amazing somebody would do this

[98valk]

https://jalopnik.com/jeep-wrangler-engine-explodes-after-owner-tows-vehicle-1846493328?utm_campaign=Jalopnik&utm_content=1616005862&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_source=facebook

Jeep Wrangler Engine Explodes After Owner Tows Vehicle In Low Gear And Revs It To 50,000 RPM

[scooperhsd]

 Idiot.    Not you 98Valk (unless you're the one that did that).

[Valkorado]

And then his insurance agent just chuckled and walked away.  Such lessons are extremely overpriced.

[old2soon]

          Do that even qualify as a hold my beer and watch this moment?  Yup thought not!  RIDE SAFE.

[f6john]

50,000 rpm? Who calculated that?

[0leman]

I want to know what he was towing the Jeep with?   4 low show have really put a drag on the towing vehicle. 

[da prez]

  I was using a 1998 Honda Valkyrie tourer.
 BTW , I was racing a H D just for the halibut.

                                        da prez

[98valk]

Idiot.    Not you 98Valk (unless you're the one that did that).

that is uncalled for

[Skinhead]

I want to know what he was towing the Jeep with?   4 low show have really put a drag on the towing vehicle.  

I'm sure it was probably a large RV, if it was a diesel pusher or similar vehicle, I doubt they would even feel it back there.  Especially after the engine exploded.  A few years back there was a video of a jeep that bad been towed behind an RV and the owner forgot to put the transfer case in neutral or to take the vehicle out of park.  He towed it until he blew out all 4 tires and wore the aluminum wheels down to the axles.  Ground off the rotors and all.  I'll see if I can find a link.

Not the one I was looking for, but you get the Idea:
https://www.motor1.com/news/450203/car-towed-in-park-damaged-rv/

[scooperhsd]

Idiot.    Not you 98Valk (unless you're the one that did that).

that is uncalled for

I was meaning that the person who did that was the idiot. Not you 98Valk. Sorry for the  misunderstanding - that was my fault for not taking the time to use more words to prevent that.

[Jess from VA]

I never heard of a tachometer (in motor vehicles) that went to 50K.

Rev limiters generally kick well before 50K. 

[GiG]

I want to know what he was towing the Jeep with?   4 low show have really put a drag on the towing vehicle.  

I'm sure it was probably a large RV, if it was a diesel pusher or similar vehicle, I doubt they would even feel it back there.  Especially after the engine exploded.  A few years back there was a video of a jeep that bad been towed behind an RV and the owner forgot to put the transfer case in neutral or to take the vehicle out of park.  He towed it until he blew out all 4 tires and wore the aluminum wheels down to the axles.  Ground off the rotors and all.  I'll see if I can find a link.

Not the one I was looking for, but you get the Idea:
https://www.motor1.com/news/450203/car-towed-in-park-damaged-rv/

Original link describes flat tow in PARK, along with the rpm calculations. RPMs are estimated...

Jeep Manual says flat tow in PARK:

https://www.quadratec.com/c/reference/flat-towing-jeep-wrangler



How To Tow A Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Behind An RV
First, the transfer case must be shifted into NEUTRAL. Here's how to do that:
Key must be in the "accessory" position:
•   Depress and hold the brake pedal.
•   Set Parking Brake
•   Shift an automatic transmission into NEUTRAL (N) or depress clutch pedal on manual transmission.
•   Shift the transfer case level into NEUTRAL (N).
•   Start the engine.
•   Shift the automatic transmission into DRIVE (D) or the manual transmission into gear.
•   Release the brake pedal and ensure that there is no vehicle movement.
•   IMPORTANT: Shut the engine off and place the ignition key into the unlocked OFF position.*
•   Shift the automatic transmission into PARK (P).
•   Apply the parking brake.
•   Attach the Jeep to the tow vehicle with a tow bar.
•   Release the parking brake.
Note: Damage to the transmission may occur if the transmission is shifted into PARK (P) with the transfer case in NEUTRAL (N) and the engine running!

