Long haul......

Taking this Wrangler from Central TX to Spokane, WA for a friend who's moving there. Left this morning. I think it's about a 5700 pound load. Going to find a CAT scale and check it out. Truck squats a bit, but it's handling fine. Got slightly over 12 MPG today calculated @ 60-65. (There's about 500 pounds of ammo in the bed, too, contributing to the squat. LOL)

 

Safe travels. Hit up the PNW thread on trip advise amd places to eat as well.

 

I'd say probably around ~6,400 lbs behind you. Good thing you got the white Tundra, it's got a little extra power/torque.

 

Thanks. I used to live in Auburn, WA, back when I was controlling air traffic. Also in Roseburg, OR for a little while. Been back a few times. So I know a few places.

 

Could be! That real short wheelbase on the Jeep sure puts a lot of the weight up front. And I had to get some more straps to extend over those fat tires of his.

 

Safe travels.

 

Failed to mention it, but I leveled the truck several months ago with 6112s up front set on 1.3". That accentuates the rear squat a bit, too.

 

I am no professional on towing so just asking if it would be better to move the jeep back a little to reduce the tongue weight, this way it would help tundra's reduce the squat.

Btw you're a damn good friend helping a friend out drive out that far.

 

I was going to say, I probably wouldn't have pulled the jeep all the way forward.... but then you would've needed more chains and straps

 

I didn't consider having to do any adjusting of the tongue wt when I rented the trailer. Too late to get other means of securing the Jeep, so went with the U-haul set-up. But after seeing it, it did occur to me that is would be nice if U-haul provided some means of locating short wheelbase vehicles on the trailer. Had to move the axles on my boat trailer to adjust the TW. Sliding tandems like I used to adjust on my big rig would sure be nice. LOL.

 

Nice MPG numbers! I wonder if it would've been cheaper to drive the Jeep and fly back? Assuming it's reliable.

But it sounds like this is a good buddy if you're doing him this favor, and it's more about the adventure.

 

Dang, I hate flying commercial anymore. Did too much of it in my career. It's just so much hassle now. I love road trips. and haven't taken one in a couple years. I've driven all over this beautiful country of ours multiple times. I never tire of it. This young man has been my pastor for the last 15 years, and in other ways, he's like a son. He's younger than either of my kids, and I've watched all 5 of his kids grow up (ages 8-16). So when he accepted a call to a small church in Spokane, where I know he'll take a huge pay cut, I offered to tow the Jeep for him. Paying for the trailer rental, and all my own expenses. No biggie. I'm a retired dude now, with nothin' but time and a little money.

 

You might try backing that Jeep on the trailer to put more of the weight over the trailer axles. Either way, I hope you have a good trip!

 

Amen to that brother safe travels

 

Afraid you can't do that on a U-haul auto transport, unless you have the necessary chains and tensioners. Only way is to use the straps over the front tires with the vehicle fully forward. Had I more time, or more foresight, I would have purchased some chains and associated equipment. I was more concerned that the wide stance with the Dick Cepek wheels and large off-road tires might not fit on the trailer. But all is good. I'll make it okay. So will my CM.

 

Well, here's the figures.... it assumes 500 lbs of ammo in front of the bed just ahead of rear axle.
Steer axle 3200
Drive axle 4400
Trailer tandems 5360
Total 12960
By my figures, the truck, previously weighed at 6140 with full fuel (6640 this trip), comes out 960 lbs on the tongue. Total trailer weight 6320. 15% of the weight on the tongue. Yep, I'm overweight. At least there's little chance of trailer sway. (Ha!)

I'm pleasantly surprised, with the climb so far over Clines Corners (7000'), that today the mileage calculated out to 12.8 MPG.

 

Nothing better than a road trip, with a Jeep and ammo no less! Drive safe Mike!

 

Trip has gone well so far. Halfway there now. Averaging 12.5 to 13.5 MPG, even with the long uphill pulls. Truck running like a top. Running in 5th gear mostly, keeping RPMs between 2-3000. Only one pull, west of Durango, that required 3rd gear and speed below 40. Beautiful scenery, great weather.

 

Keep on truckin Getting any decent scenery pics?

 

Got a few. Not as many as I'd like and they never do justice to the scene anyway. And not very easy to take with one hand while driving.

 

Well damn. I'm still impressed with your MPG! Glad to hear your trip is going well. What major highways are you taking?

Not to thread jack but my 35s are thirstier than I thought. I think I tow similar weight with my boat. My wake board tower I'm sure adds wind resistance. But I might look into regearing. Gotta decide if it's worth it for 2 mpg maybe 3. I usually tow 650 miles round trip 6 times a year at 65 mph. And maybe a camper trailer in the future.

I lifted the truck right after I bought it so I have no baseline. I'm using yours as a baseline haha.

 

Durango, CO to Moab, UT