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stir_fry_boy

stir_fry_boy

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Moving from AZ to UT. Renting a Penske truck, need to tow my 02' T4R. Flatbed trailer won't work (T4R too heavy), so only option is a dolly. Options for towing are:

1) Reverse onto the dolly and tow from rear wheels (front on ground)

2) Put transfer case into "N" in 2WD and tow with front wheels on dolly.

3) Disconnect rear drive shaft from transfer case to rear differential.

Pro's and con's to each? What would you do?
 
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stir_fry_boy said:
Moving from AZ to UT. Renting a Penske truck, need to tow my 02' T4R. Flatbed trailer won't work (T4R too heavy), so only option is a dolly. Options for towing are:

1) Reverse onto the dolly and tow from rear wheels (front on ground)

2) Put transfer case into "N" in 2WD and tow with front wheels on dolly.

3) Disconnect rear drive shaft from transfer case to rear differential.

Pro's and con's to each? What would you do?
Click to expand...


My 1st preference #3 (throw on some cheap tires on it)

2nd preference is #2

#1 would be the last option.
 
i could be wrong, but dont you have to remove the drive shaft when towing a auto car with a dolly? Takes no time to pull the drive shaft #3 for sure.
 
stir_fry_boy said:
Moving from AZ to UT. Renting a Penske truck, need to tow my 02' T4R. Flatbed trailer won't work (T4R too heavy), so only option is a dolly. Options for towing are:

1) Reverse onto the dolly and tow from rear wheels (front on ground)

2) Put transfer case into "N" in 2WD and tow with front wheels on dolly.

3) Disconnect rear drive shaft from transfer case to rear differential.

Pro's and con's to each? What would you do?
Click to expand...

noooooooooooooo

move to CO :)
 
Having the transfer case in Neutral negates the transmission output shaft turning problems. Which would be catastrophic to turn the transmission without the engine running, since the pump only turns if the engine is running.

Some transfer cases don't play nice with output shaft only rotation because the rear bearing only gets oil if the input shaft is turning(Dana 20). I've not heard of any Toyota having this issue, but it would be good to ask someone familiar with the chain driven case. The gear driven case can absolutely be flat towed in N. I flat tow my Landcruiser in N, and have logged thousands of miles that way with no problem.

Of course if you pull the drive shaft, you're golden!
 
Wouldn't having the transfer case in N not turn the transmission? Of course I wouldn't want the transmission to turn without the engine running.
 
Owner's manual says if you can't use a flat bed to tow it from the rear and use dollies on the front wheels. If dollies on the front wheels cannot be used, then turn the key to ACC (leave it in while towing) and put the transmission into Neutral and the Transfer Case into High (2Hi).

Not sure if that helps really as they don't explain how you're supposed to keep the front wheels straight (make sure you figure that out, had a vehicle that was towed incorrectly and it snapped the column and ruined the steering wheel)? Here's a snippet of the 4WD Towing instructions from the Owner's Manual I made for you. :)

Towing.jpg
 

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BlackWorksInc said:
Owner's manual says if you can't use a flat bed to tow it from the rear and use dollies on the front wheels. If dollies on the front wheels cannot be used, then turn the key to ACC (leave it in while towing) and put the transmission into Neutral and the Transfer Case into High (2Hi).

Not sure if that helps really as they don't explain how you're supposed to keep the front wheels straight (make sure you figure that out, had a vehicle that was towed incorrectly and it snapped the column and ruined the steering wheel)? Here's a snippet of the 4WD Towing instructions from the Owner's Manual I made for you. :)

View attachment 193257
Click to expand...

Thanks [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] ! You are awesome! With that info, I think that I have 2 options:

1) Disconnect driveline

2) Transfer case into high (2WD) and transmission into Neutral. I would use the shift lock button to release the shifter, and leave the key out of it and lock the truck. I think that will lock the steering wheel without having the key to "ACC". Is that ok [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION]?
 