[Robert]

I bet they wont do this again watch the video till the end thats really messed up.

Tuten told The Drive that when the techs began diagnosing the vehicle, they noticed it had been left in "4-Low," which is what you'd want when traversing rough terrain at low speeds, or if stuck in a rut—but most definitely not while being towed at highway speeds. For reference, the JL Wrangler manual explicitly states not to exceed 25 miles per hour with 4-Low engaged.

RV Driver Annihilates Their New Jeep Wrangler by Flat-Towing It in 4-Low
This is what a Jeep engine looks like when revved to 50,000 rpm.

https://youtu.be/P2d3NXp4lDk

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39794/rv-driver-annihilates-their-new-jeep-wrangler-by-flat-towing-it-in-4-low

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

After several decades in the automotive repair business, I already know the first thing the customer asked the service advisor. "That's covered under my warranty, right?"

[Robert]

After several decades in the automotive repair business, I already know the first thing the customer asked the service advisor. "That's covered under my warranty, right?"

Or ever since 

[hubcapsc]

I rented a ditch witch once, and the trailer hitch popped off the ball on the way
out of the parking lot, the trailer was just hanging by the chain. I had Lynyrd
Skynyrd cranked on the cassette player, the rental guy had to chase me down the
road in his car...

"you couldn't hear that ? ! ? "

-Mike

I want to know what he was towing the Jeep with?   4 low show have really put a drag on the towing vehicle.  

I'm sure it was probably a large RV, if it was a diesel pusher or similar vehicle, I doubt they would even feel it back there.  Especially after the engine exploded.  A few years back there was a video of a jeep that bad been towed behind an RV and the owner forgot to put the transfer case in neutral or to take the vehicle out of park.  He towed it until he blew out all 4 tires and wore the aluminum wheels down to the axles.  Ground off the rotors and all.  I'll see if I can find a link.

Not the one I was looking for, but you get the Idea:
https://www.motor1.com/news/450203/car-towed-in-park-damaged-rv/

[Foozle]

03-19

My all time favorite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd0ce0bHcRU

You may want to look away if you're a mechanic (or a Dodge Neon fan).

Terry

[Moonshot_1]

I bet they wont do this again watch the video till the end thats really messed up.

Tuten told The Drive that when the techs began diagnosing the vehicle, they noticed it had been left in "4-Low," which is what you'd want when traversing rough terrain at low speeds, or if stuck in a rut—but most definitely not while being towed at highway speeds. For reference, the JL Wrangler manual explicitly states not to exceed 25 miles per hour with 4-Low engaged.

RV Driver Annihilates Their New Jeep Wrangler by Flat-Towing It in 4-Low
This is what a Jeep engine looks like when revved to 50,000 rpm.

https://youtu.be/P2d3NXp4lDk

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39794/rv-driver-annihilates-their-new-jeep-wrangler-by-flat-towing-it-in-4-low

That was magnificent.

A jeep wrangler at 50k rpm. Boggles the mind. To think that it achieved that in a brief moment in time, much less at all, is extraordinary.

The sound it must have made when it blew...

[Rams]

Pretty sure there's an extra zero added in there by accident.

Rams

[sandy]

My idiot BIL towed an all wheel drive SUV on a tow dolly. Front wheels were locked and rears were spinning. He asked me what I thought before doing this. He did it anyway. Transfer case was $2700. He blew it.

[Rams]

03-19

My all time favorite:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd0ce0bHcRU

You may want to look away if you're a mechanic (or a Dodge Neon fan).

Terry

But, if you enjoy observing an idiot in action, you'll really enjoy that video.
Thanks for posting that.   All I'll say is, being Stupid should hurt.

Rams

[Jersey mike]

I read this article about this, https://www.foxnews.com/auto/rv-driver-blows-up-jeep-engine-towing

What I don’t understand are the towing instructions listed in this article.

