Tow 09 Wrangler without Key in ignition?

[hardy1000]

Does anyone tow an 2007-2009 Wrangler Unlimited with no key in the ignition?

I have 2 buddys, one with an 08 and the other with an 09 that tow without a key because they do not have steering lock. The 08 has put 3000 miles on it with no problems.
I am going to check and see if mine has steering lock and if it does not I will try it without the key.

Any feed back would be appriciated.

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

08 Wrangler Sahara 4 Dr definitely requriers key in to unlock steering

[jhlady]

If your Wrangler is an automatic, no key needed.

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

My 08 is an automatic..and the steering wheel locks.

[Rich and Cork]

I have an '08 and the steering wheel does lock with the key removed, just like the other above posts say. The '09 does not. My neighbor has one and we checked it; his does NOT lock.

There are a couple of other posts regarding towing the later model Wranglers. The '07-'09 are different electrically than the previous models.

[stuyguy]

I have an 09 Wrangler, manual transmission, and have towed it without placing the key in the ignition. Chrysler looked at my build sheet and confirmed that I don't have a steering-wheel lock. My wife confirmed there's no steering-wheel lock when I took her for a ride--me in RV, she in toad.

[hardy1000]

Thanks Guys,
My steering dosen't lock either. It will be nice when we pull over not to have to worry about taking the key out and locking the doors and trying to remember to put the key back in when we leave. I never pulled the IOD fuse because my braking system has a charge wire from the MH to the Jeep.

Again, thanks for the input

[Latitude]

I have a '08 Wrangler Unlimited 4 Door automatic.

and as Ronnie has said You DO need the Key in the First Forward Position to unlock the steering whel.

I have "Heard" some '09s and all the 2010s will not have the Steering Lock!!

Rick

[Letsgoagain]

Now thats interesting. I have a 09 Wrangler Sahara Unlimited and I just checked it. The steering wheel doesn't lock when the key is removed.
This means no more inserting the key which also means the requirement to pull the IOD fuse to prevent running the battery down is eliminated.
Very useful info. Thanks.
Letsgoagain

[CoolTech]

I believe that the steering wheel locks were eliminated from ALL 2009-Forward Jeep Wranglers.

If you have an '09, double check before towing but you will likely not need to have a key in the ignition at all and therefore no need for IOD or battery disconnect

[faye]

do you have to remove a fuse in the cavalier to prevent battery from running down? walter

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

Rick, check the cooltechllc.com web site for the battery disconnect...eliminates pulling the fuse by turning a knob to disengage the battery. I received 3 Cool Tech accessories for my birthday today: Battery disconnect, Strut kit for the back door, and quick releases for the hard top. All were easy to install except strut kit which took about 2 hours and broke two drills doing the pilot holes...all are installed and working as advertised.

[hardy1000]

The Cootech stuff is great..The rear strut is the best no more getting hit in the !@#when you open it to get something in or out the back. I also have installed the wiring kit and there lic plate CB mount.

I checked and my 09 Wrangler Unlimited and it does not have steering lock. No more key and no pulling fuses.

[Kyp J]

I am jealous of those '09s. My '08 definitely has a lock (at 180* of steering wheel turn from straight). Luckily I found out my key was not quite at the first click (it clicked, just not enough) after a tight turn just before stopping in a parking lot. The front tires were twisting trying to go straight.

Our former 2000 Wrangler was easy to remove the locking pawl but the '08 has too much electrical junk in the way of getting the lock out of the steering column and odd size torx screws holding it all in.