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Geo Tracker bracket height, measurement requested.

March 14, 2013, 01:23:52 pm

If anyone is towing a Geo Tracker with a Blue Ox towbar, I sure would appreciate a measurement of how high the attachment pins for the bar to the car are above the road.  I've got my coach blocked up, exhaust system off waiting for parts and need to fabricate a mount for the Geo so can't really get any good measurements at this point. 

Thanks, Chuck

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Re: Geo Tracker bracket height, measurement requested.

Reply #1 – March 14, 2013, 01:47:58 pm

Chuck, I have a 1996 Geo Tracker, two wheel drive, two door, soft top. I fabricated my own brackets so that the come out the bumper slot that goes behind the front license plate. I had to alter the plastic bumper cover a bit in order to get the brackets the same width as the Blue Ox tow bar we have. Our tow bar is the type that creates a closed triangle when attached to the Geo. Each bar has a sliding collar that when unlocked allows the bar(s) to be telescoped shorter. Each bracket (on the Geo) has two protruding bars about an inch apart, on each side, mounted on the inside of the frame.
We have towed the Geo about 9,000 miles so far with no problems. The hitch in our '89 GV and the brackets on the Geo are pretty parallel to the ground.
Sorry I can't give you any actual measurements as the Geo is canted up in the air waiting for me to install a new starter. The coach is in storage about 17 miles away.

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Reply #2 – March 14, 2013, 03:47:20 pm

The PO of mine put the bracket under the front bumper.  I have to use an 8 inch drop receiver on the coach end.  It is very low to the ground but seems to work ok.  I have to watch the electric hookup dragging on the ground.

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Reply #3 – March 14, 2013, 06:16:24 pm

Chuck,

I have a 95 sidekick with a blue ox setup similar to nitehawk that was on it when I bought it.  The pins connecting the plate to the frame are 11" from the ground and the pins connecting the tow bar to the baseplate are 17" from the ground. It works very well for the minnie winnie I own (5000 miles),  and well so far (500 miles) with my U300.  I use a straight hitch for the minnie and a 2" drop hitch for the U300.  There were about 50000 towed miles with this same setup on my Zuki before I bought it.  I can send you some pics if you need them.

Dwayne,

Did you have to replace the flywheel on your tracker?  Is everything fixed and is it running good?

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Reply #4 – March 15, 2013, 09:40:15 am

Thanks everybody.  Looks like I'm going to go a route similar to Nitehawk's.  I really prefer to fabricate and weld my own assembly rather than the Goldbergish factory base plate bolted on.  Will post results when complete. 

I bought a basket case Tracker with the front differential and housing in pieces.  In putting it all back together I've developed an appreciation for just how ruggedly built this little rig is.  The frame is massive and heavy, cast brackets and parts are stout and well bolted in with plenty of fasteners.  Got it back together and am amazed with it's 4x4 capability, this little dude will climb trees. 

Chuck

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Reply #5 – March 15, 2013, 01:33:40 pm

Chuck,

I would like to see your modified tow brackets and baseplate  when you finish making them.  Are you going to modify anything else to your tracker such as suspension or larger tires?  I can also attest to the ruggedness and versatility of these tough little trucklets.  I have 235x75x15 tires on stock rims and the rest of it is basically stock but I plan on adding an old man emu lift kit from Rocky Road Outfitters (shocks and springs only) specifically designed for these trucklets for better ride and handling Tracker Lift: Suzuki Sidekick, Vitara, XL7 & Tracker Lift Kits.  They also have other add ons to make it a serious 4x4.

Check these websites out if you're not familiar with them already for tons of info on mods and parts available.  As a toad I will use mine for 90% highway and 10% offroad.  These little SUVs can be modified to a serious rock climber as some guys have done.  Tracker ranch is in east Texas.

http://www.trackerranch.com/
ZUKIWORLD Online
Suzuki-Forums.com
NUDI Suzuki Salvage

Have fun!

Jerry

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Reply #6 – March 15, 2013, 03:34:13 pm

Has anyone removed the steering wheel lock on their Tracker/Suzuki ? It is a pain having to open the hood and connect/disconnect the battery just because the ignition key has to be in the unlocked position. I have a knob disconnect on the negative post but wouldn't need it if the steering wheel lock is disabled.

Anybody done it? How?

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Reply #7 – March 15, 2013, 06:52:44 pm

nitehawk,

Wyatt Sabourin has a Suzuki X-90 ( 2 seater sport convertible similar to sidekicks/trackers) and he gave us the procedure he used for removing the steering lock on another post on dinghy towing.  I haven't removed mine yet but here's the way he did it.

"The steering lock on the X90 is on the bottom of the steering column. I removed the press pin fixing the round cover, then removed the plunger which locked the steering and the spring which pushed the plunger up when the key was removed (actually spring and plunger just fell out). I found this mechanism with a visual inspection and a hunch - did not know result until it was done, but knew I could reinstall if not the steering lock".
 
If ours is similar, this should work.  (thanks Wyatt)

Jerry
 

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Reply #8 – March 15, 2013, 10:42:02 pm

Thanks Jerry. I had tried to find the post once before but was looking under Geo and/or Tracker.

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Reply #9 – March 18, 2013, 01:44:38 pm

Jerry,

Yes, replaced the flywheel but they could never get the fluid leak stopped.  Turns out the housing was cracked and just messing with it caused it to start leaking.  It was leaking right over the exhaust and smoking, particularly at a stop light.  They welded it up.  Seems to be ok but I am concerned about the two second delay shifting into reverse.  Shifts great otherwise. 

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Reply #10 – March 19, 2013, 07:58:31 pm

Dwayne,

Were you able to tell what caused the broken flywheel and cracked bell housing?

Since I have a 5 speed I'm not sure if the slight delay is normal and not something to worry about unless there is slippage or hard shifting.  Does it do this cold and after it warms up?

Hopefully, someone on the forum may have experience with this and could weigh in. I checked in my manuals and on the Zuki/tracker forums and only found one mention of this and he thought it might be normal or a safety feature.  Was it doing this before you had it serviced and is the tranny fluid fresh (no burn't smell) and at the proper level?  Sometimes a tranny fluid change or treatment is all it takes, or checking the linkage for adjustment.  I would ask the guys who serviced it also.

Good luck,

Jerry

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