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Started By
Message
flat towing a Jeep YJ
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:00 am
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:00 am
probably should post this in the outdoors board or something, but you baws seem pretty good at redneck shite too.
so i've been flat towing my 93 jeep off and on for years, and i always put everything in neutral - transfer case and transmission (5 spd manual, as God intended). recently someone told me that i should leave my transmission in gear while the transfer case is in neutral. after googling, i've found a bunch of dudes that say the same thing. i know functionally that if the transfer case is in neutral, EVERYTHING is in neutral, but for some reason I'm still paranoid about leaving the tranny in gear.
what say you, OT baws?
so i've been flat towing my 93 jeep off and on for years, and i always put everything in neutral - transfer case and transmission (5 spd manual, as God intended). recently someone told me that i should leave my transmission in gear while the transfer case is in neutral. after googling, i've found a bunch of dudes that say the same thing. i know functionally that if the transfer case is in neutral, EVERYTHING is in neutral, but for some reason I'm still paranoid about leaving the tranny in gear.
what say you, OT baws?
10
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:03 am to Northshore Aggie
What gear are they saying to leave it in?
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:06 am to Northshore Aggie
Curious on this too. Seen the same thing.
Question is - If the transfer case is in neutral, what is spinning? Why would it matter if the transmission is in neutral, park or gear?
Question is - If the transfer case is in neutral, what is spinning? Why would it matter if the transmission is in neutral, park or gear?
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:08 am to Northshore Aggie
My Automatic is designed to tow in Park with the T-Case in neutral. I'd have to go look closer at the user's manual but I don't recall there being separate instructions for the manual transmission...
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:09 am to LittleJerrySeinfield
quote:
What gear are they saying to leave it in?
5th
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:10 am to Pvt Hudson
quote:
Question is - If the transfer case is in neutral, what is spinning? Why would it matter if the transmission is in neutral, park or gear?
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:11 am to Northshore Aggie
I am curious as to what the logic is behind that. Anything?
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:11 am to Northshore Aggie
I was always told Tcase in Neutral, trans in a high gear like 4th to keep the internal oil pump in the trans moving fluid to the tail shaft. If not, you can overheat that tailshaft bearing and snap the output shaft.
I've seen a CJ have it happen them on the way to Hot Springs. Said he was neutral/neutral. Only time Ive seen it and I was in LA4x4 for 10+ years. Traveled all over the south for trail rides.
I've seen a CJ have it happen them on the way to Hot Springs. Said he was neutral/neutral. Only time Ive seen it and I was in LA4x4 for 10+ years. Traveled all over the south for trail rides.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:12 am to Northshore Aggie
Its been several years since I did it but the procedure on an automatic JK was put the vehicle in N, put the transfer case in N, return the transmission to Park.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:13 am to Northshore Aggie
After 2 minutes of research it seems that the bearings don't get lubed if the tranny is in neutral.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:16 am to Northshore Aggie
Serious question, and don’t know cause I never flat towed a vehicle before.
Since odometers work on tire rotation, my guess is your mileage increases while towing?
Since odometers work on tire rotation, my guess is your mileage increases while towing?
This post was edited on 7/13/23 at 9:18 am
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:17 am to LittleJerrySeinfield
quote:
After 2 minutes of research it seems that the bearings don't get lubed if the tranny is in neutral.
This and its also what my TJ owners manual says to do and it has the same transmission and tcase as a later model YJ.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:18 am to LittleJerrySeinfield
here's a response i saw on a thread on wranglerforums
quote:
Technically ANY gear just to stop the output shaft from spinning but I always put mine in 5th..... on the off chance that my t case ends up not being in neutral I'd prefer that my engine not be turning 20,000 rpm.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:21 am to LittleJerrySeinfield
quote:
After 2 minutes of research it seems that the bearings don't get lubed if the tranny is in neutral.
why is that, from a mechanical standpoint? that's what i'm not grasping i guess. for peace of mind i feel like i need to know "what's doing what to what" back there
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:25 am to Northshore Aggie
Have your driver drive while you drive your Jeep 
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:25 am to Hangover Haven
quote:
Since odometers work on tire rotation, my guess is your mileage increases while towing?
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:30 am to Hangover Haven
quote:
Since odometers work on tire rotation, my guess is your mileage increases while towing?
I guess. I've rebuilt or replaced the entire power train over the years with everything from brand new parts to axles from a junkyard. The mileage is largely irrelevant to my Jeep. I don't even know if the odometer works.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:39 am to Hangover Haven
Thanks guys found the answer to my dumb question… 
quote:
Today, these meters count your vehicle's wheel rotations. As long as the transmission isn't turning, flat towing won't add any miles because the transmission remains in neutral.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:48 am to Northshore Aggie
quote:
why is that, from a mechanical standpoint?
The input shaft to the tranmission is not spinning. That input shaft from the engine lubes the tranmission.
The fluid coupling from the transfercase will spin the transfercase input shaft (output of transmission) even though the transmission is in neutral. If the transmission is in neutral nothing is lubricating the output shaft of the transmission and it can sieze up like our buddy in the CJ.
In gear, the tranmission locks that output shaft and the fluid coupling from the tcase can't spin it. So, its a lubrication issue but the opposite of what I thought. You want to lock the transmission and let the tcase spin free (the tcase oil pump is on the ouput shaft where the driveshaft attaches so it will spin with the spinning driveshaft).
Edited for sucking at typing.
This post was edited on 7/13/23 at 9:55 am
Posted on 7/13/23 at 10:43 am to Northshore Aggie
I flat tow my Jeep behind my truck all the time.
Put the transfer case in neutral and then put the vehicle in gear. Make sure that you do not lock your steering wheel.
Edit: if you had an automatic you would leave it in park after putting the transfer case in neutral.
Put the transfer case in neutral and then put the vehicle in gear. Make sure that you do not lock your steering wheel.
Edit: if you had an automatic you would leave it in park after putting the transfer case in neutral.
This post was edited on 7/13/23 at 10:45 am
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