2 questions: I have been counting toad vehicles today on a trip from Kansas City to Sikeston, MO. the majority of 4-down toads are Jeeps, why is that? 2ns Q, what are the pros and cons of towing with a dolly?

They're:Light to towGive you a chance to get off of the road and have some funThey're easy to mount the tow bar attachments to yourself to save moneyIf you get one with the rectangular tail lights, you can wire the tail lights with separate bulbs using a kit from Roadmaster so you don't have to hook into the Jeep's wiring and then you won't have a dead battery on the toad.Because there's so many of them, you can often find a good used towbar, and maybe the connectors, on Craig's list to save money. That's where mine came from.They sit high enough behind the MH that usually rocks from the MHs rear wheels won't hit the Jeep above the bumper. I put Lexan headlights in mine and it's been fine. We came down the Alcan with it.And if you get the MH stuck, you can pull it out with the Jeep - well, maybe not.The Jeeps are very easy to hook up. One person can do it.I don't see any advantages to towing on a dolly unless you have a car that can't be towed four down and you can't afford one that can be. Dollies take more time to hook up and then you may have to move it to store it someplace.Bill

Jeeps are popular because of the transfer case (although not all Jeeps are towable four wheels down). A lot of automatic transmission vehicles can be towed four down such as the Honda CR-V. We are on our second CR-V and probably our last as they may not be able to be towed four down with the new variable transmission. (we have a ways to go as our CR-V is a 2013).I have owned two new Jeep products in the past and both had to be towed into the dealership (more than once) under their 3 yr. warranties because of a breakdown (a new '96 and a new '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited's). So, my trust in the Jeep product didn't reach very high.Hopefully they are much more reliable now. The CR-V does everything right, seats 5, has good cargo room, all wheel drive (although not true off-road like a Jeep), very reliable, good fuel mileage and weighs just about 3,500 lbs. MM.

We pull a Honda Accord and it takes about 6min to get ready to tow. 2min to hook up and 4 min running through the gears, check lights and off. With a dolly you have to drag it out strap it down then when you get there you have to find a place to stow it. I would like to get a new Jeep or Honda CRV AWDJR

Towing 4 down has it's Pro & Cons we tow a 07 wrangler, we can't back it up vary far a few feet at most. the two differentials are still turning and wearing, the coach will exceed the turn radius of the jeep in sharp turns and drag the front wheels on the Jeep thru the turn. We have no trailer to contend with, or park while we use the jeep. no extra wheels axles and tires to contend with, but when we hit the freeway for a long trip I load it on the flat bed, It prevents the wear on the jeep, we can back up.

Never EVER have i skidded my front Jeep wrangler tires - the articulation of the blue-ox (all terrain) tow bar doesnt limit my turning radius one single bit. I see no additional maintenance issues flat towing than conventional driving - sure the diff's are turning -but theyre serviced for 100k miles with synthetic gear lube (and even at that they are easily drained and refilled).Dolly & trailer towing means you're maintaining brakes, axles and wiring of the dolly & trailer & you've got to find a place to park or store the dolly or traileryou can NOT back up when using a dolly.I can pull 2 pins, the electrical cable and 2 clevis hook/safety chains to disconnect our Jeep Wrangler in less than 60 seconds - connecting is equally as quick.The reason you see so many jeep wranglers flat towed is because its EASY....AND fully supported by the manufacture....NO OTHER manufacture offers a factory (SNAP-IN) wiring harness for the specific intention of having the vehicle pulled behind a coach or other primary mover....Mopar even includes the 7 pin (primary mover) to jeep cable in their kit.It doesnt get any easier than this -

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32 Replies

Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Sep 06, 2014
Tom, I think I would get a new tow bar. That can't be good for the Jeep front-end or the tires.
MM.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Sep 06, 2014
bshpilot wrote:
Mr.Mark wrote:

Tom, I see that you have a DP and we, too, have never dragged our Honda like bshpilot (although he has a Jeep). And, I have made some seriously sharp turns and the Honda just follows us. Is it a Jeep issue?

MM.

sounds like a tow bar issue....ive got no less overhang than pusher....and i know guys w/ TWIN screw axles (conversion trucks, like mine don't have TAG/dumps)....i turn 90* plus turns in my neighborhood and campground....my JEEP front wheels turn.

if you're skidding the front tires of your jeep then it sounds like you've got a rigid tow bar, tow bar issue or locked steering wheel (on the jeep).

