Flat towing
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2021
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Likes: 55
Flat towing
I know this is backwards for trucks that are meant to pull. And I have never seen it, but seeing a car being flat towed behind an RV made me wonder if it's even an option for our Super Dutys.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 219
From: Northwest
A lot of variables to your question.
There is probably some guidelines in the owner's manual about towing a Super Duty.
Perhaps one of the tow truck drivers can chime in. Seems there is a mileage limit a vehicle can be towed. Something like 15 miles +/- then the drive shaft must be disconnected.
The problem is having the drive shaft spinning the gears in the transmission and not getting proper lubrication in the transmission.
A 4 wheel drive can have the front hubs locked out and that keeps that drive shaft from spinning.
There is probably some guidelines in the owner's manual about towing a Super Duty.
Perhaps one of the tow truck drivers can chime in. Seems there is a mileage limit a vehicle can be towed. Something like 15 miles +/- then the drive shaft must be disconnected.
The problem is having the drive shaft spinning the gears in the transmission and not getting proper lubrication in the transmission.
A 4 wheel drive can have the front hubs locked out and that keeps that drive shaft from spinning.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 270
From: Kansas
Manual tranny in neutral might be ok. Transfer case in neutral might be ok (If that's still possible, i don't mess wIth 4WD). Another option is pull the axle shafts out of rear. Easily done, slightly messy, simple cover for the hole.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,823
Likes: 3,101
From: Jersey Shore
The concept of using a heavy Superduty as a run-a-round vehicle is not one I've ever imagined.
If doing it, I'd pull the axles out of the hubs so only the axle bearings would see wear. Plates could be made to replace the axles, or cut salvaged axles to a short stub to retain the o-ring. You can lift one side of the axle off the ground so the oil stays in the hub when removing that side, cap, then do the other side.
If doing it, I'd pull the axles out of the hubs so only the axle bearings would see wear. Plates could be made to replace the axles, or cut salvaged axles to a short stub to retain the o-ring. You can lift one side of the axle off the ground so the oil stays in the hub when removing that side, cap, then do the other side.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2,808
Likes: 1,895
From: unfortunately Germany
I maneuver trucks on my site according to the flat towing principle.
Tight turns are difficult.
Driving backwards is almost impossible.
(Just as info)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...uty-truck.html
Tight turns are difficult.
Driving backwards is almost impossible.
(Just as info)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...uty-truck.html
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2,808
Likes: 1,895
From: unfortunately Germany
I understood that Jack. I just wanted to say that driving tight corners is not possible.
Apart from all the other technical things like brakes and trans lubrication, that would be reason enough for me not to do it with our Superduty trucks.
Apart from all the other technical things like brakes and trans lubrication, that would be reason enough for me not to do it with our Superduty trucks.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,823
Likes: 3,101
From: Jersey Shore
Sorry, being so far away, and I did not know if the practice was done in Europe.
In the more open roads of the USA, you can even do a triple; Truck, trailer, towed vehicle.
In the more open roads of the USA, you can even do a triple; Truck, trailer, towed vehicle.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
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The concept of using a heavy Superduty as a run-a-round vehicle is not one I've ever imagined.
If doing it, I'd pull the axles out of the hubs so only the axle bearings would see wear. Plates could be made to replace the axles, or cut salvaged axles to a short stub to retain the o-ring. You can lift one side of the axle off the ground so the oil stays in the hub when removing that side, cap, then do the other side.
If doing it, I'd pull the axles out of the hubs so only the axle bearings would see wear. Plates could be made to replace the axles, or cut salvaged axles to a short stub to retain the o-ring. You can lift one side of the axle off the ground so the oil stays in the hub when removing that side, cap, then do the other side.
Wouldn't doing as you suggested make it so the wheel bearings are no longer getting oil supplied to them and they'd therefore burn up after a little while?
...
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,823
Likes: 3,101
From: Jersey Shore
Isn't it the motion of the ring gear spinning that causes oil to flow down the axle shaft tubes to lube the wheel bearings??
Wouldn't doing as you suggested make it so the wheel bearings are no longer getting oil supplied to them and they'd therefore burn up after a little while?
...
Wouldn't doing as you suggested make it so the wheel bearings are no longer getting oil supplied to them and they'd therefore burn up after a little while?
...
In something like Fleet Owner or Trucking magazine, a long, long time ago was a story, or paragraph within a story, about you can tell when a long-haul truck fleet repeatedly has driver's side hub bearing failures they do not have a good maintenance program. Differential lubricant levels were not checked—long highway straights with the normal slight angle to the right shoulders, high side starved.
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