OOooops towed 5er in 4wd at 75MPH about 75 miles !!! Damage ???

[TWynia]

What an idiot !!! Pulled my 31ft toy hauler 5th wheel for about 75miles paved road at speed that averaged about 65MPH and at times 75MPH (yep, I live in AZ where 75 is ok and lets not visit that subject). I had 4wd on as was pulling it out of the sand dunes and forgot to disengage it. Weird thing is I could not tell at all ... no weird noises, nothing burning or running hot, nothing reving higher, gas mileage was reset and I average 9mpg which is what i normally get pulling the 5er. I didnt notice it until I pulled in to refuel and took a slow sharp turn and felt that something was not normal and suspected a front flat ..... ddooooouuuuugggghhhh ... how could I forget !!!???



So, can someone fill me in on if I probably hurt anything, why I didnt feel anthing at all different, and if I should maybe change some fluids, etc. as preventative measures for future use at a minimum.



Thanks a 3/4 ton in advance ...

 

[Spooled-up]

Your axles, front driveshaft, and transfer case yolk turns all the time anyway. All you did was have the internals of the transfer case spinning along with it. I don't think you have anything to worry about unless you had different size tires on the front than on the rear.

 

[Hohn]

I don't think you have anything to worry about unless you had different size tires on the front than on the rear.

... or if you had significantly different tire pressures front and rear. This would cause the effective diameter to be different enough to where it's like having slightly different sized tires on.

 

[TWynia]

Good point on tire pressure ... luckily I air my tires up or down when I am/am not pulling so I know I had very close tire pressure in all four as I air'd them up two days prior.

 

[zippinbye]

I'd be most concerned about the number of and the angle of turns you made. Chance of damage is slight if in the freeway environment the whole time, with gentle, sweeping turns. A significant number of slow, 90 degree or greater turns on pavement, would add unwanted forces throughout the drivetrain. Even on pavement, some tire slippage should absorb a portion of the excess load while turning. If it came out of four wheel drive with ease, chances are everything is a-okay. I've done the same out of a dirt boat launch where you must stop on a hill for traffic before hitting the pavement ... 4 x 4 mandatory to launch, but should be selected off before initiating the turn into traffic on the pavement. Hasn't ever hurt, even my Fords!

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I would highly doubt you hurt anything at all, sometimes I think its good to use 4x4, just so it doens't sit unused so much. as soon as I make a turn on pavement I can always tell if I am in 4x4 because the wheels kinda bind up in a turn. when it gets icy winter weather here, or heavy snows, I just stick the truck in 4x4 and drive normally, if needed on the freeway it adds a bunch of stability. I pull a 5k cargo trailer, and 4x4 makes one heck of a difference in the ice and snow, because the front wheels pull too which keeps the trailer for pushing around the back ones so much, in fact I have been in a parking lot, made a turn on ice the trailer pushed the back around and was about to jackknife, grabbed 4x4 and the truck straigtned out and I keep from crashing

 

[gsbrockman]

What an idiot !!! I didnt notice it until I pulled in to refuel and took a slow sharp turn and felt that something was not normal and suspected a front flat ..... ddooooouuuuugggghhhh ... how could I forget !!!???

Was your "4WD" light not illuminated on your instrument cluster ?

Greg

 

[GaryCarter]

Doubt you hurt a thing. If anything broke you'd know it for sure!



You're not the only one. Once while running 70+ down the interstate I reached for the A/C speed switch and got the 4x4 control knob instead. This was the previous gen with front axle disconnect, so all the parts weren't turning. Talk about shift-on-the-fly! It actually engaged with no complaint. And no damage.



Gary

 

[JVolpe]

Dont know with a load, but on reasonably straight road I would not think you would hurt anything. I run mine at the track in 4wd all the time. Made 17 passes Saturday in 4wd, hard launches to 101mph every time.

 

[klenger]

Don't worry, be happy.

 

[John Robinson]

"Time will tell" Please let us know the truth. We all need to know the real answer to this question. I`m bettin, no problems. "Time will tell".

 

[Pourinthecoal]

Don't worry, everythings driving up fornt anyway, maybe a little more u-joint wear, thats all. Some of my (idiot) cousins run 4WD all winter, with little to no extra service required.

 

[jimnance]

Just so you feel better. I know a guy with a 30' motor home and tows a 4X4 Ford Ranger behind. He puts the transfer case in nuetral for towing.



Well, one day he forgot. About two miles down the freeway he pulled over because he just couldn't seem to go more than 55 MPH at full throttle in the motor home. When he looked at the Ranger it seems it was smoking! He'd left it in first gear with the transfer case in 2WD. We are guessing the engine was spinning like 12,000 RPM! He smoked both the engine and transmission. Ouch! :--)

 

[klenger]

Probably increased the value of the Ranger by 2x.

 

[TWynia]

Thanks all ...



I made about 7 90 degree turns and otherwise it was on a fairly straight highway and partial interstate. Still suprised I didnt notice anything during the 90 degree turns. The 4wd light was on but I never noticed it ... I was pretty much kicked back just cruising and not doing many looks at all at the instrument cluster ... but I am still an idiot :-laf

 

[Truckie]

Thanks all ...



... but I am still an idiot :-laf

You said it not us. :-laf

 

[Cattletrkr]

Na, you're not an idiot. An idiot is someone who doesn't realize that he's gotta change the T-case oil on his old '01 and finally does it after 106K of heavy towing. Then a few months later at 129K for some odd reason the t-case won't stay in 2HI. $1700 later all is well.



I change the T-case oil EVERY 25-30K now.

 

[smd]

I change the T-case oil EVERY 25-30K now. [/QUOTE]





What is the procedure for this

 

[JasonCzerak]

I would highly doubt you hurt anything at all, sometimes I think its good to use 4x4, just so it doens't sit unused so much. as soon as I make a turn on pavement I can always tell if I am in 4x4 because the wheels kinda bind up in a turn. when it gets icy winter weather here, or heavy snows, I just stick the truck in 4x4 and drive normally, if needed on the freeway it adds a bunch of stability. I pull a 5k cargo trailer, and 4x4 makes one heck of a difference in the ice and snow, because the front wheels pull too which keeps the trailer for pushing around the back ones so much, in fact I have been in a parking lot, made a turn on ice the trailer pushed the back around and was about to jackknife, grabbed 4x4 and the truck straigtned out and I keep from crashing

Yes, one of hte MANY positivies for a manual 4x4 box. Can't find it? grind it! There have been many times that if I had to stick around and wait for the electornic stuff to enguage, I would be SOL.

 

[rbattelle]

What is the procedure for this

Linky.



-Ryan