Towing Jeep YJ Four Down

I have a 97 TJ with a manual transmission that I flat tow. Transfercase in neutral, transmission in 2nd gear and key turned 1 click forward to keep the steering wheel from locking. I have towed it this way for many thosands of miles with no problems.

Tom/Barb wrote:

FIRE UP wrote:


So, it's spinning and pumping "ATF" (that's the lube that's in those transfer cases) no matter if it's being driven or, being towed.
Scott

Be certain you know which transfer case you have, some do not take ATF.

You are absolutely correct Sir. The older ones that were cast iron gear drive units like the Model 18, 20 and, the 300 use either gear oil (either 80-90W or, 85-140W) at the very least, 30WT engine oil.

But, the later ones, the Aluminum, Chain drive ones, pretty much use ATF as to many, many later model stick transmissions.
Scott

FIRE UP wrote:


So, it's spinning and pumping "ATF" (that's the lube that's in those transfer cases) no matter if it's being driven or, being towed.
Scott

Be certain you know which transfer case you have, some do not take ATF.

TDHEX wrote:
Just a quick question. I am going to tow a 1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ behind my class C Motor home and was trying to get a clarification on the proper way to do this. I will read one post that says you should put the transfer case in neutral and the manual transmission in neutral, and then I read the next post that says put the transmission in gear. Which is the proper configuration?? Thanks in advance for your answers.

TDHEX,
The "Proper" way is, for the transfer case in NEUTRAL and, the standard transmission, in 2ND gear. The main and primary reason is, simply due to the spinning of certain bearings and shafts, even in neutral, friction in some of those parts "want" to turn the out put shaft in the transmission. And if that happens, there is a possibility of turning shafts/bearings in the transmission that ARE NOT LUBED.

You see, when the Jeep is being driven, you are turning the INPUT shaft into the transmission and, therefore, you are turning other shafts and bearings that will splash oil up and onto the rest of the shafts and bearings. But, when towing it, you are no longer turning the transmission input shaft and therefore, are not turning important components that help lubricate other parts.

So, this is why they'd like you to put the transmission into 2nd gear. It simply STOPS any spinning of any of those shafts and bearings from spinning, without any lube. We've towed 8 different Jeeps and, three of them have been stick trannies. They always were put into second gear when towing and never had any damage to any transmission parts.

Just for your info, the reason you can put your transfer case in neutral for towing is, unlike the transmission, the model 231 Aluminum, Chain driven transfer case you have has its own oil pump in it. And, it's located just inside the rear tail cone. It's about the size of a DVD and, about the thickness of about 10 of them.

So, it's spinning and pumping "ATF" (that's the lube that's in those transfer cases) no matter if it's being driven or, being towed.
Scott

On a manual transmission it really doesn't matter. you will have two gear boxes in neutral, big deal.

4WD in neutral. Transmission in 2nd gear. You may or may not have to use key in ignition

It's been a while since I've towed mine 4 down (don't have my '95 any longer and haven't flat towed my '98) but yeah, it's detailed very well in the owner's manual.

Two Hands wrote:
Read your owner's manual to get the proper information.

follow the directions. you must be kidding. :)
bumpy

Read your owner's manual to get the proper information.

Transmission should be in a forward gear. Some vehicle owner's manual indicate second gear. This is to prevent output gears from turning with out lubrication from input shaft.