Hey my fellow dak lovers if you don't know me your probley new and if you do know me I feel sorry for you ha ha j/k. I've tried a lot to get back to these forums but seems the problem of not having internet for aaaaaa long time would affect that. A

Any who I've got a dilema, I just got this 1977 Jeep Cherokee Chief with an AMC 401 totally FREE!!! and its in not that bad a shape it hasn't run in like 5 years(it ran when it was parked). But here the thing I got to tow it... and it back in the hills. The only way to get to it is go up a rocky path with a more than a 10% grade then back down the back side of the hill with the same 10% grade.

So do you think I can put this jeep on a tow dolly and pull it up this hill then back down again? The jeep's curb weight is about 4,200lbs. Opinions please

 

Welcome back! That Jeep is one of those Large SUV style ones right? That is a beast. Ya a tow dolly should be fine. If needed go slow and steady. Keep your momentum. The tow dolly probably only weights 300LBS or so. So the total weight will be 4,500lbs. Your Dakota will be rated for 5,800LBS. So your fine. Post up some pics!

 

Sounds like fun . . . look forward to seeing pictures.

 

Good the only thing I got to do now then is air up the tires and disconnect the rear driveline. This jeep has got Quadra- Trac AKA full time 4x4. the AMC 401 is a 4bbl carb with a forged crank and rods. Makes about 300hp if its tuned right. The tranny is a GM TH400 basically over kill for this jeep cuz they many used those trannys in 3/4- 1 ton trucks. Here is pics of the outside....

 

Here is pics of the interior...

 

And finally the Engine bay.. Apparently some rats got in there and made a big nest!! wonder if thats where the term Rat rod came from lol...

 

Nice Jeep. That would be a great build.

 

If you got the full car hauler from U-Haul I bet you would have no problem. The only thing I can see being an issue with the tow dolly is the clearance and how it distributes the weight once it is attached to your truck, mainly on the downhill side. Uphill, no problem.

 

Heck ya that looks like fun! Make sure you post up pics of your progress.

Actually the TH400's came on tons of vehicles. Cars and truck with V6's to V8's.
But you are right it is more than strong enough for your setup. They are notorious for the parasitic HP loss though. But they have the OD, which makes it sweet! TH350's slightly weaker but less HP loss but no OD.

Are they any changes to your truck since we last seen it?

 

If the Chief has brakes, what about scrapping the towbar for a good chain and putting a good friend with a crash helmet in the Chief? Little leery about the towbar on the downhill.