I'm interested in towing my 01 4runner behind my RV. What do I need to do to flat tow? If unable to flat tow, how about towing with a tow dollie? I have heard everything from; "oh yea, just put transfer case into neutral" to; "Cant do it, have to use a tow dollie and also disconnect drive shaft". Anyone out there know for sure?

 

tow dolly would be good and yes you will have to remove the drive shaft mark it first though i don't think you have to worry about the transfer case if on a dolly

 

thanks, but I was sure hoping for an easier answer.

 

Fron the marlin crawler site and another thread here regarding flat towing a toyota 4x4

 

Makes sense to me. I've always heard you have to drop the axle too.

 

I have been told that you can just disconnect the shaft at the rear diff and tie it up out of the way though without having to pull the whole shaft. That's just a couple bolts I think.

 

X2 this is the way to do it if you have an automatic!! it is kinda a pain but without putting the whole thing on a trailer it is the option!!

 

There are 4 bolts at each end of the driveshaft. You can just unbolt the rear and tie it up, but there's always a chance it could fall and drag. To be safe I would remove it completely. You can always leave it off and drive on the front if you don't want to re and re it every day.

 

Eh.. If you have a decent short wratchet strap I don't think that bad boy is goin anywhere lol

 

Or you can convert the rear axle to full float, install manual hubs and put them in "free".

http://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/nfos...59aa44d33a61b6

 

That sounds like a lot more work than just pulling 4 bolts! He's looking for an easy no fuss no muss way to pull his truck.

 

So.... I would need to do the same thing correct? 85 sfa 5sp. I'm going cross country in october and will be towing my runner

 

I'm not sure about the standard shifts ...

 

I have never heard of having to do this with a manual!!! with an automatic there is the issue of the torque converter and other things!!! with a manual I have always been told just to throw it in to neutral... However with a transfer case there may be hidden issues though I can not see too many!!

I may suggest to be on the safe side that for the long haul across the country to disconnect and on short trips I would not worry about it too much...

That is MY Opinion!!

 

My buddy was tellin me he and his dad were towing an old yota 4x4 down from jersey and the tcase exploded on the interstate... what could cause that?

 

Wouldn't you have to disconnect the front diff as well in an sfa?... Just spitballin' here.

 

the front turning is not the issue, the post I mentioned from marlin deals with lubrication issues with the transfer case. If the rear driveshaft is in place then the rear driveshaft / x-fer output shaft turns without the front of the case moving which is essentially the oil pump. rear shaft and x-fer output shaft will turn regardless of trans auto or manual and/or x-fer case being in neutral. With a SFA or IFS if the hubs are not locked then the front axles/driveshafts will not turn = not an issue.

Now yes you can put the transmission in neutral and the x-fer case in 4 hi and lock the hubs, this will in turn tun the output shaft in the x-fer case to get fluid moving to the rear of the case, however it is not good to flat tow a transmission in neutral. Auto or manual. Especially an auto since its fluid pump is not pumping fluid to cool the trans as it turns. Not familiar with the way the manual trans moves its fluid around, but I can't imagine it being much different than the x-fer case.

I hope this clears some things up.

 

BTW working next to a cottman transmission place for a while I have seen first hand what happens when someone tries to flat tow a vehicle in neutral without removing the rear driveshaft behind an rv. It will grenade the entire transmission beyond repair.

 

Ok good to know.. will def be removing the ds

 

Granville just to let you know i missed yur post about the exploded x-fer case my reply about the grenaded trans was just added by me for a wow factor, but it looks like I answered yur question.