Towing w/locking steering wheel

You must unlock the column to flat tow. Best thing to do: Disconnect the battery. Then rotate your switch to the unlocked position.

I recently flat towed my '71 (has a swapped-in '78 tilt/locking column) about 400 miles this way. I didn't need to disconnect my battery as my column has a position where it will unlock, but still no power. Not sure if yours has that, may be best to disconnect the batt.

I think you mean it has a Dana 300 tcase.
The D300 output bearing is not lubed when in neutral; it is only lubed when the tcase is in gear and turning (splash-lube) If you flat tow any significant distance with the tcase in neutral and the rear drive shaft still in place, you can burn up the output bearing. (I think the owners manual used to say 50 miles max, then you have to drive it for 5 minutes to lubricate the bearing, then tow another 50... )

You have 4 alternatives:

1). Flat tow as far as you want all at once with drive shaft in place and burn up the bearing. (Only the D300 has this unpleasant feature, the D18 and D20 can be flat towed in neutral without disconnecting; no ill effect to the output bearings in those models)

2). Follow the 50 mile max process above.

3). Remove the rear driveshaft, and be sure front hubs are unlocked, then flat tow to your hearts content

4) Have your D300 modified by having "oiling tabs" welded on to the output shaft (or something, I forget exactly) inside the tcase so you can flat tow any distance without burning up the bearing.. $$$$

HTH Jat, let us know if other questions.

 

That is my understanding, only the D300 has the flat-towing problem.

 

A flat-towed vehicle with good positive caster angle will track straight and true, and return to center all on it's own when towed, even after a hairpin u-turn. I'd suspect that a rig that needs it's wheels straightened probably has inadequate caster angle, possibly the result of a lift without installing caster shims. I'd suspect such a vehicle may have a "wandering" issue when driving at highway speeds.

I just flat-towed towed my CJ 175 miles each way in mid-May. This included city streets, lots of highway, and dirt roads, and a few 270-degree turns in parking lots. It followed the truck perfectly... I have 6 degrees positive caster.

 

You'd be safer to disconnect the rear drive shaft since you have a D20, as Nickmil described above.

Jim, you're right, on my column the first position is unlocked, no power. That's the way I ran mine, I didn't disconnect the battery. However, many folks do recommend disconnecting, and disconnected there's no chance of accidental battery drain...

Mtndew, I run 33x12.50 MTs on 15x10 wheels with 4" backspacing. Rig has about 3" of lift, and 5-degree caster shims. This is my first time towing this CJ, and it tracked perfectly in every situation. Other than caster, or a too-stiff steering box, I can't imagine why the wheels wouldn't return to center as you and Biggamehunter experienced.
I'm certainly no towing expert, so your experiences say alot! I can only offer that I ran mine this way and it worked great

 

Thanks.. Not bored, it ALWAYS needs something...
I will get to drive it topless this evening, first time this season! Gotta drive across town for a haircut tonight