WeGotMud

On The Trail => 4x4 Safety => Topic started by: paul on June 04, 2010, 02:17:06 AM

Title: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 04, 2010, 02:17:06 AM
ok i got this tow bar i plan on useing to haul the tracker with. what i need is tips and advice on how to use it. like what to do what not to do all that. keep in mind I HAVE NEVER USED ONE BEFORE IN MY LIFE lol. so all the help i can get would be nice. thanks
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: ProGrade on June 04, 2010, 01:33:37 PM
Quote from: paul on June 04, 2010, 02:17:06 AM
ok i got this tow bar i plan on useing to haul the tracker with. what i need is tips and advice on how to use it. like what to do what not to do all that. keep in mind I HAVE NEVER USED ONE BEFORE IN MY LIFE lol. so all the help i can get would be nice. thanks
#1 use brackets that attach directly to the frame, NOT the bumper. 
#2 use safety chains, get some lights, or wire the tracker to plug into your tow rig harness, (lights are cheap at harbor freight, I paid 9.95 for mine)
#3 go slow, leave everything in the tracker in neutral, (trans, case, lockouts) and remember your truck brakes are all you've got.
#4 make sure the towbar is level from the front of the tracker to your hitch so it doesnt push your tow rig up or down when you try to stop.
#5 i'm in the process of mounting mine, i'll post pics on the Rusted Reject project when i get it done
#6 keep in mind this is the first truck i have used one on (i towed it 2 miles to get it home with a temporary setup), but i already did a lot of this research so i am just passing it on. 
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: Crazymays77 on June 04, 2010, 01:46:13 PM
I had one on the tracker a couple years ago. I made a steel bumper on the front for tow points and i welded the brackets to that so i knew it wouldnt come off. then i had saftey chains from the tow bar to the tracker and from the tow bar to the tow rig just in case. I wired the tracker up so i could plug it into the tow rig for lights worked good. as pro grade said make sure the tow bar is level when its hooked up. when i lifted the tracker 3 inches and hauled it i bucked all over the place i made a new receiver and it was fine again. if you need help let me know paul. good luck
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 04, 2010, 05:31:21 PM
thanks guys i apprate it
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: ProGrade on June 04, 2010, 05:49:15 PM
 ==np
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 04, 2010, 09:03:25 PM
how did u wire up the traker
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: BIG DOG on June 04, 2010, 09:54:55 PM
i think you put a 4 wire plug on the front              but i think you may like the magnet 1s from harbor freight   in case your lites get covered in mud  ?   
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: crazymama on June 04, 2010, 09:59:08 PM
u can use the mag light too i did that for awhile then i just hated to deal with the wire and light so i wired directly into the headlights and turn signals up front. everything is gutted out of the tracker so i cant look and i dont remember what wires i used. trial and error pretty much.
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 04, 2010, 10:34:06 PM
ok thanks
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 04, 2010, 10:35:13 PM
do i have to have all lights working like the ones in the front and head lights or just the ones in the rear
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: ProGrade on June 04, 2010, 11:47:03 PM
Quote from: paul on June 04, 2010, 10:35:13 PM
do i have to have all lights working like the ones in the front and head lights or just the ones in the rear
just tail turn and brake in the rear
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: Crazymays77 on June 05, 2010, 01:30:30 AM
i think the way i did it it made all of them work.
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 05, 2010, 03:22:01 AM
ok guys i got the lights working like they pose to. now nother question what do i do bout the steering on it lock it leave it what ???
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: ProGrade on June 05, 2010, 11:23:42 AM
leave the trans in neutral, the wheels will automatically follow your tow vehicle.  if you lock the steering it would drag your front wheels when you turn.
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 05, 2010, 03:46:23 PM
so  i leave the sterring wheel unlocked
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: ProGrade on June 05, 2010, 03:49:16 PM
yup sorry i was just thinking about an automatic, if you have the trans in neutral, the wheel is unlocked.
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: Crazymays77 on June 05, 2010, 09:51:44 PM
i turned the key on and just put the tcase in neutral when i towed mine like that. you dont have far to go like i did. i was going 20 miles one way so you should be fine.
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: Crazymays77 on June 05, 2010, 09:53:46 PM
i had an auto trans but i heard that the manual trans trackers you should leave it in gear but i dont think you should do that. something about it not getting fluid to circulate thru the trans but your not going that far so i dont think u will have a problem with that either. just dont drive super fast lol.
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 06, 2010, 03:59:35 AM
well i hauled it out to my dads today. trans in neutral t-case in neutral and the lock outs unlocked and the colum unlooked went down the road good had a funny shimy to it  but hey its all good what ya expect the poor old tracker has been beat to hell its going to have a shimmy of some kind lol
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: ProGrade on June 07, 2010, 12:18:26 AM
Quote from: paul on June 06, 2010, 03:59:35 AM
well i hauled it out to my dads today. trans in neutral t-case in neutral and the lock outs unlocked and the colum unlooked went down the road good had a funny shimy to it  but hey its all good what ya expect the poor old tracker has been beat to hell its going to have a shimmy of some kind lol
feels a little different but it works! pulled mine to the mounds and out to big todds later.  works good.  saw your little s10 at the mounds.
Title: Re: need help tow bar
Post by: paul on June 07, 2010, 03:39:01 AM
yeah it pulls it pretty good