Dinghy tow problem

blue283 · 04-10-2011, 06:29 PM

I had a strange towing experience this weekend that hopefully someone can help me figure out. I tow a 2004 Jeep Liberty behind my Georgetown 300, equipped with a Blue Ox Aventa tow bar and a US Gear braking system.

I had towed about 1 1/2hrs to my weekend destination, got off the freeway and drove some city streets when it started feeling like I was getting a flat or something. I couldn't stop (due to safety issues on the street) for about a mile, and had to make some right and left turns.

After stopping, I saw my tires were angled slightly to the right on my Jeep. I disconnected the tow bar, which was fully extended, started the jeep and checked the steering which worked fine. Had the wife follow me to the RV park and encountered no issues with either vehicle.

On the way home I reconnected everything and had no issues on the drive back. Any idea what would cause the tires to not re-center? I need some help on what to check to try and make sure this doesn't happen again.

Thanks, Randy

sherdep · 04-10-2011, 06:42 PM

Have never used a tow bar but just throwing some ideas to look at or try

was the steering locked or unlocked in the jeep?

might be a worth while call to Blue Ox and see what they say

LadyWindrider · 04-10-2011, 08:55 PM

Check the power steering fluid in the jeep. Some vehicles don't like to have the wheels turned while the pump is not running. May have pushed a lot of fluid out and got an air pocket, that created weird pressure. Just a thought.

blue283 · 04-11-2011, 12:32 PM

I checked the power steering reservoir and the level showed full, and the steering was unlocked. The tire pressure in both tires was equal when I checked it, they were hot at the time, and had correct pressure when I checked them cold later.
I'll try calling Blue Ox .....
Any other ideas out there?????

RANGERBOB · 05-01-2011, 09:42 PM

I had a similar problem last summer. I had several keys on the key ring and suspect that as they swung back and forth they may have caused the ignition switch to go from unlock to lock accidentally. Possibly I didn't put the ignition in unlock even though I checked it several times. Fortunately I didn't drive too far, before I too, had that flat tire feel and then I noticed the skid marks I was leaving on the asphalt. Now I only put the single ignition key in the switch and double-triple check that it's in unlock mode.

blue283 · 05-02-2011, 08:47 PM

Guess I'll go with "operator error" on the set-up and hope it doesn't happen again!!! I also do the double-triple-quadruple check now....

JDickson · 05-11-2011, 08:00 AM

Friends of ours towed a jeep liberty and ran across a lot of problems with it.
Same as you flat tire feeling, brakes not releasing, wheels truned, etc. They went through two sets of front tires and even stopped using the brake buddy.
They finally got rid of the jeep and now tow a Ford Escape and haven't had any problems since. Now I tow a Jeep Cherokee and have never had a problem with it. I know this doesn't answer your question but I'm just saying it's hard to figure what works for one and not the other.
I also only use just one key and check and recheck that everything is right but you always second guess yourself when something doesn't feel right.
I hope you or anyone never has that sinking feeling again.
Drive Safe.....

blue283 · 05-11-2011, 04:19 PM

Thanks for the feedback. It's good to know I'm not the only one.... but that is also the bad news!! My MH is currently at the factory for warranty repairs, so I haven't had a chance to get out again since the tow incident happened.
I'm now down to a single key also, and hope to get out on the road soon (with a trouble-free TOAD)!!

Freds342 · 06-27-2011, 09:05 PM

I've towed a 2005 Liberty for about 30,000 miles with absolutely no issues.

It is a 4WD Renegade with 115,000 miles on the odo.

I also tow a 1989 Wrangler YJ with no issues.

They're both built to tow with no problems. I'm on several Jeep forums, and the only problems noted are screw-ups with the ignition lock, mis-setting the transfer case, and placing the shifter in neutral instead of park.

And you can turn my rant off!

Los Popes · 06-29-2011, 05:53 PM

We are new to towing a dinghy. Only taken our Jeep on two trips so far - April in Anza-Borrego and May at Santa Margarita Lake. No issues on those trips.
I made a huge mistake the other day - picked my RV up at the dealership to take back to storage and accidentally left the emergency brake engaged on the Jeep for 12 miles. Was only going about 25 mph most of the way and it doesn't appear that I damaged anything. When I arrived at the storage facility I went to the Jeep to engage the brake so I could disconnect and saw the handle pulled up I had such a sinking feeling in my gut. I am going to laminate a pocket checklist for connecting the toad so I don't forget little things like that.

polkatronron · 06-29-2011, 06:02 PM

I would suggest your emerg brake has taken quite a bit of lining off your brakes. I have towed Jeeps before and had the same problem with the front end. The steering on them for some reason will now return to the straight ahead position. sooooooooo...after a couple of sets of tires I left the jeep idle while I towed so the power sterring pump was running...no more problems. Idle for a day or two takes little fuel and won't hurt the engine..sure saves on the tires.

Los Popes · 06-29-2011, 06:09 PM

I saw a great idea recently on another web site about monitoring your toad to see if it is tracking properly. Take a piece of white tape from a lint brush or some other wide light colored tape and stick it to the top center of your steering wheel. Be sure tires are straight when you put the tape on. Then you can watch from you back-up camera to see if your stering wheel (and your tires) comes back to center after a turn.

blue283 · 06-29-2011, 08:15 PM

The tape might be a good visual reference point, but once you have had your tires not return to center you will know it right away!! In my case I was in a construction zone and couldn't pull over right away. It did take a little tread off my front tires!!!

I have around 4,000 miles pulling my Jeep and only had this happen once, and hopefully never again..... on my way back from Glacier Nat'l Park now, with Jeep in tow!!

Freds342 · 07-01-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Los Popes

We are new to towing a dinghy. Only taken our Jeep on two trips so far - April in Anza-Borrego and May at Santa Margarita Lake. No issues on those trips.
I made a huge mistake the other day - picked my RV up at the dealership to take back to storage and accidentally left the emergency brake engaged on the Jeep for 12 miles. Was only going about 25 mph most of the way and it doesn't appear that I damaged anything. When I arrived at the storage facility I went to the Jeep to engage the brake so I could disconnect and saw the handle pulled up I had such a sinking feeling in my gut. I am going to laminate a pocket checklist for connecting the toad so I don't forget little things like that.

I did that once with the YJ Wrangler. Only made it a half mile up a dirt road before I knew something was wrong. I was making a huge dust cloud!

I think it was because I was trying to hook up and carry on a conversation with a neighboring camper at the same time.

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