msmith1199 wrote:
Two questions, I just set up my 2017 Wrangler to be towed and did a test tow of it and everything worked fine. First question, I'm pretty sure you don't have to leave the key in the ignition in the on position anymore as the steering wheel lock has been removed. Is this correct? The owners manual does not say to leave the key in the ignition, but it also doesn't say to remove it either. I removed it and locked the doors with the remote and everything seemed to work fine. Just want to make sure that's okay.
Next question, in following the directions when it came time to shift the transfer case into neutral and out of neutral it was extremely hard to do. I ended up sticking my foot out the door and moving the jeep a little and it eventually shifted, but even with moving it, it was still hard to shift. I had a previous 2001 Wrangler and it was very easy to shift the transfer case. Is this normal or is it something I need to have the dealer take a look at?
msmith1199,
First off, congrats on the purchase of your '17 Jeep JK. They're fine and fun vehicles. While Jeep is not explicit about the "key" in it's instructions for prep for towing, since they did NOT say to leave it in or, in any particular position, it's pretty safe to assume it can be removed and, if you choose, lock your doors. We've been doing it this way on our 2015 JKUR now for a few thousand miles and, that procedure has and is, working just fine.
As for your "hard shifting" of the T/C case, well, one thing you need to understand about them is, they are not nearly as refined as a standard transmission is. As standard transmission has waaaaaaaay better shifting mechanism(s) and, also has syncros for shift/gear mesh assistance.
A transfer case, especially the 231 or, in the Rubicon and Hard Rock, the 241OR, those are much more primitive in shifting and gear mesh. They are shifted by an indirect linkage which can and does, flex a bit which, allows for a lot less positive and effecient shifting. And then there's the gears. There is no SYNCRO that allows for smooth transition from one gear to another and even finding neutral.
After owning 9 Jeeps up to this point, it's been a given that, the more you use 4WD or, at the least, shift your transfer case in and out of 4H, 4L, N, and 2WD, the easier it gets to find all those positions. I've proved it many, many times with friends who've Jeeped with us. The shifting was sticky and difficult when all their Jeeps were new but, after even just one or two days of a bit of off roading with multiple shifting procdures into all those positions mentioned above, every single one of them achieved much more fluid shifting with considerably less effort.
You're "breaking in" both the gears and the shifting mechanism. Now, it's NEVER going to be as smooth and easy as a regular stick transmission but, it will definitely get considerably easier with more and more use/movement of that shifting mechanism.
Scott
