Flat Towing Lincoln Navigator with Driveshaft Disconnect

[SuperBus]

Hello,

I'd like to see if anyone is flat towing a 2015 - 2017 Lincoln Navigator (previous generation) or its sister, the Expedition using a driveshaft disconnect. We purchased ours (MY2017) before we bought our coach last year. As equipped, it is not flat towable as the transfer case does not have a neutral position. I recently recalled that Superior Driveline makes a driveshaft disconnect and spoke with one of their specialist relating to my application. I was told, and it seems reasonable, that since I do have an actual 2H position in the t-case that disconnecting the rear driveshaft with their product would be a viable solution to my problem. Working in the automotive industry I will also reach out to my contacts at Ford, but I am also curious if anyone has done this already without (or with!) issues.

As I can anticipate some "helpful" responses, please note I will not be selling it and am also in the midst of purchasing another vehicle which for darn sure will be flat towable. It would just be nice to also have the utility and size of the Navigator available with us on trips where it would be needed, or at least desirable, as the next vehicle doesn't "need" to be a another full size SUV. That would just be irresponsible 😉

Thanks!

[SuperBus]

According to the systems engineer I spoke with at Ford and a colleague of mine in the driveline supplier industry, the REMCO DSC should be a suitable way to make the Lincoln flat-towable. The engineers couldn't see a way it would be harmful to the vehicle, nor really any different than driving it down the road, so long as the t-case was in 4x2 and the transmission was in neutral, AND of course the rear driveshaft was disconnected. Depending on what other vehicle we purchase, we may end up installing the DSC and trying the flat tow this summer. I'll revisit this post and provide an update if I install one and let you all know how it worked out.

[dicknellen]

Ford puts out a yearly Towing Guide that also list Lincoln. search by the year of your vehicle and Ford RV and trailer guide. Info is very useful.

[carringb]

twodownzero wrote:

There are no Lincoln Navigators with "freewheeling" front hubs, so if that is your concern, then you might as well not worry about that.

Front-hub actuation is vacuum controlled by a solenoid commanded by the PCM. While the SuperDuty trucks are normally disengaged, and use vacuum to engage them (with a manual override), the light-duty Ford trucks are normally engaged, and uses vacuum to disengage. This way you still have 4x4 in case of a vacuum leak, since there's no manual override.

If you're thinking the Navigator has fixed front hubs, that is incorrect.

If you have a Navigator with the 2-speed Transfer Case, Neutral Towing is built-in feature, and it disengages the front hubs when the T-Case is placed in that mode. Prior to this being a built-in factory option, Ford sold a "Neutral Tow kit" so you could manually disengage the front hubs by means of a 2nd downstream solenoid.

With the factory flat-tow configuration, in there event vacuum did leak and the hubs did engage, if wouldn't matter because the T-Case would still get lubrication from the rear drive-line spinning. This would not be the case using a driveline disconnect.

FWIW -
Navigator Neutral Tow Procedure

[twodownzero]

carringb wrote:
I think trading in for another Navigator with the 2-speed transfer case, will be FAR easier than trying to do the driveline disconnect. The problem with relying on 2WD with the disconnect, is you can't ensure the front hubs are actually freewheeling when you flat tow, unlike the 2-speed T-case which has a flat-tow mode. If the front hubs spin the transfer case, it might not lubricate properly since the rear output gears are likely what slings the oil around.

FWIW - older F150s had a Neutral Tow Kit you would install to prevent the front hubs from engaging. You could probably add this to your rig if you are set on doing the driveline disconnect. But you won't may not have a matching knockout panel to install the switch into.

There are no Lincoln Navigators with "freewheeling" front hubs, so if that is your concern, then you might as well not worry about that.

[dodge_guy]

You can't only disconnect the rear driveshaft and not the front. With only the front driveshaft turning there is no way to lube the t-case because the pump is driven off the chain the is driven off the output shaft of the case. The trans may not be damaged but the t-case will be.
Maybe put 2 disconnects in?
The only other solution is to get a vehicle that is towable 4 down.

[carringb]

I think trading in for another Navigator with the 2-speed transfer case, will be FAR easier than trying to do the driveline disconnect. The problem with relying on 2WD with the disconnect, is you can't ensure the front hubs are actually freewheeling when you flat tow, unlike the 2-speed T-case which has a flat-tow mode. If the front hubs spin the transfer case, it might not lubricate properly since the rear output gears are likely what slings the oil around.

FWIW - older F150s had a Neutral Tow Kit you would install to prevent the front hubs from engaging. You could probably add this to your rig if you are set on doing the driveline disconnect. But you won't may not have a matching knockout panel to install the switch into.

[ggardne2]

SuperBus do you have heavy duty trailer tow with the 2 speed transfer case (i.e. do you have a 4x4 low position)? The two speed transfer case does have a neutral position (owner's manual has instructions on how to achieve neutrla) so can be flat towed as indicated in Ford towing guides and your owner's manual. Keep in mind that when the transfer case is in neutral you are bypassing the park pawl in the transmisison so use of wheel chocks to secure vehicle is advisable to prevent unintended roll-away.

On the one speed transfer case there is not a neutral position so not flat towable without aftermarket driveline disconnects.

[Home_Skillet]

Ford says yes for the Expedition, which is the same as the Navigator.

Scroll down to page 13.

LINK


Or, try this.
LINK 2

[SuperBus]

All, I do appreciate the responses but they're off the mark. Yes, the Navigator is available in 4WD, and yes mine is 4WD. I was a bit indirect in my first response in an effort to be polite but I did talk with REMCO as Superior Drive is REMCO. The idea of a disconnect, as you probably know, is to resolve the issue of the driveshaft being engaged with the transmission/t-case, when this is an issue with the transmission/t-case design when being back-driven by the d/s. REMCO/DSC confirmed, as the t-case in the Navigator can be selected to 2H (thus decoupling the trans from the front d/s), AND the rear driveshaft can be disconnected from the t-case with their device, the issue is theoretically solved.

The question of my original post is has anyone done this and did it work as intended? It's okay if no one knows the answer - obviously I don't. Like I said I can find out - Detroit is "small town" and I am fairly certain I can find the responsible engineer(s) at Ford through one or two degrees of separation. Just thought I would inquire here in the community. Thanks again.

[wa8yxm]

As I recall the navigator is 4 wheel drive so IF that is the case the answer is NO..

Also SOME Lincoln products are not supposed to be towed PERIOD some there is a special something you must do. Some only flatbed (Trailer) some....

I see however someone has pointed you to REMCO.. So all I'm saying is go there and do as they say for they are the experts. Do not be dissappointed if they tell you to trade it in on a 4WD JEEP with a manual transfer case .

Though even there you may have an issue.. I do not know if Jeep's fixed it yet (Has to do with steering).

[SuperBus]

wallynm wrote:
Check with REMCO

http://www.remcoindustries.com/product-pages/towing/

WallyNM, thank you. However, it is worth noting that Superior is in one way or another a part of REMCO - so essentially I have spoken with REMCO.

https://www.remcodsc.com/

[wallynm]

Check with REMCO

http://www.remcoindustries.com/product-pages/towing/

[Lwiddis]

If Ford says “no,” that would be it for me. Shopping for desired answers can get expensive.