What is the correct way to Tow a 2002 4x4 Dodge diesel? Should the truck being running while any of the tires are on the ground and turning, to lube the transmission? Or is that not necessary. I really don’t know, seems like it couldn't be anything but good for the tranny.

 

I would think the best way is to remove the drive shaft from the pinion yoke, and securely suspend them to the frame.

 

Owner's manual for my truck says to tow with the transfer case in N and if for more than 35 miles to disconnect the rear driveshaft.

 

using a flatbed truck..or a rollback..

that's what the dealer used to tow my 2000 gas truck and its a 5 speed.

auto I would agree with what infidel wrote

just my 2 cents

-dkenny

 

tow from the rear transfer case in neutral.

 

The weight distribution is wrong when you tow backwards. You may end up in a ditch & learn how poorly the truck survives. But, feel free to take a video for youtube. Much more enjoyable to watch someone else screw up than to do the same thing yourself.

 

You talkin about actually towing, or just pulling it behind another vehicle?
When I towed mine I slung it from the front (only because the front hub was out) other wise I woulda wheel lifted it, since our shop does not have a rollback. But I was taught to always pull the shaft (and strap it to the frame to keep the tranny/t-case from leaking) regardless of distance just to be safe

 

pretty sure you got that backwards!, towing from the rear means the tow truck has less weight on its rear end hence not lifting the front of the tow truck, which means the tow truck is not wandering all over the road. Unless you did not strap/lock the steering wheel of the casuality, then there could be wandering issues

Ex military, here ran a recovery section for 4yrs, 5ton to 10ton wreckers, pulling heavy stuff, never saw any issues towing from either end, the end you decided to tow from only made a difference if there was something physically wrong with the veh casuality (ie hub/wheel broke/or missing)
20yrs as a Military mechanic, never seen tow from the rear an issue unless it was physically impossible, and I've seen some pretty bizarar recoverys

My two cents

when my truck got smashed by a tire (is a post on it) I was recovered backwards, was towed 30miles on the hi-way back to the garage...it never ended up in the ditch or on Ytube

 

What thickness of metal did you use on that front bumper? It almost looks like you built it in sections from where the break is?

 

here is a link to the whole story:

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/al...hevy-tire.html

 

I wonder what would have happened if that bumper would have been full of sand.

 

I pull mine regularly 30 to 150 miles at a time with a towbar by just putting the transfer and trans in neutral with the key in the on position to unlock the steering. If you're pulling it with a pickup make sure it is running so the power assist steering helps it follow or you will have a handful

 

i had to have mine towed and they told me that being a 4x4 and with it being the auto locking hubs that it always should be towed on a flat bed do to the transfer case would get torn up.

 

you dont have auto locking hubs, you have either a CAD or a system like the 03's which turns the front drv shaft all the time. if its in Neutral (transfercase) there would be no issues for short distances, (if towed as you see mine in the above picture) most tow truck companys (mostly cause the operator is not a mechanic) will use dollys or flat bed, to eliminate potential claims against them or to charge more to the owner because they use the . "It's a 4x4" excuse

AWD vehs like say a Ford excape or Chev Equinox, would need dollys or flat bed,

 

The three occasions that I have had my dually towed, I insisted on a flat bed truck.
I'm not willing to take a chance of burning up my Goerend's tranny.