tow haul button swap?

nowherefast77 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:12 am **Posts:** 13

So after reading a ton of stuff on this forum one of the things I decided to check out on my newly purchased 2011 was the tow/haul button. And of course it was stuck. I was able to free it up with 3 forceful pushes in rapid succession and it works fine for now.

I was also looking recently at some interior pics online to see what kind of El cheapo easy mods people have done. I came across a pic of the KJ shift lever and noticed the button on the side. I remember reading a few posts about fellas wanting to change out the shift knob for something a little less standoutish (myself included though I'm living with it ) and also of course have read a ton about the sticking button.

So my question is, has anyone tried to kill 2 birds with one stone and tried to / successfully managed to swap the handles and utilize the KJ tow haul button?

Johnny · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:25 pm

Subscribed.

I've always hated that I have to push an awkwardly located button to go into 3rd gear.

nowherefast77 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:12 am **Posts:** 13

Yup its pretty annoying. I'm actually in the process of towing a uhaul 4x8 from Texas to NY. right now. I've had I've mostly been keeping it in O/D as its been flat and I'm not to full. Hasn't been an issue yet. The few time I did feel the need to drop it out of O/D of course it was after dark and I had to hunt around for the stupid button.

PALiftedKK · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 11:37 am

my button sticks constantly. i don't tow yet with my KK, but i do use the tow/haul for very steep mountains in VA if not in 1st or 2nd.

nowherefast77 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:12 am **Posts:** 13

I was able to "punch" my button a few times and it freed it right up. What bothers me more then that is the placement.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 1:07 pm

Wonder why they changed it from the KJs?
On ours placement is right there at your finger tips, no hunting or searching for it and not heard of any real issues with them.

nowherefast77 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:12 am **Posts:** 13

I know, I'd love to have that. I'm seriously thinking when I'm done with this trip to see if it's possible to swap the shift knobs. I can't see why the knob itself wouldn't work and I imagine it wouldn't be to hard to run the wiring. In fact I bet the little extra length it may take is till in the harness. I highly doubt they actually changed the harness length just to move the button.

Of course nowadays that extra .005 of a cent saved from cutting out 2 inches of 12ga copper could've been the motivation to move the button!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:42 am

No tow/haul button on a KJ,the KJ has a OD off button and the KK has tow/haul and yes there is a difference.

nowherefast77 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:12 am **Posts:** 13

Huh....interesting I didn't realize that. What's the difference?

I would still think if you swapped the levers and ran the wires from the tow/haul to the button that would've been the OD off it would work. The switch itself shouldn't matter it's the signal that makes the difference. I would think anyway?

Johnny · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 5:17 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

No tow/haul button on a KJ,the KJ has a OD off button and the KK has tow/haul and yes there is a difference.

Explain.

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

To my knowledge, the tow/haul button goes a little further than just turning off O/D. It will actually prevent early up/down shifting, allowing the transmission to not shift constantly and therefore keep it running cooler.

nowherefast77 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:12 am **Posts:** 13

Yeah you know now that you say that, I do somewhat recall the shift being a little smoother when doing the hills. That makes sense. Interesting

tow haul button swap?

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