Towing an XJ with a Tow Dolly

[1995XJSport]

My question is, i bought a jeep for $450. Its driveable, but it needs alot more money to get it registered, inspected, etc.

I need to get it home (to my garage)

I've heard many things, but im unsure.

If i put the tranny in Park, and the differential in Neutral...will I be safe? Or do i need to remove the rear drive shaft.

Im worried about those 4 bolts holding on the u-joint. I had a bad experience breaking one off a few years ago on my ford.

 

[Slo-Sho]

If the transfer case shift lever markings say "2H,4H,N,4L" then DON'T try to tow it on a dolly, you must remove the driveshaft as that t-case (231) locks the front and rear driveshafts together in "N". The 242 t-case does not do this.

 

[jack96xj]

I towed my 90 across the country stopping every 250-300 miles for about an hour. No problems from that and it had like 235,000 miles on it. Nuetral on the t-case and park on the gear shift. Don't put on your e-brake though! I forgot when I put mine on the dolley.....after the first hundred the rear brakes were wore the F@*& out but it was an easy fix.

 

[jack96xj]

are you sure that the 231 doesn't have 2H-4H-N-4L and the 242 has 2H-4H PART TIME-4H FULL TIME-N-4L. Jeepforum.com cherokee tech forum says exactly that. I don't want this guys truck screwed up so I am gonna say ask the dealership, they'll know what and how you can tow your rig.

 

[Matthew Currie]

If you're doing it on a dolly, disconnect the driveshaft. It's really easy and guarantees that there will be no problem. If you're flat towing, put the TC in neutral and the tranny in gear or park, as Jack (and the owner's manual) suggests. But for the TC to be lubricated properly requires that the front driveshaft be turning, and that won't happen on a dolly. Just undo the straps at the rear end of the driveshaft, throw it in the back, and put a plastic bag over the rear of the transfer case to keep the juice from dribbling out and the dirt from getting in. You'll even be able to drive the vehicle on and off the dolly and around your yard that way using the front drive, if you put it in 4 hi.

 

[langer1]

Just pull the rear shaft if your unsure, it's easy. You can also tow it without a dolly in Neutral, its just the dolly that makes a differance when towing a 4WD.

 

[camarors8992]

after i blew my motor I towed mine on a dolly with the t case in 2wd and tranny in N. No problems.

 

[langer1]

after i blew my motor I towed mine on a dolly with the t case in 2wd and tranny in N. No problems.

Thats fine you must have a np231 but the OP is not sure what he has. better safe than sorry, pull the drive shaft.

 

[camarors8992]

i agree. I do have a 231.

 

[1995XJSport]

My transfer case if 2H-4H-N-4L

I only have part time 4x4...i dont have the full time system.

Any ideas?

 

[Lowrange2]

I towed mine 200 miles no problems! T-case in 2wd and Tranny in N! Go right ahead! 1993 XJ Country

SEE! tHAt was the bitch blew a head gasket while i was on vacation!!! UGH!

 

[1995XJSport]

Are you positive? I really dont wanna burn up this tranny...even if it only was $450 for the whole jeep.


Is there a way to tell what transfer case i have on it? Also, whats the difference between the two?

(Meaning, which locks the front and rear, and which doesnt)

 

[old_man]

I probably have 4000 miles towing my rig on a tow dolly. I used to drop the rear driveshaft. Now I have a HP44 up front so I unlock the hubs and leave the tcase in neutral.

 

[1995XJSport]

I think i have the Command Trac...according to the dealer window sticker

(yeah...i found it in the glove box)

The choices are:

2H
4H
N
4L


Its the PART TIME system. There is no full time on this truck.

So if i have the np231, i can tow it without pulling the shaft?

 

[Matthew Currie]

I think i have the Command Trac...according to the dealer window sticker

(yeah...i found it in the glove box)

The choices are:

2H
4H
N
4L


Its the PART TIME system. There is no full time on this truck.

So if i have the np231, i can tow it without pulling the shaft?

Not on a dolly. You can tow it on a sling that allows the front wheels to spin, but when you put NP 231 in neutral, it locks the drivetrain into 4WD, so you can't do that on a dolly. If you don't put the TC into neutral but leave it in 2WD, it will turn the output shaft of the transmission and risk damage to the output bearings. It's easier to fix broken bolts in the differential yoke than it is to rebuild a transmission.

Flat tow it or pull the shaft.

 

[1995XJSport]

Excellent advice! Thank you!

If i had more time, i'd probably rig up a tow bar, but the jeep is in a spot where there is no garage and no tools.


Later on, as i work on the XJ, ill probably impliment a tow bar setup, but heavy duty. There's no way im mounting anything to the bumper...its all going on the frame rails...even if i have to make a custom bumper myself.

That way, i can tow it 4-wheels down, the transfer case can lube the tranny, and everything can be koshier...just incase i get stranded somewhere in the boonies with this cherokee, i can tow it home with my pickup truck.


As you can see, i am new to the forums. My uncle originally got my interested in the XJ back in 2003 when he bought an 88 Wagoneer on ebay for $1000. He rebuilt it from the frame up (and i mean COMPLETE unibody off, etc). It took him a year, but the thing was beautiful. He drove it up here from VA (im in NY) to show us, and the thing was absolutly gorgeous. The 4.0 Straight Six impressed me power wise, and the solid front axle was defenitly something to be in awe about. Not many 4x4's these days have a solid front axle anymore.

So hense i have purchased my first XJ...a 95 Cherokee Sport. Yes, it's ugly, it has crinkles and scrapes and dents...but there's no rust on the body...and with 120,000 miles, i believe...it still has at least 80,000 left on it before it bites the dust.


So...why not pick up a perfectly working 4x4 for $450, if you know the frame/drivetrain is solid, and dont mind ugliness?

 

[rockwerks]

Not on a dolly. You can tow it on a sling that allows the front wheels to spin, but when you put NP 231 in neutral, it locks the drivetrain into 4WD, so you can't do that on a dolly. If you don't put the TC into neutral but leave it in 2WD, it will turn the output shaft of the transmission and risk damage to the output bearings. It's easier to fix broken bolts in the differential yoke than it is to rebuild a transmission.

Flat tow it or pull the shaft.

x20................tow on a dolly remove the shaft, flat tow neutral TC and trans in gear or park

Ive done it many times flat and with a dolly. I would not suggest dolly towing in 2wd, it will stress the transmission. and coud ruin an auto

 

[old_man]

It's funny that a lot of people struggle with the idea of pulling the rear shaft due to oil loss. You can actually pull the front shaft and get the same result, and have no oil loss. The oil pump in an NP231 is run from the output shaft so oiling isn't a problem.

 

[rockwerks]

It's funny that a lot of people struggle with the idea of pulling the rear shaft due to oil loss. You can actually pull the front shaft and get the same result, and have no oil loss. The oil pump in an NP231 is run from the output shaft so oiling isn't a problem.

lol true..........Ive done it many times and never thought of the front.....of course Ive always run an sye in the rear anyway

 

[1995XJSport]

Here's something i didnt even think of...

Does the vehicle have to have plates on it (In NY) to tow it on a dolly?