Community Forums

kylemcmahon1 · 05-21-2019, 02:44 PM

(On a not so serious answer)

RV not ready to go home yet. It is trying to turn around and go back to camp ground. Follow its lead back to camp ground and enjoy.

If only we could all listen to our TVs in this way. But as in most cases work and or life gets in the way.

Good luck with your fix.
I hope you get it figured out and back driving safe.

Pirate · 05-21-2019, 04:25 PM

Don't loosen anything. Jack up the front end, crank up engine so you have power steering, see where the Safe-T-Plus takes the wheels. You will know real quick if it has slipped.

Dutch Star Don · 05-21-2019, 08:36 PM

Most likely, with the one side low and the wheels cranked a little, you probably put stress on the Safety Plus clamp when you dumped the air. It may have even struck something on the frame and forced it to one side. It should be easy enough to diagnose.

markarbogast · 05-25-2019, 04:12 PM

Ok folks I figured it out and it’s not pretty. I forgot to unlock the tow jeeps steering wheel. Managed to chew up a couple of the jeeps front tires in the process. I got distracted because we had a leak in the rear AC at 2am in all that nasty Missouri tornado weather and was up all night. I wasn’t thinking too clear in the morning and stupid things always happen. It’s a slightly expensive lesson that I am ashamed to admit to. I posted this instead of hiding because I consider it my penance for being a stupid old man!

Dark Sky · 05-25-2019, 04:32 PM

Thanks for posting the root cause. I also have a 2008 Wrangler with a steering lock. I finally ripped it apart and disabled it and am very glad I did. It was a 'nice' 3 hour job that I spent 3 days completing. This included about 5 hours looking for a part I lost that I finally figured out didn't actually exist. The write-up I followed was posted here some time ago, copied over from one of the Jeep Wrangler forums. If you have any interest I could find it and maybe add a couple of helpful comments. If I was doing it again, or perhaps if I was more talented, I think I could get it done in 3 or 4 hours.
While doing research I also found an old thread where somebody had measured the current drain while the key was in the tow position, saying that it was about 2 amps. I just did a couple of 250 mile days and was pleased to find my battery was not run down like it has been in the past.

markarbogast · 05-25-2019, 04:35 PM

I would love to have that done but I’m afraid of the Air Bag issue.

Dark Sky · 05-25-2019, 05:09 PM

I was too, but I disconnected the battery the day before I started, so plenty of time for any capacitors in the system to fully discharge. The job did not involved removing the steering wheel, just the plastic shrouds around/below it. And, a couple of yoga lessons would have been good. I think I mastered the Groaning Senior pose....

F4Gary · 05-25-2019, 06:43 PM

Don't feel bad, when we tried to leave Alpine Tx, I felt a big drag on the moho when I tried to move forward.
Noticed in the mirror that the front wheel was being drag through the gravel.
Now I pissed at the wife as it's her job to set the car up and obviously left it in park.
So I get out to investigate and low and behold, I never hooked up the right side tow bar cleat. So it stretched out the ReadyBrake cable and locked the brakes.
Had to back up the moho to relieve tension on the brake cable and then finish my part of hooking the car up.
Fortunately I didn't yell at my wife before I discovered my huge error.

Plus I had just lectured her on double checking each step in setting up the car.

YC1 · 05-25-2019, 07:34 PM

Thanks for sharing even if it is a bit embarrassing .

A good check list has kept me out of so many problems.

Ray,IN · 05-25-2019, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markarbogast

Ok folks I figured it out and it’s not pretty. I forgot to unlock the tow jeeps steering wheel. Managed to chew up a couple of the jeeps front tires in the process. I got distracted because we had a leak in the rear AC at 2am in all that nasty Missouri tornado weather and was up all night. I wasn’t thinking too clear in the morning and stupid things always happen. It’s a slightly expensive lesson that I am ashamed to admit to. I posted this instead of hiding because I consider it my penance for being a stupid old man!

There 2 types of RVer's, those who have made mistakes, and those yet to make a mistake. I did exactly the same thing the first year of ownership.
At least neither of us have forgotten to put the transfer case in neutral-yet.OH wait, I did that too.

AKIQPilot · 05-26-2019, 07:27 AM

Disabling the steering lock on a ‘06 or older Wrangler is simple. On the 07-08 its slightly harder but still simple. Newer Wranglers dont have a steering lock.

MN_Traveler · 05-26-2019, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markarbogast

Ok folks I figured it out and it’s not pretty. I forgot to unlock the tow jeeps steering wheel. Managed to chew up a couple of the jeeps front tires in the process. I got distracted because we had a leak in the rear AC at 2am in all that nasty Missouri tornado weather and was up all night. I wasn’t thinking too clear in the morning and stupid things always happen. It’s a slightly expensive lesson that I am ashamed to admit to. I posted this instead of hiding because I consider it my penance for being a stupid old man!

I wonder if you should take a close look at the condition of the tow bar and base plate? Driving a ways with that lateral/sideways force on the bar might have damaged something?

DamonCamper · 05-26-2019, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markarbogast

Ok folks I figured it out and it’s not pretty. I forgot to unlock the tow jeeps steering wheel. Managed to chew up a couple of the jeeps front tires in the process. I got distracted because we had a leak in the rear AC at 2am in all that nasty Missouri tornado weather and was up all night. I wasn’t thinking too clear in the morning and stupid things always happen. It’s a slightly expensive lesson that I am ashamed to admit to. I posted this instead of hiding because I consider it my penance for being a stupid old man!

"There but by the grace of God go I"

Not stupid but that is how we learn....and reading this forum!!

dnrainey · 06-02-2019, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markarbogast

Ok folks I figured it out and it’s not pretty. I forgot to unlock the tow jeeps steering wheel. Managed to chew up a couple of the jeeps front tires in the process. I got distracted because we had a leak in the rear AC at 2am in all that nasty Missouri tornado weather and was up all night. I wasn’t thinking too clear in the morning and stupid things always happen. It’s a slightly expensive lesson that I am ashamed to admit to. I posted this instead of hiding because I consider it my penance for being a stupid old man!

As others have said, don't feel bad, been there, done that, have the $400 bill for new tires for the Jeep to prove it. I was hooking up while somewhat sleep deprived and did the same thing. I didn't notice at first since the wife offered to drive due to me being tired. Even when I took over driving I still thought it was a front end problem on the MH until we reached our destination and I went back to unhook the Jeep, uh-oh, lots of steel cords and not much rubber showing on the front tires. Luckily we were only traveling about 250 miles or I would surely have had blowouts on the front Jeep tires. Live and learn, checklist always a good idea.