I wanted to start a new thread because I had posted a question in another thread and was changing the subject. I want to make sure I'm clear on the subject. With a JK, if you run manual hubs in front and drive with them unlocked I want to make sure it will not hurt the T-case. I'm questioning this because I've heard if you want to tow a JK on a car dolly (one axle on the ground spinning and the other axle on the dolly) you have to pull the driveshaft so the T-case will not spin. Is this true or no? If it is, then what would be the difference of running the hubs unlocked (rear driveshaft turning and front not turning).

 

I asked a similar question many years ago, based on that note in the owners manual. All I got was speculation, and people saying they tow on front end dollies and have been fine, and a few saying the caution has to do with the front of the tcase not getting oil if the shaft is not spinning, and ...

All I can say is that, after what, nine years (?) of JK production, we haven't seen a bunch of people complaining about any issues from hub kits or towing on dollies.

 

people pull the front driveshaft if flat towing. On a dolly the front wheels would not spin. Driving with unlocked hubs would not hurt the TC.

 

I've flat towed many times and researched it quiet a bit. The proper way for a JK is to put T-case in Neutral with the trans in gear, no driveshafts pulled. The manual states this as well.

 

We flat tow all the time behind our RV. I have an 2014 automatic and put T-case in Neutral and transmission in Park -per the manual. I printed out a step by step guideline for myself and leave it in the center consol of the Jeep.

No problems.

 

Even though you put the transfer case in neutral things are spinning in the case if the front wheels are turning. I am not saying you have to remove driveshafts but people do for this reason. If you have manual hubs it disconnects the wheels from the rest of the drivetrain and nothing else spins.