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03-17-2021, 10:08 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Inland Empire, California
Posts: 1,986
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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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Jim
Retired electronic technician (45 years in the field)
2017 Greyhawk 29W (solar & many other mods)
wife (maybe I should have given her top billing)
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03-17-2021, 10:39 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 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
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03-17-2021, 10:51 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Oregon Coast
Posts: 3,086
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Quote:
Originally Posted by v8deuce
First gear that baby would be turning over about 8grand @ 50 mph I wonder how long it took to grenade lol
Randy
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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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Brian & Jeannie
2018.5 Seneca 37RB with to many mods to list
2015 Jeep JKU Rubicon
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03-18-2021, 12:12 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Newark, NY
Posts: 15,761
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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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Moderator
Think you're too old to cry or swear out loud...walk into your hitch in the dark.
2012 Jay Flight 19RD
2016 Ford F150 XLT 2X4 SC 3.5L Eco Max Tow
2010 Tundra TRD DBL Cab (Traded)
2 new fluffy Corgis, Bayley and Stanley
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03-18-2021, 07:34 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: FInksburg
Posts: 116
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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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Safe Travels Happy Camping
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03-18-2021, 07:55 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Fortuna Foothills
Posts: 1,862
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Stupid is as stupid does.
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03-18-2021, 11:27 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Inland Empire, California
Posts: 1,986
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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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Jim
Retired electronic technician (45 years in the field)
2017 Greyhawk 29W (solar & many other mods)
wife (maybe I should have given her top billing)
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03-18-2021, 11:54 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,736
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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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03-18-2021, 12:34 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Newburgh
Posts: 6,307
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Good Lord that was a costly mistake!
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2022 33RBTS
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Equalizer 4 Point WDH
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2016 28BHBE - (Traded and Missed already)
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03-18-2021, 12:42 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kingman AZ and where our Seneca is today.
Posts: 3,114
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustynuts
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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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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Steve & Stacy with Jasper (Australian Cattle dog)
2015 Seneca 36FK
Custom 27' flatbed trailer hauling:
07 Toyota FJC & Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV
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03-18-2021, 12:54 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kingman AZ and where our Seneca is today.
Posts: 3,114
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Steve & Stacy with Jasper (Australian Cattle dog)
2015 Seneca 36FK
Custom 27' flatbed trailer hauling:
07 Toyota FJC & Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV
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03-18-2021, 12:59 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Maine
Posts: 504
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DW: "Honey, are be being followed by a screaming banshee?"
DH: "Don't worry about it; just turn the radio volume up and it'll go away."
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2020 Jayco JayFlight SLX 175RD
2016 Toyota Tundra XSP-X 4X4
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Fastway E2 Trunnion WDH
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03-18-2021, 03:54 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,206
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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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-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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03-18-2021, 06:12 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 3,825
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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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03-18-2021, 08:41 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kingman AZ and where our Seneca is today.
Posts: 3,114
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper_bob
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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Quote:
Originally Posted by CAG
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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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.
__________________
Steve & Stacy with Jasper (Australian Cattle dog)
2015 Seneca 36FK
Custom 27' flatbed trailer hauling:
07 Toyota FJC & Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV
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03-19-2021, 07:57 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CAG
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.
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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...
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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03-19-2021, 09:11 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Whitby Ontario
Posts: 570
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The two technicians just chuckling at the damage in the video
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03-19-2021, 10:22 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by billcf7
The two technicians just chuckling at the damage in the video
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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.
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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03-19-2021, 10:30 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Ceres
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper_bob
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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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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03-19-2021, 10:50 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Gurnee, IL
Posts: 1,307
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper_bob
SEE!! I'm really NOT crazy!
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My DW would tell me that just because I was not wrong does not mean that I'm not crazy.
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