I doubt it did anything to it. I've towed many vehicles in neutral with a truck. I think a rollback is the best option, but in reality I don't think you have anything to worry about there. My best solution for deer in my 06 was a loud stereo, I see tons every day but they run as I get closer while rocking out.
Got Towed Rear Wheels on the ground
Hey. Sorry if this is the wrong section. Still a newb on this forum
So.....a couple months ago I hit a deer. Aside from the idiot tow guy messing up one of my wheels...he towed my truck rear wheels on the ground. I wasn't in a good place mentally at the time after hitting the deer at 5am on my way home from work, something seemed wrong to me but it didn't click in my brain. The truck was in neutral, yes I realized afterwards doesn't make a difference to the transmission. It was a snatch truck and my front wheel was pinned by the bumper. So he snatched the front and left the rear on the ground. Was looking at something in the manual today and that triggered my memory about the tow, so I checked to confirm my concern saw it was a no no and proceeded to freak out about it of course.....
My truck got towed 5 miles rear wheels on the ground at about 50-55mph. It was pretty close to Exactly 5 miles. Aside from some noise I noticed BEFORE I hit the deer, I dont think I have noticed anything new weird about my transmission.
Question is....how much should I worry about that my truck got towed like that for 5 miles????
Have had a lot of bad luck with this truck unfortunately. Only has 10k miles. Had to get my diff replaced already, then the damn deer, then this tow, and then the usual body shop drama yada yada
I have no recourse at this point with the tow company. I don't have a picture of my truck being towed that way unfortunately.
So.....a couple months ago I hit a deer. Aside from the idiot tow guy messing up one of my wheels...he towed my truck rear wheels on the ground. I wasn't in a good place mentally at the time after hitting the deer at 5am on my way home from work, something seemed wrong to me but it didn't click in my brain. The truck was in neutral, yes I realized afterwards doesn't make a difference to the transmission. It was a snatch truck and my front wheel was pinned by the bumper. So he snatched the front and left the rear on the ground. Was looking at something in the manual today and that triggered my memory about the tow, so I checked to confirm my concern saw it was a no no and proceeded to freak out about it of course.....
My truck got towed 5 miles rear wheels on the ground at about 50-55mph. It was pretty close to Exactly 5 miles. Aside from some noise I noticed BEFORE I hit the deer, I dont think I have noticed anything new weird about my transmission.
Question is....how much should I worry about that my truck got towed like that for 5 miles????
Have had a lot of bad luck with this truck unfortunately. Only has 10k miles. Had to get my diff replaced already, then the damn deer, then this tow, and then the usual body shop drama yada yada
I have no recourse at this point with the tow company. I don't have a picture of my truck being towed that way unfortunately.
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You have probably taken about 30,000 miles off the transmission life. The internals are oiled by the engine input shaft, so if the engine wasn't running, all those precision components were being spun without lubrication. This is why the manual says not to tow the truck with the rear wheels down.
This is the same thing we see here on the board when people boast about saving money on gas by coasting down long hills with the engine off, and then later they complain because their tranny failed prematurely.
This is the same thing we see here on the board when people boast about saving money on gas by coasting down long hills with the engine off, and then later they complain because their tranny failed prematurely.
I'm not sure I'm buying that, that happened in 5 miles. The truck had been running previous to that and only having 10k or so on it, the gears should have had enough lube to go 5 miles with atf that new. 50 miles maybe not 5.You have probably taken about 30,000 miles off the transmission life. The internals are oiled by the engine input shaft, so if the engine wasn't running, all those precision components were being spun without lubrication. This is why the manual says not to tow the truck with the rear wheels down.
This is the same thing we see here on the board when people boast about saving money on gas by coasting down long hills with the engine off, and then later they complain because their tranny failed prematurely.
The risk is as Steamguy described it, but I'd alter it by saying "you may have shortened your trans life by 10-20k miles" as it is no guarantee. If you ever have to be towed wheels down, have the driver pull the drivehaft before towing. The diff won't care, and removing the shaft isolates the trans.
At this point, just do a fluid change at 15k to be sure and you'll likely see as little impact as possible.
At this point, just do a fluid change at 15k to be sure and you'll likely see as little impact as possible.
Don't let these guys scare you, as they are correct in that it should not be done, but it was a short distance and it would be nothing more than speculation that any harm was done. You could change the fluid as dubyam suggested, but if was so taboo to pull it for 5 miles rear wheels down why would you wait another 5k to change the fluid and not do now?
I'd wait so any burnt deposits on the clutch packs or other surfaces have a chance to get cleaned off by the current fluid, then swap it out with fresh. Since the pump doesn't run with the engine off, the existing fluid is fine (it just sat in the pan) but the surfaces may have some burning, and need a good fluid bath to clean them for a few thousand before changing.
That's just my opinion. And I wasn't trying to scare the guy. Just trying to assess the issue clearly and advise what I thought was the best course of action. To be sure, some amount of life was lost for the trans, it's just a matter of how much. I tend to agree it's likely not 20-30k, and may not even be 10k. That's why I said he may have shortened the trans life, not that he did for sure.
That's just my opinion. And I wasn't trying to scare the guy. Just trying to assess the issue clearly and advise what I thought was the best course of action. To be sure, some amount of life was lost for the trans, it's just a matter of how much. I tend to agree it's likely not 20-30k, and may not even be 10k. That's why I said he may have shortened the trans life, not that he did for sure.
Thanks for the input and advice. Obviously if it was 500yds instead of 5 miles I wouldn't worry at all. And if it was 50 miles I would be much much much more worried. Just don't know what to think of 5 miles. It's not the end of the world. Obviously not good though. Hopefully not too bad. Learning from mistakes sucks lol. Especially when they're mistakes you made when you just had an accident and had been awake way way too long.
If for some reason I ever have to flat tow or drive wheels down tow a vehicle again I will remove a driveshaft if possible or run the motor. Frustrating the tow truck guy didn't do the right thing and not tow me that way. I could have waited for a flatbed.
If for some reason I ever have to flat tow or drive wheels down tow a vehicle again I will remove a driveshaft if possible or run the motor. Frustrating the tow truck guy didn't do the right thing and not tow me that way. I could have waited for a flatbed.
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
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