I have a tow bar attached and need to know .... transfer case in neutral ... i got that part...but some one said i should leave trans in 2nd gear?

also should the steering wheel be left locked or unlocked?

any tips would be appreciated.

The owner's manual says to leave the tranny in 2nd when towing :confused: . I can't figure out why, but it doesn't seem like it would hurt anyhting either, so I always did. You definitely want the steering wheel un-locked when towing. Also, take the emergency brake off :D that is my favorite thing to forget when flat towing, and with my tow rig I can't even tell until I smell 'em :eek:

i put both in nutral, and steering UN-LOCKED, did it once when towing dads zuki home, and it broke the lock right off it.......

o yeah........... welcome newbie:flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Welcome newbie :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Get to know the search button. He is your friend, and will keep you out of hot water.

My answer is NO NO NO to Tcase in neutral if you have any vibration in your front shaft, which most of us with a spring over do. Run the Tcase in 2H and the tranmission in N. Better yet, disco the rear shaft.

See here for why:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61765&highlight=major+scare

Originally posted by Shrock
Welcome newbie :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Get to know the search button. He is your friend, and will keep you out of hot water.

My answer is NO NO NO to Tcase in neutral if you have any vibration in your front shaft, which most of us with a spring over do. Run the Tcase in 2H and the tranmission in N. Better yet, disco the rear shaft.

See here for why:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61765&highlight=major+scare

I agree with you about disconecting the rear shaft, but not on the T-case in 2h. Have you tried this ? Most people tow with t-case in neutral and tranny in 2 nd. Show me the logic in your method.:rolleyes:

Did you read this thread?

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61765&highlight=major+scare

The front shaft spins with the tcase in N. On a stock Sammi this would be no biggie. If you can drive 75mph in 4wd w/o vibes it would be no biggie. My front shaft vibrates like mad at *45mph* in 4wd. With the tcase in 2H the front shaft doesnt spin. Problem solved.

I'd heard that Brent at TT recommends towing in 2H, but it did not make sense to me. Now I understand why.

So :rolleyes: back at ya.

Originally posted by mudlite


I agree with you about disconecting the rear shaft, but not on the T-case in 2h. Have you tried this ? Most people tow with t-case in neutral and tranny in 2 nd. Show me the logic in your method.:rolleyes:

I do the same thing and here's my logic (newbie logic, hehe) I put my t-case in 2wd, discon the driveshaft from the rear , unlock my front hubs and leave my steering unlocked . My logic ? Front hubs unlocked and in 2wd = free wheelin in the front. Discon my rear shaft and in 2wd = free wheels all around, what's wrong with that ? My rig has close to 200,000 miles on it with an original t-case and tranny and ive literally towed thousands of miles using this recipe. Dont give a rats ass what the fawkin manual says, and i caught a post where even mr. RRO said the tranny 2nd -t-case in neutral thing. Sorry boyz, i dont agree, think about it :eek:

FWIW, if you unlock the front hubs (and they are working properly) and disco the rear shaft, it really doesnt matter what your tranny or tcase is in. Nothing up there can spin....which is why I like this method best. :D

5 step checklist I use when I flat-tow (straight from the manual)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Front hubs unlocked
2. Transfer case in nuetral
3. E-brake off
4. Key turned to accessory position
5. Transmission in 2nd

I have towed many a miles like this with no problems. ~Steve

If your key is turned to the "on" position, the steering wheel will stay unlocked until the key is REMOVED. So, don't wear your battery down by leaving the key in the accessory position, just turn it off and leave the key in.

I was told the reason for towing with the t-case in N, and the trans in 2nd, was to prevent the possibility of the spinning t-case shafts (or oil) to spin the trans output shaft.

I was sick of wrenchin on my shaft, so I got a chick and a trailer!

Originally posted by Shrock
FWIW, if you unlock the front hubs (and they are working properly) and disco the rear shaft, it really doesnt matter what your tranny or tcase is in. Nothing up there can spin....which is why I like this method best. :D

So when you had the trouble, were you in Nuetral nuetral, or was the tranny in 2nd?

What happens with N/N is the out put shaft still spins and eventually starts turning the input gears, which starts turning the Tranny and front out put gears. ( if you were able to grab the front shaft while moving , it would stop turning.)

I Nuetral/2nd, the tranny stop the movement of the gears.

If I were you I would fix the vibration on your front shaft.

If you are towing more than 100 miles, pull the rear shaft.

Originally posted by mudlite


What happens with N/N is the out put shaft still spins and eventually starts turning the input gears, which starts turning the Tranny and front out put gears. ( if you were able to grab the front shaft while moving , it would stop turning.)

No with the Tcase in N, the front and rear shaft are locked together like 4WD. If you were to grab it with the rear shaft connect, you would loose a hand. It's gonna spin period.

Originally posted by Shrock


No with the Tcase in N, the front and rear shaft are locked together like 4WD. If you were to grab it with the rear shaft connect, you would loose a hand. It's gonna spin period.

Gee that is odd, guess you should ballance your driveshaft then:D . Seems odd though. I know I haven't had a sammy case for 3 years, but if I were taking the front drive shaft off and was having trouble, I would shift the t-case to 4wd, loosen the lower nuts, shift to nuetral , rotate the shaft, and loosen the other two.

Or is that on my 18:flipoff2:

Originally posted by mudlite


Gee that is odd, guess you should ballance your driveshaft then:D . Seems odd though. I know I haven't had a sammy case for 3 years, but if I were taking the front drive shaft off and was having trouble, I would shift the t-case to 4wd, loosen the lower nuts, shift to nuetral , rotate the shaft, and loosen the other two.

Or is that on my 18:flipoff2:

Just remembered one more thing. I had a true Nuetral:p
and previous to that.........must be 8 years now.........I wasn't flat towing.

I'd still ballance your shaft though:D

I always pulled my rear shaft, even for short hauls. I did the 2nd gear/nuetral reccomended thing when I flat towed to the Rubicon. The vibes @75-80mph tore two t-case mounts, broke off the t-case shifter down inside the case and bent the rear flange as it started working loose :eek: My buddy Chad towed his Zuk from his house down to Dave King's and messed up his front shaft due to the vibes, something worked all teh bolts loose while he was towing it. The less stuff spinning while your flat towing the better. I would just remove the four bolts on the rear shaft/pinion and bungee the shaft up and out of the way. T-case stayed in 2wd, tranny in neutral, never had a problem after that. I know a lot of people who never had any problems so your results may vary.