New to Towing a Vehicle

[Dan_Frisbie]

Kevin, I would rather trailer as well for the same reasons. I’m going to look into the frame issue and go from there.
Flat tow seems expensive. If I have to buy a car-hauler, I can use it for more than just towing the Jeep…

 

[redbaron]

Your not going to like this, but your RV cannot tow that Jeep Wrangler on a trailer. The Jeep is probably already exceeding the total capacity, or very close. You will need to get it weighed to know for sure. The websites list these are 3900-4500 lbs, but actual weights are closer to 4400-5100lbs.

The trailer required to carry this jeep safely will be a dual axle trailer, 20Ft long. Unless you spend a lot of money on the trailer, it is going to weigh empty about 2000-3000lbs. This means you will need a trailer rated to 9k, since the jeep weighs approx 4.5k.

Once you add the trailer, you are grossly overweight.

Even the lightest trailer, a 7k aluminum with a selling price of $5k weighs 1500lbs. Add the jeep to it at 4500lbs, and you are already overweight.

The only way that jeep will ever safely tow behind the RV is 4 wheels down. And it will be a lot cheaper than buying a trailer, and properly securing it, etc.

The cheapest way to setup your jeep is to add these parts:

* Blue ox base plate
* Brake buddy for braking
* NSA Towbar ( you could even go with integrated braking on the towbar, but the installation is very hard for DIY)
* Supplemental wiring for towing

DIY, all of this will be less than $3k

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Your not going to like this, but your RV cannot tow that Jeep Wrangler on a trailer. The Jeep is probably already exceeding the total capacity, or very close. You will need to get it weighed to know for sure. The websites list these are 3900-4500 lbs, but actual weights are closer to 4400-5100lbs.

The trailer required to carry this jeep safely will be a dual axle trailer, 20Ft long. Unless you spend a lot of money on the trailer, it is going to weigh empty about 2000-3000lbs. This means you will need a trailer rated to 9k, since the jeep weighs approx 4.5k.

Once you add the trailer, you are grossly overweight.

Even the lightest trailer, a 7k aluminum with a selling price of $5k weighs 1500lbs. Add the jeep to it at 4500lbs, and you are already overweight.

The only way that jeep will ever safely tow behind the RV is 4 wheels down. And it will be a lot cheaper than buying a trailer, and properly securing it, etc.

The cheapest way to setup your jeep is to add these parts:

* Blue ox base plate
* Brake buddy for braking
* NSA Towbar ( you could even go with integrated braking on the towbar, but the installation is very hard for DIY)
* Supplemental wiring for towing

DIY, all of this will be less than $3k. Everything is speculation until he knows his GCWR and weighs his coach and trailer.

Everything is speculation until he knows what his GCWR is and he weighs his coach and toad.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

If nothing else, this discussion serves what is needed!

Everything in life is a compromise! When Saundra started telling me she wanted to take something on our travels that exceeded capacity I started talking about taking two vehicles, and she wanted to travel with me!

That's how we settled on compromise, maybe that is what you might consider!

The compromise not on the table was slipping into the seats that we didn't have the funds for!!!

 

[redbaron]

Everything is speculation until he knows what his GCWR is and he weighs his coach and toad.

Gcwr is 26k on that model and 20.5k for vehicle, leaving 5500lbs max tow. No need to speculate that a trailer just won’t work.

I have yet to see a gasser that has a tow rating over 7500lbs, which is what is required to trailer tow a jeep wrangler safely.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Like @redbaron said, trailering is not cheap and it requires more planning. I say this from the perspective of someone who likes and uses a trailer so that we are not restricted to a small set of vehicles capable of flat tow.
It requires more from the towing vehicle, it requires more expense up front, more storage area while at home, more planning for space at campgrounds - but we chose to use a trailer and most of the time have no regrets.
When we bought our coach we knew we wanted to trailer so we shopped for a coach that could handle the weight. Our coach has the capacity to tow 30,000 pounds and our hitch can handle 5,000 pounds of tongue weight.
If we already had a coach and were looking to optimize costs, we would seriously consider flat towing as it ends up being cheaper than trailering.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

We decided to skip the Jeep towing.
We tow the box trailer and bikes for nearly all outings and will just continue to do that.
Car hauler is too heavy for the rig and flat towing is not cost effective for the Jeep (which will likely be traded in a year or so).

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I’m going to revive this and thank you all for your advice and patience.

What about a tow dolly? Not much more weight, fairly easy to handle, and easily adaptable to multiple vehicles. (My wife usually gets a new car every year or two…)
So, pros and cons of tow dolly towing, please…

 

[redbaron]

Total weight is still an issue, but the option of vehicles is greatly expanded.

Nothing special to be done for the tow vehicle if you use a dedicated turn signal mount that attaches to the back of car with magnet or something similar.

Get a good quality trailer with surge brakes and easy adjust straps.

The straps are the hardest part of the setup. Spend extra to get a nicer setup and it should last you a long time.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I’m going to revive this and thank you all for your advice and patience.

What about a tow dolly? Not much more weight, fairly easy to handle, and easily adaptable to multiple vehicles. (My wife usually gets a new car every year or two…)
So, pros and cons of tow dolly towing, please…

Many 4x4 vehicles are not tow dolly material.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

Many 4x4 vehicles are not tow dolly material.

Any particular reason?
I don’t understand what would be the difference if I towed 4 down or with a dolly if the transfer case is in neutral…

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Any particular reason?
I don’t understand what would be the difference if I towed 4 down or with a dolly if the transfer case is in neutral…

My manual says no.

I have no idea how the transfer case is lubed, but assume its a lubed issue. Maybe others will look in their manuals and chime in.

 

[redbaron]

Kevin is right. Only front wheel drive can be towed on a dolly

 

[Boat Bum]

You can tow rear wheel by locking steering and towing rear wheels on the dolly, I wouldn't do it unnecessarily.

 

[redbaron]

You can tow rear wheel by locking steering and towing rear wheels on the dolly, I wouldn't do it unnecessarily.

Most cars don’t lock steering wheels. Those that do use a very small shear pin. Advising that this is possible should be in the context of a professional tow truck driver, heavily insured, and going a short distance to his shop because he can’t afford the proper flat bed tow truck.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

Any particular reason?
I don’t understand what would be the difference if I towed 4 down or with a dolly if the transfer case is in neutral…

I have no idea if it's true, but I once had someone explain to me that the way the transfer case works is you shift from 2WD into 4HI to connect the front axle to the rear axle; then when you shift it into N it disconnects the transfer case from the transmission but it doesn't disconnect the axles from each other. So, if you use a dolly the rear axle is spinning and the front axle is not, but it's still connected to the rear axle so it can damage the transfer case.

Like I said: I have no idea if it's true or not but it sort of makes sense. In any case, in the Jeep Owner's Manuals they are adamant that you can tow them with all 4 wheels on the ground, or all 4 wheels off the ground - nothing else.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Most cars don’t lock steering wheels. Those that do use a very small shear pin. Advising that this is possible should be in the context of a professional tow truck driver, heavily insured, and going a short distance to his shop because he can’t afford the proper flat bed tow truck.

I strapped the wheel. It did just fine.