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Flat-tow with t-case in neutral

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Old 06-24-2023, 09:52 PM
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Default Flat-tow with t-case in neutral

May be a dumb question, maybe not. GMT800 (02 Suburban 4wd/5.3/4l60/not sure which t-case?) - is it fine to hook up a tow bar and tow OTR with t-case in neutral? I know that used to NOT be OK at least on 2wd models because the transmission wasn't getting ATF PSI unless the motor was running, and the output side was still spinning. So you had to pull the rear u-joint.

With the 4wd t-case in neutral of course tranny is disengaged but the output side of the t-case is spinning.
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strutaeng (06-24-2023)
Old 06-24-2023, 10:43 PM
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Originally Posted by TorqueHD
May be a dumb question, maybe not. GMT800 (02 Suburban 4wd/5.3/4l60/not sure which t-case?) - is it fine to hook up a tow bar and tow OTR with t-case in neutral? I know that used to NOT be OK at least on 2wd models because the transmission wasn't getting ATF PSI unless the motor was running, and the output side was still spinning. So you had to pull the rear u-joint.

With the 4wd t-case in neutral of course tranny is disengaged but the output side of the t-case is spinning.
Yeah, that's the whole point of the transfer case having Neutral. The owners manual tells you to do this.i think they mention a towing dolly, but I guess it's the same with the bar.

Is this the push button version with AutoTrac? I think it's the NP263 transfer case.
Old 06-24-2023, 11:07 PM
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I'm not familiar with autotrac, I've heard of that but I thought that was something on later MY's. It does have push button/shift on the fly, and auto 4wd so that may be what it's called. The manual doesn't say "autotrac" anywhere that I could find. I believe there were 2 or 3 T-case's in the half tons... just crawled under the truck, it says 246. Guess I should see what the manual says about towing!
Old 06-24-2023, 11:10 PM
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246 is most half tons
263 is most 3/4-1 tons with push button


tow in t-case neutral. That's what it is for!
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Old 06-24-2023, 11:21 PM
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Ok. I didn't know the 1500 suburbans had also come with different transfer cases. My bad. I should of mentioned to look at the rpo code. Doh!

Regardless, yes, tow in Neutral!

What's the story with the truck BTW?
Old 06-25-2023, 12:38 AM
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Thanks guys.
I'm going to be purchasing a 3/4 ton GMT800 here soon. Got the tow bar hooked up on frt of the 'burb that way I can just drive there, hook it up to the "new" truck, and drive it back home. A tow bar is kinda like a chainsaw or a 12v air compressor, you almost never need it but when you do it lets you do things not possible about any other way.
I like my half ton suburban... I'd keep it if it had a 4l80e and a 14 bolt.
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Old 06-25-2023, 02:13 AM
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You can fix both of those things for less than the cost of a new to you rig lol
Old 06-25-2023, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by arthursc2
You can fix both of those things for less than the cost of a new to you rig lol
You have a point and I have thought about it. In addition to the extra displacement, better trans, and better drivetrain, I'm also getting back into a CCLB. The suburban's been nice for the family but makes it hard to haul much of anything. Someday I'd like to have both a pickup and a suburban. Inevitably something breaks and it's down for a week waiting on parts or time to fix it. Would be great to have 2 trucks.
Old 06-26-2023, 12:05 AM
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Get a 2500 avalanche... lol
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Old 06-26-2023, 12:36 AM
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Are you selling the burb or parting it out?


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