2006 Jeep question

Thanx Scott. Makes sense.

avan wrote:
My daughter bought a 2006 Jeep Wrangler stick shift to tow behind her MH but has not used it yet due to surgery. Trying to have it ready when she is.

Following the towing instructions, I shift the TC into Neutral and then shift the tranny to 1st gear to verify that it is in neutral. All good. Jeep does not move and there is no noise. Then shift to reverse and again the Jeep does not move but there is a 'growl' (not a gear grinding sound) in the rear.

Question: Would this be normal and not a problem? If not, what might that indicate? TIA

avan,
First of all, as you know, after you've placed the "TC" or, Transfer Case into NEUTRAL, the primary and only reason to put it in first gear is just to check and see if you ACTUALLY ACHIEVED neutral in the TC. And, if you find that the Jeep does not want to move, it means you've achieved neutral in the transfer case. There is no possible reason to go to reverse, for the same check. If the Jeep won't move by putting it first gear, it's not going to move putting it in ANY OTHER GEAR.

From that point on, a stick transmission can be left in 2nd gear for towing. The primary reason for that is, to stop "sympathetic" gear spinning from the transfer case trying to influence the gears in the transmission simply from friction created in the bearing sets of both.

Then, do all your hookups, tow bar, safety cables, pig tail etc. and, you're ready to hit the road.
Scott

Quote:
I would then walk in front of the Jeep, but not between the arms, and use my butt to push the Jeep backwards until both extendable arms "popped" into the lock position. I could hear the audible clicks, and see the latches seat
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You must be a real genius ! In all my years of towing telescopic arms, I have NEVER got the toad centered close enuff to see both arms lock. It would have to be centered w/ in a 1/4 inch to do that,.....ain't gonna happen.

In reality, I don't care to see either arm lock,......as soon as I start moving, both arms will lock, 1 at a time as it gets centered. If its following correctly, you can be guaranteed both are locked.

I used to tow a 2004 Wrangler A/T, and we now own a 2006 Wrangler Unlimited with an A/T.

With the A/T, the transmission is actually put into park, and the transfer case into neutral. Tends to freak some people out that the transmission isn't in neutral, but it's no longer in play.

I had telescoping arms on a Falcon 2 towbar. I would drive the Jeep to the back of the MH, put it in park, connect the arms but don't extend them at this point. Set the parking brake on the Jeep, put the transfer case in neutral, and the transmission in park. Now slowly release the parking brake. On level ground, should be no movement. I would then walk in front of the Jeep, but not between the arms, and use my butt to push the Jeep backwards until both extendable arms "popped" into the lock position. I could hear the audible clicks, and see the latches seat. I was confident at this point the arms were locked, and the Jeep's transfer case was indeed in neutral.

The only tip I would add is to have a non-chipped spare key made. It will unlock the steering column for towing, but will NOT start the Jeep if someone hops in it at a rest stop!

Picks and details of my previous setup here: http://2manytoyz.com/toad.html

I retire in 5 years, and will trade in our TT in the next year or two, and buy another Class A... and modify the 2006 Jeep for towing. Really is a fantastic setup. Had to sell my previous setup to buy a house. House is almost paid off, time for another toy!

In spite of what the Owners Manual says, I recommend hooking the Jeep to the motorhome FIRST, before putting the transfer case in Neutral.
However, I used a fixed arm towbar when I was towing my 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, so it was much easier to move the Jeep to the motorhome than vice-versa!
But then, I do the same thing when hooking up my Dodge 1500 with the telescoping-arm towbar1

Thanks:C And now that I have an answer, let me just add what I wanted to say to Roy but didn't since I didn't want to discourage anyone else from responding. Roy. Before you suggest that I read the JEEP manual, might I suggest that you read my original post. Thanx. BTW, since your CAPS are not shouting, what are they?

The noise is the trans reversal geer set spinning. Normal.

Roy thanks. I'll try to be clearer. In my original post I used "TC" meaning "transfer case". As I then said, I shifted the "transfer case" into neutral - meaning I moved the "transfer case" lever from 2H to Neutral. Then to be sure that the transfer case indeed was in neutral, I tried to move the Jeep forward and backwards by shifting the tranny into 1st and into reverse. It indeed was in neutral since letting out the clutch in 1st and reverse resulted in zero movement. Letting out the clutch in 1st resulted in no movement and no noise. Letting out the clutch in reverse resulted in no movement and a bit of a growl sound.

Wondering what the 'growl' might be and if it indicates a problem. When actually towing, planning on having the shifter in 4th gear. Comments?

Down on the floor of the JEEP is a transfer case lever. That has to be out of gear as well.

With the transfer case in gear the rear wheels will turn all of the drive shaft and gears inside the transmission...

Look in the JEEP MANUAL for location of TRANSFER CASE LEVER...

Roy Ken