To make a long story short....I get a free Isuzu Trooper 2(2 door round headlights) from my uncle in New Mexico. The catch is, its engine is no good(turns, but wont turn over). I'll have to tow it back, using my 93 Isuzu Trooper RS. Now, the Trooper 2 has a tow bar in front, so, what all do i need to diconnect(drive shaft, so on). The towing vehicle(93 RS) has a towing package, and i will "jerry rig" the brakes lights to the Trooper 2 to make them active when i am braking, turning, so on. How much of a strain will it be to tow the trooper 2 behind my 93 RS? If the trooper is not going to do the trick...do ya'll think a 99 F-150 with a V6 will? Thanks, this is going to be my first time for a long tow. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

The extra wheelbase of the F150 would be nice to have. Fortunately the 93 should be heavier than the other trooper. It could be a slow trip either way.

Good luck and be sure to use saftey chains.

Mike W

Stupid is the first word that comes to mind. Not that you are, but if you did, you would be. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Don't do it. The RS is too short in the wheelbase department and it weighs less than the other trooper. You would most likely get pushed around on every turn and you could end up hurting yourself, others or the rigs. Just not a good combination.

The 150 would be better but it is going to be slow with the v6. There is just not enough power, but it outweighs the towed rig.

An even better idea would be to look at renting a trailer from U-haul, Ryder ect to get it back to Texas. This will get you brakes and working lights. Although, with a trailer and a Trooper, you are going to be pushing the limits of the 150. (I wanna say you are limited to about 5K, but I am not sure.) You are also going to want to pull off of a receiver hitch, not the bumper.

Good Luck,
Michael

Ok, well....you guys said just what i was wanting to hear. My dad is now convinced to let me burrow his f-150. I wish I could use the company truck which is a F-250 V* with all of the power/towing transmission options. Ohh well. The Ford has a 4.2L V6(more HP than the Isuzu), with 30K on it, about 100K less than the 93 RS. There is a 17' trailer my uncle hass in NM, so all is good on that. The ford is a sport(shortbed) and has an actual hitch, not a bumper ball. Has power towing system with the trailer braking box thing(dunno name). Well, annything else to watch for. I will definently use 8 tie down, chocks, what else? Do i need a transmission cooler for the 5 spd? Sorry to be posting this in the Isuzu foum, but in the end i will have another trooper!!!!!!!! By the way....what botls to an 88 4 cyl transmission(wanna sawp in new engine). Thanks!!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

I think your drive will be a strain. What is the rated towing cap on your RS? The Trooper II has got to weigh as much as your RS tow car. No big passes to drive between AZ and Sugarland, but Albequerque is about 4000ft IIRC. Assuming your RS is manual, I'd mainly be concerned about braking and trying to execute panic manuvers. I'm not too happy with towbars either; I'd think about maybe renting a dolly type trailer. Uhaul, as sorry as they are, would fit you up with brake lights in that case. I used to haul my '86 Trooper on occasion on a 16" flatbed trailer with my 2001 Trooper. The trailer adds 1500 lbs to the towed package, but it has electric brakes and puts me right at towing cap. Still I wouldn't want to haul it to Moab from here (I'm approx Denver, CO). I MIGHT, but I wouldn't WANT to: there's a four mile downgrade coming into Denver on I-70 from the west. There is a runaway truck lane about 1.5 miles from the bottom. You probably don't want to use it unless you have to. I'd put a tranny cooler on too, before attemting it.
What do you think about renting a trailer? Check round trip rates; It may be as cheap as one-way, and could give you some insight on the challenges involved as you drive over. You want heavy duty loadbinders holding your "new" Troop down in that case.
I bet that F150 has more horses than your RS but you'd still have braking issues. And it's probably lighter than your RS, especially over the rear wheels.

Not particularly about towing, although the trailer/150 route definately sounds like the way to go, but if it's a round light 2 door, it's going to be earlier than '88 isn't it? I thought '86 or '87 was the last year for the round headlights...

James

We have a few f150 v v-6. They tow OK, but keep in mind that the rear axle ratio is in the low 3s. You'll do better if you shift the tranny to 3 and leave it there.

Yeah, We've decided on using the Ford f-150, renting a trailer with brakes, and taking all neccessary precautions. Looks like this trip might have to wait till summer of 2004, since i need more funding to get everything done. But now we know what all we need to do....thanks you guys.......
About the round headlights...I guessed on the year, i just remember seeing it in September, and knew it was an 80's model. I thought i heard my uncle say he thought it was an 88, but he has so many different isuzus i doubt he remembers immidiatley...lol.

88's had rectangular headlights so it's no doubt an '87 or earlier Trooper.

*Warning* - - I don't even know if the earlier troops were offered with auto trannies but if this one does happen to have an auto and you did change your mind and decided to go ahead and flat tow it, it would be advisable to pull the rear driveshaft out of it before you towed it. Most auto trannies only have a pump in the front. So if the engine is not running, the transmission is not getting any oil/lubrication running thru it. And when you tow it down the road, the driveshaft will be turning the transmission output shaft and a lot of other "stuff" in there. Without lubrication that "stuff" won't last very many miles. I think you'd be smart to wait until you can get a trailer and truck. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

If the 150 has an auto tranny, get the biggest cooler that will fit and have the fluid changed before you leave. Cheap insurance. Keep it out of overdrive, even with the empty trailer. Because of that, you are going to have to keep the speed rather slow. Just because you can get it up to 80, does not mean you can control or stop it. If I had to guess, 55mph or slower. Any hill is going to hurt you. Just use the slow lane and if it really sucks down the speed, use those flashers. They won't make you go any faster, but they will help those going 70, realize that you aren't.

The bottom line is that you will be towing on the envelope. No matter what the actual specs are, you will be working with little head room. Personally, it is not a tow I would want to do, unless it was an emergency. But, you have to use what you have available. I believe that the brake thingy you are talking about is a trailer brake controller. If the trailer has electric brakes, make sure that it is the controller. If it isn't, you will need one of those too.

As for binding it to the trailer, you only really need chains front and rear, plus a binder to get it all tight. Straps are a PITA. Nice on the adjustment, but I would not trust them. I only use a strap to keep the body from flopping around. You will not have to worry about that much on your new find.

Good Luck,
Michael