 Copied and pasted from article;

For the record, according to Jeep, the correct way to tow a Wrangler is:

-Automatic transmission in PARK


-Manual transmission in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL)



First of all how do you tow a vehicle with trans in PARK?

Second why tow manual trans in gear, which gear? Highest I’d have to assume but why not neutral, let it freewheel.  I know it’s been awhile since I’ve driven a manual trans truck/car, did they get rid of the clutch for newer manual trans or do current vehicles just roll along now when in gear and not running?

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I read this article about this, https://www.foxnews.com/auto/rv-driver-blows-up-jeep-engine-towing

What I don’t understand are the towing instructions listed in this article.

 Copied and pasted from article;

For the record, according to Jeep, the correct way to tow a Wrangler is:

-Automatic transmission in PARK


-Manual transmission in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL)



First of all how do you tow a vehicle with trans in PARK?

Second why tow manual trans in gear, which gear? Highest I’d have to assume but why not neutral, let it freewheel.  I know it’s been awhile since I’ve driven a manual trans truck/car, did they get rid of the clutch for newer manual trans or do current vehicles just roll along now when in gear and not running?

The next line says TRANSFER CASE in NEUTRAL.  That is what allows the vehicle to freewheel. While most manual transmissions are "splash-lubricated", just having the output shaft spinning may not provide adequate lubrication to the gears/bearings/bushings. As far as the auto transmission goes, they are lubricated by their own pump, which draws fluid from the sump and feeds it where it's needed. The pump is driven by the torque converter, which doesn't spin unless the engine is running. The transmission should be in Park to ensure nothing in the transmission is spinning.

A transfer case in NEUTRAL unlocks it's input gear from the rest of the mainshaft. So, being flat-towed, the majority of the transfer case still spins due to the driveshafts, but it doesn't spin the transmission output shaft. Some transfer cases due use a mechanical pump, but it's driven by it's output shaft to the rear driveshaft. That will spin while being towed, so there is adequate lubrication to transfer case components.

[Jersey mike]

I read this article about this, https://www.foxnews.com/auto/rv-driver-blows-up-jeep-engine-towing

What I don’t understand are the towing instructions listed in this article.

 Copied and pasted from article;

For the record, according to Jeep, the correct way to tow a Wrangler is:

-Automatic transmission in PARK


-Manual transmission in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL)



First of all how do you tow a vehicle with trans in PARK?

Second why tow manual trans in gear, which gear? Highest I’d have to assume but why not neutral, let it freewheel.  I know it’s been awhile since I’ve driven a manual trans truck/car, did they get rid of the clutch for newer manual trans or do current vehicles just roll along now when in gear and not running?

The next line says TRANSFER CASE in NEUTRAL.  That is what allows the vehicle to freewheel. While most manual transmissions are "splash-lubricated", just having the output shaft spinning may not provide adequate lubrication to the gears/bearings/bushings. As far as the auto transmission goes, they are lubricated by their own pump, which draws fluid from the sump and feeds it where it's needed. The pump is driven by the torque converter, which doesn't spin unless the engine is running. The transmission should be in Park to ensure nothing in the transmission is spinning.

A transfer case in NEUTRAL unlocks it's input gear from the rest of the mainshaft. So, being flat-towed, the majority of the transfer case still spins due to the driveshafts, but it doesn't spin the transmission output shaft. Some transfer cases due use a mechanical pump, but it's driven by it's output shaft to the rear driveshaft. That will spin while being towed, so there is adequate lubrication to transfer case components.

I’ve flat towed a few vehicles over the years but never long distance, just 5-10 miles locally but never in gear, is this just for 4 wheel drive or Jeep specific I never owned a 4 wheel drive or used one on a regular basis. I’ve read my owners manual for most of my car through the years but I can’t remember reading info like that, learn something new every day 

[0leman]

I want to know what he was towing the Jeep with?   4 low show have really put a drag on the towing vehicle.  

