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Old 03-17-2021, 10:08 PM   #1
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Jeep Flat Towed In Gear - BOOM!

Saw this article online about someone flat towing a 2021 Jeep behind an RV while the Jeep was in first gear. The engine totally grenaded!

https://autos.yahoo.com/rver-flat-to...213400829.html
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Old 03-17-2021, 10:39 PM   #2
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First gear that baby would be turning over about 8grand @ 50 mph I wonder how long it took to grenade lol

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Old 03-17-2021, 10:51 PM   #3
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First gear that baby would be turning over about 8grand @ 50 mph I wonder how long it took to grenade lol

Randy
It was reported to be in low range on the transfer case, which in a Rubicon is 4:1 and in first gear. Towed at 55mph, they estimate the motor/trans was turning at
50,000 rpm......redline is 6,600.
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Old 03-18-2021, 12:12 AM   #4
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That may rpms, and no lubrication? That final noise would've waken the dead! Ouch! The picture is looking UP where the oil pan should be blocking the view. I've seen some catastrophic failures, but that one takes the cake.
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Old 03-18-2021, 07:34 AM   #5
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I can just imagine the other half. "I told you we didn't need this RV all I wanted was a house on the beach", "but no Mr. Adventure Man wanted this big RV and Jeep" Now we have no way to get around and plus it is going to cost us a ton of money to fix this Jeep" "If you just had listen to me we could have a nice condo down in Florida" "blah blah blah".
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Old 03-18-2021, 07:55 AM   #6
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Stupid is as stupid does.
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Old 03-18-2021, 11:27 AM   #7
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I don't flat tow but can see how a "minor" oversight like this could happen. Since it was a 2021 model it was probably brand new to the owner. Also, I wonder if they just came back from offroading since it was in 4wd.

Maybe he will blame it on the wife.
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Old 03-18-2021, 11:54 AM   #8
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Not pretty, wonder how the call to the insurance went on that one.

Here is one I saw a few years back. Gad it was a rainy day.

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Old 03-18-2021, 12:34 PM   #9
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Good Lord that was a costly mistake!
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Old 03-18-2021, 12:42 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustynuts View Post
It was reported to be in low range on the transfer case, which in a Rubicon is 4:1 and in first gear. Towed at 55mph, they estimate the motor/trans was turning at
50,000 rpm......redline is 6,600.
So... who has winched out another jeep/ or been a second anchor vehicle for someone else winching out someone?

If I am in 4-Low and first gear and someone has a strap attached to my rig... it drags the tires before it will turn the motor over... there has to be more to this story than what the news knows.
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Old 03-18-2021, 12:54 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimD View Post
Saw this article online about someone flat towing a 2021 Jeep behind an RV while the Jeep was in first gear. The engine totally grenaded!

https://autos.yahoo.com/rver-flat-to...213400829.html
Another view: https://www.foxnews.com/auto/rv-driv...-engine-towing
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Old 03-18-2021, 12:59 PM   #12
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Old 03-18-2021, 03:54 PM   #13
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We were discussing this story over in another Jeep forum I'm a member of.

The way I figure it, there HAS to be more to the story. No way the RV driver didn't feel or notice the additional resistance towing the Jeep in 4L & 1st gear.

Plus the 50,000 RPM figure is calculated. I'm quite sure the engine splashed LONG before it ever got there.

Being the owner of a JL that I flat tow somewhat frequently, I suppose it would be possible to make the shift into 4L and think you were in N, but I can say it wouldn't be a super easy mistake to make. Getting into 4L actually takes a little effort, anyone who's done it knows. Plus there's an indicator in the dash that shows you what gear the TC is in. Plus, Jeep recommends you shift the transmission to Park, or put a manual transmission in gear, but I believe the recommendation is 5th or 6th, NOT 1st. That's the way I tow my YJ anyway. Transfer case in N, transmission in 5th. The JL is TC in N, transmission in Park (automatic).

