Planning to Flat Tow
I have a 2020 Jayco 26XD Class C just my wife and I.. I would like to start acquiring the equipment I need to flat tow a vehicle. First of all I need to pick up a vehicle. I'm looking at a 2015 or so ...
Forum Discussion
Hi docsouce,
Here is my experience towing a 2006 Jeep Liberty 4x4 with automatic transmission.
Being now more "vintage" in years, it has the older manually operated 4x4 transfer case which I really like. Unlike the pushbutton convenience of current day 4x4s, I operate the transfer case with a lever to select 2wd, 4x4-high, 4x4-low, and neutral. Once hitched up, wired up, and ready to be towed, I place the 4x4 transfer case in neutral. This allows the entire drive train to spin from the tires to the transfer case, but not forward of it. The automatic transmission remains motionless in "park" while being towed. This assures it is protected.
I had chosen a "Unified" braking system which works very well, better than most others because it keeps the power brake booster charged for power-assist, and the system is seamless to manage during trips. But installation does require skill. I installed our Unified and lighting, but it is my forte'. I only wish the Unified was smarter to brake according to the amount of motor home braking rather than being a system that "brakes" the same amount, regardless of how gentle I am braking the motor home. I can adjust sensitivity when the Unified is activated which helps. I did a quick search on the Unified tow brake and wonder if it is no longer offered.
We use a Roadmaster Falcon-II tow bar which works well. For ease of operation during trips, I keep the towing setup and tear-down process as simple as possible by leaving the apparatus on the RV like this. The two iron pieces that remain on the Jeep are quickly removed by "rotation & pull-out", so nothing remains on the Jeep when we drive it, just like when we are back home.
Here is our setup. Note the offset hitch riser used to level the tow bar.
Our first trip towing, I did not use an offset hitch riser so the tow bar was set at an angle. This was horrible because the tow vehicle "bucked" badly with every minor bump in the road. Leveling the tow bar is "key" for a smooth and comfortable towing experience.
Here is my experience towing a 2006 Jeep Liberty 4x4 with automatic transmission.
Being now more "vintage" in years, it has the older manually operated 4x4 transfer case which I really like. Unlike the pushbutton convenience of current day 4x4s, I operate the transfer case with a lever to select 2wd, 4x4-high, 4x4-low, and neutral. Once hitched up, wired up, and ready to be towed, I place the 4x4 transfer case in neutral. This allows the entire drive train to spin from the tires to the transfer case, but not forward of it. The automatic transmission remains motionless in "park" while being towed. This assures it is protected.
I had chosen a "Unified" braking system which works very well, better than most others because it keeps the power brake booster charged for power-assist, and the system is seamless to manage during trips. But installation does require skill. I installed our Unified and lighting, but it is my forte'. I only wish the Unified was smarter to brake according to the amount of motor home braking rather than being a system that "brakes" the same amount, regardless of how gentle I am braking the motor home. I can adjust sensitivity when the Unified is activated which helps. I did a quick search on the Unified tow brake and wonder if it is no longer offered.
We use a Roadmaster Falcon-II tow bar which works well. For ease of operation during trips, I keep the towing setup and tear-down process as simple as possible by leaving the apparatus on the RV like this. The two iron pieces that remain on the Jeep are quickly removed by "rotation & pull-out", so nothing remains on the Jeep when we drive it, just like when we are back home.
Here is our setup. Note the offset hitch riser used to level the tow bar.
Our first trip towing, I did not use an offset hitch riser so the tow bar was set at an angle. This was horrible because the tow vehicle "bucked" badly with every minor bump in the road. Leveling the tow bar is "key" for a smooth and comfortable towing experience.
