Towing 4runner Trail

[Mr. Feeny]

My 2016 4runner Trail recently sustained some damage, not by my doing I might add, and required a tow truck to transport it to the auto body shop. They towed it by lifting the rear wheels with the front wheels on the ground and the transfer case in H2. I thought nothing of it as I figured they were the experts and knew what they were doing. Someone told me today that 4wd vehicles cannot be towed with any wheels on the ground. The owners manual seemed to verify this claim.

I picked up the 4runner yesterday from the auto body shop and it appears to drive normal. Should I be worried? What possible issues could arise or may already be lingering as a result of the improper towing method?

Truck in question:

 

[Yukon4Runner]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/199450-flat-tow-trailer.html

 

[carlomagne]

My 2016 4runner Trail recently sustained some damage, not by my doing I might add, and required a tow truck to transport it to the auto body shop. They towed it by lifting the rear wheels with the front wheels on the ground and the transfer case in H2. I thought nothing of it as I figured they were the experts and knew what they were doing. Someone told me today that 4wd vehicles cannot be towed with any wheels on the ground. The owners manual seemed to verify this claim.

I picked up the 4runner yesterday from the auto body shop and it appears to drive normal. Should I be worried? What possible issues could arise or may already be lingering as a result of the improper towing method?

Truck in question:

I hope you know that your 4runner is only in 4wd if you engage it. If you left it in 4wd before the tow truck came, then yes, you should definitely be worried.

 

[Antman]

My 2016 4runner Trail recently sustained some damage, not by my doing I might add, and required a tow truck to transport it to the auto body shop. They towed it by lifting the rear wheels with the front wheels on the ground and the transfer case in H2. I thought nothing of it as I figured they were the experts and knew what they were doing. Someone told me today that 4wd vehicles cannot be towed with any wheels on the ground. The owners manual seemed to verify this claim.

I picked up the 4runner yesterday from the auto body shop and it appears to drive normal. Should I be worried? What possible issues could arise or may already be lingering as a result of the improper towing method?

Truck in question:

No issue here.

 

[wfo9]

My 2016 4runner Trail recently sustained some damage, not by my doing I might add, and required a tow truck to transport it to the auto body shop. They towed it by lifting the rear wheels with the front wheels on the ground and the transfer case in H2. I thought nothing of it as I figured they were the experts and knew what they were doing. Someone told me today that 4wd vehicles cannot be towed with any wheels on the ground. The owners manual seemed to verify this claim.

I picked up the 4runner yesterday from the auto body shop and it appears to drive normal. Should I be worried? What possible issues could arise or may already be lingering as a result of the improper towing method?

Truck in question:

Part time 4wd trucks can be towed with the front wheels on the ground as long as you are not in 4wd. The issue with flat towing is the drive shaft spinning without the motor pumping trans fluid. That won't happen with just the front wheels on the ground when not in 4wd. The only thing spinning is the spider gears inside the front diff and that is self lubricated.

 

[Mr. Feeny]

Thank you guys for putting my mind at ease. I figured that the 4runner should be okay as long as 4wd was not engaged. I guess the individual who advised me was misinformed who by the way is a Toyota mechanic. Also, Toyota seems to be playing it safe in there owner's manual by recommending only trailer or dolly towing with no wheels on ground.