1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Trailering

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by 3b a runnin, Aug 3, 2018.

Page 1 of 3
  1. 3b a runnin

    3b a runnin Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I hauled my 3B up to Northern VA recently to ride the back roads and lots of forest service rds. Put a little over 700 mi on the Jeep. On the way home, this little bell went off in my head. It was raining and I thought, " what if" the starter or key switch shorted out. Trans was in 1st gear and tcase was in 4LO w/ Ebrake set. I had the Jeep chained down very well, BUT that sure could be a freak accident if it tried to break those chains and get off there. Had never thought of that before. I stopped and unhooked the battery. Do you guys unhook the battery when trailering, or am I a little over cautious?
     
    3b a runnin, Aug 3, 2018
    #1
  2. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    timgr, Aug 3, 2018
    #2
  3. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Can't hurt to put a disconnect switch on, my preference is the knife type. Got to wonder though, either you have an incredibly strong starter or you're using plastic chain. Bottom line, I can't picture you're Jeep starting if it's chained down.
     
    Glenn, Aug 3, 2018
    #3
    heavychevy likes this.
  4. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Rain won't cause a short, water is a very poor conductor unless it has salt or something else dissolved into it to provide free ions.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Aug 3, 2018
    #4
  5. Chris Insull

    Chris Insull All roads lead me back to the beach... 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I’ve never worried about my CJ when flat towing or trailering; I follow my protocol each time without fail. It’s the distracted drivers that that concern me the most!!
     
    Chris Insull, Aug 3, 2018
    #5
    Jrobz23 likes this.
  6. 1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Has anyone ever had their vehicle start itsself up? Doesn't matter if it is sitting on your trailer or on your driveway. Not going to happen.
     
    1960willyscj5, Aug 3, 2018
    #6
    Hellion likes this.
  7. sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    2002 mack rd, shut off in gear,parking brakes set. box van parked broadside to driveway,starter shorted out cranked against the brakes mashed the van before i could climb out of the hole and catch it.
     
    sterlclan, Aug 3, 2018
    #7
  8. 3b a runnin

    3b a runnin Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I should probably put a battery disconnect on all my Jeeps. I use good quality chains and of course hooked correctly from the top down. I didn't really expect it was possible for the starter to break the chains, 2 on the front and 2 on the rear. It sure would be a eye opener and an electrical PITA!! I am technically listed as an electrician, really maint. foreman. I work as a heavy eq. repairman, and I have seen a lot of unusual failures, so I plan for the can't happen situations.
     
    3b a runnin, Aug 3, 2018
    #8
    Glenn and montanacj like this.
  9. montanacj

    montanacj Member

    Only story I have in regards to starting problems was a client of mines Dodge Ram neutral safety switch malfunctioned and the stick shift vehicle was started in gear at a jiffy lube and proceed to head on out through the garage door lube tech in tow. I’m guessing he reached in to start the vehicle through window. And she started :twist:

    Interestingly I disconnect my batttery on my jeeps if the are sitting for any length of time
     
    montanacj, Aug 3, 2018
    #9
  10. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    One thing I learned many moons ago was to put standard transmissions in neutral when parking. It seems that a lot of people involved in vehicle service learned the opposite.
     
    Glenn, Aug 3, 2018
    #10
  11. 3b a runnin

    3b a runnin Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    REALLY I definitely learned the opposite
     
    3b a runnin, Aug 3, 2018
    #11
  12. Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Never heard that one before.
     
    Daryl, Aug 3, 2018
    #12
  13. termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    I had someone with an srt caliber at work. I parked it outside, set ebrake and went in. Gave the keys to the customer. After i left he hit the remote start button(he was inside the service lane).

    Girl comes running in yellimg a car started up and was smoking the tires!

    Turns out that srt had enough power to start up in gear and roast the tires. Glad i set the brake or it would have run into the gas meter on the building
     
    termin8ed, Aug 3, 2018
    #13
    Hellion likes this.
  14. termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    He wasnt used to putting it in gear and didnt even think. I've had sticks for years and always used the ebrake and in gear so it wouldnt roll
     
    termin8ed, Aug 3, 2018
    #14
  15. 3b a runnin

    3b a runnin Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    ^ WOW Odd things do happen
     
    3b a runnin, Aug 3, 2018
    #15
  16. jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    {looks over shoulder both ways}
    those of us with no parking brake always leave the trans in gear.......
     
    jpflat2a, Aug 3, 2018
    #16
    Hellion, Jrobz23, 47v6 and 1 other person like this.
  17. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    I've had my truck in for service and guys left it in gear and not even put the parking brake on. In the service they taught us to use the parking brake and leave the transmission in neutral, of course I'm mainly referring to diesel trucks that only needed a bit of a bump to start. Same rule applied to the company I retired from.
     
    Glenn, Aug 3, 2018
    #17
    dozerjim likes this.
  18. termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    I can see that.
     
    termin8ed, Aug 4, 2018
    #18
  19. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    I've applied that rule to everything I've ever had that is standard transmission, unless the parking brake really won't hold. It helps avoid the incidents that have been mentioned.
     
    Glenn, Aug 4, 2018
    #19
  20. dozerjim

    dozerjim Member

    I leave trucks with air brakes in neutral,any thing with juice brakes is left in gear and parking brake on if I think of it.Around here (rust belt)the salt reeks havoc on E-brakes if you don't use them all the time.
     
    dozerjim, Aug 4, 2018
    #20
    47v6 likes this.
Page 1 of 3