Jesus, just unbolt the differential flange and tie the driveshaft up (or pull it off completely) and you're fine. Screw doing all that shit in the second step.

Where are you moving to in Utah?
 
snivilous said:
Jesus, just unbolt the differential flange and tie the driveshaft up (or pull it off completely) and you're fine. Screw doing all that shit in the second step.

Where are you moving to in Utah?
Click to expand...

Ogden area. The reason why I don't want to avoid disconnecting the driveline is once I get to my storage place about 1 hour south of where I'm staying it will be later at night. I want to just unload the truck and drive it. It will be dark and cold, rather not have to deal with it.
 
stir_fry_boy said:
Ogden area. The reason why I don't want to avoid disconnecting the driveline is once I get to my storage place about 1 hour south of where I'm staying it will be later at night. I want to just unload the truck and drive it. It will be dark and cold, rather not have to deal with it.
Click to expand...

I would still do the first step. It's like 40F out right now (I'm like 20 miles North of Ogden) and it's literally 4 bolts and will take 10 minutes.

Whatever floats your boat though. Hit me up if you want to go wheeling, or join UTOR on facebook.
 
stir_fry_boy said:
Thanks [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] ! You are awesome! With that info, I think that I have 2 options:

1) Disconnect driveline

2) Transfer case into high (2WD) and transmission into Neutral. I would use the shift lock button to release the shifter, and leave the key out of it and lock the truck. I think that will lock the steering wheel without having the key to "ACC". Is that ok [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION]?
Click to expand...

NO, and I really mean NO. Read the previous post, if you tow from the rear, you have to let the front wheels find their own way or you'll break the column lock! If you tow from the front, you must NOT leave the transfer case in high!
 
BlackWorksInc said:
Owner's manual says if you can't use a flat bed to tow it from the rear and use dollies on the front wheels. If dollies on the front wheels cannot be used, then turn the key to ACC (leave it in while towing) and put the transmission into Neutral and the Transfer Case into High (2Hi).

Not sure if that helps really as they don't explain how you're supposed to keep the front wheels straight (make sure you figure that out, had a vehicle that was towed incorrectly and it snapped the column and ruined the steering wheel)? Here's a snippet of the 4WD Towing instructions from the Owner's Manual I made for you. :)

View attachment 193257
Click to expand...

There are two suspension geometry factors that make the steering self center, SAI and Caster. Don't worry, the wheels will follow!
 
Thanks for everyone's input. I'll just disconnect the driveline from the rear diff and tow it. I'll use a ratchet strap and secure it to the frame.
 
snivilous said:
I would still do the first step. It's like 40F out right now (I'm like 20 miles North of Ogden) and it's literally 4 bolts and will take 10 minutes.

Whatever floats your boat though. Hit me up if you want to go wheeling, or join UTOR on facebook.
Click to expand...

Love to go wheeling. I'm not familiar with many open trails except for Ben Lomond from Mantua.

Can you send me the link to UTOR?
 
2) Put transfer case into "N" in 2WD and tow with front wheels on dolly.
Click to expand...


This is absolutely wrong. Sadly I know firsthand. You must remove the driveshaft if you tow with the front wheels up. It does not matter if it is a 2WD or 4WD truck.

I towed about 300 miles with the front wheels up on a dolly and the truck in N and the transfer case in N. The truck's transmission drives strong right now (no issues) and I am hoping for the best. I was rescuing my truck at 2am and did not drop the shaft. I should have known better but did not know at the time. I actually had a copy of the owners manual in the truck but did not check it (like a dumbass).

From everything I have read and people I have spoken with (including the mechanic) it can go either way. Some people luck out and have no major transmission damage and other people see the damage very quickly.

:bluejump:
 
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I have seen so many 4Runners being towed behind motorhomes that I find it hard to believe it's as big a deal as we make it out to be.

That said, if it's just a one time thing, you may as well disconnect the drive shaft.
 
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