Towing a 91 4x4 4Runner
01-02-2015, 12:58 PM
#2
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Depends on how far you're going, really. If a short distance, and it's a manual, you should be able to get away with putting the transmission in neutral and towing it on a dolly. If anything more than a few miles, put it on a flatbed or remove the rear driveshaft and use a dolly. I have read the input shaft on the transfer case is what pumps oil through it, so you wouldn't want to put the transfer case in neutral.
Last edited by ab0tj; 01-02-2015 at 01:11 PM. Reason: duh moment
01-02-2015, 01:40 PM
#3
Please define short distance ??
As some would think that would be less then 100 miles
When it should be no more then 100'
If it gets flat towed or you go to the trouble to use a Tow Dolly remove the rear drive shaft
As the drive shaft always turns with the rear wheels on the ground.
If your sharp enough to have locking Hubs on the rear axle you would not need to ask.
As some would think that would be less then 100 miles
When it should be no more then 100'
If it gets flat towed or you go to the trouble to use a Tow Dolly remove the rear drive shaft
As the drive shaft always turns with the rear wheels on the ground.
If your sharp enough to have locking Hubs on the rear axle you would not need to ask.
01-03-2015, 07:04 AM
#5
Whenever flat towing or using a tow dolley for a Toyota 4wd remove the rear drive shaft. That is straight from Marlin at Marlin Crawler. I wish i had taken 5 minutes for 4 bolts whwn using a tow dolley for a short distance. Somehow the truck went into gear and i destroyed a transmission.
01-03-2015, 10:00 AM
#6
01-03-2015, 04:28 PM
#7
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Towed mine on a dolly from Oregon to Colorado, then 2 years later from Colorado to Florida. I put tranny and t case in neutral. Was it right? Probably not according to the pros. However, I didn't have any negative repercussions from doing so. I used a dolly because of the cost. Full trailer was almost $200 more.
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01-03-2015, 06:15 PM
#8
You were real lucky !!!Then maybe your driving on borrowed time.
Because the rear drive shaft always turning can cause the bearings in the back of the transfer case to die from lack of lubrication .
The shaft that causes the gear oil to get slung up to that area is not turning.
Because the rear drive shaft always turning can cause the bearings in the back of the transfer case to die from lack of lubrication .
The shaft that causes the gear oil to get slung up to that area is not turning.
01-04-2015, 04:11 PM
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I guess it was luck then. I dunno. I got 3 years and 25,000ish miles out of it after towing it that way before I sold it. And she was still going strong.
I guess don't do what I did. If you're towing it a short distance as in rent a trailer and return it to the same location, go that route.
I guess don't do what I did. If you're towing it a short distance as in rent a trailer and return it to the same location, go that route.
01-04-2015, 08:20 PM
#10
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Toyota doesn't recommend flat towing w/o removing the driveshaft, for the reason stated that the rear bearing doesn't have a reliable source of lubrication with the front shaft stopped. This is true of most transmissions and transfer cases.
That being said, if you pull into any RV park and watch the big motor homes come in, 30% of them are flat towing some kind of smaller run-about vehicle and for sure they're not disconnecting/connecting the drive shaft every time they want to use it. They travel thousands of miles that way and apparently get away with it. My guess is that enough oil remains in the bearings such that, under no load conditions, the bearing does just fine. But, no guarantees.
That being said, if you pull into any RV park and watch the big motor homes come in, 30% of them are flat towing some kind of smaller run-about vehicle and for sure they're not disconnecting/connecting the drive shaft every time they want to use it. They travel thousands of miles that way and apparently get away with it. My guess is that enough oil remains in the bearings such that, under no load conditions, the bearing does just fine. But, no guarantees.
01-05-2015, 01:44 AM
#12
Most of those smaller vehicles are ok to flat tow.
feel free to flat tow your toyota 4x4 all you want despite recommendations to spend 5 minutes to undo 4 bolts.
From my personal experience i will pull the rear shaft.
It was an expensive lesson
Flat Towing a Toyota <-- Must disconnect rear driveline!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlin Crawler
On all auto chain driven and manual gear driven t/cases, if it is towed in two wheel drive, the output shaft will turn, but there will be no way for the oil at the bottom of the case to get to the top where the output shaft is. On the chain driven cases, the input shaft turns the planetary housing which drives the oil pump. Gear driven cases use the input gear and low range gears to throw oil on the inside of the housing that collects the oil via gutters and directs it to the rear of the case by gravity. Both style of cases, must have the input shaft spinning to lube the output shaft, speedo gears, and rear seal of the t/case. The rear driveshaft must be removed.
Marlin
feel free to flat tow your toyota 4x4 all you want despite recommendations to spend 5 minutes to undo 4 bolts.
From my personal experience i will pull the rear shaft.
It was an expensive lesson
Flat Towing a Toyota <-- Must disconnect rear driveline!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marlin Crawler
On all auto chain driven and manual gear driven t/cases, if it is towed in two wheel drive, the output shaft will turn, but there will be no way for the oil at the bottom of the case to get to the top where the output shaft is. On the chain driven cases, the input shaft turns the planetary housing which drives the oil pump. Gear driven cases use the input gear and low range gears to throw oil on the inside of the housing that collects the oil via gutters and directs it to the rear of the case by gravity. Both style of cases, must have the input shaft spinning to lube the output shaft, speedo gears, and rear seal of the t/case. The rear driveshaft must be removed.
Marlin
Last edited by dropzone; 01-05-2015 at 01:53 AM.
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