Towing an automatic

[curlyearly]

Bear with me on this one...

Have been advised you cannot tow an automatic, OK.

You certainly could not do it if the lever was in "P", and I'm told putting the lever in "N" would also be catostropic. Although I was informed letting some oil out of the box and towing slowly (??mph) would be OK for a short distance.

So here's my real point....

On the High / Low transfer box put the lever to the Middle, to "N". When in this position and even if the auto box is in "P". The wheels move freely, the car can be pushed. My thought is, if the auto box now disconnected from the wheels, can be towed?

 

[MikePL]

I have had exactly the same question. In my opinin it can be towed without problems as there is not movement transfered to the tranny. But I don't understand why in the manual they write that it can't be towed at all with 4 wheels on the ground? Is it because there's something we don't know about or is is simply because 80% of the society (any society) are dumbasses and directions such as 'put the gear lever in P or N and put the transfer case i N' are simply too complicated to follow. Don't know, but I guess the second option is the most probable as I don't see any mechanical element that would prevent towing the truck while i N/N or P/N.

Of course you have to know that you don't have power steering (veeeery hard to turn wheel) and you have no brakes

 

[tntoyota]

Bear with me on this one...

Have been advised you cannot tow an automatic, OK.

You certainly could not do it if the lever was in "P", and I'm told putting the lever in "N" would also be catostropic. Although I was informed letting some oil out of the box and towing slowly (??mph) would be OK for a short distance.

So here's my real point....

On the High / Low transfer box put the lever to the Middle, to "N". When in this position and even if the auto box is in "P". The wheels move freely, the car can be pushed. My thought is, if the auto box now disconnected from the wheels, can be towed?

Are you towing a FT or PT?

Dolly or flat tow??

 

[CJF]

We've hashed this out before. Like Mike said, the manual says don't, but nobody here's come up with an explanation of what exactly would be damaged.

At least one member regularly tows his 80 (all four wheels on the gorund) behind his motorhome with no reported damage. Tranny in park, transfer case in neutral.

Curtis

 

[tntoyota]

We've hashed this out before. Like Mike said, the manual says don't, but nobody here's come up with an explanation of what exactly would be damaged.

At least one member regularly tows his 80 (all four wheels on the gorund) behind his motorhome with no reported damage. Tranny in park, transfer case in neutral.

Curtis

Oh that is smart! all the miles on the rig and all that wear.

 

[CJF]

Oh that is smart! all the miles on the rig and all that wear.

What wear, exactly? What parts do you think he's damaging?

Here's the last time we did this:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=164206&highlight=tow

Lot's of "Don't do it; the sky will fall!" posts with zero evidence to back it up, then finally Klier's links to (and cut & pastes from) Tuner's threads about his methodical approach to doing it, and subsequent progress reports.

Curtis

 

[tntoyota]

What wear, exactly? What parts do you think he's damaging?

Here's the last time we did this:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=164206&highlight=tow

Lot's of "Don't do it; the sky will fall!" posts with zero evidence to back it up, then finally Klier's links to (and cut & pastes from) Tuner's threads about his methodical approach to doing it, and subsequent progress reports.

Curtis

Sorry but I have a stigma with RV morons that CAN afford a $100,000 tow truck and apparently NOT a dolly or trailer!


"For sale 95 LandCruiser, AWD, 1million tow miles on odometer, but only 4,000 driven miles!"

 

[CJF]

Sorry but I have a stigma with RV morons that CAN afford a $100,000 tow truck and apparently NOT a dolly or trailer!

I hear ya...

Actually though, he addressed that; MUCH more hassle using a trailer when you actually want to use the towed rig along the way, as opposed to just getting it from point A to point B.

Cheers,

Curtis

 

[Lka1988]

I don't see why you couldn't tow an automatic...

A couple weeks ago, my AFM crapped out and I had to get towed back home...by a FORD. Anyways, all I had was a tow strap, so I was in the cruiser the whole time. TC in "N", tranny in "N"....occasionally "R", to confuse those stupid tailgaters ;p ( I know, not a good idea, but funny)

No power brakes, no power steering. Got home just fine. It reminded me of driving my bug , especially the "no power" part.

 

[azzzuki]

Tow all u want ......Just pull yr drive lines!