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Jeep towing question

August 30, 2014, 06:51:04 pm

 Have been towing a 2010 Jeep Unlimited without disconnecting the battery and without the key in the acc. position as the book recommends.  I have traded for a 2014 Unlimited, book still saids to leave the key in the acc. position and disconnect  the battery. Is this necessary? Is anyone towing a 2013 or 14 without disconnecting the battery and with the key in your pocket?

Thanks for your help.

Roy

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Re: Jeep towing question

Reply #1 – August 30, 2014, 06:56:36 pm

We tow a 2013 Jeep Wrangler 4 door with no key in the ignition.  The documents are incorrect.  I contacted Jeep before we purchased our Jeep and asked the question to the Jeep Help Line.  They acknowledged that the documents are wrong and said that the documents would be corrected.  (Whatever that means). 

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Re: Jeep towing question

Reply #2 – August 30, 2014, 07:22:42 pm

We tow our 2012 Liberty with the key in the coach. Battery is connected. So far no problems. This is according to the owner's manual.

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Reply #3 – August 30, 2014, 07:25:58 pm

I took a different approach on my 2000 jeep Wrangler.  Got tired of disconnecting the battery, so I dismantled the steering column cover, removed the cover on the ignition switch, took the spring out of the pin that locks the steering wheel, and voila!, the steering wheel no longer locks when you turn off the key.  Works great.

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Re: Jeep towing question

Reply #4 – August 30, 2014, 09:36:30 pm

I am not sure what year, maybe 2009/2010, Jeep changed their design to no longer require the battery to be disconnected or the key in the ignition.  The key needed to be in the ignition so the steering wheel and the front wheels did not lock in place.  The front wheels must turn with the tow vehicle.  Since the ignition key must be in the lock turned to ACC,  the battery must have been disconnected so the batteries would not be depleted.

When we purchased our 2011 Jeep Wrangler and had Camping World install the tow base plated they also said that we must install a battery disconnect - $400.00+/-.  This turned out not to be true.

As stated, we tow our 2014 manual Wrangler in gear with the transfer case in Neutral.  The doors are locked and the keys are in the coach with us.  Automatics can also be towed the same way - in gear with the transfer case in Neutral.

If you call Jeep Corporate direct they will tell you that the documents are incorrect.

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Re: Jeep towing question

Reply #5 – August 30, 2014, 11:34:57 pm

We have a 2012 Wrangler Sport (automatic, 4dr) with the transfer case in neutral, trans in park and the key in the coach.  Our manual seems to be correct. 

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Re: Jeep towing question

Reply #6 – August 31, 2014, 08:43:57 am

We have a 2014 Jeep Unlimited (purchased in April). We tow it with transmission in park, transfer case in neutral and key in our motor coach. Just returned from 10,000 mile trip to Alaska without any towing issues.

Tows great!


jack

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