Towing Mishap - what happened?

[lcater]

I was towing my siii on a dolly which I do on a regular basis. I load the front wheel on the dolly while she is in 2H so there is no binding on the wheel. I then put transfer case in neutral, and the gear shift in 4th (the prescribed method by LR). I then test to ensure I get free wheeling on the rear wheels and then head out. On this occasion, I had gone about 100 miles, when I pulled into a gas station. As I slowed to a stop at the pumps, the rear wheels locked tight. I seen this movie before and it usually isn't pretty. So I checked out the gear box and transfer case. Both were still cold to touch and in their respective positions. I decided to pull the axle shafts as oppossed to the prop shaft. Once I got them out, both of the splines which engage the diff suffered severe twisting.
When I got the truck home, I started her up, engaged 4HI and 4L and was able to drive around in front wheel drive, and there is not audible noise to indicate a problem. I am getting some replacement shafts in the next few days, but what do you suppose happened?
I have a PTO winch so my initial thought is that this perhaps engaged the transfer case, but then I would expect some damage in the transfer case which does not appear at this time.
Appreciate thoughts on this.
Thanks
Len

 

[Leslie]

I would think that the winch would have suffered if it had engaged if the transfer case had...

My first thought was, could the axles have already been twisted? However, that wouldn't address why the wheels locked up on this occasion. Hmmmm.....

Think on this, I will.....

 

[KevinNY]

I was planning on getting a dolly for long runs with my series hybrid. Idea being I would pull my GBR rear shafts then reinstall the flanges and simply be freewheeling the rear hubs with out having to worry about diffs, gearboxes or dropping shafts.

 

[lcater]

Kevin, I will definitely be doing that in the future. I used to do the prop shaft but the axle shafts I find are easier. And, now I have a second set of flanges to put on when I pull them. That's twice burned for me. First time was not putting the gearbox into 4th, and there was enough centrifical force that it built up tremendous heat (no oil lubrication when the gear box was in neutral). When I pulled up to stop, the gear box engaged and made eliptical syncro gears for me. In that situation, the gear box was actually smoking it was so hot.

 

[Jamooche]

If you have front freewheeling hubs couldn't you just tow the truck with only the front wheels touching the ground? Then you wouldn't have to take anything apart.

 

[Ron]

Put free wheeling hubs on the rear.

I have them on all four corners of my SII 88"

Ron

 

[lcater]

I used the dolly because it has electric brakes for safety. I find that flat towing leads to swaying. Ron, I was thinking of manual hubs on the rear. Not a bad idea.
Thanks

 

[antichrist]

Was the parking brake engaged?
I've used a dolly a lot and all I ever did was remove the four bolts from the read propshaft it at the diff end wire it up securely out of the way. Never any problem, and it's easy to do. If you tow a lot, you could even make a permanant bracket for it. It's a lot less messy than removing the axle shafts.
I've never towed any distance with the Land Rover recommended method as not all the gears get good lubrication.

 

[lcater]

Nope, brake was off as well.
Baffled!

 

[nrene]

I like the idea of the manual hubs in the rear (I already have 'em up front)...

I've got a bumper tow bar (not Dolly) so I'm towing 4 wheels down...

Sorry to hijack, but...

What's the issue with the transfer case in Neutral? I assume by context that the parts still moving in the case isn't circulating oil and thus could be a cause for failure...


What's a 'long run'? I'm planning ong towing my SIIa (with SIII box) as above less than 200 miles... Should I be worried (more than I already am)? How worried?

 

[Leslie]

When I was bringing my SIII home from Knoxville to Kingsport, I was planning on flat-towing it. I had just bought a tow-bar, and brought along a drill to drill the holes in the bumper. Got it all set up behind the Disco, got down to a nearby gas station to check it out after that initial shakedown.... about that time, my buddy who had been keeping it for me, showed up (he'd been out of town when I arrived to pick it up), and insisted on me going back to his shop and loading it onto his trailer.... Must admit, it did well, the Disco had no problems pulling it on the trailer, was smoother than when the Series was behind it rolling....

But I agree, I like the idea of rear locking hubs if you're going to tow it a lot and don't want to deal with a trailer.

 

[Ron]

"Ron, I was thinking of manual hubs on the rear. Not a bad idea."

I stole it from Tom Bache. Depending on the hubs you have to trim a little bit of the extra casting off the end of the axle shaft (no biggy). I flat tow without issues. Just turn all four hubs and off I go. It aslo makes a great anti theft device. T-case in neutral, hubs unlocked . . . of course the truck might ROLL away [with or without outside help], but it will take a series nut to get it to drive away.

Ron

 

[your pal]

I have towed mine from Florida to MAR and Uwharrie twice without any problems. I always flat tow it and put the transfercase in neutral and put it in 4th. I of course check it several times to make sure it has stayed in neutral before I leave and at every stop. It pulls very nice behind the 04 disco. I do plan on getting a trailer just for peice of mind and I believe it will be safer towing.

Rico

 

[grfa]

OOO I win I win! I have towed my series (dollied it with the front wheels on a dolly) twice. The first time was picking it up, had the t-case in neutral and the rear axle started smoking on one side. Stopped a few times to let it cool and eventually made it to my destination. Found out later that the rear axle was busted to begin with, so the towing didn't help.

The second incidence was after having both axles rebuilt, towing again with the t-case in neutral, the rear wheels locked up on 287 approaching the Tappan Zee bridge. Still do not know the cause, I am hoping it is not something that has already been rebuilt or is in good shape. The tranmission was thought to be bad from the previous owner, so I am thinking it is the transmission. Yippeee.

I like the lockouts on all four wheels idea. I think I will do that, have Warns on the front already.

 

[Dan Ratcliffe]

I swear this sounds like transmission wind up. I wonder if because there isn't any drive force being sent to the rear wheels the wheels are not slippiping as they do under normal drive conditions helping to relieve the tension. ??????

 

[KevinNY]

I have towed mine from Florida to MAR and Uwharrie twice without any problems. I always flat tow it and put the transfercase in neutral and put it in 4th. I of course check it several times to make sure it has stayed in neutral before I leave and at every stop. It pulls very nice behind the 04 disco. I do plan on getting a trailer just for peice of mind and I believe it will be safer towing.

Rico

Thats my set up, an '04 D2 for the tow rig. How does it do on hills and gas mileage?

 

[lcater]

Windup sounds like an interested option.

This is the 3rd time this vehicle has had towing damage. PO towed it without doing anything to the gear box so smoked it good. Then I did it when I left the gearbox in neutral and tc in neutral. The gears was pouring smoke out of it due to heat.

I'm pulling prop or axles from now on.

 

[Jamooche]

First off, I don't know much about towing. Why are you set on using a dolly? Is it financial reasons? Buying a small trailer where all 4 wheels will be on the trailer will solve all your problems. No taking anything apart. What, if any, are the benefits of a dolly?

Jamil

 

[lcater]

Had the trailer, but I had problems storing it so I went to a dolly, which is light and easy to move around, plus still provides braking capability. I will most likely go back to a full trailer, but aluminum.

 

[your pal]

The '04 does great. I have to watch my speed because I almost forget it's back there. The hills are no problem and this is with having camping gear in the back of the 88.
Now about the gas mileage. I believe it gets about 14mpg. I really don't pay that much attention to it because either way I'm getting to my destination and enjoying the ride. I figure if I start to worry about gas mileage then I may never get out of Florida for an event.

Rico

'04 Disco
'67 SIIa