Towing w/ tow dolly

[jse51599]

I need to pick up my 93 4x4 Sonoma w/ a tow dolly (won't start, imagine that) and was wondering if I could tow w/ the transfer case in neutral? I don't want to tow it by the back wheels in case for some reason the front wheels come unlocked. Or should I just take out the rear driveshaft to be safe? It is an automatic btw.

[jse51599]

[jse51599]

Anyone? Bueller.......Bueller?

[NYC F-350]

Just mark the driveshaft flanges to get it back in the right orientation and drop it out.

[jse51599]

Originally Posted by NYC F-350

Just mark the driveshaft flanges to get it back in the right orientation and drop it out.

Thanks, I figured better to be safe than ruin the trans. Hope bolts on the driveshaft aren't too rusted.

[JSchuricht]

Just leave the t-case in neutral. The shaft will spin but it won't be connected to the transmission.

[jse51599]

Originally Posted by JSchuricht

Just leave the t-case in neutral. The shaft will spin but it won't be connected to the transmission.

After a long nite, not enough space to explain , I finally got the Sonoma to my house. When I got to my non-running truck, which was 30 mi. away, I read the owners manual, and it said to 'flat' tow w/ the t-case in neut. Not a problem, right? But, if you put it on a tow dolly, you still have to remove a driveshaft since both driveshafts are connected thru the t-case. Since the front tires were strapped to the tow dolly, they couldn't move. Since I still had both driveshafts hooked up, the strapped up front tires wouldn't let the front driveshaft turn, which is still connected to the t-case, and in effect wouldn't let the rear driveshaft spin even tho the t-case was in neut. Not sure if this makes any sense, but either way, remove the rear driveshaft if using a tow dolly regardless if the t-case is in neut. Sorry for the long rant.

[JSchuricht]

Ah, it must be full time 4x4. Well at least you got it home.

[jse51599]

No, not full time 4wd. Even tho the t-case was in neut., both driveshafts connect to the t-case (you know this obviously) and since the front tires are strapped to the tow dolly, the front driveshaft wouldn't turn, causing the rear driveshaft to not turn. Hence the front and rear driveshafts being 'connected' thru the t-case. I'm probably making less sense, but I'm not great at explaining, better at showing the situation to you.