towing a 4x4

Forum: 

Just been talking to a mate of mine about his offroad toy cos he is after a trailer to put it on and I suggested a one man a frame . but he said he read somewhere that you shouldnt tow 4x4s without removing the propshafts .

Is it fact or fiction? if it is fact then why?

Please help to settle the confusion. His new toy is a landrover , I did tell him to buy a proper 4x4 but he wouldnt listen LOL!!

Eddiesportrak

Keep the sunny side up and the muddy side down!!!

Towing 4x4

Hi Eddie,

The gearbox/transfer box on most vehicles relies on the input shaft (driven by the clutch) turning the 'layshaft' (the shaft has fixed gears sitting in the oil in the lower half of the gearbox casing) to splash the oil around to lubricate the gears and bearings (know as splash lubrication). When you tow a vehicle, main shaft (output shaft, with the free rotating gears that only fix to the shaft when you select a gear) turns by it self without spinning the Layshaft so the gearbox isn't lubricated. Most manufacturers seem to recommend no more than 30mph & no more than 30 miles with out removing the propshaft. If you know anyone with a Diahatsu hand book it should tell you in there about towing.

hope that all mades sense and was of some help

Daz

bear in mind that if its on a

bear in mind that if its on a trailer u have the trailer brakes to help stop the thing. with an a frame u are relying on the towing vehicles brakes to stop the combined weight of both vehicles, u could easily boil the fluid and end up with no brakes at all.

towing a 4x4

thats a big help and many thanks for your time

Keep the sunny side up and the muddy side down!!!

Eddie

Keep the sunny side up and the muddy side down!!!

The dude is right, well certa

The dude is right, well certainly for the 5 speed Rover unit as fitted to some Landies and TR7s etc but I can't speak for any others but it sounds about right. I know autos should not be towed very far at all, much less than 30 miles.