New Toad

[courtjester]

We just today picked up a 1988 Jeep Wrangler to use as a toad. I'll get into the process of getting everything on the jeep current over the next couple weeks. My question to those who have towed jeeps is whether there is anything unique or particular about towing one of these. Any "gotchas" I should be aware of. Ours is a five speed that is a pretty much stock 1 owner jeep.
thanks

toni

[kjackson]

Manual or automatic?

If manual, put the transfer case in neutral and the car in 4th gear.

We usually put the car in reverse first to make sure the transfer case is in neutral before putting it in 4th.

[courtjester]

Originally Posted by kjackson

Manual or automatic?

If manual, put the transfer case in neutral and the car in 4th gear.

We usually put the car in reverse first to make sure the transfer case is in neutral before putting it in 4th.

Manual. thanks for the tip. Out of curiosity, why not leave the transmission in neutral as well?

[kjackson]

Originally Posted by courtjester

Manual. thanks for the tip. Out of curiosity, why not leave the transmission in neutral as well?

Putting it in gear lubricates the gears as you drive.

[Nick-B]

Originally Posted by kjackson

Putting it in gear lubricates the gears as you drive.

Actually, just the opposite. Think about it. If it is in gear and everything is turning then the engine must also be turning.

With the transfer case in neutral it cannot spin the transmission anyway.

So normal procedure is to keep it in gear (or Park with an Auto trans). I think the reasoning is so when you unhook it won't roll away in case you forget to apply the parking brake just before unhooking.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by courtjester

We just today picked up a 1988 Jeep Wrangler to use as a toad. I'll get into the process of getting everything on the jeep current over the next couple weeks. My question to those who have towed jeeps is whether there is anything unique or particular about towing one of these. Any "gotchas" I should be aware of. Ours is a five speed that is a pretty much stock 1 owner jeep.
thanks

toni

Courtjester,
One thing you might check on before you get all exited about towing it. You see, while Jeep changed platforms in '87 from the "CJ" to the "YJ", they kept using the model 300 transfer case for a year or two after that and, also they used the previous engine too. That one is the 4.2L (258 Cu.In) (Old AMC engine). That's an ok engine with good torque and most of the time runs well but, is now getting harder and harder to find parts for, especially smog parts.

But, what I'm getting at is, crawl under there and see just what transfer case you have, unless you already know which one you have. You see, the earlier one, the model 300, was not really designed for flat towing. Many folks have, including me, but, with that particular model, you need to stop every so often and start the jeep up and run it through some gears to lubricate parts of the transfer case that are not lubed thought towing it.

In the later years of the "YJ", jeep used the model 231, aluminum cased, chain driven transfer case. Those, are perfectly fine for flat towing. You see, they have an oil pump, located just inside the rear tail cone, right where the rear drive shaft enters it. It's a thin, rotary vein pump that will pump oil, strictly from the rotation of the rear drive shaft.

The model 300 is a cast iron, gear driven transfer case and, based on the interior design, does not lube all the components if the input shaft is not being driven, as it is when the jeep is being driven. It can be towed but, the possibility of damage, is there, if not started every so often, as in, each gas stop for the motor home. That's what we all used to do when we had jeeps with that model transfer case. Good luck.
Scott

[courtjester]

thanks for the suggestions. I'll double check on which transfer case I have.

[courtjester]

double checked and I do have the aluminum 231, so should be good to go.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by courtjester

double checked and I do have the aluminum 231, so should be good to go.

courtjester,
Roger that Sir, good luck on setting your new Jeep up for towing.
Scott

P.S. You have a PM