I need to find a way to tow my 2002 F350 4x4 with electronic shift on the fly 4x4 and not manual. The folks at Ford say that it can be done with a nutral tow kit even though the online towing guide says that it can only be done with the manual 4x4 shifter. Does anyone have experience with this. - I am going to pull this with a 330 Cat diesel pusher - thanks

 

Cowchip,

Welcome. I have to laugh at the name. That is classic.

The neutral tow kit that the dealer is talking about is aftermarket. I do not know what it entails, but I am pretty sure that you can have one installed.

A word for the wise. My mom had a tow kit put on her 1998 Windstar, it had about 35000miles on it at that time. They took a trip about 4500 miles or so towing the van behind the motorhome. When they got back, 3 days(50 miles) later, the tranny went out on them. The motorhome got 5-6 mpg (96 or 97 V-10 31' mini) towing the van. I think one of the manual lockouts, or whatever disengages the axles was not working properly. Her warranty covered it, but still, a new tranny after less than 40000 miles is not acceptable. Nor is 5-6 mpg out of a V-10. The best they got was like 10.

So, make sure that everything disengages correctly. Any RV shop should know what it entails and a cost.

Good luck

 

Thanks jballestri - I will make sure - They did say that the part was ford and that could be installed at dealership - I'm checking that out now

 

The cheapest simple way, is to remove the drive shaft from the rear pinion input (about 5 min) and tie the drive shaft up and clear of anything. Reconnecting can be a slight pain if snow, rain, mud are your fun place to work, but it will reconnect in about the same 5 min.

There are all kinds of different disconnect kits for full time drag behind, they tend to be pricey, and I would never trust a truck with this much torque to the automatic style drive shaft disconnects.

I don't know for a fact but I have been told that the electronic transfer case does NOT have a neutral or disengaged position.

I suspect that the manual and electronic versions are identical internally and a true neutral is probably in the electronic case but there is no "real" linkage with a detent just an electric shift motor and rod.

I have no earthly idea why they could not have a four position switch and motor instead of three go figure

 

If it's an occasional thing, do what the poster above suggested - disconnect the rear shaft at the rear pinion. Four 8mm bolts and you are done.

Just be sure to...:

0. Chock the wheels, put the parking brake on, and put the truck in neutral! This takes the tension off the driveline - also ensures it doesn't roll down the drive as you remove the last bolt! Remember that story on this board? I think the guy ended with a bust leg, badly scraped up, took-out his neighbors postbox, and scared himself and his kid shyteless.

1. Before you disconnect the bolts, mark the u-joint and pinion so you can put them back together with the same orientation. If they go back together "out of phase", you end up with drivetrain vibes.

2. Tie the shaft up securely - don't want it dropping down, disconnecting in the middle, banging the fuel tank, etc.

3. Tape the u-joint bearing caps together so they don't fall off. Otherwise you are S C R E W E D!

3.5 Ditto for the bolts and bearing cap straps - keep them somewhere safe!

4. When reassembling, use loctite on the bolts. Also need to torque them correctly - sorry my manual is not handy to lookup the value.

Hope this helps! Keith.

 

Cowchip, I tow my 2002 F150 S'crew with my 1996 Monoco Windsor w/8.3L 250hp diesel. I had a "Remco" dirveshaft disconnect installed, as mine is a 2wd. I have done quite a bit of research and from what I have found, the only way to pull a 4X4 Ford is for it to have the "Manual" transfer case. The F150 S'crew doesn't even offer it as an option. I would think that the driveshaft disconnect (for the rear) and Xfer in 2Hi should yield the same as an actual 2wd. Hope the info helps.

 

Thanks guys (Keithf & retired 2001) - I appriciated the info - I will make sure I get professional instruction from the "driveshaft shop" here in Amarillo. Sorry so long in posting - we were dodging Twisters last night.

 

I'd suggest using your truck to tow the motor home instead!

haha seems so obvious, doesn't it!

 

Yes, I understand the "twisters", I was raised around Post, just above the caprock. My brother still lives in Lubbock. Good luck on dodging the twisters!