2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Flat Tow Question

[surfbeetle]

We currently have a Fifth Wheel but we are looking at a Class A or C and want to tow a car behind us. Yes it makes the most sense to get a flatbed trailer and just put the car up on it. I would probably do that for my wife's Flex or my Challenger. But I was wondering about flat towing my 1995 two wheel drive Ram with the NV4500 manual trans behind a motorhome. Has anyone done this? I have many miles flat towing old aircooled VWs with no issues but I'm not sure the NV4500 can do this. I searched "flat tow" the 2nd gen part of the TDR and got 7 pages of posts and none of them covered the subject.
Thanks for the input.

 

[Simplysmn]

My Biggest worry would be a Strong enough tow bar . I think the Max is 5000lb's ? but I think if you solve that problem and put trans in Netural you should be ok . But I would double check .It may be a No No to tow a stick vehicle in Netural it may not sling the oil like it should while being towed .

 

[Mingoglia]

That's a good point. That would be one heck of a tow bar. You're also obviously going to need to get a brakes actuator in the truck as that's also a lot of weight to try to stop without, regardless of the size of the tow vehicle.

 

[surfbeetle]

Yeah, I hadn't thought about the needed size of the towbar. We have been looking at RVs locally in Southern California but the same ones can be found in Texas and New Mexico for 30% less, that's a huge difference. We were thinking that we could buy one out of state and take the truck out to pick it up and tow the truck then continue on with a road trip. I suppose I could get a trailer that the Ram would fit on and tow it out to get a RV and then tow the truck on the trailer. We've never bought a car or RV out of state so we are still deciding if we want to do that.

 

[GAmes]

To tow it you need to disconnect the driveshaft. I have read of transmissions being smoked after being pulled only 5 miles with the trans in neutral. The only other alternative is to let the truck idle the whole time it is being towed, not ideal at all. You could call Standard Transmission in Ft. Worth to confirm. That is who I received the info from.

 

[surfbeetle]

Thanks GAmes, that's the big issue I was wondering about.

 

[WalterRyan]

Do not forget to allow for the tax when you look at how much you will save. The DMV will collect it when you do the registration. I bought my truck in Oregon while I still lived in California and the DMV bill was quite a shock (I bought there to get what I wanted, not to save money).

Also if you finance it there will be problems registering it. DMV wants you to bring the title to start the process but the finance company will have it and will not release it until the loan is paid. There are provisions to register a vehicle with an out of state title but it seems almost nobody at the DMV knows about it. I found 1 person total after 3 offices that knew it could be done.

I like the way Oregon does it, They supply a form for you to sign and they send it to the lien holder with instructions to send the title to the state and then they return an Oregon title directly to the lien holder. Last I new California did not have that.

It can be dealt with but be ready for a hassle.

 

[SAndreasen]

From the 98 book

 

[SAndreasen]

this is in book for The 98

 

[Mingoglia]

View attachment 90932 this is in book for The 98

That's for 4wd. I believe the OP had 2wd. Does it say anything about flat towing a 2wd? I'm thinking that could potentially be a show stopper since there's obviously no transfer case and just having the transmission in neutral usually isn't enough because the output is still spinning. Unlike most transfer cases which are just lubricated with slingers or by the gears just being submerged within the transfer case, an automatic is lubed with a pump.

 

[RustyJC]

Unlike most transfer cases which are just lubricated with slingers or by the gears just being submerged within the transfer case, an automatic is lubed with a pump.

The OP has a NV4500 equipped 2WD.

Rusty

 

[BLNRAY]

I have flat towed my 03 6speed 2wd a lot of times,can't even guess the number of miles but in the thousands.blue ox makes base plates and 10,000lb rated tow bar,however having set-up a friends 01 2wd 5speed we literally smoked the trans in a very short time.

 

[surfbeetle]

Thanks for the replys, I have the owner's manual and will look. I also have the original shop repair manual and will check that out. I didn't even think to go to paper print when I posted. I'm so used to just going online. I will post up the answer from the books.

 

[mwilson]

I have seen these before on 2wd pick-ups, a lot of the used truck transporters have these as they drive the pick-ups to a dealership and then flat tow it behind a used truck on the way back.

Really the right way to do it.

http://www.remcodsc.com/driveShaft.php