Forum Discussion

Rv_Tripper's avatar
Rv_Tripper
Explorer
Jul 10, 2016

Steering wheel locks up on Toad

We are towing a'98 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4-down behind our 2015 Thor Axis MH. We are using a Roadmaster Towing setup. The Jeep ignition is in the ON unlocked position, transmission in PARK and Transfer Case in Neutral.
The problem is that the Jeep steering wheel will rotate 180 deg and lock. This happens sometime during the trip. I don't feel any change in the MH steering and don't discover the condition until we stop and check it. We also discover that the tow bar is in a stressed condition. All the joints are tight and hard to release.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
  • Harvard's avatar
    Harvard
    Explorer
    Jul 11, 2016
    When you first connect to the Jeep you must start the Jeep up and put it in reverse (and back up) for the purpose of fully extending the telescopic arms to the lock position.

    Failure to fully extend and lock the arms BEFORE moving forward can cause the towed wheels to go full left or right depending on the position of the unextended arms.

    How do I know this? :):)
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Jul 11, 2016
    If JGC is a 4X4, the owners manual will have you put the t-case in neutral and the transmission in park (if it's a 2WD Jeep you should NOT be towing it 4 down).
    But neither has anything to do with the steering wheel lock. Since you're leaving the key in the run position the column is unlocked, but the steering wheel is turning on it's own and not recovering. To me it sounds like a steering geometry issue. I'd have the front end looked at.
  • SpiKar's avatar
    SpiKar
    Explorer
    Jul 11, 2016
    I would only do what the owners manual says. I have had friends with jeeps and their instructions say to have it in park and reverse for manual trans but have the transfer case in nuetral. Most vehicles say to put the ignition in acc. to unlock the steeming wheel. If you have any doubts Check with the factory people.
  • Rv_Tripper's avatar
    Rv_Tripper
    Explorer
    Jul 10, 2016
    DutchmenSport wrote:
    I don't know a thing about your specific vehicle, but if you are putting the transmission in "park", that's your problem. When it park, almost every vehicle steering wheel will lock. I'm almost positive you want your transmission in neutral.


    Thank you for your reply.
    The manual says to leave the Selector in Park or Neutral. I will try using the Neutral position next time we tow.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Jul 10, 2016
    I don't know a thing about your specific vehicle, but if you are putting the transmission in "park", that's your problem. When it park, almost every vehicle steering wheel will lock. I'm almost positive you want your transmission in neutral.

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