Flat towing

[BroncoJoe19]

Gentlemen:

If one puts the transfer case in neutral, is it safe to flat tow a bronco without any need to modify an automatic trans?

i.e. does putting the transfer case in neutral, make the bronco a totally free wheeling beast?

Thanks

joe

 

[Broncobill78]

Well, in theory yes. If you place both the transmission & transfer case in neutral you're good to go, but to be honest I'm not much of a theoritician and I prefer to manually unlock the front hubs & then physically remove both driveshafts before flat towing for any significant distance. But, hey, that's just me.

 

[madmaysey]

not 100% sure but i think it is a very bad idea to flat tow without pulling the driveshafts

my personal opinion i wouldnt even consider it unless it was a stick shift

with the automatic the torque converter is still engaged even in nuetral and with out the engine running it isn't getting any oil pressure....something like that

 

[BroncoJoe19]

with the automatic the torque converter is still engaged even in nuetral and with out the engine running it isn't getting any oil pressure....something like that

Yes that is why most cars (Saturns being the most popular exception) can't/shouldn't be flat towed for any distance. One can put an electric pump in there somewhere to **** the tranny so that it can be flat towed.

I did a little experiment with my bronc.

1. I pulled part way up a hill.
   
2. put the 4x4 transfer case in neutral
   
3. put the trans in park
   
4. took my foot off of the brake.
   

Result...?

She rolled back down the hill.

Seems to me that with the TRANSFER CASE in neutral she is free wheeling.

I guess that we don't see them pulled behind campers because they are too heavy.

Does anyone know what a '90 weighs unloaded?

Thanks for all your input

joe

 

[madmax]

Last time i took my 91 through the turnpike the ticket (I'll never get EZ pass) said 6250 (or there abouts), now I'm about 250 and I probably had 100 lbs of junk in it so maybe 5900 but figure on 6000 just to be safe, my truck had at the time the 351 and the E4OD with the Borg Warner electric tcase. Still takeing out the driveshafts isn't a huge task, and if you want to be lazy about it just unhook it from the axles and tie them up out of the way.

 

[89eddie89]

Yes it does my DAWG

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[Broncobill78]

Pulling both driveshafts makes it a moot point but I was just flipping thru the factory manual the other night and noticed that the BW1356 section had a notation that the Xfer case oil pump was driven via the rear output shaft and this would specifically allow the case to be lubricated while the truck was being towed. Now I haven't bothered to wade thru the whole tranny section yet but seeing as the two are physically linked theu the tranny's output shaft I would think that both transmission & transfer case pumps work and provide lubrication as long as the rear tires are being spun, but agin the *safest* bet would be to simply remove both shafts and be done with it. I can't imagine screwing *anything* up with both shafts out, at that point the ONLY items seeing any wear are the wheel bearings.