But getting past ALL of those obstacles to actually getting this thing in that condition, once you hop in the driver's seat of the motor home, if you didn't notice the MASSIVE amount of extra drag, well... Let's just say you're not paying enough attention...
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Old 03-18-2021, 06:12 PM   #14
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This is another case of (if it really happened that way) failing to follow the checklist when setting up to tow. I have the check list for the JL on a laminated sheet in the back pocked of the passenger's seat. I pull it out and go through the entire list making sure everything is totally out of gear.



Make one wonder if alcohol was involved or just some jackass talking to you while your are trying to set up. I run them off.



The other issue here is I would think that you would notice the resistance when you tried to drive away with the Jeep in tow. That would stop me in my tracks.
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Old 03-18-2021, 08:41 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by Camper_bob View Post
We were discussing this story over in another Jeep forum I'm a member of.

The way I figure it, there HAS to be more to the story. No way the RV driver didn't feel or notice the additional resistance towing the Jeep in 4L & 1st gear. <<clip>>

But getting past ALL of those obstacles to actually getting this thing in that condition, once you hop in the driver's seat of the motor home, if you didn't notice the MASSIVE amount of extra drag, well... Let's just say you're not paying enough attention...
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The other issue here is I would think that you would notice the resistance when you tried to drive away with the Jeep in tow. That would stop me in my tracks.
I agree with you both... to tear that thing up as bad as it was... it wasn't by flat towing it a bunch of miles in gear without knowing it...

It also made me wonder why the input shaft to the trans sheared off flush like it did...

I still think there is a lot more to this story than meets the news.
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Old 03-19-2021, 07:57 AM   #16
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This is another case of (if it really happened that way) failing to follow the checklist when setting up to tow. I have the check list for the JL on a laminated sheet in the back pocked of the passenger's seat. I pull it out and go through the entire list making sure everything is totally out of gear.
LOL!! YAY!! I'm not the only one!!

DW shook her head at me when I broke out her laminating machine to laminate that printed page out of the owner's manual. I keep it in the top part of my center console, and refer to it step by step EVERY TIME.

I should show her this article and say "SEE!! I'm really NOT crazy!!"

She'd probably just hurt herself rolling her eyes at me...
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Old 03-19-2021, 09:11 AM   #17
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The two technicians just chuckling at the damage in the video
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Old 03-19-2021, 10:22 AM   #18
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The two technicians just chuckling at the damage in the video
Well, I mean, really ... what else is there to do at that point?

I feel bad for the guy/gal really, but at the end of the day, sometimes you just need to laugh a little before you take a deep breath, pull on your boots and get to work.
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Old 03-19-2021, 10:30 AM   #19
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We were discussing this story over in another Jeep forum I'm a member of.

The way I figure it, there HAS to be more to the story. No way the RV driver didn't feel or notice the additional resistance towing the Jeep in 4L & 1st gear.

Plus the 50,000 RPM figure is calculated. I'm quite sure the engine splashed LONG before it ever got there.

Being the owner of a JL that I flat tow somewhat frequently, I suppose it would be possible to make the shift into 4L and think you were in N, but I can say it wouldn't be a super easy mistake to make. Getting into 4L actually takes a little effort, anyone who's done it knows. Plus there's an indicator in the dash that shows you what gear the TC is in. Plus, Jeep recommends you shift the transmission to Park, or put a manual transmission in gear, but I believe the recommendation is 5th or 6th, NOT 1st. That's the way I tow my YJ anyway. Transfer case in N, transmission in 5th. The JL is TC in N, transmission in Park (automatic).

But getting past ALL of those obstacles to actually getting this thing in that condition, once you hop in the driver's seat of the motor home, if you didn't notice the MASSIVE amount of extra drag, well... Let's just say you're not paying enough attention...
I have a 1993 Wrangler YJ that I am getting set up to tow, Camper Bob you mention that you put the transmission in 5th gear & the transfer case in neutral, was wondering don't you put both transmission and transfer case in neutral ??
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Old 03-19-2021, 10:50 AM   #20
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SEE!! I'm really NOT crazy!
My DW would tell me that just because I was not wrong does not mean that I'm not crazy.
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