Posted by David Sherman on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 at 12:48PM :
In Reply to: Yet another towing question posted by David Sherman on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 at 3:15AM :
It sounds like a unanimous "don't do it". When I got the M37 I towed it from Woodinville to Everett (about 30 miles) using the 1/2 ton, which was empty at the time. It was not fun, but I did it between midnight and 3 AM, stayed below 30 mph and got home safely. I will attempt to flat-tow it up to Smokey Point in a couple of weeks, about 10 miles N of Everett, to get a VIN inspection so I can get a salvage title on it. All I have is a lousy bill of sale that refers to it in a long list of equipment as a "3/4 ton Dodge truck" with no number any kind. It's easier to get a salvage title in Washington than Idaho (at least N Idaho), so I want to do that before I take it out of state. I can go on back roads the whole way there, and if it gets too squirrely, I could disconnect it and drive the M37, but it won't be pretty (wood box for a seat, spongy brakes, no air cleaner).
I'll take your advice and not try to flat-tow it to Idaho. By the way, I'm going to N Idaho (Wallace), which might as well be on the other side of the world from southern Idaho as far as one being along the way to the other. I'd be going along the route of US 2, but would take bits of the old road if I was holding up traffic. Of course I have to get on I-90 to go through Spokane and over 4th of July pass.
There is one other option, though. If I have to bring the deuce back to the coast, I could flat-tow the M37 behind it, and then would have the bed of the deuce available for hauling a serious amount of other stuff. Has anybody tried this? I'm sure it would be totally safe, since the deuce is 14,000 lbs empty and would definitely be in control, but I think it might be so in control that the M37's front tires could be going down the road sideways and I wouldn't even notice until the rims were dragging on the ground. I'd have to make up some 24V towing lights with a military-style plug on the end, but that wouldn't be too hard.