Wrecker pulled my truck by the rear?

[Bugman]

I had heard from another wrecker driver that our 4x4 trucks should only be towed using a flatbed with all 4 wheels off the ground. When I was involved in the wreck last week I objected to the guy towing by the rear but he said it was ok if in 2 wheel hi. He towed it 40 miles that way. I think he should have at least removed the front prop shaft! I then had it towed from there to my house which is about 6 miles and this wrecker driver insisted on all four wheels off the ground using a flatbed. I see in the owners manual that this is the recommended way for a 4x4.



How would I be able to tell if they have damaged my transfer case?



Any thoughts? Thanks in advance,



Bugman.

 

[ProfWonka]

I read the same thing last week (in owner's man) and thought it'd take abig tow-truck to do that.



I don't have the answer to your question, but on my 73 3/4 4WD chevy, it said towing short distances (less than 50 Miles) was OK, but the Transfer case should be in Neutral.



Anything over 50 miles you were supposed to drop the rear driveshaft (and have the front hubs un-locked - which we can't do. )



I'm curious to hear what the experts say...

 

[MHindman]

OK, Im going to give this a shot. I would think that being towed from the back, and the front wheels being on the ground would not hurt a thing. It it were in 2hi, it would be just like driving down the road. Nothing in the transfer case is connected untill its put into 4wd, so everything is "free moving" If you were to remove the driveshaft in the front, it would still do the same thing..... since the transfer case is letting things "free wheel" anyway. I dont see how pulling the truck would hurt it in anyway, forward or backward, as long as it were in 2wd, and in neutral... . so i wouldnt worry about it, thats just my thoughts... i have been wrong many times before. . so lets see what the others have to say??

 

[Archive]

I know that certain transfer cases and transmissions depend on one or the other of the driveshafts turning in order to pump oil through their internal parts. What I am getting at is that if the pump is on the rear shaft, and the rear is off the ground and the front is turning... . The front driveshaft is turning with no lube being pumped to the mating surfaces. I am by no means an expert, and everything I am saying is second hand knowledge... I am just trying to justify the thinking behind needing a flat bed.



Also... Everytime (and it was often) my 3/4 ton chevy 4X4 was towed it was either on a flat bed or on the hook with dollys under the other two.

 

[MHindman]

thats a very good thought. I never thought about that. . but it makes sense

 

[jwgary]

I didn't think there was any movement outside the front axle if the front hubs were disengaged (2 hi). Maybe I don't understand the workings of the front axle, but I thought it was not attached to the rest of the drivetrain until the T-case was shifted into 4wd. This is the premise that some have gone with to make the 2 lo systems on their trucks. Am I wrong here? Just my $. 02

 

[Dieselnerd]

The front driveshaft does not turn unless it's in 4 wheel drive. It doesn't matter if you are going forwards or backwards. It would be the same as if you were driving it. Grab the front driveshaft next time you are under the truck and turn it when it is in 2 HI. It turns because the right front axle is not connected. When you drive it stays in the same place without rotating. There may be some other reason I am not aware of to put it on a flatbed but it has nothing to do with lubrication of the transfer case.