I'm sure it was probably a large RV, if it was a diesel pusher or similar vehicle, I doubt they would even feel it back there.  Especially after the engine exploded.  A few years back there was a video of a jeep that bad been towed behind an RV and the owner forgot to put the transfer case in neutral or to take the vehicle out of park.  He towed it until he blew out all 4 tires and wore the aluminum wheels down to the axles.  Ground off the rotors and all.  I'll see if I can find a link.

Not the one I was looking for, but you get the Idea:
https://www.motor1.com/news/450203/car-towed-in-park-damaged-rv/

Having had the opportunity to tow a number of trailers (not  vehicles), I could feel the trailers behind me and how they towed.  Could even feel when blew a tire (one of two on one side).  Would think the idiot should have realized that there was more resistance than normal. But then maybe it was he first time pulling the jeep or maybe just an idiot.   

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I’ve flat towed a few vehicles over the years but never long distance, just 5-10 miles locally but never in gear, is this just for 4 wheel drive or Jeep specific I never owned a 4 wheel drive or used one on a regular basis. I’ve read my owners manual for most of my car through the years but I can’t remember reading info like that, learn something new every day 

That particular info is Jeep specific, but it's generally the way to flat tow a 4wd (unless the manufacturer says otherwise). I've towed RWD cars with the old "bumper bar" back in the days of metal bumpers without any problems, but that was always really short, low speed cross town stuff. Anything more than that and we would pull the driveshaft and plug the transmission output so it didn't leak all over the place. FWD vehicle automatic transmissions are set up different than RWD, as they include the differential unit. Some can be flat towed in Neutral, but others can't due to lubrication issues. Not to sound like a disclaimer, but it's a really good idea to consult the owner's manual of whatever vehicle you're towing. If they don't address it, there's usually a phone number to call the manufacturer's help line where they may have corporate info on it (probably that they don't recommend it). If you watch RV's, you'll see a lot of the same vehicles behind them. The Wrangler being one of the most common. Because Jeep addresses it, the RV upfitters jumped right on it to get tow bars, lighting harnesses, etc to market. Path of least resistance.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I’ve flat towed a few vehicles over the years but never long distance, just 5-10 miles locally but never in gear, is this just for 4 wheel drive or Jeep specific I never owned a 4 wheel drive or used one on a regular basis. I’ve read my owners manual for most of my car through the years but I can’t remember reading info like that, learn something new every day 

That particular info is Jeep specific, but it's generally the way to flat tow a 4wd (unless the manufacturer says otherwise). I've towed RWD cars with the old "bumper bar" back in the days of metal bumpers without any problems, but that was always really short, low speed cross town stuff. Anything more than that and we would pull the driveshaft and plug the transmission output so it didn't leak all over the place. FWD vehicle automatic transmissions are set up different than RWD, as they include the differential unit. Some can be flat towed in Neutral, but others can't due to lubrication issues. Not to sound like a disclaimer, but it's a really good idea to consult the owner's manual of whatever vehicle you're towing. If they don't address it, there's usually a phone number to call the manufacturer's help line where they may have corporate info on it (probably that they don't recommend it). If you watch RV's, you'll see a lot of the same vehicles behind them. The Wrangler being one of the most common. Because Jeep addresses it, the RV upfitters jumped right on it to get tow bars, lighting harnesses, etc to market. Path of least resistance.

My Grandparents started RVing back in the 60’s with a Volkswagen Bus. They steadily upgraded to a Chevy Van on up to 38’ motorhomes pulling a car or small pickup. I remember him having some kind of pump that circulated the transmission fluid. Never really paid much attention to it, but I think they worked well for decades.

[Ramie]

I once blew a ridding lawnmower engine while mowing the lawn.  Piston rod blew out the side and brushed the pantleg of my Jeans.  Had to change my jeans after.