[Archived]

Whether using an IR gun or just using my hand, I always check bus tires and hubs as well as the toad (incl tow bar connections). It won’t help in case of of sudden bearing or seal failure, but it’ll sure give you a heads up on a developing problem. I would imagine that tire monitoring system that has temp warnings and includes the toad would be of great help. I have to use a trailer when racing, but sure don’t want the hassles involved when I don’t need the trailer. Geo.

[Archived]

Sorry to hear about your problem. But I’d not give up on 4 down towing just yet. It sure sounds like a maintenance induced failure, i.e. the shop that changed your rear bearings on the Jeep screwed up.

Gerald

[Roy]

That kind of failure has nothing to do with towing and would have happened while driving. The good news is that it is repairable.

As George pointed out towing is actually advantageous because if the car and bus were equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system that had temperature reporting the problem would have been identified early.

Hub seals or differential seals can wear out or fail and while most leaks from these seals can be noticed long before the level of differential fluid drops to the point where bearings are at risk a pre-trip inspection that includes looking for leaks is very important.

[Archived]

Roy and Martha,

Sorry to see that this has happened.

This situation does seem rare, 1,000’s of Jeeps are towed four down without issues. I see more trailer issue failures than toad issue failures.

Safe travels,

Mark

[Reagan]

I agree, I think it was caused by the maintenance work done.

I was running with a Pressure Pro. I did get a cross axle alert. When the pressure differential was only 5 psi 30 vs 35 I ignored it. Never got a temperature alert, or I did not know how to read the monitor.

I agree trailers are a hassle. Been looking at a H & H hydraulic tilt bed. Just drive on and strap it down.

Roy

[Andy]

Trailers are way more than a hassle. Some resorts don’t want them at the site and have a special parking area for them. Some have no room for a trailer.

The good news is if you have a trailer, at least you can back up, unlike when towing 4 down.

[kenneth]

I have two trailers. One 22′ self enclosed body with a 5′ tongue I had built to carry my Corvette. The trailer weights 4200 pounds and has all four wheel electric brakes. It is very nice to have but trailers can be a pain.

I have always feared the bearings on the axles becoming dry and the obvious consequences of failure. I am paranoid so I tend to them but there is always that unknown problem out there.

No doubt that towing 4 down is easier, faster, etc. If you do not enjoy going through the tie down process and if you do not use the trailer for night time garage storage, you may not enjoy the trailer.

Regardless of the weight of the trailer, you will feel it when towing and stopping. It is simply more weight with which to deal.

My thoughts,

Pres

[Doug]

Your friends traveling behind you were a godsend. Glad this did not turn out catastrophic for you. If you get a trailer, the only issue is parking it. We tend to always go for a pull thru.

We went from 4 down to a FWD and a tow dolly. We had really bad luck with our AWD CRV. We were baking the tranny fluid. Followed Hond’s towing directions to the letter. Still had issues. We went to a dealership, talked to an experienced mechanic. He told us that we should not tow a awd CRV.

sold the AWD, bought a FWD and a dolly. We bought a pressure pro from Tom and now I can see all the bus tires. The Dolly tires and the rear tires on the tow.

[Bill]

Yep. Ditto Corey, George & Jon. Don’t give up.

Been towing 4 down (Saturn, Honda CRV, Wrangler, Grand Crerokee) for several years and the only problem we ever had was with an AWD CRV. We also followed the manual to a T but, according to the Honda dealer, ruined a new transmission after 3,000 miles. The dealer offered to replace the transmission every 3,000 miles if necessary (lol) under Honda’s warranty of course. I said ‘no thanks’ and after a long phone conversation with American Honda from the dealer’s showroom they decided to buy the car back from me minus $.15/mile depreciation. Fair deal.

Enter the Wrangler Unlimited. After six years the only expense other than maintenance was three sets of tires.

Now a Grand Cherokee and so far so good. Much easier than the Wrangler to switch from driving it to towing it and back again. The next toad will be an autonomous something or other and I expect it to just follow the bus aroubd without having to do anything except say, “Follow that bus”.

[Archived]

Doug and Chip,

That is so strange. We had two Honda CR-V’s, both AWD. The ’07, we towed it 5.5 yrs. and 57,000 miles, drove it 67,000 miles…total 124,000 miles… no drive-train trouble.

Then, we bought a ’13 Honda CR-V AWD, kept 3.5 yrs. and drove it 39,000 miles, towed it about 40,000 miles…. total 79,000 miles, again, no drive-train trouble.

So far, the AWD Lincoln is zipping right along just fine.

Sorry to hear you guys had trouble with a Honda. I would have bought another one if they were four down towable (’14 was the last year).

Safe travels,

Mark

[John]

Mark,

Thinking about replacing our toad. Do you have to do anything special when towing the MKX? I don’t want to be pulling fuses or anything.

Thanks.

[Archived]

John, no, there are no fuses to pull.

This is the tow set-up procedure from the manual:

Enter Neutral Tow mode by doing the following: (this is done from the steering wheel control button)

1) Put ignition in accessory mode by pressing on the engine START button without pressing the brake pedal.

2) Select ‘Neutral Tow’ under the Vehicle Settings menu in the information display.

3) Press and hold the OK button to start the neutral tow process.

4) Press the brake pedal and select ‘N’ on the push-button transmission.

5) Turn the ignition off by pressing the engine START button without pressing the brake pedal.

This all takes about a minute or two. When exiting the car it will chime and it will say ‘Neutral Tow Engaged’ on the information display.

To exit Neutral Tow Mode, make sure the ignition is on (engine can be on or off), press the brake pedal and select ‘P’ on the push-button transmission. It will say ‘Neutral Tow disengaged’ in the information display.

Mark

[Andy]

Mark,

Thanks for the info.

Doesn’t get much easier than that.

[Archived]

Mark, does the new Navigator offer the same method for flat towing?

[Archived]

Andy,

Motorhome magazine’s 2017 towing guide does not show the Navigator able to be towed. The Navigator has changed for 2018 so it might be towable four down (2018 guide not listed under google).

The Continental was approved for towing then removed from the list. It is now back on but only with the 3L engine.

Safe travels,

Mark