New to this forum and have searched for answers to no avail. I need to tow a stock 2006 100 behind a motorhome and I know I can't flat tow it without driveshaft disconnect. Questions: What is the front axle weight? If I put the front wheels on a dolly can I safely put the H/L shifter in neutral to "disconnect" the rear driveline? I don't mind disconnecting the rear driveshaft if necessary; are there any realignment issues when reconnecting the driveshaft? Lastly, most heavy duty dollies I've found have a 4,400lb total vehicle weight limit. Anyone have a recommendation on a dolly that can handle the weight of a 100? Thanks for the advice!
Need to tow 100 behind motorhome
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the vehicle is full time 4wd, you cant just dolly it. Read into your owners manual on proper towing techniques, they're there. I guess you could pull the drive shaft but that seems like unnecessary work. Why not get a trailer?
2006 Land Cruiser weight is close to 6000# total exceeding your dollies limits.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
I doubt you'll find a dolly that will work, even custom. The axle would have to be huge. I think what you're running in to is why you see most people towing a small vehicle like a Wrangler, CRV, or Tracker behind a motorcoach.
Other than dolly your next best bet if you're stuck on the 100 may be to flat tow it, but again that it a hell of a heavy vehicle to have behind you.
Other than dolly your next best bet if you're stuck on the 100 may be to flat tow it, but again that it a hell of a heavy vehicle to have behind you.
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Thanks for the info. I'l be towing with a class 5 - 10,000lb hitch behind a 29,000lb motorhome. I don't want to do it but I have a 2004 4-Runner that weighs 1,000lbs less than the Cruiser. Maybe I'll have to leave the Cruiser at home and take the 4-Runner.
Keep the 100 at home, let the 120 get dragged around, had I know you had that option I would have said that first.
These are guys know something about towing ...
Remco Towing
Their app chart says...
Land Cruiser - No towing. Needs a trailer.
Full-time AWD 4 Runner - No towing. Needs Trailer.
2WD Manual 4Runner - Good to tow as is.
AWD/4WD 4Runner - Can be towed with a drive shaft coupler.
Their coupler is pretty neat in that it allows you to couple and de-couple the shaft from inside the towed vehicle.
Remco Towing
Their app chart says...
Land Cruiser - No towing. Needs a trailer.
Full-time AWD 4 Runner - No towing. Needs Trailer.
2WD Manual 4Runner - Good to tow as is.
AWD/4WD 4Runner - Can be towed with a drive shaft coupler.
Their coupler is pretty neat in that it allows you to couple and de-couple the shaft from inside the towed vehicle.
I'm not sure I would do it, but towing without a dolly or trailer has been done before and is still being done. I found these opinions from two guys at List of best Toads - Page 3 - iRV2 Forums (about halfway down the page):
First guy:
"I agree with slabman. We have an 02 lexus LX470 with 92K on the clock plus 30K towing. Its a no brainer hookup. Trans in park, transfer case in neutral, key in off position and away we go!!! And when we get where we are going all the tow parts come off. Then we have a really fine car to drive"
Second guy:
"How 'bout an LX470? Can hook up in under 3 minutes, no modifications for towing, four wheel drive to go over 12,000 ft. jeep trails, gets up to 18 mpg and burns more fuel than the MH. The most comfortable ride of any car mentioned in this thread. And only 5500#, so I can hardly tell it's back there."
First guy:
"I agree with slabman. We have an 02 lexus LX470 with 92K on the clock plus 30K towing. Its a no brainer hookup. Trans in park, transfer case in neutral, key in off position and away we go!!! And when we get where we are going all the tow parts come off. Then we have a really fine car to drive"
Second guy:
"How 'bout an LX470? Can hook up in under 3 minutes, no modifications for towing, four wheel drive to go over 12,000 ft. jeep trails, gets up to 18 mpg and burns more fuel than the MH. The most comfortable ride of any car mentioned in this thread. And only 5500#, so I can hardly tell it's back there."
hoser
SILVER Star
The supposed issue with flat towing the 100 is the possibility of overheating the t-case. But it seems like people are towing it just fine so maybe it's worth a try.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
With the t-case in neutral and no VC on the 100 I don't know what would overheat?
hoser
SILVER Star
I was thinking the same about the lack of VC but even in neutral something is still turning internally. I'll take a closer look at the t-case diagram when I have time.
It seems no more likely to overheat towing than in regular use since it has no cooling system either way.
These guys seem to have no problems.
OTOH - Toyota apparently doesn't want it flat towed on even on an emergency basis. They could either know something key or just decided that they don't want to deal with the issue.
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Towing a 100 on a dolly does not sound like a good idea for the t-case in the long run. That would essentially be creating a continuous forced unloading of the center diff.
Based on what you posted it seems that people have done it. That said, just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. I know there is no way in hell I would ever tow my 100 on a dolly......ever.
Based on what you posted it seems that people have done it. That said, just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. I know there is no way in hell I would ever tow my 100 on a dolly......ever.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
A what?
From poking around dolly rental sites and several manufacturer's sites it looks like recommendations against dolly towing with a AWD or full time 4wd vehicle primarily arise out of the "there's too much that can go wrong" vein. Only Chevy that I've found gives instructions on how to tow an AWD vehicle on a dolly - t-case in neutral and remove rear DS. Leaving the t-case and tranny in neutral won't work, must have something to do with the DS still spinning the internals of both without cooling.
Regardless, heaviest rated dolly I've found is 4,300 lbs. Also saw a Prevost flat towing a Liberty pulling out of the KOA in town this morning.
Trunk Monkey,
If you think of center diff in a 100 as the same type thats in the front or rear end (its not actually, but they work in essentially the same way). When I say unloading, just think open diffs, no ATRAC, one tire in the air and one on the ground.
Thats what what I mean by the diff unloading....it sends all the power to one side. I'm thinking its one of those does it have posi??? No, it has a limited slip....
Different name, same thing.
Putting the 100 on a dolly will have the same effect, but through different means. The input side and one of the outputs spin, but the other output is not allowed to spin.....not ideal in my opinion since it was never intended to that for more than maybe a few seconds.
If you think of center diff in a 100 as the same type thats in the front or rear end (its not actually, but they work in essentially the same way). When I say unloading, just think open diffs, no ATRAC, one tire in the air and one on the ground.
Thats what what I mean by the diff unloading....it sends all the power to one side. I'm thinking its one of those does it have posi??? No, it has a limited slip....
Different name, same thing. Putting the 100 on a dolly will have the same effect, but through different means. The input side and one of the outputs spin, but the other output is not allowed to spin.....not ideal in my opinion since it was never intended to that for more than maybe a few seconds.
wildsmith
SILVER Star
I thought the issue with flat towing is because having the t-case in neutral also removes drive to the oil pump which then won't be working to lubricate the output shafts?
