We tow our Jeep behind our small motorhome. The manual says to shift the auto transmission to D, move the t-case shifter to N then put the transmission in P.

Is there a difference in doing that as opposed to put the transmission in N, then the t-case in N then the transmission in P?

 

That's odd - I swear my 1999 manual says for the auto to put both in N...

 

If it's in park shouldn't the wheels be locked regardless of what position the tc was in?

 

Negative, your tc is the finally piece in the driveline if it's in neutral then your wheels will spin free

 

This. The tcase is between the trans and wheels. Tcase is in N, trans has no control.

 

I would think if the manual specifically states it I would follow their suggestion just to be safe.

There isnt much effort difference.

 

exactly

 

Doesn't putting the T case in neutral engage the front drive shaft to the rear? That could be bad around corners

 

Just read my '99 owner's manual about this because it sounded so odd. That's what it said but I think it's a typo. The first step it says to do is to shift the transmission into N (Neutral). then it babbles on about shifting it into Drive.

I don't think that shifting the tranny to Neutral first then shifting the TC to Neutral is a problem, as long as you end up with the tranny in P (Park) and the TC in neutral.

 

Why would you want the transmission in P?

 

No, it doesn't. 4wd does that.

 

To hold the internals of the trans still so they can't be moved by any hydraulic action from the t-case to the trans.

 

For those that did not know, placing the t-case in neutral completely disengages the transmission from the drive train. When we tow the Jeep with the motorhome, the t-case in neutral allows the wheels to freely spin without affecting the transmission. I was just curious if there was any difference between starting with the transmission in neutral or drive before placing the the t-case in neutral.

 

The point they're trying to get across IIRC is that you need to verify the t-case is in Neutral for sure.

Here's how to be sure.

Trans in N, TC in N. Start Jeep and move trans to D with your foot on the brake. Jeep doesn't move? Good. Shut Jeep off. Put trans in P. If you don't shut it off and move the Trans lever to P, the parking pawl will grind like crazy.

I have seen 2 instances of people not doing this correctly. One was a cheapo customer who didn't want to pay a tow truck to haul his Jeep to Prescott from Phoenix. so he rented a towbar and towed it himself. He actually got the tC into Low instead of N and left the trans in N, and towed it 1000 miles. He got to buy a new trans and TC.

The second one was towed behind a motorhome. we got a call to go do a tire change on the towed vehicle. Why? The people had the vehicle behind a motorhome and lived in a rural area on a dirt road. Didn't get the TC into N but in 4wd. Put trans in P. After 1/2 mile on paved roads realized the tires weren't rotating on the towed vehicle and 3 of 4 of the tires worn down till they popped.

 

shifting trans into drive or neutral to shift the t-case doesn't matter. as long as you get the t-case into neutral.
as mentioned, shifting to drive then the t-case to neutral reassures that the t-case is in neutral and driveline is disconnected.
then make sure you shut off the engine, then put shifter in park. this way you know the steering wheel is unlocked but the dash lights are off.

if you leave the trans in neutral, it will hydraulically move the internals in the trans from the spinning in the t-case, thus wearing out your trans seals, resulting in a leaking transmission.

t-case in neutral, transmission in park, steering unlocked.