Lightweight 4wd.
Submitted: Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 15:18
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Tia Maria
To help celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary my wife and I are planning a trip around Aus. and want to purchase a Suzuki Sierra or similar, mount it on an "A" frame and tow it behind the Mercedes Sprinter. The idea is to be able to visit some of the innaccessable
places missed last time round.
Any assistance with advice about 4wd and/or "A" frames and/or towing with the Merc. would be much appreciated.
Ta in anticipation.
Reply By: Shaker - Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 15:28
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 15:28
I may be wrong, but I think 'A' frames are illegal in some states.
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241180
Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 15:53
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 15:53
I reackon one of them Suzuki Jimny's would be a good buy and if as Shaker said it's illegal then it's small enough to go onto a Tandem trailer, But I see the A Frames all over the country, Don't know why it would be Illegal because if set up correctly would be just as safe as a trailer as it would be when towed .
I think you will find these links will give you much needed info
www.winnebago.com.au/products_aframe.htm
www.aframe.250x.com/
If you wish to tow a vehicle behind your motorhome, the simplest and most trouble free way is to flat tow. Flat towing is where the towed vehicle is towed on all four
wheels. When flat towing, you get minimal sway and the towed vehicle tracks best behind the motorhome. The setup is far quicker and easier to use compared to towing the vehicle on a trailer.
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Reply By: Notso - Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 15:53
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 15:53
Do a search for A Frame Towing in Google, There are some downloadable documents from the Vic and Qld Government web sites. Also try the CMCA web site as they have heaps of info there as
well.
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Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 17:23
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 17:23
Congratulations on 50 years married. What ever way you choose to tow, have a fabulous trip.
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Reply By: ZukscooterX90 (Qld) - Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 18:56
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 18:56
G'day Tia,I would type in a search of this
forum as there was a link to a website of a fellow who makes the "A" frames up here at Yapoon in QLD he is about $1500 as the other ones i researched a couple of yrs ago were around the $5/6000 mark.I would not be flat towing a jimney as they are constant all wheel drive, best if you get free wheeling hubs but still look into what the manufacturers recomend.
I bought my Suzuki x90 then found i could not flat tow with it as it is auto locking hubs so now we tow it backwards on a Gypsy trailer & it is not much fun to do it this way on dusty very dusty roads as it fills up with dust inside the cab & also under the bonnet.
You should have no problem with the Merc, as i tow with a 2.4 deisel Ford Transit.
P.s the A frame towing system is Hitch'n'go-car towing system.
Cheers Bob. Oh & Happy 50th anniversary.
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Follow Up By: c j - Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 20:16
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 20:16
Jimny's are part time 4wd just like Sierras, Vitaras, X-90's, XL-7's and the older model Grand Vitara. If you want to get rid of the auto hubs on a Jimny, Vitara, X-90 etc. then just swap them for some manual hubs from a coil sprung Sierra or the early Vitaras, they're a straight swap. For flat towing you can also look at a rear driveline disconnect from Trail Tough but they aren't cheap.
http://www.trailtough.com/images/disc3.JPG
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Follow Up By: ZukscooterX90 (Qld) - Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 20:52
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 20:52
Thanks for this info Cj,seems i have been misinformed on the Jimny,not to worry though.
I have been thinking along the line of going with the manual hubs,if i don't sell my Motor Home i will look into that further as it would be better for towing.
Cheers Bob.
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Follow Up By: Stu050 - Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 21:38
Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 21:38
I would give the driveline disconnect some serious thought. Just imagine the unnecessary wear on driveline and gearbox, not to mention cranking up the kilometers on the odo.
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Reply By: Tia Maria - Monday, May 21, 2007 at 18:00
Monday, May 21, 2007 at 18:00
Thanks fella's. Lots of good info there. When I finally get it sorted will post a summary .
Cheers.
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