Experience Towing for the first time with my V10

cellularSTEVE · 11-17-2007, 02:36 PM

Last weekend I went to Panamint Valley Days and for the first time towed my Jeep Cherokee on a flatbed trailer with my V10 SMB.

I installed a Tekonsha Brake Controller (thanks Jage for your writeup on mounting it-though I chose a diferent place), Prodigy model.

I was very pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to tow. I had previousy thought, man I don't have a diesel so this thing will really bog down. Well I was wrong. This was a 225mile each way trip including some good eleveation gain.

While I did of course drive carefully and slower than normal, I averaged 55-60mph. At one fillup I calculated getting 10mpg, which was better than I anticipated. Alot of guys with pickups towing ATVs passed me doing 70-75, i felt comfortable at 60.

Becuase i just used a regular hitch I did get some of that rocking motion but not too bad at all. I will probably get one of those other leveling type hitches which should improve the ride from what Ive been told.

Bottom line is that the gasser SMB V10 ran great. I look forward to towing with it again.

Steve

jage · 11-17-2007, 04:46 PM

The rocking means you have too little or too much tongue weight, moving your XJ a few inches can change the whole ride. I've heard you should have about 500lbs tongue weight but I just go by ride. On my way out to Phoenix from Indy I moved a 50lb box of tools from the back of my TJ to the front storage on the trailer and it totally changed the ride.

I've been meaning to ask for pics of your XJ... here's mine (unfortunately retired):

cellularSTEVE · 11-18-2007, 11:42 PM

Hi Jage,

Thanks for the pics of your XJ, pretty cool. Too bad its retired.

I did move mine a few inches each way on the trailer and did notice a differnce. My wifes uncle who loaned me the trailer said that the other type of hitch (with those bars) really helps eliminate any rocking and transfers some of the weight to the front axle.

I may get one of those hitches but will try moving the Jeep around further.

BTW...I haven't figured out where to upload my photos. I have some good shots from last weekend of the XJ with the SMB in Panamint.

I guess I can see if I can upload to google or can you suggest somewhere???

Steve

jage · 11-19-2007, 06:03 PM

If they are small or you can resize them you can use the "My Album" button above. There is a sticky post in "Show & Tell" that explains the whole process.

If they are too big there are other places to upload, I'm not sure what's good but it's best to make sure you can link to them (like google /picasaweb doesn't allow links as far as I know)

lowracer · 11-19-2007, 06:06 PM

imageshack is good for uploading photos... www.imageshack.us. It's free and I've used them for years.

cellularSTEVE · 11-19-2007, 11:09 PM

They go hand in hand.

Steve

jage · 11-20-2007, 08:08 AM

Wow, that makes mine look like a hillbilly shack in western Tennessee!

Very nice.

cellularSTEVE · 11-20-2007, 11:58 PM

jage,
do you do any rock crawling since you no longer have the XJ?

steve

Here is another pic:

jage · 11-21-2007, 08:23 AM

No, I have the rock rails, bumpers, and skid plates just waiting until I can have another XJ. I keep telling my wife it would be easier to move them if we had some sort of rolling object to hang them on... but my Jeep life caught SMBus-interruptu$ so they'll just continue to be parts for now.

cellularSTEVE · 11-21-2007, 09:47 AM

I hear you on that.

If you ever decided to get another XJ, and can convince the boss (that's what we all call our wives-right?), I have a '92 that I started to build. It has got custom made rock crawling bumpers front and rear, custom rock rails, and interior roll cage. Only has 65,000 miles or so and was just tuned up 4 months ago. It has been garaged for years, was primed for paint. I plan on putting up for sale early next year once i get it out of storag and clean it up. Just a thought...since the holidays are coming up.

Steve