Dan_Frisbie
RVF VIP
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2022
- Messages
- 300
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Everything is speculation until he knows what his GCWR is and he weighs his coach and toad.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.
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.Everything is speculation until he knows what his GCWR is and he weighs his coach and toad.
Many 4x4 vehicles are not tow dolly material.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…
Any particular reason?Many 4x4 vehicles are not tow dolly material.
My manual says no.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…
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.You can tow rear wheel by locking steering and towing rear wheels on the dolly, I wouldn't do it unnecessarily.
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.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 strapped the wheel. It did just fine.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.
Regarding Supplemental brakes--I can tell you from personal experience that you want them. I had a breakaway this summer where my front bumper separated from the towbar on one side. This was a very scary moment. I was able to get the vehicle stopped using the one remaining connection, but this was a struggle to do while going down hill on a 2 lane highway. The jeep was in the oncoming lane, and required me to move over to shoulder a lot more than I wanted to. Had it broke away at that point, it would have killed someone in oncoming traffic.
I don't care about the laws, rules, or any other reasoning--Supplemental brakes are just common sense and will save a life.
If my vehicle killed someone because I was too cheap to do it right, I don't think I could live with myself
Requirements for supplemental braking is required for some states, but each of those states have different weight limits for which they are required. Example, Michigan doesn’t require supplemental braking until the toad is over 10000 lbs.I am DEFINITELY no expert on this, but I understood supplemental braking requirements had to be met for the specific state you are driving in. Your drivers license requirements fall under the reciprocity agreements but I don't believe that applies to requirements for supplemental braking systems.