Tow Bar/ Flat Towing a Bronco

[SSDDBRONCO]

Hey i would like to hook up a tow bar on my bronco bumper and flat tow it on its 4 wheels. Is this a bad idea, cant i like put the transmission in neutral and the 4x4 on neutral. I have a twin stick dana 20 and a C4 transmission. I heard it's bad for some 4x4's but not sure about the Bronco because they are just a beast ;D. But please any help or people with experiences in doing this please help.

Peace

 

[Viperwolf1]

The rear bearings on a D20 get oiled from splash flung up from the other gears driven by the engine. Without the input gear spinning there is no oil flinging. You can cause the front shaft and sliding gear to splash oil by locking both front hubs, keeping the tcase in neutral and leaving the C4 in park. Of course this also causes more drag and minor wear of the front end parts. If towing long distance I'd recommend disconnecting the rear driveshaft.

 

[zeeman1]

X2 on removing the rear drive shaft, that's the safest way to go to make sure nothing gets burned up.

 

[luderchris]

I flat tow mine all the time. I just disconnect the rear driveshaft, put a piece of duct tape over the ujoint ends so I don't lose them, and ratchet strap the driveshaft up to the frame. Works like a charm and takes 5-6 mins.

 

[67Stallion]

I used to flat tow my race bronco to the races, until i finally swiped my dads car hauler! I disconnected the rear drive shaft like above also, was running 3 speed manual, went to c4 auto later when i got the trailer!

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

is it a lot of work to disconnect the rear driveshaft and i plan to tow it no more than about 60 miles should i disconnect or leave it connected?

 

[RustyShackelfor]

you take off 4 nuts, thats it.

 

[56f100bbw]

remco driveshaft disconnect RVers use them .just pull a lever and you are ready to pull they are pricey and you will get a little vibration

 

[OsideDave]

I have always left my shaft on and had no issues with C4/D20. However I have heard stories of tcases locking up on the hwy so this is your call.

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

i will just disconnect my shaft just to be on the better side, but what should i do with the tcase put it on neutral or ????

 

[Scoop]

i will just disconnect my shaft just to be on the better side, but what should i do with the tcase put it on neutral or ????

If your rear driveshaft is removed and your front hubs unlocked then it does not matter what your TC is in. I've flat-towed a lot and usually drop the drive shaft unless I am going a very short distance.

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

If your rear driveshaft is removed and your front hubs unlocked then it does not matter what your TC is in. I've flat-towed a lot and usually drop the drive shaft unless I am going a very short distance.

What do u consider short distance?

 

[mr incredible]

10 miles

 

[OsideDave]

After getting the bronco hooked up to your tow vehicle put the trans and tcase in neutral, hubs unlocked and only unhook the rear portion of the shaft, tape up the ujoint or i have seen rubber straps that you can buy to capture the caps so they dont fall off (I believe BCB sells them) and then use a tie down or something to secure the driveshaft up towards the body, don't let it hang down low or the lower slide portion could fall off the splines. May want to mark orientation with chalk for reinstallation. Install shaft before unhooking bronco, putting it in park will not do anything with shaft off, or make sure your ebrake will hold it if you unhook with shaft off.

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

ok thanks for the tips and help really appreciate it;D. Will go buy myself a tow bar this weekend.

 

[luderchris]

ok thanks for the tips and help really appreciate it;D. Will go buy myself a tow bar this weekend.

Not sure how often you plan to flat tow. If often, I would buy this:

http://www.readybrake.com/

Tow bar with a built in surge brake for the towed vehicle. Gets good reviews. I just have an aluminum Blue Ox tow bar. I don't have supplemental brakes, but I should.

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

Not sure how often you plan to flat tow. If often, I would buy this:

http://www.readybrake.com/

Tow bar with a built in surge brake for the towed vehicle. Gets good reviews. I just have an aluminum Blue Ox tow bar. I don't have supplemental brakes, but I should.

That Ready Brute is really nice but the price is very nice too. If i was spending that kind of money i'd rather buy a welder. My flat tow trips would be on the hwy with not too much braking, i should be fine.;D

 

[luderchris]

That Ready Brute is really nice but the price is very nice too. If i was spending that kind of money i'd rather buy a welder. My flat tow trips would be on the hwy with not too much braking, i should be fine.;D

It is a bit pricey, but considering it has the braking / quality tow bar in one, it is actually not bad at all.

I agree -- I get away without add'l braking too, but it is probably safer (and needed to be legal in many states) to have supplemental braking.

 

[OsideDave]

Be sure not use hooks for the safety chain, my dad had a panic stop on the fwy a few yrs ago and his Cherokee came unhooked from the ball and the hook/chain popped off after the Cherokee slammed into his motorhome and then rolled back into another car that had stopped behind him.