Flat Towing a Manual Wrangler

[Roadglider09]

I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times before but - can a 2014 Wrangler Sahara be towed 4-down without modification? I tow my automatic with no problem, just want to make sure there's no difference with the manual.

[jeepfreak]

The trans is in gear to prevent the internal parts from rotating. The bearings would seize up due to the gear oil not circulating.

[JimM68]

PaulJ2 wrote:
Ok I'll give it a try here. The Jeep (among others) can be towed because the transfer case has an internal lube pump driven by the output chaft. Also the internal chain slings lube around inside. The reason for the transmission in either park (auto) or in gear is to keep transmission parts from rotating.
The lube viscosity can cause unconnected internal gears, shafts to start to rotate with speed, thus you put them in Park or in gear to prevent this.

This is exactly right.

[BobGed]

PaulJ2 wrote:
Ok I'll give it a try here. The Jeep (among others) can be towed because the transfer case has an internal lube pump driven by the output chaft. Also the internal chain slings lube around inside. The reason for the transmission in either park (auto) or in gear is to keep transmission parts from rotating.
The lube viscosity can cause unconnected internal gears, shafts to start to rotate with speed, thus you put them in Park or in gear to prevent this.

Thanks for the explanation, Paul.

[PaulJ2]

Ok I'll give it a try here. The Jeep (among others) can be towed because the transfer case has an internal lube pump driven by the output chaft. Also the internal chain slings lube around inside. The reason for the transmission in either park (auto) or in gear is to keep transmission parts from rotating.
The lube viscosity can cause unconnected internal gears, shafts to start to rotate with speed, thus you put them in Park or in gear to prevent this.

[mowermech]

"If you own a Wrangler, you should know a little about the Jeep if you plan to be off road with it, more than what the manual says for sure."
Well, let's see...
How well do I know Jeeps...
I have installed the Warn full floating axle kit in a Tuxedo Park CJ5...
I know how to drive an M151A1 with a broken rear axle shaft... in viet nam...
I have helped install an AirRock kit in a Rubicon...
I have driven an M38A1, an M170 field ambulance, an M151 plus the A1 and A2; I have owned CJ5s, C101 Jeepster Commandos, a CJ7 and a couple of Wranglers, and I was a mechanic in the Seabees...
Oh, yeah, and just to be different I had a 1959 Land Rover!
Off road? well, yeah...
California; red lake trail
Moab, UT; Metal Masher, Moab Rim, Top of the World, Long Canyon, Elephant Hill, and others.
Northwestern MT; Lost Johnny Creek road, Connor creek road, Doris Creek road, Lion Mountain trail, and others (EASY stuff!)
So, yeah, I been there did that got the scratches on the paintwork.

[BobGed]

dubdub07 wrote:

Anyway, the reaon the transfer case is in nuetral and the Jeep is in gear is the 4X4 parts still move. Keeping the tranny in gear keeps the lubrication going. It is the same with an auto, you want the tranny in gear, transfer case in N. If you own a Wrangler, you should know a little about the Jeep if you plan to be off road with it, more than what the manual says for sure.

Sorry but this just doesn't make sense. If the transfer case is in neutral there is no way for any movement in the transmission, so there is no lubrication taking place. Jeep manual is very clear.

For auto trans: "Automatic transmissions must be placed in the PARK position for recreational towing."

For manual trans: "Manual transmissions must be placed in gear (not in Neutral) for recreational towing."

[PF_PM]

Geeze there are some arrogant ah's on this site !

[dubdub07]

mowermech wrote:

PF&PM wrote:
Manual trans could be in neutral as well as the transfer case in neutral Yes ? Why not have them both in neutral ? If an auto trans, I can see the auto being in Park while the transfer case is in neutral though...

I see this type of question a lot, and I wonder, WHY would one feel it necessary to argue with the manufacturer? If the engineers who made the unit say "Do this.", why not just do it without arguing?
The Jeep Owners Manual says transfer case in NEUTRAL, auto tranny in park or manual tranny in gear (I use sixth gear). I assume they know what they are talking about, so I do it. It works. The "WHY" does not concern me in this particular instance.
However, when the Owners Manual says set everything up THEN attach it to the motorhome, I refuse to do it their way. I attach it to the motorhome FIRST, then set everything up. IMO, it is easier to drive the Jeep to the motorhome than it is to back the motorhome to the Jeep!

Some just want to know, I guess. A 2WD Jeep manual most certainly can be towed 4 down. Unless you are delivery mail, I am not sure why anyone would want a 2WD Wrangler. Anyway, the reaon the transfer case is in nuetral and the Jeep is in gear is the 4X4 parts still move. Keeping the tranny in gear keeps the lubrication going. It is the same with an auto, you want the tranny in gear, transfer case in N. If you own a Wrangler, you should know a little about the Jeep if you plan to be off road with it, more than what the manual says for sure.

[mowermech]

PF&PM wrote:
Manual trans could be in neutral as well as the transfer case in neutral Yes ? Why not have them both in neutral ? If an auto trans, I can see the auto being in Park while the transfer case is in neutral though...

I see this type of question a lot, and I wonder, WHY would one feel it necessary to argue with the manufacturer? If the engineers who made the unit say "Do this.", why not just do it without arguing?
The Jeep Owners Manual says transfer case in NEUTRAL, auto tranny in park or manual tranny in gear (I use sixth gear). I assume they know what they are talking about, so I do it. It works. The "WHY" does not concern me in this particular instance.
However, when the Owners Manual says set everything up THEN attach it to the motorhome, I refuse to do it their way. I attach it to the motorhome FIRST, then set everything up. IMO, it is easier to drive the Jeep to the motorhome than it is to back the motorhome to the Jeep!

[CT_WANDERER]

PF&PM wrote:
Manual trans could be in neutral as well as the transfer case in neutral Yes ? Why not have them both in neutral ? If an auto trans, I can see the auto being in Park while the transfer case is in neutral though...

All I know my 2013 owners manual says to put the transfer case in Neutral and put the transmission in gear. So I do it. I believe they want to keep the transmission output shaft from spinning. So far it has worked great for us. If there is a problem I will let Jeep know about it.

[PF_PM]

Manual trans could be in neutral as well as the transfer case in neutral Yes ? Why not have them both in neutral ? If an auto trans, I can see the auto being in Park while the transfer case is in neutral though...

[mowermech]

jw9927 wrote:
wow i though any manual trans could be pulled 4 down in neutral....didn't realize it also had to be a 4x4 also....

That is a very common misconception. It isn't QUITE true. While SOME manual transmission vehicles can be towed four down by simply putting the transmission in NEUTRAL, MANY will not lubricate properly and can burn out the transmission output shaft bearings.
MOST (but not all) 4X4 vehicles with a NEUTRAL position on the transfer case shift can be towed four down.
One should ALWAYS read and follow the instructions in the Owners Manual for the vehicle in question. However, in some cases, changes were made to the vehicle but not to the instructions, so even there caution is the byword!

[jw9927]

wow i though any manual trans could be pulled 4 down in neutral....didn't realize it also had to be a 4x4 also....

[mowermech]

Actually, SOME "older models" (2006 and previous) had an ignition switch that had a position labeled "OFF, not locked". There is no need to pull a fuse on those vehicles.
Sadly, the engineers, in their infinite wisdom, deleted that switch position on later models. Therefore, the switch must be in the "ACCessory" position to unlock the steering, so a fuse must be pulled to disable the electrical system.
Then they made the smart move of deleting the steering lock.