Dingy Towing

[Silverhorn]

Hey guys,

I've been reading everything I can find online about dingy towing my 1999 Infiniti QX4. I just can't find an acceptable answer. I have read people say that it should be fine if you remove the rear drive shaft. Lets assume that I will do that no matter what. How about the front transfer case? Will that be fine towed? I'm wondering if I need to pull the front drive shaft also. If I then pull both drive shafts is there anything else that could cause me problems?

Obviously the manual says no to Automatics, but yes to manuals. I have an automatic. I've looked at my manual and it says something like the link below, also, I've looked at the 1999 dingy towing guide, which says this (second link)This leads me to believe that if I disconnect only the rear drive shaft I would be fine, but I want to know for sure. I do eventually plan to get a trailer, but that's just not happening this season so I need to know. Thanks for chiming in.

Manual Instructions:
https://www.justanswer.com/nissan/2lwz0 ... nd-rv.html
Dinghy Towing Guide:
http://images.goodsam.com/newmotorhome/ ... yGuide.pdf

Found some good info here, but still incomplete:
http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/ ... -a-towbar/

Even remco says that this vehicle must be towed with a trailer:
1999 Infiniti QX4 ALL 4WD V6 3.3L cyl 4-Speed Automatic JR402E
Notes
Must be towed using a trailer

[AZhitman]

Quite simply, the answer is no.

https://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/what ... an-rv.html

[Silverhorn]

Quite simply, the answer is no.

https://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/what ... an-rv.html

I did read this article. But it doesn't answer any of my questions. None of what is mentioned in that article is relevant if I pull one or both of my driveshafts. Which I mentioned in my OP.

[PathyPop]

If you're removing the driveshaft(s) then the trans is not turning and you're fine. Even the front shaft goes to the transfer case first which doesn't have (or require) a pump to lube. If it is in 2wd it is unlikely it will turn the trans at all but check to see if it does to be safe.

[Silverhorn]

If you're removing the driveshaft(s) then the trans is not turning and you're fine. Even the front shaft goes to the transfer case first which doesn't have (or require) a pump to lube. If it is in 2wd it is unlikely it will turn the trans at all but check to see if it does to be safe.

Thanks for the reply PathyPop. I'm not entirely sure that transfer case can be put into a true neutral. Its useful to know that the transfer cause doesn't need lubrication. That's one step forward. But if I can't disconnect that transfer case ( I seem to remember it bangs between the two gears if I leave it in neutral while moving) do I need to drop that front drive shaft as well to keep anything from the front wheels spinning in the transmission?

[fleurys]

Here's what I would do....

Your transfer case is the atx14a. This transfer case has 2 oil pumps to lubricate the transfer case gears. The main oil pump is driven by the rear driveshaft turning. The sub-oil pump (secondary) is used when in neutral and reverse. So if you are going to dingy your qx4, you need to prevent any rotation of the transfer case. Now since the front driveshaft will always turn (even when the TC is set to 2wd), then you need to somehow disconnect the front wheels from the driveshaft. You can do this 2 ways... 1) remove the front driveshaft 2) install wheel hubs and unlock them. The second option is more appealing if I was in your situation. The part number I have on my trucks is warn 29091.
For the rear, you really do not have any other choice but to remove the driveshaft, but since it is a slip on on one end, you just need to unbolt 4 bolts from the junction to the rear diff.

So in reality, unlock the front hubs, remove 4 bolts. Probably 10 minutes top.
cheers.

[Silverhorn]

Here's what I would do....

Your transfer case is the atx14a. This transfer case has 2 oil pumps to lubricate the transfer case gears. The main oil pump is driven by the rear driveshaft turning. The sub-oil pump (secondary) is used when in neutral and reverse. So if you are going to dingy your qx4, you need to prevent any rotation of the transfer case. Now since the front driveshaft will always turn (even when the TC is set to 2wd), then you need to somehow disconnect the front wheels from the driveshaft. You can do this 2 ways... 1) remove the front driveshaft 2) install wheel hubs and unlock them. The second option is more appealing if I was in your situation. The part number I have on my trucks is warn 29091.
For the rear, you really do not have any other choice but to remove the driveshaft, but since it is a slip on on one end, you just need to unbolt 4 bolts from the junction to the rear diff.

So in reality, unlock the front hubs, remove 4 bolts. Probably 10 minutes top.
cheers.

Awesome! Thank you soo much for the complete and technical answers to my questions. I think I will do exactly as you suggest. I have heard they have drive shaft disconnects, perhaps I could look into that as well? Manual front wheel hubs seems like a perfect answer to that. Thanks for the part number too! Until i can do one or both of those projects I'll just have to take off both drive shafts, and should be safe doing so. Thanks a million!