Long road trip, HMMWV-HMMWV towing advice

[M1165A1]

My neighbor and I will be driving our sister trucks - both M1165A1s - out to Moab for a bit of off roading. It's about a 300 mile trip (each way) for us.

We'll definitely be bringing tools and a few key spares but I wanted to be prepared for one of the trucks going down.

Which makes me wonder . . . what's the optimal way to tow HMMWV to HMMWV?

Obviously if it happens off road we'll just use a tow strap and get back to civilization. But if it happens on a highway I am wondering if there is an optimal towing strategy between the trucks.

Would the IBIS Tek tow bar be a good solution? I always thought that was for towing a HMMWV behind an FMTV as opposed to another HMMWV. Using a tow strap on actual roads isn't the safest way to go.

Appreciate any thoughts from the group. Photo of the truck superfriends below.

 

[Retiredwarhorses]

On a side note, hows the Turret been holding up as far as any leaking?

 

[98G]

On road?

Towbar and safety chains. Medium towbar preferred, but Ibis tech ok for a HMMWV.

Probably not something i want to be doing for the first time under emergency conditions. Consider a rollback flatbed wrecker.

 

[M1165A1]

On a side note, hows the Turret been holding up as far as any leaking?

What doesn't leak on a HMMWV? But the turret has been firstrate, like all your work . It was an attention getter in the winter when my son rode on the sling driving around town.

Stay tuned for some turret action pics from this coming summer, it will be used for its intended purpose shortly.

 

[NDT]

Ibis Tek is the way to go, much lighter and compact then the steel medium tb.

 

[williamh]

I got this line on some super bad a$$ zip ties. Make it like a train

 

[TOBASH]

Ready-brake tow bar system. It activates the brakes in the rear vehicle. Awesome!

 

[Action]

Ready-brake tow bar system. It activates the brakes in the rear vehicle. Awesome!

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So is it required to have the engine running in the second vehicle? For power assisted brakes?

 

[TOBASH]

So is it required to have the engine running in the second vehicle? For power assisted brakes?

No. Don’t need second engine on. I pulled a Toyota BJ-44 over 5000 miles round trip with ZERO issues using a Durango.

 

[Mogman]

How does it activate the towed vehicle brakes????

 

[TOBASH]

Forward momentum of rear vehicle pushes a lever forward. That lever is connected with a wire to the brake pedal.

 

[Action]

Forward momentum of rear vehicle pushes a lever forward. That lever is connected with a wire to the brake pedal.

That will require a lot of force with no power assist. I am intrigued.

 

[TOBASH]

That will require a lot of force with no power assist. I am intrigued.

A three ton plus vehicle decelerating creates a bit of force. More than enough to depress the brake pedal. It really makes pulling and stopping a heavy vehicle much more comfortable and manageable.

 

[M1165A1]

A three ton plus vehicle decelerating creates a bit of force. It really makes pulling and stopping a heavy vehicle much more comfortable and manageable.

Seems interesting but won't it lock up the brakes in rain or snow? As it is my HMMWV wants to fishtail every time I brake on less than dry pavement. A surge brake like this hitting the pedal hard could create a real issue?

 

[NDT]

Eh I would personally prefer the Ibis Tek. Who has time to rig up cables on the side of the interstate? Call SECO and have them send you one.

 

[Coug]

How about AAA RV+. towing up to 200 miles is covered with the right policy. Not quite the full 300 miles of the trip, but most of it is.

 

[TOBASH]

Seems interesting but won't it lock up the brakes in rain or snow? As it is my HMMWV wants to fishtail every time I brake on less than dry pavement. A surge brake like this hitting the pedal hard could create a real issue?

Eh I would personally prefer the Ibis Tek. Who has time to rig up cables on the side of the interstate? Call SECO and have them send you one.

Ibis tech is fine BUT if you drive smart these units are amazing. If you drive with rabbit starts and stops you might have issues.

I drove 5000 miles round trip AND I loved it. Drive carefully, and don’t do stupid things. Pulling anything is potentially finicky BUT I’d rather pull something behind me with all four of its wheels on the ground with its brakes assisting to limit risk of jack knife.

Ibis without rear vehicle braking is at increased risk of jack knife. It is the rear vehicle momentum that causes the jack knife. Ready-brake activating the rear vehicle brakes diminishes the risk of jack knife. The rear vehicle doesn’t push as much downhill and it makes the drive feel like you’re pulling 1/5 the weight.

 

[Mogman]

Here is a little video about the ReadyBrake

I wonder what states they are talking about where towed vehicle must have supplemental braking
Well heck, looks like all but Missouri

Flat Towing Law - Braking Systems

Flat Towing Laws by state. Arkansas, 3000 lbs ; California, 3000 lbs ; Colorado, 3000 lbs ; Connecticut, 3000 lbs.

rvibrake.com

 

[Action]

Here is a little video about the ReadyBrake

I wonder what states they are talking about where towed vehicle must have supplemental braking
Well heck, looks like all but Missouri

Flat Towing Law - Braking Systems

Flat Towing Laws by state. Arkansas, 3000 lbs ; California, 3000 lbs ; Colorado, 3000 lbs ; Connecticut, 3000 lbs.

rvibrake.com

“drill a hole through your firewall”
And install a civilian hitch on both hmmwv, because you dont know which one will be towed.

 

[TOBASH]

Action, if you’re ever in my neck of the woods I’ll hook up the system and demonstrate just how terrific it is.