Gladiator flat tow

[WayBro]

My new 2023 gladiator manual says when taking out of flat tow to crank the engine, gear selector in neutral then turn OFF engine and move 4 wheel drive selector from neutral to 2H. When I turn off the engine, I cannot get the 4 wheel selector to move in any direction. If I crank the engine, it easily moves to 2H. Any one else have this issue?

[BT3927]

We have a 2021 Gladiator and at first it was really hard to shift the transfer case. After a while it's loosened up a bit and is much easier. The more you shift it the smoother it will be. I would shift ours into 4H while slowly driving down our residential street then back into 2H when I reached the driveway just to "exercise" it a bit.

[DanleyFarm]

If you turn off and shift at the same time it is much easier. You need both hands. Until it get more use. Yes! Hard to shift when new. Try that trick putting it in neutral and out of neutral makes it much easier.

[MRichaud]

Originally Posted by BT3927

We have a 2021 Gladiator and at first it was really hard to shift the transfer case. After a while it's loosened up a bit and is much easier. The more you shift it the smoother it will be. I would shift ours into 4H while slowly driving down our residential street then back into 2H when I reached the driveway just to "exercise" it a bit.

^^ This - especially the last sentence. We bought an '18 Wrangler a couple years ago that was used by the dealership as a loaner - only had about 6000 miles on it. I don't think it was put into 4wd much at all. It seemed nearly impossible to engage until I finally got it working. Took the advice of frequently putting it in 4wd, whether it needed it or not, and now it's not an issue. Every once in a while it needs "persuading" by rocking back and forth, but not that often. What's the old adage? "Use it or lose it!"