2" Receiver Rating on AT?

[edgear]

You know you have a tough trailer when it can tow another vehicle towing a trailer!!

I would have connected the chasers together behind the 80 and towed the 80 directly behind the tow vehicle. Whooo Whooooooooooo

That might have looked like an Australian road train

 

[Redline]

Not to totally dispel the rumor that I'm a reckless operator of machinery... :roost:

The tow of 24HRSOFNEVADA's broken FZJ80 and his Chaser behind my Chaser/4Runner was only about 10-miles (Do you remember how far J?) and mostly up a steep hill on the shoulder of a freeway, in low-range and at low speeds (25-35). The hill surely added load, but we did it all very smoothly, no jerking.

After cresting the hill we traveled a short distance to a truck pull out. Having done this before I left LOTS of following distance IF I followed anyone at all (on the shoulder), in full radio communication, knowing all the braking was not power-boosted and needed to come from 24HRS. "I'm getting ready to slow down... start the brake application.... I'm off the gas..."

If we are only concerned about the load on the hitch, it was about 10,000-lbs. We weighed both rigs before leaving and both our rigs/trailers were about 8,000-lbs gross, my combo was actually slightly heavier. My loaded 2,000-lb Chaser plus 24HRS FZJ80/Chaser (about 8k) = 10,000-lbs.

I admit, this wasn't a good idea, but it sure was lots easier & faster than hooking up both Chasers behind the 80 with freeway traffic buzzing by.

Next time I'll buy a stronger hitch

To clarify, the J684 test is failure at 3 times the rating i.e. the 6000 lb coupler failed at 18000 lbs of applied forces. Greg at Great Lakes Forge told me that in their testing of the 303/212 configuration, the grade 8 bolts holding the coupler & hitch into the test fixture failed at 18000 lbs, not the coupler but they settled on that rating.

For what it is worth, and this is not safe but Redline towed a series 80 and another Chaser connected to the 2" rear receiver of his Chaser for perhaps 50+ miles to the Expedition Trophy last year when the 80 had blown a head gasket. This is totally not safe IMO. The reason for my opinion in the matter is that had the coupler failed on the towing vehicle, the 80 would have been eating some Chaser. The safer solution would have been to attach the tow strap to a frame mounted tow point on the tow vehicle and run the strap under the first Chaser to the 80 & other Chaser. Nonetheless, I am impressed with the strength of the Lock and Roll as well as the rear receivers on our trailers.

And yes, by all means, use the receiver as a recovery point. Just be sure to follow safe recovery protocol just as you would for a vehicle.

 

[adventureduo]

Redline, i can't believe you didn't take a picture of that!!!! Go do it again! I wanna see!!! :victory:

 

[Martyn]

Not to totally dispel the rumor that I'm a reckless operator of machinery... :roost:

The tow of 24HRSOFNEVADA's broken FZJ80 and his Chaser behind my Chaser/4Runner was only about 10-miles (Do you remember how far J?) and mostly up a steep hill on the shoulder of a freeway, in low-range and at low speeds (25-35). The hill surely added load, but we did it all very smoothly, no jerking.

After cresting the hill we traveled a short distance to a truck pull out. Having done this before I left LOTS of following distance IF I followed anyone at all (on the shoulder), in full radio communication, knowing all the braking was not power-boosted and needed to come from 24HRS. "I'm getting ready to slow down... start the brake application.... I'm off the gas..."

If we are only concerned about the load on the hitch, it was about 10,000-lbs. We weighed both rigs before leaving and both our rigs/trailers were about 8,000-lbs gross, my combo was actually slightly heavier. My loaded 2,000-lb Chaser plus 24HRS FZJ80/Chaser (about 8k) = 10,000-lbs.

I admit, this wasn't a good idea, but it sure was lots easier & faster than hooking up both Chasers behind the 80 with freeway traffic buzzing by.

Next time I'll buy a stronger hitch

This story is going down in the "History of AT" files.

 

[TheGillz]

Redline, i can't believe you didn't take a picture of that!!!! Go do it again! I wanna see!!! :victory:

x2, pics are a requirement of anything remotely as cool as this!!

 

[Redline]

The funny thing is that I take lots of pictures of many things, particularly trucks. But at the time we were hurrying to get to the Expedition Trophy, we were on the shoulder of a busy interstate freeway, and it didn't seem like such a crazy tow job to me at the time ☺

Further off topic...

If I had a digitized picture I would show you guys the time my friend’s Suburban’s alternator caught fire while we were returning from a Christmas Tree cutting day trip. We were on a rural highway about 40-miles from home. I towed him back home with rarely any slack in the tow strap, speeds from 25-55 depending on if it was up or downhill (in 4th/direct on the diesel manual trans), and radio communication.

 

[Martyn]

The funny thing is that I take lots of pictures of many things, particularly trucks. But at the time we were hurrying to get to the Expedition Trophy, we were on the shoulder of a busy interstate freeway, and it didn't seem like such a crazy tow job to me at the time ☺

Further off topic...

If I had a digitized picture I would show you guys the time my friend’s Suburban’s alternator caught fire while we were returning from a Christmas Tree cutting day trip. We were on a rural highway about 40-miles from home. I towed him back home with rarely any slack in the tow strap, speeds from 25-55 depending on if it was up or downhill (in 4th/direct on the diesel manual trans), and radio communication.

James

I think it's time to change your Portal name from "Redline" to "Towline"

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I was wondering how long it was going to take before this tale was made public. Yes, this is a true tale.

All that stood in between us and the ExPo Trophy Coordinates was a Matterhorn sized grade. I hit the start of the incline and didn't let up. as I attempted to pass Redline, my head gasket failed. I lost all power and gently coasted to the shoulder. Not wanting Redline to miss the event I told him to go on without me, that I'd be ok.

Redline was having no part of that with his leave no soldier behind philosophy and offered to tow me to the top of the aformentioned Matterhorn.

With the sunlight dwindling and the prospect of staying on the grade, we decided that we needed to get off the grade post hast, so we hooked up the loaded 80 series to the rear of his Chaser and off we went. We were shooting for the summit as our destination in hopes of cell phone service and a safer place to pull off the roadway.

Redline turned his Mall Crawler turned into the Mall Hauler. Without missing a beat, he hooked us up and away we went. It wasn't 50 miles, but it was a steep climb. The Mall Hauler acted like it was no big deal. I wish we would have had a picture, because it must have been a sight to see. Especially for the dump truck we passed on the way up!!!

At the top we were greeted by a large safe pull out and cell reception. We unhooked, Redline went ahead to scout out the next few off-ramps and I made a phone call to LoCrwln. After speaking with LoCrwln, it was determined that it was more than likely my head gasket. About this time Hilltopper arrived to see what was going on.

The 80 had cooled off, and was running rough, but at least she was running. We all caravanned into camp together.

Just think, if we would have unhooked and re-positioned rigs and trailers (Which we did not have room to do safely) we would have never discovered that this would be possible in emergency situations and poor SoCal would not have the answer he needs to this post.

Oh and the expressions on Mario and Scotty's faces when we related the tale to them was like that of a proud parents. Followed by the caveat, "You know, those aren't rated for that kind of towing." By the way, my cruiser hasn't ran since that trip.