Shifting the Transfer Case from N to 2H

[Tenbrooks]

I purchased a 2024 Gladiator Sport S in June, 2024 to be towed behind my motorhome. I've followed the Gladiator owners manual instructions to put the Gladiator in N for towing. That seems to work OK. My problem is shifting the transfer case from N to 2H. The owner's manual states this should be done with the engine stopped to avoid gear clash. Problem is, I can't move the shift lever from N to 2H with the engine stopped. My salesman at the dealership tried and had the same result as I had. He started the engine and was able to shift the transfer case from N to 2H. I told him that the owner's manual specifically stated not to have the engine running when shifting from N to 2H. I spoke with "technical assistant" at Jeep today and she offered no immediate help but stated that she would pass the problem to another department. Is the owners manual wrong?

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[JustAddWater]

Have you tried starting the jeep, put the transmission in N, turn the jeep off and try to go from N to 2H on the transfer case?

 

[bgott]

Brute force and ignorance. These things are a total bitch to shift until you work them loose. I live on 2.6 acres and would come home and pass around the yard a few times shifting up and down before it finally loosened up. The first time I tried to shift it into 4wd I was yanking the stick with both hands as hard as I could and it wouldn't move. I thought I was going to have to take to the dealership, I thought it was broken. My Ram never had that problem! Once you have cycled it through the ranges a dozen times or so it'll be easier to figure out.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

I cannot believe that the manual says that the engine has to be shut down to shift between N and 4H.

I always shift with the engine running in both of my Jeeps.

In the Gladiator as follows

2H to 4HAuto - during normal driving up to app. 50 mph
4HAuto to 4H - as above
4H to N - engine running but gear in N, if possible very slow speed 1-2 mph
N to 4L - as above

in the TJ

2H to 4H - during normal driving up to app. 50 mph
4H to N - engine running but gear in N, if possible very slow speed 1-2 mph
N to 4L - as above

 

[Lost1wing]

This is only for flat towing! The 2024 owners manual recommends the vehicle rolling 1-3 mph when normal shifting the transfer case. Since he is talking about preparing to restore the vehicle from after a flat tow, he would had to follow the instructions exactly as stated for preparation for a flat tow to begin with for things to line up.

 

[Rusty PW]

With the engine running, in park or N. I can shift from 2H to N, and back again.

 

[Tenbrooks]

Again, my problem is returning the Gladiator to normal drive conditions after flat wheel towing. The owners manual provides instructions but it states that in order to shift the transfer case from N back to 2H, the engine must be stopped to avoid gear clash (p. 159). It's not possible to do this with the engine stopped. I took it back to the dealership today and had a service tech try to shift the transfer case per the Jeep procedures and he could not do it. He said the Jeep needs to be rocked back and forth during the shift procedure. We tried that and it did not work plus, that's not possible if you're by yourself. He then started the Jeep and was able to put the transfer case in 2H but with some noticeable noises coming from the transmission or transfer case - not good. He then suggested I leave it a the dealership's maintenance dept. and they will need to look at it to determine the problem. I'm beginning to think the owners manual procedures are wrong.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Why would flat towing be any different than shifting it when out wheeling? I think they are over complicating it with different instructions. Neutral is neutral wether you're passing through it to end up in 4LO or just trying to get to neutral and vice versa. If it won't shift with the engine off but will with the engine running, I think there's a logical answer here?

 

[Stuntman Mike]

Usually the answer is RTFM.

In this case DNRTFM is the better advise ...

 

[Josh00333]

I’ve read the manual too, and that’s what it says. I personally have shifted from four low to neutral to too 2 high. I don’t know maybe 100 times and never ever once ever never never never never never shut the engine off.

 

[TestMule]

I've always shifted from N to 2H in my JL and JT with the engine running and the transmission in neutral. Works every time.

 

[Rick1956]

Bryce,

I saw your original post and was wondering if you are still experiencing the same issue shifting the transfer case out of N to 2H after flat towing.

I also purchased a 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon (new) to tow behind our motorhome and have fought it from day one after flat towing. Like you I have followed the owners manual instructions to no avail. It acts like it might be some kind of computer issue on the jeep, if that is possible. To free mine up after flat towing, I will start the jeep and put the transmission in neutral from park, turn off the ignition, then without starting it push the start button to get it to (accessory) and then try the transfer case from N to 2H, if that doesn't work I will push the start button again without actually starting the rig in the (run) position again and try to move from N to 2H and if this doesn't work I will push the start button again to (off) and again try it. If this doesn't work sometimes I can get it to drop into 4L and get the jeep to move a little while still being hooked up to the tow gear and get it to pop into 2H.

The reason I think it might be a computer issue on the jeep is because every time we flat tow I get a computer error and loose all air pressure readings to all 4 tires. This all comes back on after driving the jeep for awhile after being disconnected from towing.

Before we purchased our gladiator we towed our 2003 jeep wrangler from the west coast to the east coast and everywhere in between and never had any issues.

I Look forward to your reply, Thanks, Rick.

 

[Timoleon]

They are all stiff. My 69 Bronco was stiff too. I just forced it multiple times till it worked. Then I exercised it regularly till I got passed that.

 

[berb]

Why would flat towing be any different than shifting it when out wheeling? I think they are over complicating it with different instructions. Neutral is neutral wether you're passing through it to end up in 4LO or just trying to get to neutral and vice versa. If it won't shift with the engine off but will with the engine running, I think there's a logical answer here?

Flat towing is different. When flat towing the transfer case can be very difficult to get it out of N and into 2H.

 

[Stan H]

Flat towing is different. When flat towing the transfer case can be very difficult to get it out of N and into 2H.

Will it go in 4H from neutral after a flat tow ?

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