Virginia Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I have a 96 4.0 4wd that I need to tow to FL. I have a tow dolly. Can I do this and if so, how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadinator Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 A 96 what? Cherokee, I assume. One of the reasons my father-in-law bought the comanche back in 90 was so that he could flat tow it behind a motor home. He did many times. You can't do that without a tow bar though. Drivetrain on the Cherokee is the same. So for a tow dolly, Parking brake off. Put the tranny in Neutral if a stick. Put the transfer case in Neutral. Strap it on and be on your way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 It's a comanche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Drop the rear drive shaft. Either remove it completely and cover the transfer tail shaft to keep dirt out, recommended, or leave it in the TC and tie the loose end to the chassis. Either remove or slip a bag over the UJoint so you don't lose the cup and bearings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 To make sure I was clear, I'm not flat towing, I'm towing front end off the ground locked in a tow dolly. Sounds like it's a pain in the @$$ to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Depending on your transfer case, putting it in neutral does not dis engage the front and rear drive shaft. You will drag the rear tires until something breaks in the TC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 If I were towing 4 on the ground, could I just put it in neutral? Because when I have it in neutral on a hill it will just roll. I'm guessing that there would be a problem because if on the tow dolly the front wheels wouldn't be rolling. Perhaps, I'll just tow the car down. It's time the boys learned how to drive a stick anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadinator Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I asked about what it was because there was no 96 comanche. Someone needs to explain to me how having the transmission and transfer case in neutral will harm the transfer case if towed. As I said, my father-in-law towed his around all the time when he had it. He bought it because it could do that. He actually left it in park (automatic) and then the xfer case in Neutral when he towed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 I'm sorry. It's a 91. My motorcycle is the 96. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Someone needs to explain to me how having the transmission and transfer case in neutral will harm the transfer case if towed. As I said, my father-in-law towed his around all the time when he had it. He bought it because it could do that. He actually left it in park (automatic) and then the xfer case in Neutral when he towed it. Putting the transfer case in Neutral disconnects the drive line from the transmission, but the front and rear drive shafts are locked together and rotate at the same speed. This isn't a problem when flat towing, because all four wheels are on the ground. If the front wheels are strapped to a tow dolly ... you have a problem. Simplest way to use a dolly is to drop the rear drive shaft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Someone needs to explain to me how having the transmission and transfer case in neutral will harm the transfer case if towed. As I said, my father-in-law towed his around all the time when he had it. He bought it because it could do that. He actually left it in park (automatic) and then the xfer case in Neutral when he towed it. Putting the transfer case in Neutral disconnects the drive line from the transmission, but the front and rear drive shafts are locked together and rotate at the same speed. This isn't a problem when flat towing, because all four wheels are on the ground. If the front wheels are strapped to a tow dolly ... you have a problem. Simplest way to use a dolly is to drop the rear drive shaft. This is true on ~94 and older transfer cases. The newer ones do have a true neutral. Even so, on a tow dolly, disconnecting the rear driveshaft is still the safest option no matter what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadinator Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Gotcha. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexia Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 The main reason for disconnecting the drive shaft with a tow dolly is that the transfer case will not lubricate correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 The main reason for disconnecting the drive shaft with a tow dolly is that the transfer case will not lubricate correctly. Ummm ... not, that's not the reason. The Neutral position disconnects the transfer case from the transmission because the transmission would not lubricate properly (especially the automatic), but the transfer case will lubricate just fine -- which is why the factory procedure for flat towing is simply to put the transfer case in Neutral and go. The problem arises when the rear wheels are on the ground and need to turn, but the front wheels are on a dolly and CAN'T turn ... and the front and rear driveshafts are locked together. As mvusse pointed out, Jeep changed this a few years later, but this is true for ALL years of the MJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexia Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 The main reason for disconnecting the drive shaft with a tow dolly is that the transfer case will not lubricate correctly. Ummm ... not, that's not the reason. The Neutral position disconnects the transfer case from the transmission because the transmission would not lubricate properly (especially the automatic), but the transfer case will lubricate just fine -- which is why the factory procedure for flat towing is simply to put the transfer case in Neutral and go. The problem arises when the rear wheels are on the ground and need to turn, but the front wheels are on a dolly and CAN'T turn ... and the front and rear driveshafts are locked together. As mvusse pointed out, Jeep changed this a few years later, but this is true for ALL years of the MJ. The angle of the drive train while on the dolly, more so while lifted on a tow truck, can cause the front of the transfer case to become starved of lubrication. This is why this warning still exists in the owner's manual even on current Jeeps. I am aware the oil pump does pump while the rear drive shaft spins, but it can not pump very well if the outputs on the pump are blocked by fluid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abyx Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Vacuum Disconnect...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Vacuum Disconnect...... Vacuum disconnects sucks. :shake: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 When I towed the '88 home, I disconnected the drive shaft and tied it up out of the way. It worked well for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 When I picked up my van in Canada I towed the Purple People Eater home on a dolly. Disconnected the rear driveshaft and tossed it in the bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Hunter Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 These guys have it figured out, disconnect the rear driveshaft at the axle and tie it up good. For flat-towing, leave it in gear or Park and put the t-case in neutral and you're good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Long distance, drop the driveshaft. 50 miles or less, flat tow in 2wd or towbar. (my cabin is 50 miles away and I have towed mine numerous times, depending on my home parking area) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crs88 Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 New member here, but have owned 2 Comanches and 3 Cherokees. I am about to drive about150 miles to pick up my latest find. It is a 2WD, '88, 5-speed. With no transfer case, can I just drop it in neutral and bring it home with a tow dolly? Or do I still need to disconnect the rear shaft? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 If it's a manual, you should be good, but if it's an auto, the trans may not be getting proper fluid circulation with the engine off, and you could cook it. For a short distance you'd be fine, but I wouldn't chance 150 miles. Edit: guess I can't read... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yxmj Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 New member here, but have owned 2 Comanches and 3 Cherokees. I am about to drive about150 miles to pick up my latest find. It is a 2WD, '88, 5-speed. With no transfer case, can I just drop it in neutral and bring it home with a tow dolly? Or do I still need to disconnect the rear shaft? You will be fine with just putting it in N. If you could zoom in on my avatar you would see I have a set of tow bar brackets that are permanently attached to my front bumper.....I am always buying more jeeps so this allows me to pick them up by myself.....I just drive up toss on the tow bar and let the new purchase tow the MJ back home.....of course I have to make sure my new Rig has a hitch every time.... . :MJ 1: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crs88 Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Thanks, yxmj. I've done this many times with other cars, but you never know when a manufacturer will throw you a curve ball about towing one of their vehicles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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