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Towing

f5moab

Mr. Beretta
Messages
2,000
Location
In hiding.....
You cannot dolly tow an H3! You can flat tow it behind your vehicle as far as you want to go. Just remember to the trans in Park or 1st gear (manual) and the t/case in neutral. Your owner's manual has the best info.
 

Highatop

Well-Known Member
Messages
600
Location
Florissant, Co.
The U-haul 4 wheel dolly works just fine.

4 wheel dolly? I don't think I ever heard or seen one. I'm guessin that from the word, dolly, it is not a trailer or the weight of a trailer? I want to pull or tow my 3 to Moab for April. Is the dolly a good option( to save tire wear and miles added) or just pull it/ flat tow? :huh:
 

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,588
Location
Raleigh area NC
You need at least 16ft trailer, I was towing my from AZ and rear wheel were almost off the trailer.
IMG_2449.jpg

You can't really see that but I moved truck forward as much as was possible. That is 16 ft trailer.
 

f5moab

Mr. Beretta
Messages
2,000
Location
In hiding.....
4 wheel dolly? I don't think I ever heard or seen one. I'm guessin that from the word, dolly, it is not a trailer or the weight of a trailer? I want to pull or tow my 3 to Moab for April. Is the dolly a good option( to save tire wear and miles added) or just pull it/ flat tow? :huh:

If bringing it to moab I would suggest a trailer, just in case of some type of drive line failure (broken). Flat towing (AKA as Dinghy towing) is perfectly safe but will add miles to the tires and moving parts.
BUT DO NOT dolly tow the H3 or H3T
From the owners's manual...
Dolly Towing
Notice: Dolly towing your vehicle will damage
drivetrain components. Do not dolly tow your
vehicle.
Your vehicle cannot be dolly towed. If you must tow
your vehicle behind another, use the dinghy towing
procedure listed previously.
 

cdarveaux

Well-Known Member
Messages
544
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
I would be using a 2002 Suburban 2500 with an 8.1L, I THINK that should be enough but just want to run it by more experienced people before I take anymore steps.
 

Zach

Mall Crawler
Messages
4,812
Location
So Cal
You need at least 16ft trailer, I was towing my from AZ and rear wheel were almost off the trailer.
IMG_2449.jpg

You can't really see that but I moved truck forward as much as was possible. That is 16 ft trailer.

You should post up the really impressive picture of Hamster on that trailer lol
 

rsc

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,087
Location
Tulsa
You should be able to tow a house with that thing. Just find a nice big trailer with room for the H3T and your coolers and you're all set.
 

Highatop

Well-Known Member
Messages
600
Location
Florissant, Co.
Ok, just to be clear. That is a car or truck hauler/trailer not a 4 wheel dolly. I do know we can not use a 2 wheel dolly. We are considered all wheel drive. My reason for askin about a 4 wheel dolly is 1) The weight of the trailer w/ my H3 on it and 2) Storin the trailer when we are there like, at the Outpost.
Fyi, I would be pullin w/ my 2002 Silverado 2500 Duramax 4X4 w/ a popup camper shell in it.
I guess after read other posts and the few sentences I wrote, I'm leanin to a hauler or trailer...Thanks for everyones imput, Steve :huh:
 

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,588
Location
Raleigh area NC
I think you can tow with 2wheel dolly if you disconnect rear drive shaft. I towed H2 to Moab last April with same trailer, but going up some of those grades I got down to 45mph with foot glued to the floor:gaah:.
I left my trailer on dirt parking lot at the hotel, after jeeps were gone Saturday parking lots were empty. You may want to check with hotel first,there were a lot of trailers parked on the street too.
 
Last edited:

SolidusJ

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,028
Location
FT. Carson, CO
Ok, just to be clear. That is a car or truck hauler/trailer not a 4 wheel dolly. I do know we can not use a 2 wheel dolly. We are considered all wheel drive. My reason for askin about a 4 wheel dolly is 1) The weight of the trailer w/ my H3 on it and 2) Storin the trailer when we are there like, at the Outpost.
Fyi, I would be pullin w/ my 2002 Silverado 2500 Duramax 4X4 w/ a popup camper shell in it.
I guess after read other posts and the few sentences I wrote, I'm leanin to a hauler or trailer...Thanks for everyones imput, Steve :huh:

I'm in the Army, if it hauls it's a dully to me. Yes I know it a flat trail but it's like how I always call the passenger side the TC side (truck commander). Some habits you can't stop and there's a few that know what your talking about and others that won't.
 

4speedfunk

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,250
Location
Tardville
Sure sounds like a bunch of hassle. Not sure how far you're going but, when you consider renting/purchasing a trailer...dickin around with straps, ramps, trailer wiring, trailer brakes, etc...then subtract MPGs off the tow vehicle for pulling such a load....you gotta be in for at least a 2000-mile trip to break even with the "gas & go" method. Not to mention things like drive-thru's, pee-breaks, turning around, towing at a safe (reduced) speed, swerving to avoid the Prius that cuts you off, etc. I've done a similar trip before and it ended up costing much more than driving. In hind-sight I should have just had a buddy drive the vehicle for me.

Based on 15MPG of an H3T...
2000 miles equates to 135 gallons of fuel.
At $3.50 a gallon...that comes to $475.

For comparison purposes...I went to U-haul's website and punched in a trip from San Diego to Indianapolis (2040 miles). A one-way rental of a 2-axle car trailer is $628. That was based off a towing a GMC Canyon (Hummer wasn't an option - LOL) with a 2010 3500 Chevy truck. Unless you plan to tow a lot (maybe you'r an RV-er?), I say just grab a VISA card and gas it up along the way.
 

Highatop

Well-Known Member
Messages
600
Location
Florissant, Co.
Thanks for crunchin the numbers so fast 4speed. The real reason I to to tow is so I can bring my popup shell and stay at the Outpost and not stay at a crappy hotel. We stayed at the Days Inn so we could save alittle more money...It was a crappy stay for about $600. Beware all. Still considin towwin?
Also 4speed, not sure if you seen the pics from the last run but, there was some good ones of your bumper w/ bull bar on my 3
 

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,588
Location
Raleigh area NC
Towing is a safety thing, when H2 broke front shaft in Moab and I had second truck I didn't worry about sitting in hotel waiting for repair to be done. My opinion if u have to go far towing is a safer option. In my case if one of the trucks brakes down I just switch them and continue going.
 

Mb30sdl

Hamster that pokes Bears
Messages
1,588
Location
Raleigh area NC
Bull bar is another option as long as your wheels are still in place after breakage. I decided against it due to trip distance. On shorter trips I used pull bar on H2.
 

f5moab

Mr. Beretta
Messages
2,000
Location
In hiding.....
Thanks for crunchin the numbers so fast 4speed. The real reason I to to tow is so I can bring my popup shell and stay at the Outpost and not stay at a crappy hotel. We stayed at the Days Inn so we could save alittle more money...It was a crappy stay for about $600. Beware all. Still considin towwin?
Also 4speed, not sure if you seen the pics from the last run but, there was some good ones of your bumper w/ bull bar on my 3

Also returning the trailer to the same location (local use) is usually a lot less expensive. However, a few years ago, U-haul would not allow one of their trailers to carry an H3....
 
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