We do have a Falcon 2 tow bar, once locked it is pretty rigid, With the 07 wrangler we must leave the key in and in the on position to unlock the steering, and disconnect the battery with a battery disconnect switch.

when you drive into a right 90 degree corner as you enter the the coach turns right but the rear swings left until you straighten the coach wheels, at this time the jeeps is still entering the turn following the coach rear end and is at a angle to the coach. as the coach leaves the corner, the jeep gets dragged side ways exceeding its turn radius.
koda55
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
we tow a 2008 Chevy HHR four down. Never had any problems towing it.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Sep 05, 2014
We had a 5th wheel fulltiming in it for 8 years. Friends took us Jeepin' and we were hooked, especially since we spend the majority of our time in the West.

We sold the 5th wheel and bought the motorhome and Jeep Liberty at the same time. The Liberty is a smooth-riding vehicle and it's super easy to hookup. In addition, we've had so much fun 4-wheeling. It's a great pasttime and there are many groups to join in order to have company and safety issues when doing the rough trails.

The Jeep Liberty is no longer produced but instead, the Cherokee took it's place - (not the Grand Cherokee). The Cherokee is a beautiful car inside and out and it rides like a luxery sedan.

As much as we enjoy the Jeep, I don't know why folks buy them if they don't take it off-road. That's the whole purpose.
et2
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
aboeck3 wrote:
2 questions: I have been counting toad vehicles today on a trip from Kansas City to Sikeston, MO. the majority of 4-down toads are Jeeps, why is that? 2ns Q, what are the pros and cons of towing with a dolly?

Probably because it's the easiest to setup and tow with and less hassles. Of the course the CRV owners are going to give you their thoughts :B

Dolly is something else to store, not enough room in camp site, longer to hookup, you can tow most cars especially if you always have a new car every 2 or 3 years. Usually 4 down is preferred.
bshpilot
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
Mr.Mark wrote:

Tom, I see that you have a DP and we, too, have never dragged our Honda like bshpilot (although he has a Jeep). And, I have made some seriously sharp turns and the Honda just follows us. Is it a Jeep issue?

MM.

sounds like a tow bar issue....ive got no less overhang than pusher....and i know guys w/ TWIN screw axles (conversion trucks, like mine don't have TAG/dumps)....i turn 90* plus turns in my neighborhood and campground....my JEEP front wheels turn.

if you're skidding the front tires of your jeep then it sounds like you've got a rigid tow bar, tow bar issue or locked steering wheel (on the jeep).
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
Tom/Barb wrote:
bshpilot wrote:
Never EVER have i skidded my front Jeep wrangler tires

Because you have a relatively short over hang. when we make a sharp 90 degree corner the jeep is nearly 90 degrees to the motorhome when we straighten the steering wheel to pull away from the corner the jeep is pulled sideways. I load the jeep for long trips simply because I don't want the wear on the jeep. Plus the trailer allows us to carry other things on it too. and the jeep never gets hit with road debris on the trailer.

Tom, I see that you have a DP and we, too, have never dragged our Honda like bshpilot (although he has a Jeep). And, I have made some seriously sharp turns and the Honda just follows us. Is it a Jeep issue?

MM.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
bshpilot wrote:
Never EVER have i skidded my front Jeep wrangler tires

Because you have a relatively short over hang. when we make a sharp 90 degree corner the jeep is nearly 90 degrees to the motorhome when we straighten the steering wheel to pull away from the corner the jeep is pulled sideways. I load the jeep for long trips simply because I don't want the wear on the jeep. Plus the trailer allows us to carry other things on it too. and the jeep never gets hit with road debris on the trailer.
Trackrig
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2014
afrescop wrote:
We have many horror stories from the few Chrysler products we owned in the past so that company is a no-no.
.

Please don't call a Jeep a Chrysler product - I might be forced to sell mine. It's a 2002.

Bill
bshpilot
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
aboeck3 wrote:
BSHPLT: is your Jeep automatic or manual transmission?

Our's is a 6 spd Manuel (for added fun) - but it really doesnt matter...my bet is 95+% of Wranglers sold are automatics.

ALL Wranglers have Manual Transfer cases & (since 09+) they all tow the same - E-brake Off, Man. Trans in Gear or Auto Trans in Park, Transfer Case in Neutral - remove the key, lock the door and GO !

We bought the soft top for added fun and since its just my wife & i we didn't need a 4 door (we've got other vehicles for that & we don't travel w/ others very regularly).

Even with the soft top our Wrangler is quieter than my wifes grand touring retractible hard top Miata.

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