80 vs. 100 series TCases - Flat towing question

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oilbrnr

oilbrnr

10 Year
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Scottsdale
I have someone on a RV board asking me how I flat tow my 80 as Toyota says not to. He has an LX470. Is there any major difference in the TC's that anyone can see an issue? I'm pretty sure Christo now TOADs a 100.

What about a GX (which I think is the Prado/4Runner platform, correct?)
 
I thought you were supposed to pull the drive lines or get disconnects before flat towing an 80.
 
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As long as all four are down, things are good. If you have one axle lifted and tow, you'll fry the VC.
 
Do you set your transfer in neutral and be sure it's not locked. If so do you have your transmission in park? My 04 4Runner is full time 4WD but do not have a option to set the transfer in neutral. Just a knob on the dash to go from 4 high to 4 low and a buttom to lock the transfer.
 
I suspect it's just transmission in Nuetral. No neutral on 80 or 100 transfer case AWD only.
 
Toyota says almost every auto trans they ever made isn't designed to be Dingy towed (4 on the ground). The best answer I could get was something about the transmission turning but the pump wouldn't keep fluid flowing and could possibly damage the transmission (?)

I've heard of ppl putting the tcase and trans in Nuetral on the 80's and towing them though. How many miles have you done this and have you noticed any ill effects?
 
I spoke at length a couple of years ago with Slee and I've forgotten all he explained about the situation, but, TC in N and away you go. There should be no rotation back to the transmission unless it is slow parasitic drag caused by the oil in the TC, that is why the pump in the TC does not work when being towed in N. The pump is driven off the input shaft coming from the transmission, once you shift to N there is no more coupling between the input and output sides, hence it being in neutral. The pump is there to cool the VC in a prolonged high shear situation. But if front and rear are turn at the same rate, no shear, no heat, no problem.

I leave the transmission in park, and unlock the steering obviously. Things go south pretty quick if you don't...

I have over 2500 miles on it towing. I crawled under there one trip with an infrared temp gun, and the TC was no warmer than the surrounding components. There are a couple of other guys here on Mud that do it frequently too. I was just wondering if there was anything different about the 100 series transfer cases. Didn't they change transmissions in the early 2000's which may mean a different TC?
 
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That's interesting info, because my default would be to disconnect the driveshafts at the differential.
 
Living in the Past said:
I would assume you want to be sure the transfer is still open and not locked. On hard pavement that would be hard on the T case.
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Well, actually the TC would not be effected but all drivetrain components downstream would be under more stress in turns for sure.

A stock 80 would not be center locked unless in L and I don't engage the optional center lock switch that I installed.
 
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Funny that jogged my memory. Guessing around 95 I was talking to a 80 onwer and said he like his 91 because he could lock the transfer in high range. Never owned any 80 but read that mod is very common. Does that also allow the E-lockers to be use in high range?
 
@oilbrnr do you have factory diff locks? My 80 is a 91 so not available with factory lockers. Of course I can lock the aftermarket ones anytime.
 
Living in the Past said:
Funny that jogged my memory. Guessing around 95 I was talking to a 80 onwer and said he like his 91 because he could lock the transfer in high range. Never owned any 80 but read that mod is very common. Does that also allow the E-lockers to be use in high range?
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The center lock switch was standard in other markets. The plug on the wiring harness is taped up right behind the blank switch cover. Easy as ordering the factory switch and plugging it in.

The "7-pin" mod will let you lock the diffs regardless of H or L. That is a easy hack under the DS kick panel.
 
Dimples said:
@oilbrnr do you have factory diff locks? My 80 is a 91 so not available with factory lockers. Of course I can lock the aftermarket ones anytime.
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No, but I do have a custom module that emulates the factory control over the TJM rear and ARB front utilizing the factory rotary switch and wiring.

Why?
 
oilbrnr said:
I have someone on a RV board asking me how I flat tow my 80 as Toyota says not to. He has an LX470. Is there any major difference in the TC's that anyone can see an issue? I'm pretty sure Christo now TOADs a 100.

What about a GX (which I think is the Prado/4Runner platform, correct?)
Click to expand...

No VC in 100 TC (compare to 93-97 80 series) and I don't think that will cause an issue.
 
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