Flat tow vehicles

[Romaolson]

Looking at buying a 2006 Jeep Liberty to flat tow behind our RV. Manual says not to tow but have seen them being towed on the road. Looking for anyone who flat tows this model of Jeep. Please let know if you have one.
‘Thanks
Romaolson

 

[Scotttkd2]

Flat towing capability can vary by model year as the mfg makes changes to the vehicles. If your manual says no, then no is the answer.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Flat towing ability can also change based on the specific options on a particular year and model - IIRC some will have diff options for transmission that will make flat towing possible.

Each year FMCA puts out a list of flat towable vehicles.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Memories.....I though of that after I posted too, I have been interested in the new Ford Bronco, but I have read that only 1 of the several models they are offering can be flat towed.

 

["EZ"]

We tow a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 and have towed a Ram 1500 4x4. Both are excellent TOADS. Your Jeep Liberty would have to be a 4x4 to be able to be flat towed. The way Jeep and Ram do it is by leaving the transmission in park and putting the electronic transfer case in neutral. Obviously 2WD vehicles will not have a transfer case so you can not tow them this way. Just putting the 2wd transmission itself in neutral will burn the transmission up because the transmission will not be getting the lube it needs. Some vehicles say you can do it this way but you have to stop every 200 miles, start the vehicle and let the pump circulate the transmission fluid, then go another 200 miles and do it again. Doesn't sound like too much fun to me. And the 8 speed automatic trans in our Jeeps and Rams are a $10,000 transmission so I'm not about to take a chance on that thing running with no fluid circulating!

 

[Dona40]

That is why I spent a good deal of time looking for an older 04 Grand Cherokee with low miles and a manual transfer case. (paid through the nose) Don't care for the unreliable electronic controls in the newer vehicles.
Didn't trust towing my pick-up.

 

["EZ"]

That is why I spent a good deal of time looking for an older 04 Grand Cherokee with low miles and a manual transfer case. (paid through the nose) Don't care for the unreliable electronic controls in the newer vehicles.
Didn't trust towing my pick-up.

I sell Ram commercial trucks to the dealers with work bodies on them. Most are 4wd. Over the last 10 years I've sold roughly 5000 trucks with the electronic transfer case and electronically controlled transmissions and electronically controlled fuel injected Cummins engines. I can't think of a single time I've heard of a truck having problems with the electronics. Unreliable electronics? Hardly. I think you wasted your time and money paying extra for the old manual transfer case. BTW............your motorhome is full of all the electronics and computers that you went out of your way to avoid in your Jeep. You have an "emmission engine" in your RV that has several computers and dozens of sensors that control your engine and exhaust. Not to mention every other thing you can think of. Face it, if you wish to drive any vehicle newer than a 1975 then you are going to have computers and sensors on every system in your vehicle. There's no getting around it.

 

[Old Bubblehead]

Pull out the manual for the car you are looking at buying and check the recreational towing details. So many models, years, drivetrain options, and possibilities; better to be specific to the car you are putting your money down on. Trust, but verify.

 

[Lab00Rat]

Memories.....I though of that after I posted too, I have been interested in the new Ford Bronco, but I have read that only 1 of the several models they are offering can be flat towed.

Only the Bronco Sport cannot be flat towed. All other "normal" Broncos can be flat towed. I have the 2022 "normal" 2-door (original-type), and it's flat towable.

 

[Dona40]

I do realize my coach is full of electronics. Doesn't mean I'm happy about it. I was going to tow my F-150 but on that model, if your battery goes dead for any reason the transfer case defaults to "in-gear" No thanks. Sometimes less is more.

 

[Galoo]

Looking at buying a 2006 Jeep Liberty to flat tow behind our RV. Manual says not to tow but have seen them being towed on the road. Looking for anyone who flat tows this model of Jeep. Please let know if you have one.
‘Thanks
Romaolson

Many vehicles can be made to be flat towed. I was involved with a 4 X 4 club for years and flat towed my Wrangler. Automatic transmissions need to be in park with a transfer case in neutral. Manual transmissions should be put in neutral. With vehicles getting more sophisticated today, you would need to research your specific vehicle and you can make modifications as necessary to prevent damage. I recall some people purchased a tow dolly and others installed manual hubs on rear axle so the drive train could be disconnected. Check out some 4 X 4 forums for additional flat towing advice. Somewhere, someone has done what you want to do. I personally towed a 4500 lb vehicle behind a 5500 lb pickup truck and brakes were a concern. I used the M & G Tow braking system. It worked very well. Joe