Towing a 4x4 Auto Tranny PU

John T · Nov 16, 2010

Okay, Im looking at either a Ford Ranger or Chevy S10 or Dodge Dakota 4 x 4 with auto tranny which I want to tow behind my RV with all 4 wheels on the ground. I was a thinkin I want a manual on the floor shift lever (thats what I still want regardless) figuring I can put the transfer case in NEUTRAL and tow it down the road without trashing the tranny.

Butttttttttt so many trucks have those darn (just waiting to fail) push button 4WD THAT DONT HAVE A NEUTRAL SELECTION like the manual floor shifters grrrrrrrrrrrr

Sooooooooo one buddy with a Ford Explorer 4 x 4 tells me I can get a Neutral Kit from Ford and have them "lay hands" on the computer so it can shift to neutral Tow Mode. And another buddy tells me the Dodge Dakota has some sort of hidden button one can depress that makes them shift to neutral. I havent heard any S10 stories on how to make them go to neutral if they are the electric push button types.

Soooooooooo what can you gents tell me about this "What say You" Enlighten me please

Ol John T (Hope to find a good reliable manual floor shift with a real NEUTRAL instead of a waiting to fail electric push button)

ericlb · Nov 16, 2010

if your going to tow any kind of late model 4x4, put it on a trailer, most all nowdays have oil pumps in the transfer cases that run off the input shaft,and if its not turning, its not pumping, it cost me 4500 dollars to prove this to myself, on a f350, i towed about 180 miles behind my dump truck, the ford transfer case destroyed itself as well as 4 tires on the rear when it locked up at 65 mph , again use a trailer

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Nov 16, 2010

I know for a fact that the S-10 can be "Dinghy" towed. I'd have to dig into GM service info for the details, I printed it off for a customer once, there is also a fuse you have to pull so the battery doesn't go dead. Shifting the t-case to neutral is kind of like one of those secret handshakes. Just have to look up how to do it.

buickanddeere · Nov 16, 2010

GMC Terrain can be ordered with a "flat tow" six speed auto trans.
Trailer or idle the engine of the vehicle being towed. I'd choose the trailer.
Myself I like the trailer on a hitch so I can un-hook and drive the truck on it's own. Plus the trailer or the truck can be traded/upgraded just on their own.

2x4 · Nov 17, 2010

towed a 1989 stickshift Nissan 4x4 pickup behind my dumptruck, on a 1000 mile trip once without disconnecting the driveshaft or any special measures. Used a U-Haul towbar.

Kevin in OK · Nov 17, 2010

Maybe I"m just ignorant, but what is the harm in disconnecting the driveshafts at the axles, tying them up, and just going down the road?

Kevin in OK

Bob · Nov 17, 2010

You got that backwards. Typically, the transfer case oil pumps are on the OUTPUT shaft.

buickanddeere · Nov 17, 2010

Well duh, it was an old simple stick shift.
Ever think about the difference towing a modern automatic?

buickanddeere · Nov 17, 2010

Sounds handy to attach and disconnect how many drive shafts. When ever you want to take a toot around town.

omahagreg · Nov 17, 2010

Wifes Trailblazer-which is supposed to be very similar to the Chevy Colorado-has a 5th position on the selector, and that is tow mode. Greg

ChrisLSD · Nov 17, 2010

jeep liberty

johndeereman · Nov 17, 2010

i agree with these guys on get a trailer then its more universal to any vehical and tractor too there are so many trailers around there pretty cheap cost you in pa that is all of $12 a year for registration and a inspection sticker alot cheaper than a tranny in any vehical plus a trailer has 10001 uses

jgilles · Nov 17, 2010

I have two Ranger 4x4's, 1999 & 2002. Both trucks have the electric shift motor on the Borg-Warner transfer case. The transfer case does have a neutral but the electric shift motor does not stop at that position. I think Ford makes a Ranger with a floor mounted manual shift transfer case lever. Maybe the FX4 off road model.

Ken Macfarlane · Nov 17, 2010

Many t-cases lock the front and rear outputs together in 4x4. Usually better to put in 2wd and get a driveshaft disconnect kit you can just pull the lever and it freewheels the d-shaft.

