Flat-Towing An Automatic Jeep CJ

CJM1971

Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2017
Location
Raleigh, NC
Hey all, new to this forum but I have heard you can get some great feedback and advice. I recently purchased a 1984 Jeep CJ 7 and plan on heading down this weekend to pick it up. I have a local 4x4 shop putting a new top on it for me and taking care of a couple of other small things before I bring it home. Question is, can I Flat-Tow this Jeep? I have done some research and have seem mixed comments about this...pull the drive train, put the automatic trans and the transfer case in neutral, put the transfer case in neutral and the auto trans in park and turn the hubs...etc. Called my local Jeep Dealership here in Raleigh today and a service tech said all's I had to do was put the auto trans and the transfer case in neutral and off I go, but I seem to have recalled reading that flat-towing this way would burn out the seals in the front hubs...or something of that nature. Any help would me MUCH appreciated....this is something I purchased for my wife and I to enjoy around town and at the coast and having the ability to flat-tow it with a tow-bar would be so great.
 
Owner manual says you can flat tow up to 200 miles, stop, start the jeep and rev the engine for 1 minute to oil the transfer case.
It does say to tow with the hubs locked
 
orange150 said:
Owner manual says you can flat tow up to 200 miles, stop, start the jeep and rev the engine for 1 minute to oil the transfer case.
It does say to tow with the hubs locked
Click to expand...

Wouldn't it have to be in gear to circulate the transfer case oil?

Also, be really damn careful with flat towing. There have been at least a couple of people ON THIS FORUM that have died while flat towing.
 
I'd be safe about it, either
A. Pull drives shafts at the pinion, tape the joints hang them and go.
B. Rent a UHAUL trailer and go

The safety of flat towing depends a lot on how heavy your tow rig is, that's why so many RVs are able to get by with it.
I once towed from Raleigh flat towing an old CJ-5, with a Buick Station wagon that was scary for sure, and didn't do much over 45-50 MPH

You didn't say how far you had to tow it??
 
If it has Dana 300 you have to remove the rear driveshaft or it will burn it up. Unlock front hubs. BUT RENT a trailer just to be safe, ESPECIALLY if you're new at this.
 
Thank you all, I showed my wife Shawn's post about folks who didn't fair so well flat-towing, sad to hear that, but I will rent a trailer for now. I would be flat-towing with a full sized Toyota Tundra, but for peace of mind, I will get the vehicle to Raleigh on a trailer and go from there.
 
There are several things that could go wrong and cause a lot of damage. You won't know if a u joint is about to come apart till the drive shaft hits the ground or worse. I've had driveshafts come out and transmissions lockup flat towing. If you know for sure the wheel bearings are okay and the diffs are full of oil remove driveshafts and tow. Tow vehicle need to have enough braking for both vehicles.
 
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