Hey guys I am planing to flat tow my 1986 f150 4x4 back to Ga 900 Miles . Its is a standard but I plan to drop the shafts and put a brake system in the thing to help with braking .


Or would it be safer to use a trailer ?

 

Welcome Robby...to Ford Truck Enthusiasts! If you have a minute check out the Guidelines, it will help you to navigate through and understand FTE. Stick around
someone will be by shortly...to answer your question.

We are pleased you have chosen the best source for Fords!
See you on the boards.
Enjoy FTE …..

 

For the cost of the braking system for a flat-tow, you could probably rent a trailer or tow dolly and have money left over. The trailer has it's own brakes and tires and there are no worries about removing drivelines. Most rental trailers have surge brakes, so there's no need to hook up a brake controller in the truck if you don't have one. I have pulled cars 4-down, on a dolly, and on trailers and I MUCH prefer to tow with a trailer. Flat towing and dolly towing means no backing up, which is a real bummer when pull into someplace you're not familiar with have no way to drive through it. I have backed up dollies before, but it is very frustrating and takes forever. The main thing I don't like about flat towing is that sometimes the car gets squirrely in a panic stop. Trailers are much more forgiving. Most of the time the trailer just follows along and you don't even notice it's back there.

Twice I had the Bronco come around on me and push my truck sideways when I was towing it on a tow bar with my old dually. One would think that a dually loaded with equipment in the bed would be heavy enough to control a 4000 lb Bronco, but to my surprise, it was not. Those are experiences I would rather not have again. I've never had a trailer act like that Bronco did and hope I never do. I still have the tow bar, but only use it on rare occasion (emergency) for short distances when the trailer is not available or handy to use, as it is easier towing with a tow bar than with a chain. For any planned trip, the Bronco goes on the trailer.

.

 

I too have had negative experience with tow bars, and the fact that 2 bolts is all that keeps it where it belongs makes me nervous... but if the alignment is off, it won't turn properly, and you'll have the worst ride of your life, and that is just too many miles to be fighting with your tow. Iknow there are plenty who have done it or do it regular, I just would rather have a trailer behind me than deal with a tow bar load. I guess it would be fine to drag a little lightweight car around, but a heavier truck like that would bug me. Also, I am curious what you would use for a braking system, rig up some kind of surge brakes?