A person on another forum I participate in is looking at purchasing a Defender and wants to know if it can be flat towed behind his truck camper. I told him I'd post the question here where we would more likely get a qualified answer.
Flat tow Defender?
- Thread starter kcabpilot
- Start date
The manual transmission is designed to have the lubricant circulated by a pump that is driven by the input shaft.When you flat tow the transmission doesn't get lubricated. Towing a manual trans truck for any distance- you are supposed to disconnect the driveshafts @ the differential flanges and tie the shafts up and out of the way. Apparently puting the trans and transfercase in nuetral isn't sufficient- never tried it without unbolting the drive shafts so can't tell you what might happen.
a manual transmission that is on tow with the main box in neutral will destroy the mainshaft bushings. reason being that the power is coming in the wrong way, i.e through the mainshaft and not the input shaft/countershaft. so with the gears in neutral, the mainshaft is spinning. but no gears are engaged and thus the countershaft will not revolve. since the countershaft is not spinning it is not able to throw oil onto the mainshaft above. The first thing to go will be the yellow metal bushings and then the shaft.
if you must tow its best to disconnect the driveshafts as doug recommends. for short distances put a manual trans in high gear and the transfer box in neutral. if the transfer box slips into gear you'll know but it shouldn't hurt anything.
if you must tow its best to disconnect the driveshafts as doug recommends. for short distances put a manual trans in high gear and the transfer box in neutral. if the transfer box slips into gear you'll know but it shouldn't hurt anything.
kcabpilot said:
What is your definition of Short Distance? few miles or couple of hundreds?
Also how can the Transfer case slip into gear?
Thanks in advance
Also how can the Transfer case slip into gear?
Thanks in advance
Ren Ching said:
a few miles. I think we flat towed my old 88 from arlington to DC with the driveshafts still on. probably about 10 miles. anything much more thna that and I would disconnect. mind you this is series trucks I am talking about, and that is following manufacturer's instructions on the metal plate right in the car.
on the later gearboxes I don't know if they still suggest that method.
how can a transfer case slip into gear? Dunno. I suspect if it was not fully disengaged to begin with? Vibration? Trying to conveniently explain away operator error? Hopefully they DON'T...
I have heard that when they "slip" into low range and you then try to drain the oil, it makes a nice sizzling sound when it hits the drian pan...
on the later gearboxes I don't know if they still suggest that method.
how can a transfer case slip into gear? Dunno. I suspect if it was not fully disengaged to begin with? Vibration? Trying to conveniently explain away operator error? Hopefully they DON'T...
I have heard that when they "slip" into low range and you then try to drain the oil, it makes a nice sizzling sound when it hits the drian pan...
Rugbier said:
LOL
Man I am glad I did not drag the 109 behind the DII from MD to MAR.
Thanks for the explain
Man I am glad I did not drag the 109 behind the DII from MD to MAR.
Thanks for the explain
Ren Ching said:
Not a defender but I flat tow my 95 disco auto behind my coach all the time. Just like posted before, trans in park t-case in neutral. I leave the shafts in place. I may tow it on the Al-Can this summer. For this trip I will probably disconnect the drive lines.
Towed mine coast to coast no problems.. I recommend using a aux brake set up like Brake Buddy if your doing it routinely....