|
09-29-2011, 02:41 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 30
|
Tow dolly and rear wheel drive
I was wondering if I can tow my Jeep Liberty safely 4 down by putting the transfer case in neutral, why can't I tow it on a dolly with it in neutral? Has anyone done this?
John & Lorraine
04 34' Alpine
03 Jeep Liberty 4x4
08 Mini Cooper
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
09-30-2011, 07:04 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 323
|
We had a 4x4 Chevy Tracker. It could be towed 4 down with the transfer case in neutral, but the manual required it be towed with the rear wheels on a dolly. Not a jeep, but I saw no one answered your question so I thought this might help as they are somewhat similar. I don't have any idea why the manufacturer wanted it this way.
__________________
USN, Retired
2020 Grand Design Momentum 25G
2022 Silverado 3500, 2007 Honda Goldwing
|
|
|
09-30-2011, 09:24 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 534
|
In MY opinion, loading ANY car or truck on a dolly backwards is FOLLY!
The problem has to do with the caster and the toe-in that is adjusted into the front suspension.
Caster is what makes the front wheels of a grocery cart track parallel through a turn. Try pulling a grocery cart backwards and see what happens. Admittedly, the front wheels are tied together with linkage that serves to prevent the grocery cart example of the front wheels flipping around from happening.
That leaves us with the toe-in adjustment. When rolling forward, the suspension has both front tires slightly pointed inward.
When you tow backwards on a dolly, the rolling front wheels are spayed slightly outwards. That is called toe-out.
Raising the rear wheels off of the ground makes the king pins angle less perpendicular to the ground. This causes the caster to make the toe-out worse, not better.
When rolling with toe-out, ONE front tire is always dominant and trying to steer the on-the-ground front end. As the car is rolled and the weight shifts from one front wheel to the other through normal cornering, bumps, etc. the dominant wheel steering the front of the car can rapidly change from one side to the other, causing sway. This sway can make the towed vehicle extremely unstable to the point of uncontrolability.
Sure... Some people get away with it, but that is why no rental agency will condone this type of vehicle towing.
Tim
|
|
|
10-01-2011, 06:47 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Snowbird - Waterford Mi and Citrus Springs Fl.
Posts: 3,609
|
From what I remember on this topic:
Many 4x4's use a differential of some sort between the front and rear drive systems. Towing with one end or the other on the ground and the other not turning is going to leave this diff working overtime. Kind of like towing with one rear wheel on the ground and the other stationary on a rear wheel drive vehicle?
If you have a 4x4 with unlocked manual locking front hubs, you might be OK?
__________________
1997 37' HR Endeavor, 275hp Cat, Freightliner
03 CR-V Blue Ox, Ready Brake
|
|
|
10-01-2011, 07:13 AM
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,295
|
I have two family members that both have Jeep Liberty's that they pull behind their motorhomes in the manner you mentioned.. They leave the gear in park position and put transfer case into neutral... They have been doing it this way with no issues for years.
|
|
|
10-01-2011, 07:17 AM
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,295
|
Oh and I personally dont see why it would be a problem pulling the jeep on a dolly with the crankcase in neutral.. seems to me that the only difference is that the front wheels wont be spinning....
|
|
|
10-03-2011, 08:53 AM
|
#7
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 30
|
Thanks for all of the input.
John & Lorraine
04 Alpine
|
|
|
10-05-2011, 12:41 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monacoach
Oh and I personally dont see why it would be a problem pulling the jeep on a dolly with the crankcase in neutral.. seems to me that the only difference is that the front wheels wont be spinning....
|
Which is exactly the problem! If the transfer case is anything like my '97 GC was it'll ruin the transfer case in very short order. Both shafts have to spin at the same RPM.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
|
|
|
10-05-2011, 10:01 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
|
Several reports in several forums of people successfully towing a Liberty 4-down.
In fact. enough of them that when I go looking for a new towed (Likely 2 years from now) that is one of the vehicles topping my search list.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
|
|
|
10-06-2011, 01:08 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 114
|
I think the OP was talking DOLLY. A friend of mine has a Honda Pilot 4wd. He has to disconnect the transfer case drive shaft to tow on a dolly.
__________________
Charlie & Sherrie
Southeast Texas
'99 Southwind Storm, '10 Honda CRV
|
|
|
10-13-2011, 05:39 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Durango CO
Posts: 582
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D
Which is exactly the problem! If the transfer case is anything like my '97 GC was it'll ruin the transfer case in very short order. Both shafts have to spin at the same RPM.
|
QFT! Read the owner's manual, the above is gospel when it comes to Jeep transfer cases. It's 4 down with transmission in park or 1st/2nd gear and transfer case in neutral OR on a trailer only.
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|