Towing my Taco

I have searched and asked several people and keep getting different opinions so hoping you all can settle this for me once and for all.

I want to flat tow my 1996 4x4 behind my motorhome, it has an auto tranny. Can't I simply shift the transfer case into neutral and tow it with no damage to the transmission? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

no one has the answer on this? am I posting this question in the wrong section? tried the towing section and no response there either.... any idea who might have the definitive answer for me?...

 

Just wondering if you've looked in the owners manual to see what it says. I'm not entirely sure though..

 

You have to dolly it.

 

From what I've read, no. You need to disconnect the driveshaft.http://www.tacoma.cc/disconnect-the-driveshaft.html

 

now im no expert on this, but I was told even when in neutral, the tranny internals will spin and build up heat as you tow it, but because it is not running, it cannot cool itself so it can overheat on you.

now for the fuzzy part, I have heard you have no choice but to dolly it if you are going to tow it properly so your taking the drive axle off the road to avoid this or simply tow it but every two hours stop and park for 30 minutes to allow it to cool down while you stretch your legs and whatever. im also told if the drive train turns on the vehicle your towing its hurting gas mileage a lot more then if you dolly it so the dolly pays for itself in gas savings.

to me, having to be stopping like that can take forever to get somewhere, so rent a dolly from U-Haul and put the rear axle on the dolly towing it backwards so the drive train doesn't turn as you drive. also you will need to add back towing lights

now that said, I see people tow vehicles behind the motor home without dollies all the time

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vZFCHk1XCDY

 

lmao that poor little truck

 

Ive got an RV and want to tow a small pickup behind it as well. I cant do it with my 2015 Tacoma 4x4 and am wondering if a manual trans unit Tacoma would be OK. I need to buy something and cant find the answer. I cant see why not, but do one of you guys have a manual you can look or definite answer. 2WD is OK for as well.

 

If its an auto, since the transmission pump is not running damage will occur even if it's in neutral.

As far manuals go, the counter shaft needs to spin in order to bring oil up from the bottom to splash lube around. But when in neutral all that happens is the output shaft spins inside each of the gears on the output shaft and does not turn the counter shaft. These bearings are the ones that will run dry and burn up. There is some residual oil hanging around so it is ok to flat tow at a low speed for a short distance but on a long tow and high speed you will burn everything up.

Solution? Disconnect the rear drive shaft. Technically you can have an automatic in neutral with the engine running so the pump runs... but really?.. Just disconnect the drive shaft.

 

thx for the reply