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Bajamike1000 · 12-30-2021, 03:23 PM

I’ve been reading some of the posts but still have a question about what gear the trans should be in while towing. I looked at my manual and it says put in gear. Does it matter which gear? I use 3rd, I googled and someone said neutral. There was a printed piece of paper in my manual that said 1st gear. Which is it?

Diesel-Lover · 12-30-2021, 05:05 PM

Whoa bro. Get thee to a dealer and have a serious conversation with the service supervisor not the ticket writer the techie.

If your jeep is a 4x4 then it has a High, Low, Neutral type thingie. On my 4x4s that is the thing I put in neutral.

The goal is to decouple or disconnect the engine etc from the wheels. That would then provide you with the least resistance when you are towing your toy behind the RV

**Lt Dan** · 12-30-2021, 06:21 PM

1st gear is the best to put the manual transmission in when towing with the transfer case in neutral. The idea is to keep the transmission from free wheeling while being towed. DO NOT leave it in neutral as someone posted. Even the automatic transmissions are to be put in Park.

Diesel-Lover · 12-30-2021, 07:39 PM

Thanks Lt Dan, I stand corrected.

So I looked it up and figured out the stuff. Here is a link that esplains it well.

https://www.quadratec.com/c/referenc...-jeep-wrangler

Bajamike1000 · 12-31-2021, 09:53 AM

Thank you for those who answered my question. I know the transfer case is put in neutral. It’s that gear shift and which gear. It just wasn’t clear. someone wrote on a paper in my manual that said 1st gear. But you know that goes. The manual just said gear. Thanks again for the wisdom! Happy Traveling!

FIRE UP · 12-31-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bajamike1000

I’ve been reading some of the posts but still have a question about what gear the trans should be in while towing. I looked at my manual and it says put in gear. Does it matter which gear? I use 3rd, I googled and someone said neutral. There was a printed piece of paper in my manual that said 1st gear. Which is it?

Well Baja,
First off, whoever told you told you to put your TRANSMISSION in NEUTRAL when towing, is absolutely clueless. Second, as you more than likely know, your Jeep owners manual will lay out, each and every step for towing behind a motorhhome. The '07's and early '08's were kind of a pain when towing. In that, they required you to turn the ignition key one click or so, to unlock the steering. Unfortunately, that also energized some of the electrical system. When that happens, DEAD BATTERY after a given amount of time towing.

After mid year in '08, Jeep changed that system and you no longer needed the key turned because, they eliminated the steering lock. Now, as your trans "in gear" when towing, ANY gear will work. All you're trying to accomplish is stop the gears from turning, due to friction influence being applied from the transfer case. The transfer case IS in neutral but, the friction of the oil in that transfer case still tries to turn the input shaft from the output side of the transmission. By putting the trans in any gear, none of those transmission gears can spin. And that's good because, there's no lubing of those trans gears when the Jeep is not being actually driven.

Unless your '07 is a Rubicon, you will have a model 231 Chain driven, aluminum transfer case. It has its own oil pump in the rear of it, that is driven by the output shaft of the transfer case. Hence, when towing the Jeep, that output shaft is also being turned due to the rear wheels turning the drive shaft. That's what lubes your transfer case while towing the Jeep. Hope some of this helps.
Scott

Bajamike1000 · 01-01-2022, 09:37 AM

Thanks Scott. That pretty much sums up my Sahara. The jeep was set up before I bought it for towing except the battery had a so called quick disconnect but was a pain to do. I had a Solenoid installed with a button inside the jeep to connect/disconnect the battery, which makes it harder to steal if you don’t know. I guess that’s why the manual only says put it in gear, not a specific gear. After reading the posts yesterday I called a 4x4 mechanic and they said neutral! I know that wasn’t true but there you go. Thanks again!

FIRE UP · 01-01-2022, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bajamike1000

Thanks Scott. That pretty much sums up my Sahara. The jeep was set up before I bought it for towing except the battery had a so called quick disconnect but was a pain to do. I had a Solenoid installed with a button inside the jeep to connect/disconnect the battery, which makes it harder to steal if you don’t know. I guess that’s why the manual only says put it in gear, not a specific gear. After reading the posts yesterday I called a 4x4 mechanic and they said neutral! I know that wasn’t true but there you go. Thanks again!

Roger that Sir,
Glad I could be of assistance. Regular Jeep Wranglers, as in around '17 and below, are quite easy to set up for towing, and, when it comes time to actually tow them, the steps are about a simple as it gets. Some vehicles, like later model Ford trucks, it's almost an encyclopedia of instructions for prep for towing.

As for your Sahara, well, the Sahara's a great model of Jeep Wrangler to have. First off, they're top of the line in the Wrangler lineup. Typically, the Sahara comes with a Dana 44 rear axle whereas, any model below it, comes with a Dana 35 (a bit weaker axle assembly). And many of those Dana 44's came with limited slip differentials so, off roading, at least in mild forms, is improved with at least SOME traction and drive enhancement. You should have a great time with that Jeep. Good luck.
Scott