El Toro · Nov 17, 2010

I would trailer the pickup. Hal

Bspauld · Nov 17, 2010

I dont know for sure about the S10 but my full sixed Chevy has a true neutral,I have to push the low and high button at the same time and then its free wheeling

Allan in NE · Nov 17, 2010

Put the RV in neutral and tow it with the pickup. :>)

Allan

glennster · Nov 17, 2010

john, i agree with putting it on a trailer instead of flat towing. at the shop, if we get a 4wheel drive or all wheel drive tow call, we always send the flat bed, never the wheel lift. too much chance of damaging something on the 4wd and awd's. even if the vehicle can be set in neutral tow mode, you still have a lot of things spinning when going down the road.

Brian G. NY · Nov 17, 2010

Bob, That"s the way I understood it as well; so it could be towed.

sotxbill · Nov 17, 2010

towing magazine or trailer mag, i forget which.. has a lineup every year of vehicle that can be towed. they look and talk about everything you are worried about and show which can be towed all 4 down, and which can be dollied. back when I was getting a lot of rv mags..

Brian G. NY · Nov 17, 2010

Here is a quote from the '83-'94 repair manual for the Ford Bronco II/Ranger:

"The Borg Warner 13-50 MECHANICAL SHIFT transfer case is a 3-piece aluminum part time unit. The unit is lubricated by a positive displacement oil pump that channels oil flow through drilled holes in the rear output shaft. The pump turns with the rear output shaft and allows towing of the vehicle at maximum legal road speeds for extended distances without disconnecting the front and/or rear driveshaft."
The description of the 13-50 ELECTRIC SHIFT transfer case says nothing about towing.
However, vehicles with the 13-54 transfer case can also be towed at highway speeds.
As I see it, with the front wheel hubs "locked out" there should be no worry about the front drive shaft as it should not be turning.

PJH · Nov 17, 2010

I see these little Suzuki's being towed all the time. The trailer would be fail safe, but a problem in the campsite.

I met an old timer at the Rosine, Kentucky bluegrass festival who had hooked his towed vehicle behind his motor home, but forgot to take it out of gear. It was some kind of small Ford car, stick shift, and he towed it a great distance with the engine spinning and the keys in his pocket. It was a sad story - don't remember the details anymore, but I think his daughter had to come and get him and his wife. He didn't seem to even know where he was.

I could see myself in his situation in the years to come.

Paul

John T · Nov 17, 2010

Thanks yall, I already have a nice trailer, I just dont want to tow that long heavy thing to Florida then have to worry about parking and storage grrrrrrrrrrrr which is why I asked about 4 down towing.

My buddy (who tows his Explore 4 x 4) referred me to the Remco Tow Guide website where I was SURPRISED to learn while a Ford Explorer 4x4 can be towed A RANGER (I thought was bout the same) CAN NOT....... Per the Remco tow guide (Motorhome magazine guide showed same) hardly any ranger 4 x 4 automatics can be towed and a few chevies buttttttttttt less then 55 mph with 200 mile intervals you have to lube the x fer case,

butttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttalllllllllllllll 4 x 4 automatic Dakotas 1989 to 2010 CAN BE TOWED 4 DOWN NO PROBLEM NO MODS REQUIRED Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooo

Im NOT a Dodge kinda guy (prefer GM) but since its the ONLY one that can be towed 4 down no questions asked, looks like a Dodge Dakota is in my future

Thanks again guys for all the responses

http://www.remcotowing.com/vehicles?make=521&model=0&year=0

John T
Remco Tow Guide

4 bottem · Nov 17, 2010

Front wheel drive and a tow dolly

Bspauld · Nov 17, 2010

I just checked Motorhome Life and the Chevy 4WD with auto trans can be towed for as far as you want,and its in my owners manual,Mine is a 2003

Crem · Nov 17, 2010

John, you are right about not using a trailer. That would be very unhandy to have to undo four hold down straps and put ramps down every time you stopped at a camp ground and wanted to use the vehicle. Then usually you would have to find a trailer place in the camp ground and back it in there with the motor home and then hook it up again when you hit the road again. Those tow dollies are a little better but then you are pulling that much more weight, have a little more length and have the tire and brake maintenance on that thing plus in the campground you sometimes have to find a place for it. I think that the best is to find a vehicle to tow four down and then you can just unhook it and go. I tow my 96 Explorer 4wd automatic and it works out perfect. The only drawback is that it weighs 4,500 lbs but then again it has a lot of room, 4wd if I need it and I can haul a lot of swap meet stuff in the back.

). It is my main vehicle and I am not going to go out and spend the money for another little car and then have the extra license and insurance costs.

Towing a 4x4 Auto Tranny PU

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