[CrackerJack]

I just got the adjustable tow bar from harbor freight. Reading the instructions it says to have the towed vehicle's wheels aimed straight & streering wheel locked. I called a buddy who flat tows his jeep & he says he leaves the steering unlocked. I also read through some of the other threads here & it seems that everyone leaves the steering unlocked. I was just wondering why it would say to have it locked in the instructions?

[Rambo]

damn chinese!!! steering unlocked, transfercase in neutral, tranny in park or in 1st gear for manual. steering unlocked(key on)

i always put the transfercase in neutral , then put it in 1st gear, then i pull the jeep with my hands to the tow vehicle hitch. that guarentees its truly in nuetral...

is your jeep auto?

[Trailblazer]

Rambo, on Feb 5 2010, 12:23 PM, said:

...steering unlocked, transfercase in neutral, tranny in park or in 1st gear for manual...

I plan to do the same when the jeep is done, but why would you leave an auto tranny in park?

[Rambo]

trailblazer, on Feb 5 2010, 02:13 PM, said:

I plan to do the same when the jeep is done, but why would you leave an auto tranny in park?

dont know the reason, but thats how it has to be! plus thats how its stated in my 06 commander 4x4 owners manual

[CrackerJack]

my YJ is 5 speed.

[JeepNWilly]

CrackerJack, on Feb 5 2010, 05:18 PM, said:

my YJ is 5 speed.

Do what Rambo said

[CrackerJack]

That's what I did. Tc in neutral & tranny in first. Was alittle afraid leaving it in 1st, but no problem. Exchanged the tow bar today at Harbor freight. Hopefully this one will last me more than 1/2 a trip.

[JeepNWilly]

What actually broke on it?

[CrackerJack]

There's a bolt on each on the arms that you loosen to spread the arms apart to the necessary width to match up with the bumper mounts. Some how they were both gone (broke or loose?) & one arm was bent in a "L" shape. I did have to hit my brakes hard once because the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes. No sure if that had something to do with it or not. Dave told me he had a similar problem with his first one.

[JeepNWilly]

Oh yikes. Get some locktight after you set it so it will not get loose again

[Krocker]

I'm sure its in their, maybe you just missed it.

I'm sure its in their, maybe you just missed it.

[Wardie]

forget harbour frieght tow bar--broke one myself sergio broke a few--why trust your expensive jeep to a $49 piece of crap? it is rated for 5,000 lbs. it has been a long time since i took physics but it seems to me that inertia alone, when stopping fast, turning quick, or hitting an unseen object, will multiply the weight of your jeep to well beyond what this tow bar can handle.

[Mean Max]

trailblazer, on 05 February 2010 - 01:13 PM, said:

I plan to do the same when the jeep is done, but why would you leave an auto tranny in park?

Rambo, on 05 February 2010 - 01:34 PM, said:

dont know the reason, but thats how it has to be! plus thats how its stated in my 06 commander 4x4 owners manual

Both the automatic & the manual transmissions are left in a locked state by leaving it in "PARK" (auto) or in gear (manual) for the same reason. Even with the T-case in neutral the T-case input shaft will want to spin a little while the output shaft is being turned by the rolling wheels, leaving the transmission locked in park or gear will prevent this.

Imagine 2 desk fans facing each other. One is plugged in & powered up (think wheels turning driveshafts/T-case output shaft) while the other fan remains unplugged (think T-case input shaft & transmission output shaft) or turned off. The air from the powered fan will spin the unpowered fan, and the same thing will happen in the T-case with regards to the input & output shafts unless the transmission is locked.

If this is allowed to happen by leaving the transmission in neutral, the transmission will not have the benefit of recieving bearing lubrication which is normally provided by the front pump being turned in an automatic or the cluster gear shaft spinning in a manual transmission with the engine running.

For flat towing, T-case in neutral, transmission in park or locked in gear. Hope this helps!

Max

[Trailblazer]

Thanks for the explaination. Once i get the rear perches welded up i'll be flat towing it to the muffler shop so i'll give this a try.