jeep wrangler towing questions

falconman wrote:

RoyB wrote:
I have towed my 1999 Jeep Wrangler with manual transmission and the transfer case in NEUTRAL many times with my Truck. No problems at all...

Roy Ken

You might want to check your owners manual, but I think even with a manual transmission it needs to be in gear for proper lubrication.

The manual transmission doesn't get lubricated by being in gear. It is often recommended to put it in gear when towing so that the output shaft can't spin.

Think of it this way: even when the transfer case is in neutral, there is still fluid movement within the case, and this can cause the transmission-side of the transfer case to turn if it's not locked in place. Putting the transmission in gear will resist the motion of the fluid, and prevent the output side of the transmission from spinning without lubrication.

tropical36 wrote:

Retiredblade wrote:

tmoore2 wrote:
Towed a 2000 wrangler with auto transmission for 6 years. Mine had to have the
key in the ignition to unlock the steering wheel. Sometime in the past few models
they eleminated the steering wheel locks. Don't know what year that started though.

My 2000 had to have the key in ignition also, but I fixed that, take the plastic cover off the steering wheel collum you'll find a little flat panel held on with two screws, first you have to brake off the little needle like points in center of screw head. Take screws out, and a little 1/4" x 1/2" shaft with a spring falls out. Leave that out, and put panel on. You never have to leave you keys in ignition for it will never lock again.

Does your 2000 model have an air bag? Friend has a 2003 Wrangler, I believe and it has a lock as well that should be removed, but he has some concern about the air bag.

Sure it's got a air bag, what's that got to do with steering well lock? The passenger air bag lock is down by the automatic shifter for the transmission. 96-2006 wranglers are all the same, they changed styling in 07 I believe

Retiredblade wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

Retiredblade wrote:

tmoore2 wrote:
Towed a 2000 wrangler with auto transmission for 6 years. Mine had to have the
key in the ignition to unlock the steering wheel. Sometime in the past few models
they eleminated the steering wheel locks. Don't know what year that started though.

My 2000 had to have the key in ignition also, but I fixed that, take the plastic cover off the steering wheel collum you'll find a little flat panel held on with two screws, first you have to brake off the little needle like points in center of screw head. Take screws out, and a little 1/4" x 1/2" shaft with a spring falls out. Leave that out, and put panel on. You never have to leave you keys in ignition for it will never lock again.

Does your 2000 model have an air bag? Friend has a 2003 Wrangler, I believe and it has a lock as well that should be removed, but he has some concern about the air bag.

Sure it's got a air bag, what's that got to do with steering well lock? The passenger air bag lock is down by the automatic shifter for the transmission. 96-2006 wranglers are all the same, they changed styling in 07 I believe

I didn't really look at his Jeep and was assuming that the air bag was in the steering wheel and messing around with it might cause a problem or even cause it to deploy.