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Geo Tracker towing

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Jerry FitzGerald

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Mar 30, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/30/97
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TO: Anyone

We just purchased a NEW Geo Tracker to tow behind our motorhome. It's a
2-door convertible, 4x4, 5-speed manual transmission, manual locking
hubs, etc. Could anyone help me with a bit of their towing experience?

To tow a '97 Geo Tracker the owners manual says: Put the 4-wheel drive
transfer case in neutral, put and the 5-speed manual transmission in
second gear, and set the front wheel hubs to free. This is fine but it
also says to stop every 200 miles and run the Geo's engine for one
minute in order to circulate the oil in the 4-wheel drive transfer case.

My question is, do any of you folks who tow Geo Trackers or Suzuki
Sidekicks stop every 200 miles to start the engine and run it for one
minute?

By the way, the owners manual for the '97 Suzuki Sidekick gives the same
instructions for towing.

Thanks and best regards,
Jerry FitzGerald

Gary Carter

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Mar 31, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/31/97
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Jerry FitzGerald <jer...@pacbell.net> wrote:

>TO: Anyone

We have a '95 tracker with 16000 on the odometer and another 13000 of
towed miles. I shouldn't amit this but I'm not to good on the 200
miles or the 55mph speed limit. I usuallly start it up when filling
with fuel and sometimes during the day if I need a break, I will walk
back and start the tracker while I stretch.
I am going to investigate this summer overfilling the transfer case.
The problem is the the output shaft is coming out the top of the case
and is slightly above the oil level. Consulting with the best Suzuki
mechanic in this area, it is his unofficial opionan the a slight
overfill will take care of the problem. Once it warms up a little
here in the upper midwest I will check this out.
FYI: I did not have to use any diode to hook up the wiring. Just
taped into the existing circuits on the Tracker. Also have a Remco
speedometer disconnect the activates when plugged into the RV and the
ingnition is turned on.
If you need more info e-mail


Jeff Pierce

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Apr 2, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/2/97
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Jerry FitzGerald (jer...@pacbell.net) wrote:
The information you have is correct according to an article in the May 97
issue of FourWheeler. They are starting a thread that will continue into
next month on towables. Seems alot of the newer units are requiring the
same thing to ensure that all the gears stay lubed. At least you don't
have to disconnect and drive around the block - YET!

I have also seen some electric pumps that can be attached to provide the
same bennies.

Good Luck!

: TO: Anyone


:
: We just purchased a NEW Geo Tracker to tow behind our motorhome. It's a
: 2-door convertible, 4x4, 5-speed manual transmission, manual locking
: hubs, etc. Could anyone help me with a bit of their towing experience?
:
: To tow a '97 Geo Tracker the owners manual says: Put the 4-wheel drive
: transfer case in neutral, put and the 5-speed manual transmission in
: second gear, and set the front wheel hubs to free. This is fine but it
: also says to stop every 200 miles and run the Geo's engine for one
: minute in order to circulate the oil in the 4-wheel drive transfer case.
:
: My question is, do any of you folks who tow Geo Trackers or Suzuki
: Sidekicks stop every 200 miles to start the engine and run it for one
: minute?
:
: By the way, the owners manual for the '97 Suzuki Sidekick gives the same
: instructions for towing.
:
: Thanks and best regards,
: Jerry FitzGerald

--
If it ain't fun don't do it;
if you gotta do it - make it fun!

Coster Archibald

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Apr 4, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/4/97
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Jerry FitzGerald wrote:
>
> TO: Anyone
>
> We just purchased a NEW Geo Tracker to tow behind our motorhome. It's a
> 2-door convertible, 4x4, 5-speed manual transmission, manual locking
> hubs, etc. Could anyone help me with a bit of their towing experience?
>
> To tow a '97 Geo Tracker the owners manual says: Put the 4-wheel drive
> transfer case in neutral, put and the 5-speed manual transmission in
> second gear, and set the front wheel hubs to free. This is fine but it
> also says to stop every 200 miles and run the Geo's engine for one
> minute in order to circulate the oil in the 4-wheel drive transfer case.
>
> My question is, do any of you folks who tow Geo Trackers or Suzuki
> Sidekicks stop every 200 miles to start the engine and run it for one
> minute?
>
> By the way, the owners manual for the '97 Suzuki Sidekick gives the same
> instructions for towing.
>
> Thanks and best regards,
> Jerry FitzGerald

We have towed a '94 Tracker for almost 20,000 miles. It is a hardtop,
4X4, automatic, manual hubs. I drive 60mph and stop and run it every two
hours when I make a pit stop. I have had no problems with it. It sure is
a great vehicle to run around in.

Arch
Newark, CA

Gary Carter

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Apr 10, 1997, 3:00:00 AM4/10/97
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Coster Archibald <cos...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

We've towed our '95 Tracker about 15,000 miles. I don't pay
to much attention to the 200 mile limit, but if I have to stop, I try
to remember to go start the Tracker. We had a samari before that I
never touched, even though it had the same instructions. By the way I
almost never drive under 65 on the freeways.
The why is simple if you look under the Tracker. the output
shaft exits out of the top of the transfer case. This above the fill
hole. Since the only thing turning is the output shaft, it has to
live on the last oil it received when the lower gears were turning.
Sometime this summer, I am going to look into overfilling the transfer
case and getting enought oil in that the top gear will be touching the
oil level. The top Suzuki mechanic in this area agreed with my that
this should do away with having to stop and oil the output shaft.
I will post the results later this year after I check it out.

Gary

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