Flat towing a 2ed gen with a 3rd gen?

Jayzero911

Jayzero911

New member
Sorry ahead of time for having to ask this but the topics I found jump all around the 4runner years. Ok so I just bought a 91 4x4 v6 manual runner and need to tow it home. Its a 35 mile trip ruffly and I can't seem to find a tow for under $120. So I am thinking about using my 02 2wd v6 auto runner and a tow bar to get it home. Reading a lot of bad things about flat towing the 4x4's and the last thing I want to do is hurt my new truck even more.

So what is the best way to go about this? I'm not apposed to removing the DS but I hope there is a easier way. PS. its my first 4x4.

Maybe someone local can tow it cheaper for me lol?
 
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I don't think flat towing matters with a manual. I know it's not good for autos. It's not the 4x4 that's the issue, it's the tranny.
 
Jayzero911 said:
Sorry ahead of time for having to ask this but the topics I found jump all around the 4runner years. Ok so I just bought a 91 4x4 v6 manual runner and need to tow it home. Its a 35 mile trip ruffly and I can't seem to find a tow for under $120. So I am thinking about using my 02 2wd v6 auto runner and a tow bar to get it home. Reading a lot of bad things about flat towing the 4x4's and the last thing I want to do is hurt my new truck even more.

So what is the best way to go about this? I'm not apposed to removing the DS but I hope there is a easier way. PS. its my first 4x4.

Maybe someone local can tow it cheaper for me lol?
Click to expand...

for that distance, I doubt it would be a problem.

but, for piece of mind, call a tow company and ask them the details for a flat tow.
they should be able to tell you what conditions it needs.

likely, just being in neutral is fine, but I think there are times/vehicles that need the t-case shifted differently aswell. any decent tow company would have this info.
 
Ive heard that the Tcase wont be oiled correctly when flat towing. Don't quote me on this. Honestly Id just remove the rear driveshaft for good measure and it really doesn't even take that long. I can have the rear Dshaft out in a bout 4 minutes.
 
If you have a manual tranny with a gear driven t-case... just put the t-case in neutral and the tranny in 4th or neutral.
Anyone with an auto and chain t-case has gotta pull the rear driveshaft... or install rear hubs. (not cheap)
 
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The chain t-case with it's own pump and cooler (separate from the tranny cooler) came behind automatics. That's the one you don't want to flat tow.
See the t-case cooler in this very bad pic...
2ndgen4runner4x4-albums-t-case+cooler+pics-picture12404-t-casecooler-installed.jpg
 
Ever considered joining AAA? Even with boosting the tow length to 100 miles, I think it's still under $100 including initialization fee, which you might be able to sweet talk your way around.

Truthfully the only time we used my AAA membership was when in a friend's old land cruiser in summer on the way out of Phoenix. The rig died in the fast lane on 17, making bad traffic worse. Fun times, but we did get to ride in the cruiser while it was on top of the tow truck.
 
giro said:
Ever considered joining AAA? Even with boosting the tow length to 100 miles, I think it's still under $100 including initialization fee, which you might be able to sweet talk your way around.

Truthfully the only time we used my AAA membership was when in a friend's old land cruiser in summer on the way out of Phoenix. The rig died in the fast lane on 17, making bad traffic worse. Fun times, but we did get to ride in the cruiser while it was on top of the tow truck.
Click to expand...

AAA is a great investment. If you think ahead you can get discounts on tons of stuff. Although I used my last tow of the year the other day on my dad's jeep. :whipping2
 
As someone who sometimes flat tows his truck to events, I gotta say there's a lot of mis-info here.
Short story, dis-connect both driveshafts at the diffs and you can tow it all day.
Leave the steering wheel unlocked and don't try and back it up, and you'll be fine.
And BTW, with a V6 you have a chain drive t-case, FWIW.
 
Thanks for the info guys, looks like I have a bunch of wrenching to do out in front or someones house tomorrow lol. Hook up the tow bar, hook to the towing car, D/C font and back DS, toss the magnetic tow lights on top and go. Thanks again everyone.
 
2ndGen4runner4x4 said:
If you have a manual tranny with a gear driven t-case... just put the t-case in neutral and the tranny in 4th or neutral.
Anyone with an auto and chain t-case has gotta pull the rear driveshaft... or install rear hubs. (not cheap)
Click to expand...

nice to know , gear driven transfer case , with a 5speed , can be towed with trans and transfer case in neutral without the removal of the drive shaft or anything
 
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