I'll be towing or 1999 Cherokee XJ (auto transmission) behind our motorhome next week on a 6 hour trip. The owner's manual states that you should put the transfer case in neutral and the transmission in Park (no problem). It then states, if towing more than 50 miles - "stop hourly and run the engine to insure lubrication of the transmission rear bearings and bushings." Stopping every hour seems extreme if you are on a long trip?? Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

I just checked the Owner's Manual for my '97 ZJ with the 242 case and there is no mention of any need to stop and run the vehicle at any interval. I've never done it when I tow the ZJ or my previous XJ behind my motor home.
With the transfer case in Neutral and the transmission in Park I'm trying to understand how the trans would be experiencing any internal movement.
People have been towing assorted Jeeps for decades without any special stop and run procedures.

 

Thanks Nick- I was thinking the same as you. I just talked with a Jeep dealer tech and he said I should follow the manual since you could damage the tranny if you don't.

 

I've never seen that blurb in a manual, that wasn't referencing towing a 2wd model. Typically put trans in park, tcase in neutral and tow away. With the transmission in park the output shaft can't really spin so should be no different than when it's parked. With the tcase in neutral the rear output shaft is what turns the pump in the tcase so that's getting plenty of lubrication.

Maybe that's in reference to towing a 2wd which has to be towed with the trans in neutral? Because that doesn't sound right for a 4wd with a 231 or 242.

 

I looked at the owner's manual again and it isn't clear if the paragraph about stopping every hour applies to just 2 wheel drive models or both 2 wheel and 4WD Cherokees. Would like to hear from more folks who have towed a similar Cherokee (1999 XJ with an automatic).Thanks for your comments.

 

I agree with both your comments. Just spoke with another Jeep dealer who said the "stop every 50 miles / 1 hour" issue applies just to 2WD models...…….Had to ask for opinions as I don't want to destroy the tranny and don't always believe what a dealer tells you. (Seems like I've rarely got the same answer from two different dealers on other questions....)

 

Don't forget the XJ has been out of production for nearly 20 years now. There will probably not be a lot of techs working at a chrysler/jeep dealer that have a lot of experience messing with them. I've found most dealers to be a poor source for information for actual operation of a vehicle and int he case of older Jeeps maintenance information.

My local Jeep dealer tried to tell me they had to drop the transmission to replace the rear main seal on a 4.0L Jeep. I asked if he was sure he said this is what his shop foreman was telling him. I said either they're trying to rip me off or his shop foreman doesn't know anything about Jeeps. He basically shrugged his shoulders and said this is what he's being told. I bit the bullet and just did it myself even though I really didn't' have the time to mess with it.

Basically they may not always be the best source of info so it helps to do what you did here and go online and get information.

 

You are right- just getting tough to find guys still in the business that know about the older vehicles (of any kind). I have a 2007 Harley and the dealers around here won't service or work on anything more than 10 years old! Thanks for you reply.

 

I have a few old-timers at my local dealership. Worth their weight in gold!