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Open Roads Forum  >  Dinghy Towing  >  Trailers & Tow Dollies

 > Towing backwards

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Fifty4F100

Bartlett

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Posted: 08/18/12 05:38am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I know I've heard this isn't a good idea, but what kind of trouble would I be in if I backed our Jeep Liberty onto a tow dolly? I think I've found a dolly maker that suggests just this:

http://americancardolly.com/Useful%20Tips.htm


Glenn in TN
04 Liberty daughters
03 Mazda 6 wish I could tow it
00 Ford Taurus wish I could tow it 4 wheels down
99 Holiday Rambler Vacationer w/05 PT Cruiser toad

gbopp

The Keystone State

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Posted: 08/18/12 06:10am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Clicky

past-MIdirector

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Posted: 08/18/12 06:22am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Is it safe if done right according to the manufacture of the dolly by adding weight to the vehicle to counted the front weight. What does your Jeep manual say about towing it this way? A lot of today's manufacture only recommend a certain distance a vehicle can be towed this way.





mowermech

Billings, MT

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Posted: 08/18/12 06:36am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

In the Owners Manual for the '06 Liberty we used to have, (and in the book for my '06 Rubicon), dolly towing is strictly forbidden.
Of course, both of these were/are 4X4 vehicles. If you have a 4X2 Liberty, then you could back it on the dolly.


CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
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"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"

Fifty4F100

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Posted: 08/18/12 06:56am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

mowermech wrote:

In the Owners Manual for the '06 Liberty we used to have, (and in the book for my '06 Rubicon), dolly towing is strictly forbidden.
Of course, both of these were/are 4X4 vehicles. If you have a 4X2 Liberty, then you could back it on the dolly.


It is a 2wd.

jauguston

Bellingham, WA

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Posted: 08/18/12 11:35am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

You could have some instability towing backward. The steering geometry has caster and camber that is designed to keep the vehicle steering stable going forward. Its all wrong going backward.

Jim


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johntank

Oxford, Ms 38655 USA

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Posted: 08/18/12 12:05pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Since it is a 2WD towing backward can be done going by the link provided above, the only thing I can think of is one would need a good system of tieing the stearing wheel to prevent any movement. The only other thing is you might get some inside tire wear by towing it backwards.

camperkids1025

Bel Air, MD.

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Posted: 08/19/12 08:56am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

It's not worth the risks, trouble and worries not saying the liability.. Jim


The Camperkids Jim & Lois
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mowermech

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Posted: 08/19/12 11:19am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

camperkids1025 wrote:

It's not worth the risks, trouble and worries not saying the liability.. Jim


OK, that is YOUR opinion.
Some folks do not agree.
Enough said.

tahiti16

Camarillo, CA

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Posted: 08/20/12 06:33pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Some vehicles seem to do better than others, there have been several people on here that have successfully towed backwards 100's of miles with no issue. One key to that is the steering is secured straight ahead and do NOT rely on the steering lock as it was not designed for that and if it fails the results could be ugly to deadly.

If you have access to a dolly I would suggest trying it in a parking lot to start with and move out onto empty streets like an industrial park on the weekend to check out the setup.

Also plan on stopping several times over the first hundred miles to check that everything is secure until you are sure it works in your setup.


Ray, Cheryl, Cory & of course Miss Molly the four-legged child

2006 Dolphin 36' F53 V10 5 speed auto 2 slides 7.5 KW genset


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