New member, new pinz

NYPinz · Post by **NYPinz** » Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:49 pm

Hey guys,

After wanting one for years, I finally took the dive and bought a 75' 710M on ebay. The truck is about 370 miles away and I am contemplating driving it home. I'm confident the truck will make it, but it is an old truck and you never know so my idea was to find a way to be able to flat tow it with my pickup if it breaks down. My truck can tow 5000lbs, so obviously the pinz would be close to this limit and I'd have to be cautious.

So my question is does anyone make a flat tow bar for this truck?

Thanks
John

stiffler4444 · Post by **stiffler4444** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:28 am

Welcome aboard, sorry, dunno about the flat tow. Where are you in NY?

NYPinz · Post by **NYPinz** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:06 am

I live in Putnam County, about an hour north of NYC.

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:05 am

John,

I'm not aware of any tow-bar which works on a Pinz. They are generally trailered when not driven, to my knowledge.

Paul

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:28 am

DRIVE IT!!!!

I drove two 710m's about 750 miles from Arizona in August!

NYPinz · Post by **NYPinz** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:31 am

I did a search on the forum and read an old thread that mentioned a factory tow bar. Anyone know where that is available from?

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:35 am

NYPinz wrote:I did a search on the forum and read an old thread that mentioned a factory tow bar. Anyone know where that is available from?

Georgia.

NYPinz · Post by **NYPinz** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:03 am

Do you have any more information than that? Thanks.

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:28 pm

The flat tow bar is made by Herbert Krois the only info I have on him is his cell phone number. You'd be better off PMing Alan pinztrek and asking him what they are for sell for. As he lives a lot closer than I do to Herbert. And likely more willing to ship one to you.

audiocontr · Post by **audiocontr** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:45 pm

ehhhh, i have some opinions here and take them for what its worth...

The pinz should make that trek no problem or you purchased a vehicle with some non disclosed issues. It will be slow though and I'd break it apart into two segments.

Pulling the pinz behind your truck is at the top of its weight limits. Add your gear and body weights and you're probably over. You'll need to work out trailer lights and im sure your brake system isnt the best for this. Keep in mind you will not have electric brakes for the tow. Also keep in mind that the terrain in the north east is hilly and the Penn turnpike sucks.

You also do not want to flat tow the pinz at the speeds your truck can safely maintain. It will put unnecessary strain on the reduction gears.

Your best solution is the most difficult. You need to tow the truck on a trailer. I'd look into a uhaul trailer.

Did you buy the one in Ohio?

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:05 pm

audiocontr wrote:
You also do not want to flat tow the pinz at the speeds your truck can safely maintain. It will put unnecessary strain on the reduction gears.

I'd say false

Opinions are like body parts everyones got one.

http://real4x4forums.com/PinzgauerBBS/v ... c&start=15

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:17 pm

This is absolutely not the case. Pinz's are flat towed extensively here in the US and WW. I'm aware of multiple pinz's towed routinely being RV's and other vehicles. The factory has provided flat towing gear as well. (Actually developed by Herbert Krois)

I've towed mine on 1000-2000 mile trips on a 6000# car hauler as well as flat towing, and feel that flat towing is far superior for all aspects except maybe tire wear.

The factory (herbert's) design properly spreads the load starting with the nose ring, and ties into the front body mounts, all as a rigid structure.

Drivetrain wear is minimal, as the gears are essentially unloaded. Far less stress/wear than driving. Virtually zero torque. You will not want to drive 80-90, but the seals are spec'd for rotational speeds above that assuming you have your hub oil level right.

Don't know where this idea that pinz factory spec is 55mph max.... Official top speed is 110kph for the 710 which is 68mph. Even the swiss army spec'd them for 100kph minimum top speed.

So towing at 60mph/100kph is a piece of cake, and no risk to the pinz.

I find braking with the flat towed pinz far more stable than the car hauler with electric brakes. the trailer weighs half again as much as the pinz, so for my tow vehicle (dodge Ram with cummins) it's no issue at all to stop with the pinz flat towing. Less sway, etc.

Key things you need to do:
- tranny in Neutral
- xfer case in neutral
- Steering wheel unlocked, let it turn (and it will)
- Magnetic trailer lights, Northern Tool, etc. They sit upside down in the license plate area on the rear. Or just inside the rear rollbar if canvas is up.
- Proper pintle hitch on the tow vehicle. The factory design is intended to allow pinz to pull pinz, and both civilian & military pinz's have been delivered this way, with vehicles swapped mid-trip.
- You cannot just attach tow bar to the bumperette's!!!!! The factory setup ties the nose ring to the body mounts making a three sided triangle. Very strong.

Anyone at the recent FL treffen saw the factory flat tow setup on mine. I pulled the bar off to free up my front tow point. Take me 15 minutes to connect and drive away. Once you flat tow one with a factory towbar you will not want to trailer again.

If you do decide to trailer, balance is a key issue to avoid swap. You'll want to tie down at the body mounts to avoid having the pinz springs create high CG sway.

Hope this helps!

audiocontr · Post by **audiocontr** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:18 pm

I read his post. However, i have had my hub seals leak several times while running 60 -65 mph in my 710. Normal low speed around town or on trails will not produce the same leaks.

I'm sure many of our vehicles are not at the same condition as Pinztrek's

NYPinz · Post by **NYPinz** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:23 pm

The flat towing will only be if I need to. I have magnetic towing lights from when I used to flat tow my VW beetles with a tow bar so lights are no issue. I would probably not go faster than 50 if I did have to tow it, and I have a tranny cooler in my truck so I'm not worried about stress on that if I keep it in D3.

No I didnt buy the one in Ohio, there was one in VA which I bought.

audiocontr · Post by **audiocontr** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:28 pm

Ahh, you got a great truck! 95 is wide enough as well that you can stay to the right and let folks pass you.

Keep an eye on things, bring some coastal gear oil and a sturdy 10mm hex socket with ya just in case you get a minor leak. (look on the inside of the tires for weird fluid drip stains) otherwise you should be fine.

95 is "hillier" than you think by the way. I can feel the strain on my ford diesel while towing my pinz