TOWING a Ranger as opposed to towing WITH a Ranger

[85_Ranger4x4]

The driveshaft is pretty easy to disconnect, though. Takes less than 5 minutes.

Depends on how long ago it was last off.

 

[Will]

True, I should have qualified it: once you get it loose the first time "..."

 

[DrPorky]

I have a '94 Ranger Extended Cab XLT 4x4 3.0 with Automatic Trans.

I'm needing to tow it with a dolly and read somewhere that you can tow it backwards with the front hubs disengaged and lock the wheel with rope or seatbelt or some such and thus not have to worry about disconnecting the drive shaft at the rear.

I have crawled under the truck and found that the front shaft spins freely, but, should I still be concerned?

I have called 2 different Ford shops, one never called me back and the other said they weren't sure (pretty sure that's code for 'leave us alone, we're busy'), I've been researching online for weeks and I have talked to a couple of transmission people, but, no one can give me an answer for some reason.

I have no problem with disconnecting the drive shaft if need be, however, it would be really nice to not have to worry about that if I don't have to.

Any help?

 

[88ranger89camaro]

Towing anything on a dolly with the rear wheels on the dolly is NOT a good idea at all. If your stearing wheel is not dead locked in the center it will cause all kinds of problems

Either pull the drive shaft or get a true car trailer

If you have a manual transfer case cant you just put it in neutral and go to town

 

[DoctorPhate]

Towing anything on a dolly with the rear wheels on the dolly is NOT a good idea at all. If your stearing wheel is not dead locked in the center it will cause all kinds of problems

Either pull the drive shaft or get a true car trailer

If you have a manual transfer case cant you just put it in neutral and go to town

Depends on the transfercase. In some cases it'll continue to spin(obviously) but without lubrication where as other cases it'll spin which causes the lubrication. So you'll need to research how your case is lubricated.

 

[exbass94]

Depends on the transfercase. In some cases it'll continue to spin(obviously) but without lubrication where as other cases it'll spin which causes the lubrication. So you'll need to research how your case is lubricated.

All BW1354 transfer cases can be flat towed with the transfer case in neutral. Did you read the original post at all?

Ford's recommended towing method for a 4x4 with a manual T-case is
to tow with the transfer case in neutral and the transmission in
Park (auto) or in gear (manual)

a 4x4 with an electronically shifted T-case has no user accessable
Neutral.

The thing is the T-cases used in Ranger Based Vehicles have
positive pressure lubrication from an internal oil pump that is
driven by the output shaft.

 

[racsan]

its a wonder i didnt blow my trans. towed the ranger on a 2 wheel u-haul dolly 15 miles to the farm to work on it, pulled it up onto the dolly in 4L, front hubs unlocked, front driveshaft had also been removed. left it in 4L. turned engine off just out of habit, pulled at about 45 mph to the farm 15 miles. (t-cas still in 4L) so the output shaft of the trans was probly spinning at a rpm equivaleant to 70+ mph if the t-case had been in high range. must have got lucky, seems to have no ill effects from it all. not sure how. must have gotton enough oil splashed around before transport that it didnt burn a bearing up. maybe the angle of the truck on the dolly was enough to have the oil level high enough at the back of the trans. thats a possibility. i still say i must have gotton lucky, now that ive read this.

 

[dhkonrad]

In my ford manual, it says that if you have front manual locking hubs, then just remove the rear drive shaft and tow in 2HI, then when you get where you're going, just drive around in 4HI, effectively making it front wheel drive...

 

[Will]

Your Ford manual says to drive it without the rear driveshaft?

 

[dhkonrad]

Yeah, they say just don't exeed 45 or 55.

 

[Will]

Can you scan those pages? I want to put them in the library.

 

[dhkonrad]

Yeah ill see if I can find it, but Idk which of my rbv's manuals said it so no guarantees.

 

[dhkonrad]

Pm sent.

 

[slipshift]

When I used to deliver commercial vehicles I towed an automatic transmission van to get from job to job. It's a simple job to disconnect the driveshaft and wire it up out of the way, really only 5 minutes.

 

[ridgerunner]

Just do this...