| Author |
Message |
Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Registered Member
Username: Cgoodwin
Post Number: 126
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 71.212.70.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 10:06 pm: | |
I have a Suzuki Samurai with lifted suspension, removable doors and threw the 1.3L engine out and dropped in a VW 1.6 turbo diesel. I am planing on towing it behind my bus as a "Toad" and am now working on a rack so I can drop a 15' Zodiac on top and clip the outboard to the Sami tailgate. If sucessful I would have a 4x4 (toad)and a boat (Fish) with me when I travel. I have several questions for the more experienced and better looking than myself.
1) What is the %$#&* proper proceedure for towing a Samirai.
2) Has anyone put a boat on top a toad before?
3) Is there something I have missed preventing this from working? |
Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Registered Member
Username: Dnick85
Post Number: 171
Registered: 2-2006
Posted From: 75.196.33.216
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 11:12 pm: | |
Hi Christopher,
I'm surely not better looking..Lol
It sounds like the Zodiac will be longer then the Samurai...
If your Samurai is standard shift, then no worries, just find the proper base plates.
The only thing you are not mentioning is, how will you handle the brake, and turn signals. Is your bus 24v?
If so, then a few members here have a converter system that they can inlighten you about.
Good Luck
Nick- |
Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member
Username: Joe_camper
Post Number: 27
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 76.223.83.13
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 11:14 pm: | |
Can't help ya on the proper towing procedure but you remind me of some folks we camped next to down at Sugarloaf Key KOA. These folks were from Boston and had a mororcycle lift with a full-dresser on it, the tow hitch extended right underneeth it and they had a jeep on the ball, 4-wheels down with a rack, and a john-boat flipped upside down up on the rack!
Yes I have deffinatly seen that. |
Arnie Molloy (Ayjay)
Registered Member
Username: Ayjay
Post Number: 80
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 68.160.169.86
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 12:44 am: | |
Hi:
For the Suzuki, xfer case in neutral, tranny in 2nd gear and unlock the steering (acces).
Some prefer to put the tranny in 5th in case it slips into gear, keeps the engine under the red line. I always used 2nd.....
P.S. Best towing toad I've owned, still have 2 trannys in the shed out back.
Ayjay |
James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member
Username: Jimstacy
Post Number: 95
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.41.22.68
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 10:52 am: | |
DK about the Samurai but didn't Suzuki Tracker reccommend running the engine every 200 miles and moving the shift lever around then since the tranny doesn't lube well without the engine running? Sounds like something that would often be skipped by us know-it-all guys until the tranny lunched.
Jim Stacy |
Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Registered Member
Username: Prevost82
Post Number: 328
Registered: 11-2003
Posted From: 208.181.210.47
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 11:56 am: | |
We load our 12' Alum boat on our Jeep Grand Cherokee and tow behind the bus all summer. Have never had a problem.
Ron |
Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Registered Member
Username: Cgoodwin
Post Number: 127
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 70.58.68.148
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 12:38 pm: | |
NBD "If your Samurai is standard shift, then no worries, just find the proper base plates."
I don't understand what you mean?
The bus is 24V but the lights I have replaced have been 12v and there is a Vanner unit in the battery bay so I assume all the lights are 12vdc but I will have a look.
I may just toss the Zodiac deflated in the bay but putting it on top the Sami would free up space and make it easier to get into the wet stuff. When my duaughter was born I gave up the "Nikon in a backpack riding a bus filled with livestock through countries whose names I could not pronounce" lifestyle, but it is still in my blood (literally with Malaria) and I want to be able to park on the coast and go diving, fishing, whale watching etc. I thought about just putting a couple electric bikes in the bay and recharging them when driving but with the wife and 4 year old daughter it won't work so the toad is a requirement. |
Arnie Molloy (Ayjay)
Registered Member
Username: Ayjay
Post Number: 81
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 68.160.169.86
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 7:31 pm: | |
Jim:
If the transfer case is in neutral and the engine is keeping anything in the tranny from moving.
...What's to lubricate in the transmission?...
AyJay |
James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member
Username: Jimstacy
Post Number: 96
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.40.231.50
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 9:54 pm: | |
AyJay,
If the drive shaft is turning, part of the transfer case gears are also turning. Many transmissions/transfer cases have the oil pump (or slinger) driven by the input shaft since obviously the engine will be running if the vehicle is moving. (The engineers didn't plan on Bus Nuts).
Depending on design and fluid level, these turning gears might not be stirring up the fluid and could eventially run dry.
Most manufacturers err on the side of caution if asked about towing 4 down, but might have a point. One mfg even wants his automatic transmission put into neutral from the "drive" position, never from the "reverse" position! If you didn't design the transmission, you might think neutral is neutral. What difference could it make? I sure don't know, but they must have a reason. Best to ask the mfg.
Jim Stacy |
George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member
Username: George_mc6
Post Number: 256
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 76.168.69.233
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 11:27 pm: | |
Chris,
Check the mfgr's requirements for towing, and follow them! The above two posts are exactly correct.
One of my Canadian uncles got from BC to Palm Springs with his MC1, and a new Mazda pickup. They went to head home, and left the toad in gear after hooking up. Guess what happens when you pull a carbureted engine over with the key off, and a warm catalytic converter? (They were able to disconnect the hitch to keep the fire from spreading to the bus.)
George |
Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Registered Member
Username: Cgoodwin
Post Number: 128
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 70.58.68.148
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 1:10 pm: | |
Manufacturer says trans in 2nd Transfer in N, hubs on Free. I think I would be more comfortable building a lock to keep the transfer in N while towing. You would be amazed at the performance of a Sami fitted with a 1.6TD, I have pulled a full size pickup with it and let it idle in 1st over really rough terrain up hill, 36" of water was no problem, 35mpg and I can fuel it from the bus tank. |
Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Registered Member
Username: Busted_knuckle
Post Number: 284
Registered: 1-2006
Posted From: 72.155.223.62
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 8:12 pm: | |
Go for it! I can't tell ya the proper way to tow a Samuri! But when I was a kid my dad used a VW Bug as a toad and hauled a 12' aluminum V bottom boat on top of the dub! Yeah we got's lots os laffs, and comments about the tiny toad with the "umbrella" FWIW BK |