kjshemwell

We have a 2011 Grand Cherokee Overland, and tow behind RV, we always make sure that the wheels are rolling, and put in "N" as the instruction manual shows. But we always have this burnt smell after towing??
Any ideas?

dave1123

Go to wk2jeeps.com/misc/2011_wk_vehicle_towing.pdf

It's a clickable link. The procedures depend on what transfer case you have.

caged

is it standard trans or auto?

are you putting the transmission in neutral, or the transfer case in neutral?

there is a specific way to flat tow your jeep behind a motorhome, doing this wrong may damage the drivetrain. you should be able to look it up in your manual that came with the vehicle.

but most, if not all jeeps should be, transfer case in neutral, transmission in park for auto, and transmission in 1st gear for stick.

if you are towing your jeep with just the automatic transmission in neutral, and transfer case in 2wd or all wheel drive, you run the risk of burning out the torque converter seal in the transmission as the pump will not be pumping trans fluid.
stick should not be a problem in neutral, but you really do want the transfer case in neutral regardless of transmission type.

dave1123

Hey caged....have you EVER seen a Grand with a stick? The link I posted shows specific info for the 2011 with each type of driveline.

Nick-B

It is normal to have some odd smells coming from your toad, but it should not last more than a minute or so. What happens is dust, oils and micro bits of tire rubber on the road get kicked up onto the underside of the towed vehicle. Then when you start it up that crud on the exhaust burns off and makes a nasty smell. Totally normal.

caged

why, yes i have. albeit not being a 2011, but i also just threw that info in for others, generally speaking.

dave1123

I was just making the point that the NP147 doesn't have a T case neutral, therefore CAN NOT be towed unless all 4 wheels are off the ground or it's on a flatbed! Hell, that T case doesn't even have a shifter!

caged

good to know, i am not very versed on the newer grands. i just picked up my 04 laredo 4.0L. i think it has a 242, can't remember but i know it has 2wd option. haven't really driven it much yet.

dave1123

I just had to have my WJ towed to a shop by AAA and I was talking to the driver on the way. He was saying that because of liability issues, they don't flat-tow ANYTHING anymore except front wheel drive cars and even those not often. He said he had to help clear an accident scene once and towed 2 at the same time, one on the bed and one on the lift bars.

caged

i been driving tow truck for 15 years now, and have never had a 4wd or awd vehicle on the wheel lift without using dollies. i just won't take the chance.
it is much easier with the flatbed, everything can go on it, except large medium duty vehicles, that's where i need to use my frame forks on the wrecker, if they're too long for the bed.

police accident calls always demand a flatbed nowadays. they don't want wreckers showing up just in case the vehicle is too damaged and they don't want to wait for a bed to show up.

i prefer a wrecker in the winter, don't like laying down in slush to find a proper hook slot. did that for years, now it's the other guys job. slinging dollies is a pita at times if there's snow build up and not level ground. but with some ingenuity, you can make it work.