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Basic Towing questions

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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 04:51 PM
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Default Basic Towing questions

So, I dont have very much experience towing cars/trucks, had some basic questions...

I might have to flat tow/ dingey tow/ 4-wheel down...whatever you want to call it...hook up a tow bar and have all 4 wheels on the ground. I have heard very different opinions on this method, from "No, go rent a trailer!" to "Perfectly fine idea". I may have to tow it up to 450 miles(long story, basically if I have issues with the other vehicle, may not even come to be necessary), is this too far for this method of towing for some reason? Also, besides putting the transmission and T-case in neutral(it is 4wd), is there anything else I should do prior to towing it? Do I NEED to disconnect one or both of the driveshafts? Anything else I'm not thinking of?

Thanks
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 04:59 PM
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Put your transfer case in neutral then you should be good to tow it without needing to remove driveshafts, I would recommend consulting an owners manual for the most accurate answers for proper towing of your vehicle.
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 07:11 PM
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t-case in neutral, tranny in park or 1st (standard trans).

no need to pull drive shafts. you can tow it a million miles this way with no damage.
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by caged
t-case in neutral, tranny in park or 1st (standard trans).

no need to pull drive shafts. you can tow it a million miles this way with no damage.
--but i would check the s--t out of frequently,,once of prevention-----------
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Old Feb 3, 2012 | 09:36 PM
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If you have never changed the diff fluid, it wouldent be a bad idea to do it before towing it a long ways.
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Old Feb 4, 2012 | 01:26 AM
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Originally Posted by gone4x4
--but i would check the s--t out of frequently,,once of prevention-----------
What?!?
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Old Feb 4, 2012 | 01:40 AM
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I think he meant to say an ounce of prevention...
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Old Feb 4, 2012 | 07:16 AM
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just make sure that the auto shifter is in park. if it's in neutral, you will burn out the tranny seal, even tho the t-case shifter is in neutral.

it states in the owners manual to put t-case in neutral and gear selector in park.

standard trans doesn't really matter in my opinion, but it's safer to put in gear when the t-case is in neutral. so that's what i suggest. not sure if the owners manual states in gear, but that's what i would do.
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Old Feb 4, 2012 | 08:35 AM
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If I plan to flat tow a more than a 100 miles or so I pull the axle end of the drive shaft and strap it up out of the way. It gives me piece of mind.

I've seen at least 2 transfer cases explode from being pulled on a dolly in neutral and hitting a bump and poping into 4 hi.
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Old Feb 4, 2012 | 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by lowrange2
If I plan to flat tow a more than a 100 miles or so I pull the axle end of the drive shaft and strap it up out of the way. It gives me piece of mind.

I've seen at least 2 transfer cases explode from being pulled on a dolly in neutral and hitting a bump and poping into 4 hi.
^ exactly
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Old Feb 7, 2012 | 03:36 PM
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Sweet, thanks. Hopefully, this wont even be necessary, but I'd rather ask the stupid question before I kill the t-case, rear axle, etc.
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Old Feb 7, 2012 | 05:38 PM
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btw, if you're gonna put it on a car dolly, you will need to remove the rear drive shaft fo' shizzle.
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Old Feb 7, 2012 | 07:34 PM
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I flat towed my '91 5 speed from Richmond Va to south Georgia with my t case and trans in neutral. I had no issues whatsoever. Now autos I hear different things but I pulled an automatic RWD 1987 Toyota Corolla from NC to Utah with it in neutral and the driveshaft connected and again had no issues with it either. But the owners manual will give you the right answer regardless. if you have it.
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Old Jun 28, 2012 | 01:17 PM
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hey guys, i have a quick question, i just made an account due to the fact that i will be towing my '92 jeep 1200 miles. We are planning on getting a u-haul dolly and i need to clarify what i have to do so i don't ruin my t-case or anything. Would it be better to tow it forwards or backwards? and if the back wheels would be on the ground, put the t-case in Neutral and the gearing in Neutral or 5TH? and i read above i should disconnect the rear driveshaft and hang it up and out of the way, correct?
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Old Jun 28, 2012 | 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Jeeprunner1
hey guys, i have a quick question, i just made an account due to the fact that i will be towing my '92 jeep 1200 miles. We are planning on getting a u-haul dolly and i need to clarify what i have to do so i don't ruin my t-case or anything. Would it be better to tow it forwards or backwards? and if the back wheels would be on the ground, put the t-case in Neutral and the gearing in Neutral or 5TH? and i read above i should disconnect the rear driveshaft and hang it up and out of the way, correct?

Yes you should disconnect the driveshaft if you tow a 4WD vehicle on a dolly.
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