Towing a Jimny, is the owners manual wrong?

Ok I am confused by my Jimny Owners manual. The vehicle I own is a 2009 push button 4WD select with aircon and pas, the owners manual supplied is issue March 2007.
The manual clearly states that in order to tow the vehicle the 4WD system must be operational and in 2WD, IE hubs unlocked and transfer case open (2WD only). So far so good.
But it then states that you cannot under any circumstances tow with the rear wheels directly on the ground, if you do the transmission will be damaged fatally. It even has a drawing of a Jimny with the front wheels on a dolly, rear on the ground, with a big red No No line through it.

It only suggests you tow with the rear wheels on a dolly, front on the ground, again in 2WD and hubs unlocked.

Is this wrong? What damage can be caused towing with all wheels on the groung or just the rear wheels? Its no different than rolling to a road junction in neutral.

I suspect this is just crappy Suzuki miss information, but just want to confirm my own thoughts in case I ever need a tow.

Mike

We've had this before and I think the consensus was that a suspended tow with the rear wheels down didn't afford proper lubrication to the gearbox, same with flat towing.

I have just read my manual and your summary is correct. All Jimmys from 2004 with electronic 4WD selection can to be towed with rear wheels on dolly and front on the ground in 2WD mode and steering lock off. Jimmys with lever 4WD selection can be towed all wheels on the ground. Must be to do with the transfer box. I also would like to know in case of a break down tow. To be on the safe side I will insist on low loader recovery.

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Lambert wrote: We've had this before and I think the consensus was that a suspended tow with the rear wheels down didn't afford proper lubrication to the gearbox, same with flat towing.

So lets assume you are in 2WD with hubs unlocked, just as the vehicle is 100% of the time on road.

Towing rear wheels down front on dolly is just the same as driving up hill, ie front is higher than rear, front prop not turning, rear is.
Towing all wheels down is the same as every day driving, every time you roll upto a junction with the clutch in.

Maybe thats why the later gearbox falls apart :laugh:

Suppose we need to follow the manual, but its a bit hard for me to accept it is lack of lubrication in the gearbox, especially as no torque is passing through it as the engine is off and it's out of gear. Interesting one this.

In simple terms, oil is circulated around the gearbox by the input shaft. When the gearbox is in neutral with the engine off the input shaft does not turn and therefore the output shaft does not receive adequate lubrication.

Only time i have been towed for any length was when the wife towed me home when my gearbox had broken down... And right then i wouldn't spend any calories being concerned about the lube in the gearbox

But if towed by your wife or a mate for other than gearbox failure, one could put the gearbox in say third gear and keep the clutch depressed. Then the gearbox would get the lube it needed.