Towing a TJ on a dolly

[Clarythedrill]

To all, I will be towing my TJ from Chicago to Ft. Worth in about a month, and will be using a tow dolly with the front wheels on the dolly. I think I want to just remove the rear drive shaft, but if I do, will the transfer case be open to the elements once I remove the shaft, meaning the sealed area will have some opening once i remove the shaft? I dont want any fluid to leak out or any road grime to fly up and potentially make it into the transfer case.

If I decide to not remove the rear drive shaft, do I just put the transfer case in neutral or does the transmission (automatic) also need to be in neutral? Thank you for any advice.

 

[CaliSteve]

You can refer to your owners manual for flat towing, or pull the drive shaft, if you do that be sure to wrap some tape around the u joint caps so they don't come off.

 

[CaliSteve]

Just read that you should remove the drive shaft for dolly towing.

 

[Ante_Up]

I can respond to this portion... No fluid will leak out, unless it already has a leak.

 

[LONGJP2]

If necessary, then just remove the axle end and tie it up.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Just shift the tcase into Neutral, no need to remove the rear driveshaft.

 

[mrblaine]

Just read that you should remove the drive shaft for dolly towing.

I read that as well but what I can't reconcile is how so many rigs run around with hub kits with the hubs unlocked which is effectively the same as a tow dolly. Yes, the trans is in park, but being in park or drive has no effect on the t-case so that doesn't matter. Since the rear driveshaft also drives the oil pump in the t-case, that seems to be the same for both.

I don't know the exact answer but I do know that hub kits don't cause any issues so it shouldn't be hard to extrapolate that dolly towing would be the same.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

...the rear driveshaft also drives the oil pump in the t-case...

The things I learn here amaze me. Up to this point I just figured the chain (or gears) just splashed it around.

 

[LONGJP2]

Isn't that similar to the YJ, which also required the driveshaft to be removed?

 

[mrblaine]

Isn't that similar to the YJ, which also required the driveshaft to be removed?

I believe the difference is the TJ case has a true neutral.

 

[whitrzac]

Some transfer cases lock the f and r driveahafts together when in N. The np231 in my 06 does not.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Some transfer cases lock the f and r driveshafts together when in N.

Which transfer cases do that? None of the Wrangler tcases do that.

 

[whitrzac]

Random things i read in the internet. For some reason im thinking the yj did that

Which transfer cases do that? None of the Wrangler tcases do that.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

For some reason im thinking the yj did that

You are correct about the YJ 231, it does lock the f/r driveshafts together when shifted into Neutral.

 

[Clarythedrill]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will just remove the rear drive shaft for the trip.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will just remove the rear drive shaft for the trip.

Again, that's definitely not necessary for a TJ so long as the tcase is in Neutral.

 

[CaliSteve]

Thats what confuses me some, If you can flat tow it why can't a dolly be used, only difference is the front wheels aren't turning.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

Thats what confuses me some, If you can flat tow it why can't a dolly be used, only difference is the front wheels aren't turning.

I've always wondered the same thing.

 

[Steve Boat]

OK here is what you need to do

1, Transmission in park or if stick in gear
2, Transfer case in "N"
3, Hook tow bar
4, Hook lights (Curt 58902 kit works great)
5, test lights and drive off

 

[astjp2]

I believe the difference is the TJ case has a true neutral.

I thought that the TJ and YJ 231's were basically the same. I have interchanged them before with only seeing am minor difference with the front output shaft drop being slightly different. Or am i missing something Blaine? Tim