bake i was wrong lol. sad part is we towed my 82 k20 frame before. it was just the frame so we couldn't lock the wheel. i edited my old post so there would be no confusion
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U-haul trailers will not fit one of these trucks on it.
Unless it is an extra wide one (depending on the size of the tires, my truck with 33x12.5x15 tires measures out to 82" wide, which is what you will need between the wheel wells of the trailer) or unless you load the rear of the truck first, in which case if it has a engine in it all the weight will be at the back of the trailer instead of the middle or towards the front.
Mine 77 K-10 fit
It was tight. But it fit
Uhaul will tell you it won't fit
Had 31x15.50 on 10" rims
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http://www.etrailer.com/question-60389.html
This link from trailer.com says not to lock out the steering. And I've flat towed a vehicle before, a 1951 chevy, and we didn't lock the steering on it. And it towed perfectly. And I know I've seen vehicles flat towed behind motorhomes, and when they pull into a parking lot, I've seen the steering wheel turn.
Technically you are right. If you lock the steering wheel straight and you are towing with a tow bar, as you turn the truck would want to go straight.
I think everyone was thinking tow dolly, in which case you do lock the steering wheel, the dolly does the turning.
Are you going to be towing with a tow bar that is attached solid to the front of the truck ?
Yeah. I'll be towing with a tow bar. I actually found one of the old ones on craigslist that mounts to the old style bumpers. Pretty stoked about it because now I won't have to worry about taking the bumper off to mount it to the bumper mounting holes in the bumper. And I don't have to worry about a mounting plate. The only thing I'll have to worry about is pulling over about every 50 miles or so to make sure it's still tight.
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U-haul trailers will not fit one of these trucks on it.
Unless it is an extra wide one (depending on the size of the tires, my truck with 33x12.5x15 tires measures out to 82" wide, which is what you will need between the wheel wells of the trailer) or unless you load the rear of the truck first, in which case if it has a engine in it all the weight will be at the back of the trailer instead of the middle or towards the front.
Mine 77 K-10 fit
It was tight. But it fit
Uhaul will tell you it won't fit
Had 31x15.50 on 10" rims
My post said, 33x12.5x15. anything above that will not fit. I have never had anything smaller than that on any of my trucks. Never liked the look of the smaller tire I guess.
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U-haul trailers will not fit one of these trucks on it.
Unless it is an extra wide one (depending on the size of the tires, my truck with 33x12.5x15 tires measures out to 82" wide, which is what you will need between the wheel wells of the trailer) or unless you load the rear of the truck first, in which case if it has a engine in it all the weight will be at the back of the trailer instead of the middle or towards the front.
Mine 77 K-10 fit
It was tight. But it fit
Uhaul will tell you it won't fit
Had 31x15.50 on 10" rims
My post said, 33x12.5x15. anything above that will not fit. I have never had anything smaller than that on any of my trucks. Never liked the look of the smaller tire I guess.
I'm with ya there
This truck now has 33s on it and I'm considering trimming the fenders a little and running 35s
For putting it on the trailer you can put small stock size spare tires on the front axle
It's the width in the front that's the issue
Since the front axle on these trucks seem to be wider than the rear
The size of the rears doesn't matter on the u haul trailer