Flat towing truck

[ROCKJEEP]

I have a 38' diesel pusher motorhome with a cat 330. I am thinking of getting to blue ox tow bar to flat tow my truck out to phoeix to have Fred Swanson rebuild the trans. Has anyelse flat towed there truck. I have a car trailer,but will have to put the stock tires on to make it fit. Also wanted a place to stay out there while he worked on the truck.

Kory

 

[ROCKJEEP]

anyone done this

 

[geusterman]

I tried on my 02 but some issue with transfer case lube. Check it out with Dodge. I think it is possible still... your auto should be still if transfer in neutral. George

 

[jelag]

I've always put the transfer case in "N" and towed away... we've never towed one of our trucks more than 100 miles... If it was a 2 wheel drive truck I'd pull the drive line... .



Remember that some transmissions need the input shaft to turn... to lube the transmission... . with 4 wheel drive you solve that by putting the transfer case in "N" and I assume that the transfer case will lube correctly with only the drive shaft spinning...



Hope this helps... BTW. . my new Jeep has a flat tow check list in the owners manual... but never checked one of our trucks for that...

 

[ROCKJEEP]

Since I have to pull the drive shafts anyway when we get there to do the trans I'm going to pull them to tow it.

Kory

 

[Nate]

I would just pull the driveshafts, but if your wondering, putting the T Case in neutral would be fine too.



On the NP207, 231, 241, 242, 249 cases (probably others, but those are the only one's I've torn apart) the oil pump is driven by the rear output shaft, which turns when the driveshaft is turning.

 

[HOBrian]

Since I have to pull the drive shafts anyway when we get there to do the trans I'm going to pull them to tow it.

Kory

That is the best move, now you will have nothing to worry about. Have a good trip.

 

[ROCKJEEP]

Got the tow bar plate on and the new hitch and will pull the shafts tommorow. Going to do a little test run around the lake but that big cat 330 shouldn't have a problem. I tow a 22' enclosed trailer with the jeep in it all the time and never know its there.

 

[PKnoerzer]

Don't forget you won't have trailer brakes. :--)

 

[mattymac]

Just put the T-case in N and unlock the steering wheel.

 

[MCummings]

unlock the steering wheel.

Dont' forget that... :-laf



Merrick

 

[GWBourne]

Dont' forget that... :-laf



Merrick

unlock it for around town, but lock it back up for highway... it gets to be a PITA, but it will tow a lot better. i am assuming you have jakc brakes on your motorhome... could be wrong though. flat towing in my eyes is a LAST resort. i have done it with my 74 blazer. never again unless i HAVE to. its just not as safe.



Grant

 

[jwilliams3]

Might sound like a stupid question:



How do you keep it unlocked versus locked?

 

[mattymac]

turn the key one click to unlock key out it will lock up.

 

[MCrossley]

Rockjeep how did this go?

I have had no succes at finding a trailer to tow my 01 400 miles home and a transport is over $700 so I am seriously thinking about doing this and need to do it soon, so how did flat towing it go? I will be towing it with my 05 anyone feel this will be an issue? How bad was the install of the baseplate? I also would like to understand what is the proper procedure for towing like this do you tow with the steering locked or unlocked? I would think if it were unlocked the wheels could turn and cause you to flip? I dunno this is why I need some input here. Thanks guys! Also anyone have a tow bar I can borrow or should I just buy a inexpensive a-frame style?

 

[Bob4x4]

Keep the steering wheel unlocked... . the only time I have had any issues with this is in a gas station where very tight manovering may cause the wheels to go full turn and not return. On the road it is a non issue. It is technichly illegal to pull that much weight w/out brakes but I haven't seen any one I know ticketed yet.



Bob

 

[MCrossley]

if I did not have the jake brake I would not even consider it since I have to go over the grapevine but I have pulled a 12k TT without brakes over it without any issue (no this was not intentional) Thank god the 05's have the 2nd gear lockup otherwise it would be a scary ride... .

 

[jakprince]

Can't you rent a trailer from a uhaul place?It would have to be cheaper than $700.

 

[MCrossley]

too late I bought the setup tonight off of ebay, no I could not rent a trailer all of the rental places including comercial and private either did not have a trailer rated for more than 6k or if they did absolutly refused to allow it out of a 70 mile range. I hopefully will be able to sell the setup to someone else on e-bay for close to what I paid for it I figured that was a better gamble than just shelling out $800 for a transport knowing the money was gone altogether...

 

[driverno8]

You want over weight. Here you go. Only trailer I could borrow to go get my buddy when his transmission went out. 468 miles each way. From Victorville, CA to Page, AZ (Lake Powell). I figured about 2000lbs over. No brakes. Did fine. Kept it at 55mph all the way with the cuise control on. Anything faster and it got wobbly.



Sorry I don't know how to post a picture. If someone could do it, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

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