I'm going to be towing a '86 B2000 5 speed on a tow dolly and was wondering if I need to pull the driveshaft? I read a post on here that special driveshaft tool or something was needed? Fluid going to spill?

 

Why is anything needed? Tow dolly, front wheels on dolly, secured, transmission in neutral, handbrake off.

 

Hi Cuss, The standard recommendation is to pull the drive line to prevent damage to the carrier bearing. I would look in my manual but it's 405 miles away. It doesn't affect some trans. Trying to be safe rather than sorry

 

You would only disconnect the driveshaft if the transmission is an automatic trans. With a manual trans. there is no need to worry, as long as the trans is in neutral. With an auto trans, the spinning driveshaft will turn some of the gearing inside the trans (same on a manual) but the auto trans relies on the trans fluid pump and, the fluid cooler in the radiator, to keep the fluid from overheating and burning.......the manual gearbox has no cooler since the gear oil will not overheat under normal circumstances.

 

With a 4WD truck, you can place the transfer case in Neutral and that will keep an automatic trans from turning during towing.

 

Thanks guys. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow and hitting the road.

 

Update: The Mazda made it just fine. Towed easily behind my E150 for an eight hour trip. As soon as the local transmission shop gives me the ok I'll be dropping it off for a rebuild.

Thanks again for the replies.