# Towing a Jeep **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 11, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697 "2007-02-11T03:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697/1 "2007-02-11T03:12:28Z")
What’s the best way to tow a Jeep with an automatic transmission? [ul][li]Flat: Transmission in neutral, transfer case in neutral[/li][li]Flat: Transmission in 4th, transfer case in neutral[/li][li]Front-wheel dolly: Transmission in neutral, transfer case in neutral[/li][li]Front wheel dolly: Transmission in 4th, transfer case in neutral[/ul][/li]If in gear, 4th or a lower gear? (I’m assuming 4th, as it is the freeway gear.) ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697/2 "2007-02-11T05:19:07Z")
I’d tow the MG with the Jeep, not the other way around. 🙂 My Cherokee had the transfer case replaced after the transfer case dropped into gear while the previous owners were towing it. I can’t say whether it would be better to use a dolly or tow on the ground, but I’d put both the transfer case and transmission in neutral and figure out some way to lock the transfer case lever so that it couldn’t fall into gear. Just as a WAG, maybe you could make a lockout box out of wood scraps that goes around the transfer case lever. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697/3 "2007-02-11T05:34:06Z")
Remove the rear drive shaft and lock the transfer case in N. Or remove both drive shafts and don’t sweat the transfer case. You don’t have to physically remove the shafts, just disconnect the axle end and tie it out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697/4 "2007-02-11T16:12:40Z")
I’d rather not disconnect the drive shaft(s). Inconvenient for unhooking and driving off. ISTR hearing that towing could cause some sort of back pressure in the drive train, and that putting the transmission in gear and leaving the transfer case in neutral solves this. But IIRC that specifically referred to a standard transmission; not an automatic. The transfer case lever is a lot like a brake lever. Should be a simple thing to just get a block of wood to put underneath it. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697/5 "2007-02-11T19:33:04Z")
[Lost in Space robot] Danger Will Robinson, Danger, Danger![/LISR] Johnny, on many (if not all) automatic transmissions, the oil pump is driven by the engine, not the rear wheels. So if you tow with the automatic in neutral, a good chunk of the transmission is rotating without the benefit of lubrication. This is not a good think if you are towing for more than just a few miles. The technical term for towing beyond just a couple of miles is you will need a new transmission. :eek: Read your owners manual for further details. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697/6 "2007-02-12T04:23:24Z")
The correct method may not be the same for all Jeeps. The safe, accurate thing would be to get the official Jeep instructions from the owner’s manual. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697/7 "2007-02-12T18:01:20Z")
If it has a Borg Warner transfer case, the oil pump in the transfer case is driven from the output, so it is safe to tow it with the transfer case in neutral. Other transfer cases may be similar or not. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towing-a-jeep/391697/8 "2007-02-12T18:13:59Z")
Have you thought about towing it backwards with a dolly? With the transfer case in 2WD, the transmission wouldn’t be turning. The front axle still would be, but it wouldn’t be any different than driving it down the highway in 2WD.