Towing vehicle...help!

Topic: Towing vehicle...help! (Read 1777 times) previous topic - next topic

Towing vehicle...help!

October 31, 2013, 09:58:32 am

I am not sure if any of you remember, but I work in the Catastrophe Claims Office for a large insurance company and we are building a new Mobile Response Unit (MRU) to respond to catastrophic events. Fortravel built our chassis and now our vendor is customizing it to our specific needs. I am now researching the best vehicle to be used as a 'support vehicle' to be flat towed behind the MRU. I am getting a lot of conflicting answers on the web and from auto manufacturers. The motorhome websites list numerous vehicles they stated can be flat towed, but when our fleet department reaches out to the auto manufactures, the get the stock, 'we don't recommend that' and our fleet guys get all itchy about possible voiding of the warranty.

So to make a long question short (too late, I know) with no consideration of make or model, SUV, car, or truck, what new model vehicles to you know and/or recommend for my above purpose. We would likely purchase or lease this vehicle new.

Thanks in advance - T. J.

PS - I know how I like pictures on posts, so I have attached the lastest pictures of our IH-45 as it was received from Foretravel and before work started by our custom vendor.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #1 – October 31, 2013, 10:01:49 am

If money is no object I'd say Jeep Grand Cherokee or Wrangler. I think Jeep actively supports their product for this purpose.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #2 – October 31, 2013, 10:04:03 am

WOW, Great looking UTILITY vehicle. No Foretravel ID on it anywhere ?
Gary B

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #3 – October 31, 2013, 10:36:04 am

Dwayne - I saw where the Jeep Grand Cherokee was an option, but that was one of the manufactures who stated, 'They don't recommend it'

Bob - No Foretravel branding on it anywhere, that I recall.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #4 – October 31, 2013, 10:56:13 am

Get a crew cab 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup, maybe diesel. Great utility for your disaster sites. Check Ramco website or FMCA website for lists of what can be towed 4 down without modification.

Keep us informed

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #5 – October 31, 2013, 10:56:50 am

May be Remco...

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #6 – October 31, 2013, 11:01:22 am

There definitely seems to be a lot of confusion about flat towing.

You should be able to figure out which Ford models are flat towable by reading Fords towing guides. Unfortunately, not much there I would recommend in the 2013/2014 model year. Except maybe a nice F250/F350 with manual tranfercase.

2014: http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/14FLRVTTgde_Sep9.pdf

All years: Towing Guides | fleet.ford.com

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #7 – October 31, 2013, 11:04:02 am

The basic "Grand Cherokee Laredo" is not flat-towable. At least in all the earlier Jeep Cherokee model years. Only the Limited and Overland models, with true selectable (part-time) four-wheel drive with a "neutral" selectable transfer case are flat-towable. The 2014 models may well be difference, but I concur with the previous statement regards Jeeps being land-mark tow'ds.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #8 – October 31, 2013, 11:33:29 am

The Jeep Wranglers with manual transmissions can all be flat-towed (all four down). In fact, they cannot be towed on a dolly (with the front wheels up and rear wheels down). Seems to me that a 4-door Wrangler Rubicon would make an amazing vehicle for your purposes. Locking differentials and a winch along with being somewhat lifted with larger tires over the standard Wrangler.

Here is a description of the process: Jeep Parts, Jeep Accessories & Jeep Soft Tops From The Jeep Parts Experts -

Craig

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #9 – October 31, 2013, 11:35:35 am

Yes we remember. Last week at the factory I asked about your coach.

As an insurance agent in the Midwest I recommend high ground clearance and 4 wheel drive in case you have to go to rural locations after a storm.

That said my first choice would be a 4 door Wrangler because they are designed to tow; the steering column doesn't lock so you can remove the key and lock the door while towing, and there is a direct plug in available to adapt the lights without having to splice any wires on the Jeep. Another bonus on mine is the 110v outlet from the factory that is handy for a laptop.

Glad to send pictures of my hookup for you.

We have towed Tahoe and Suburban with no issues (4 wheel drive only, not all wheel drive) but this Wrangler has been perfect as well as moderately priced.

