Can I tow 4x4 auto ranger backwards on tow dolly?
 

I want to tow my 98 Ranger automatic 4x4 ext cab, with elec. 4wd shift behind my motorhome on a tow dolly. Of course the truck would be placed on the dolly backwards. Do you see any issues? Have any of you done this before without any problems? Thanks

i dont see how that would cause any problems but i think if i were to do it that way i would drop the front driveshaft just to be sure. on question though, why would you pull it backwards on the dolly?

If I didnt pull it backwards, I would have to pull the back driveshaft out of the truck cuz it would be spinning the whole time while going down the road. I believe that even if the front driveshaft spins, that the axle shafts will not and therefore it should be ok.

Do you have a manual transfer case? If you do you can just put it in neutral. Dolly's suck for motorhome use and having to load backwards will only add to the frustration. Extra over hang, tough to line up, etc.

~HJ

How will you lock the front tires so they are not steering and wandering all over the road?

Turn the key to OFF and remove it ?

Ok and as soon as the tires start to move you can steer the truck. Even if the steering is locked it doesn't take a lot to break the lock. A decent pothole could easily do it

and you can also put your seatbelt thru the steering wheel, if you do that it will still move a little but not that much

that would work. the seatbelt idea is just dangerous

The seatbelt way is how majority of tow truck drivers tow trucks, its very common.

but not for long distance trips. all im saying is why take a risk going down the highway and having the seatbelt slip off or even just loosen and the front end of the truck swings into the next lane going around the corner? its not something i would want to deal with

Oh I agree with you, I was just saying its a pretty common practice

Personally I would spend the extra to actually rent a trailer and keep all the tires off the road.

Depends on the motorhome, My Parents new RV has a tow limit of 5000#'s due to capacity of the chassis. If you take a 4000# truck and put it on a 1500# trailer you are over capacity. Just something to consider.

~HJ

Why not do it this way? This I believe is the safest way and I see alot of people doing it like this http://www.motorhomesdirect.co.uk/im...me-a-frame.jpg

And I don't think it's going to hurt your drive shafts its no different than driving it. Just put it in neutral and let it go.

A 98 4wd has free spinning vacuum hubs. So towing it backwards is a the best option for a tow dolly.

Just check to make sure. Grab the front drive shaft spin it by hand. Watch that both cv shafts turn up front. Meaning the hubs are disengaged.

If they are not pull the wheel off, take a screw driver and pop that worthless hub off the truck.

this is what i was thinking also. if it's a manual just leave it in neutral and lock the steering wheel by removing the key. just make sure the 4wd is off so that front axle is 100% free and disconnected like normal street 2wd driving.

This. You're lucky in that respect with having a '98.
Just get the proper steering wheel lock and call it done.

Flat towing an automatic with the drive shaft attached is a no-no. The output shaft of your tranny will be spinning without any lubrication as it is driven by the input shaft. Now that being said, some cars are OK to tow with an automatic for so many miles at so much speed. Or they even make electric tranny cooling pumps (not sure how they work though)

http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/din...uide/index.cfm

Don't aske me how he did it, but I have a friend that flat tows a Jeep for off roading, he has warn lockouts on all four wheels, when he tows the jeep he just free wheels all of them.

~HJ

this is why most people with motorhomes tow small manual cars or 4x2 trucks. you do not need a dolly. just hitch them up and go!

A lot of them like small 4X4's with manual T-cases too. My Dodge can be flat towed according to the owners manual up to 75 MPH forever as long as the t-Case is in neutral.

I swear I remember hearing about a neutral tow kit for automatic rangers... Hmm...

Base Part No. 7H332 according to Ford's towing and trailer guide. I would do some research and get a neutral tow kit and tow bar myself. Who wants to have a dolly stuck on the back of the motorhome even with the truck driving around?

Also, Remco sells a drive shaft de-coupler.
1998 - 2005 Ford Ranger | Remco Towing