No matter how properly you maintain your Jeep, at one point, you might find yourself in a tricky situation where you would need towing. And the good news is that if you are driving a Jeep Wrangler, you will not have to worry that much about towing. Like other factors, Wranglers are pretty flexible in getting towed.
But no matter how forgiving the Jeep is, you should know how to put Jeep Wrangler in neutral for towing. Without that knowledge, you will damage the vehicle’s transmission or engine. We have another good news for you: you can get to know all about the topic through this guide. Yes, we will cover the topic in-depth!
How to Keep A Wrangler in Neutral for Towing?
Basically, there are manual and automatic Wranglers out there. And the process is pretty much the same for both. You just need to do a little extra work for the manual Jeeps. Nonetheless, just follow these steps to put your Wrangler in neutral for towing:
Step 1: Put The Wrangler to A complete stop
Before anything else, you should bring the Jeep to a complete stop. But do not just try to do that on any surface. Instead, choose a flat ground and make it come to a complete stop just behind the tow vehicle.
Step 2: Work with The Transmission
You will need to press the brake pedal for the Wranglers with automatic transmission. While holding the pedal, you should shift the transmission to neutral. However, if you are working with a manual Jeep, you must press the clutch down in addition to holding the brake.
Step 3: Manage The Engine
Now, you should work with the engine. Turn it off and then shift the transfer case into neutral. This step is applicable for both manual and automatic transmission. Then, you will need to restart the engine by turning it on again.
Step 4: Work with The Transmission Again
After turning the engine back on, you should shift the transmission to the reverse mode. With that, you can release the pressure you have applied on the brake pedal. And for the manual Wrangler, you should release the clutch as well. Keep them in that state for a couple of seconds.
While waiting, you should ensure zero movements with the vehicle. If you notice activity with the Jeep, you need to start again. Also, you must repeat this step for the automatic transmission. But the second time, you should keep the engine in the drive mode instead of the reverse.
Step 5: Turn The Engine Off
Once you go through step 4, you should notice that the Wranger is secure to the ground. It should not have any movement at all. And after seeing that, you will be capable of turning the engine off again.
Step 6: Get The Engine in Parking Mode
At this point, you would need to work with the engine again. If you are rocking an automatic transmission Jeep, you should shift the transmission into Park. But if you are riding a manual Wrangler, then change the gear to the third or second slot.
Before moving further, you should ensure that the engine is off. So, if you did not do it after step 5, you must kill the switch at this point. You will severely damage the engine or the transmission by towing the vehicle with it on.
That said, it might seem a little counterintuitive to keep the Wranger on the Park before towing it. But if you put it in the other gear, you will cause damage to the transmission. When it is in the Park, the transmission fluid will circulate adequately, which will lower the chances of any damage to the engine or transmission.
Also read: Ways To Disable Auto Park feature
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Jeeps so easy to tow?
When you are talking about Jeep Wrangler, you are basically talking about its versatility. And that is the only factor that makes the Jeep Wranglers so easy to tow. You will not be facing any unexpected challenges while you are trying to tow these Jeeps, which can make the entire task a breeze.
Can I tow my Jeep Wrangler with an RV?
Absolutely! In fact, RVs are the most popular towing vehicle for Jeeps. Want to know why? RVers like to have an easy option to travel the site when they reach their camping destination. And Jeeps meet all the criteria they need to explore nearby places.
Are All Jeeps Flat Towable?
The entire Wrangler lineup is suitable for flat towing. Along with that, the Gladiator, the 4×4 models of the Jeep Liberty and Jeep Patriot, and some models of the Jeep Cherokee are perfect for flat towing.
What is the towing capacity of a Jeep Wrangler?
It will basically depend on the model. However, the average towing capacity of the Wrangler lineup is from 2000 pounds to 4000 pounds. In other words, these can handle hybrid trailers, pop-up trailers, teardrop trailers, and Airstreams.
Final Words
See, learning how to put Jeep Wrangler in neutral for towing is not that hard at all! You just need to go through six simple steps, and you will get your Jeep ready for some action. However, do make sure to follow the steps correctly. Without ensuring that, you can damage the Jeep.