Manual Park Release 2021-2024 Models For Towing Or Other Reasons

[jfoj]

It appears you can put the Transfer Case in Neutral, BUT this only if the engine can start and run. I did not indicate the Parking Brake was an issue with the Transfer Case, only when using the manual Park Override that is on the side of the transmission. Enabling the Parking Brake when using the shaft of the side of the transmission is to try to eliminate liability of someone gets rolled over by the vehicle while under the vehicle. So you should be able to flat tow the truck IF the truck starts and runs. If the engine does not start then it does not seem you can change the transfer case setting, either from in gear or out of neutral.

The issue with the parking brake is when the manual park override is used on the side of the transmission. While you can unplug the cables on the rear calipers, I believe there may be a few other options that I need to test and verify.

 

[man n black]

Or...you could just chock the wheels?

Ch

 

[jfoj]

Or...you could just chock the wheels?

Ch

True, BUT GM decided to enable the parking brake if the manual Park Overide is used. While it is not instantious, you can hear the parking brake motors when you manually release the parking pawl.

Obvious options are to either disconnect the battery or unplug the connectors on the rear calipers for the electric parking brake. But there may be some other options as well, I need to look into these and confirm as I want a clear and easy procedure if I ever need to move the vehicle or have it towed. Dragging the vehicle up on a rollback with the vehicle in park it probably not the best thing for the truck.

Why GM did not inclue the ability to release the parking pawl from the drivers seat is beyond me, probably a $$$ issue, but with the price if these trucks there should have been a way to put the transmission in Neutral if the engine was not running without climbing under the vehicle. This just puts more liability on GM when someone has to crawl under the vehicle.

 

[GMCChevy]

They only mention parking brake in the manual with the transfer case neutral because a lot of people wouldn't think about park no longer working when the druvetrain is disconnected like that until it starts rolling.

You'd think they would have built in a safe way of shifting out of park from inside with the electronic shifter even if it's hidden behind an access panel in the console. That's what other makes do in that situation.