Just hook up, put the transfer case in neutral, take the key out, lock the door and go.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #10 – October 31, 2013, 11:56:14 am

What are your "mission needs" once you arrive on site? How many seats? 4wd? What loads beyond people will you need to carry? Jeep may me great, but if you need to carry 4x8 sheets of material or 60 cases of drinking water it won't work. Tow vehicle can also be trailer to bring stuff to disaster.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #11 – October 31, 2013, 01:52:13 pm

Our mission needs are really twofold. Transportation for the driver and staff of the MRU once we arrive on site and second, storage. I like the Grand Cherokee solution, but need to figure out how to explain to our fleet guys that although it is not 'recommended', it is possible with the right transmission.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #12 – October 31, 2013, 03:10:09 pm

The new F150 4X4 is towable 4 down. It is stated in the owners manual the procedure on how to put the trans in true neutral for towing behind an RV.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #13 – October 31, 2013, 03:31:32 pm

Quote from: Mebetj15 – October 31, 2013, 01:52:13 pm

Our mission needs are really twofold. Transportation for the driver and staff of the MRU once we arrive on site and second, storage. I like the Grand Cherokee solution, but need to figure out how to explain to our fleet guys that although it is not 'recommended', it is possible with the right transmission.

If you must document the fact that a vehicle is recommended for towing 4 down then look at the new 2014 Cherokee. It says right on the Jeep main page "The Jeep® Active Drive II 4x4 system with low-range is great for rock crawling and has a neutral mode for flat towing behind an RV.".

Here is a link: 2014 Jeep Cherokee | SUV with 9 Speed Auto Transmission | Jeep

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #14 – October 31, 2013, 03:37:53 pm

begin with the end in mind.

When you get to the disaster, what capabilities do you news from the support vehicle? Once you decide those requirements, only look at vehicles that meet those needs.

I tow a Honda Element, perfect for my mission requirements. What are your mission requirements?

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #15 – October 31, 2013, 05:08:31 pm

Is it possible that the mfgrs are telling you 'not recommended' because they consider you a commercial enterprise?

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #16 – October 31, 2013, 05:22:56 pm

Holy cow Mark, that is exactly the info I was looking for. I copied and pasted the link and the snippet and forwarded to my fleet guy! Thanks!

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #17 – October 31, 2013, 07:07:07 pm

I would think that the task would drive the selection. Places for tools, parts, emergency supplies, extra generator capacity, fuel storage, additional covered work/support space (big heavy duty tents like they use at golf tournaments. I would think that diesel would be the fuel of choice for everything to only have a single fuel to deal with. A diesel engine with a giant alternator and a few secondary batteries and a good inverter would be nice. You gan get engine drive 110v generators.

Maybe a custom built EarthRoamer to go along with your custom Foretravel.
EarthRoamer » EarthRoamer Xpedition Vehicle Models

The more you can do the more service you can provide and the more notice you will generate.

How much fun is this to think about!

Roger

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #18 – October 31, 2013, 07:44:59 pm

We tow a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport ... automatic, 4WD, 4 door, high ground clearance and plenty of storage and the ability for roof racks of all kinds. It is super easy to tow with very little modification. If you are going to be in areas with damage from disasters, you need something rugged and easy to drive.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #19 – October 31, 2013, 07:52:06 pm

I think Wrangler is winning. Thanks for letting us vote.

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #20 – October 31, 2013, 09:18:16 pm

Another reason I went to a Wrangler is the easy replacement of parts... both body parts and drive parts. Our SUV (not a Wrangler) had a tire blow up and it did $1k of damage. If that had happened to our Wrangler it would have cost no more than $200 and possibly much less. You can buy entire "tubs" (the enclosure for the passengers). They are also easy to protect from roll-over with numerous roll bar solutions up to and including a "cage". Certainly the easiest production vehicle to customize with a plethora of choices.

Heck, for most people they're a hobby all by themselves.

Craig

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #21 – October 31, 2013, 09:29:33 pm

TJ, a couple of items, I am not sure your folks asked the correct question to auto mfgs and I'm not sure the person giving the response knew where to look in the owners guide. It's under Recreational Towing.
Mark sent the best link for you. It's in black and white and has been for years in the Jeep line on how to tow the auto. The first thing I do when looking at a new auto is open the owners manual and read about recreational towing. Don't trust the salesman, as they most likely have no clue what you are talking about.

I think you got your information. The grand Cherokee is an awesome tow car!

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #22 – October 31, 2013, 09:30:43 pm

One more thing, love that awesome paint job on the "Foretravel".

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #23 – October 31, 2013, 11:26:59 pm

How about a new F150 4X4?

Re: Towing vehicle...help!

Reply #24 – November 01, 2013, 11:48:16 am

Pulled a wrangler300k miles with No issues. Now have a grand Cherokee overland and again no issues and it is a very comfy ride too. The book says you need the right transfer case to tow it but with the proper transfer case you will have no issues.

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