Question Jeep mileage adds while towing?

[offroader09]

I also own a Land Cruiser (FJ60) try driving a Jeep to a Cruiser event better have thick skin. However if I drive the Cruiser to a Jeep event the Jeep crowd is way cooler. So enjoy your Jeep no mater what you end up with. I put over 300K on my TJ Rubicon with Automatic, if that helps. Oh and those were not easy miles. If I could take one back it would be the TJ.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I doesn't matter if the Jeep is old or new, Digital or analog. I have had all. The output shaft does not turn. The transfer case is always shifted into neutral.....unless you an idiot and forget. On the older Jeeps, one had to turn the ignition key one notch to unlock the steering but it did not engage any power.. In our 2018, there is no steering lock. No need to leave a key in the ignition thus, again, not power. Towing or trailering is a matter of choice. Do trailer tires, wheel bearings and brakes not wear? And then there is the BS about what to do with the trailer once you reach your destination. The big difference is convenience and that is why the majority of toads are Jeeps and that they are flat towed. Further, the industry average distance traveled per year by motor homes is about 5000 Miles and not all of those miles are towing miles. Given the durability of Jeeps, I suggest the additional wear is insignificant.

Darrell

Ok Darrell, you caught me! I don't like flat towing! A different word better describes my feelings. I've used dollies as well, and don't like them much better!

I would rather tow a trailer! Never had trouble backing one of those! That might answer my preference of the three. But I can’t think of anything that bothers me more than flat towing. The wear on the towed is negligible for sure. 100000 miles towed? Really? In how many years?

No, none of that matters to me! That trip, however, where the vehicle I was towing early morning around the cloverleaf entrance to the freeway in San Diego! Yup! That day I will not forget! As I was committed to the turn but because of morning dew keeping the towed from following my truck, it pushed the tail end of my truck towards the rail, then down into the center of the cloverleaf. Thanks to all the vegetation my vehicles did not maintain their forward momentum. Both a dolly or a trailer! that would never have happened! I'm not the only one that has such a story to tell!!!

 

[BGMAC]

Ok, I just wanted to clarify a few things. I went out to test a few scenarios today. I have a 2009 Jeep Wrangler Safari automatic.
1. Will the speedometer work with transfer in neutral and transmission in park? (Switch on)
1. Answer: yes it will

2. Will power come on at first click of ignition switch?
2. Answer: yes it will and steering wheel unlocks.

I have video recordings of the tests I’ll be posting a little later.

Here is one video:

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Ok, I just wanted to clarify a few things. I went out to test a few scenarios today. I have a 2009 Jeep Wrangler Safari automatic.
1. Will the speedometer work with transfer in neutral and transmission in park? (Switch on)
1. Answer: yes it will

2. Will power come on at first click of ignition switch?
2. Answer: yes it will and steering wheel unlocks.

I have video recordings of the tests I’ll be posting a little later.

Here is one video:

Thank you for that! How many speed is the transmission. My guess is 3spd 1od. That may make a difference! You would make an honest reporter!!! Something in short supply nowadays.

 

[BGMAC]

Thank you for that! How many speed is the transmission. My guess is 3spd 1od. That may make a difference! You would make an honest reporter!!! Something in short supply nowadays.

It is 3spd 1od, but I look at it this way;
in line; engine, then transmission, then transfer case, then driveshaft, and last rear end.
with the transmission in park, its output shaft to the transfer case is locked in place So from there forward is out of play. Now with the transfer case in neutral, the front side gearing is locked with the transmission. The back side of the neutral position the gearing will be spinning with the drive shaft When going down the road. I’m over simplifying it and I don’t know the internal workings of the transfer case. I just know the results from the test and how I interpret it.

 

[Underboss]

As I originally said some are gear driven and newer speedos are electronic. Either way, you follow the owners manual and you will not add mileage. The mechanical is disconnected when the transfer case is in neutral. And without power, a hall effect speedo, if that is what they use will not work.

The first picture is the owners manual for a 2009, must disconnect battery cable because the steering wheel will lock if the key is in the off position.
Second picture is an owners manual from a 2015, turn key to off. I know there were a few quirky years where you had to disconnect the battery. I owned a 15 and knew the steering did not lock in the off position

 

[Rich W.]

I have a 2001 and I turn the key back one click from on. That kills power but prevents the steering wheel from locking. Works just fine although the anti-lock brakes dont work with the key off so on those rare occasions of heavy braking, the jeep wheels lock up while the coach does not. Its only happened three times in 50k miles. But either way, no towing milage shows on the odo. The jeep was at 76k when I bought it and after all the towing its showing 78k.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

In '03 Chrysler had a D35 or D44 under that Wrangler and by that time most* RWD/4WD applications had an exciter ring on the differential that read speed via an electronic pickup mounted in the axle housing. My '02 Dakota worked this way and when I blew a fuse for the dash, it no longer recorded mileage. When I forgot to plug the speed sensor back in after doing an axle seal change, it didn't record mileage. The seller's story sounds like total BS.

* at least with trucks

 

[BGMAC]

As I originally said some are gear driven and some newer speedos are electronic. Either way, you follow the owners manual and you will not add mileage. The mechanical is disconnected when the transfer case is in neutral. And without power, a hall effect speedo, if that is what they use will not work.

The first picture is the owners manual for a 2009, must disconnect battery cable because the steering wheel will lock if the key is in the off position.
Second picture is an owners manual from a 2015, turn key to off. I know there were a few quirky years where you had to disconnect the battery. I owned a 15 and knew the steering did not lock in the off position

Agree with the 2009 stuff I already had it downloaded and have a battery disconnect switch installed.
In one of my previous comments about the mile running up I stated it could have run up if the power was left on while towing. Just wanted to test that.

 

[Underboss]

Agree with the 2009 stuff I already had it downloaded and have a battery disconnect switch installed.
In one of my previous comments about the mile running up I stated it could have run up if the power was left on while towing. Just wanted to test that.

Just wanted to clarify so someone else does not treat it like a gotcha moment. Having built a number of cars, the later speedos used the sensor which made for a cleaner look under the hood/car. On the last 32 I built, it was a Muncie 4 speed but I used an electronic speedo so I did not have to run the cable