Forum Discussion

DallasSteve's avatar
DallasSteve
Nomad
May 19, 2020

Getting Hitched In A Hurry

There's a saying that may apply here "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency for me".

I am planning to buy a car (one my research says can be flat towed) today and I want to get it set up to tow behind my Class A motorhome Wednesday or Thursday so I can move on to a campground I have reserved for Thursday afternoon. I probably have waited too long to get the best deal, price wise. I did a quick search for trailer hitch online in the area and mostly what comes up is UHaul. I don't see a Camping World in the area. What would you suggest I do in this situation?

Order a hitch, base plate, brake adapter today from Amazon or Walmart with next day delivery?
Go to UHaul? A car dealer? A car service shop?
Would you set everything up yourself?

I don't trust my mechanical skills much if it's very complicated and I don't want to watch my expensive new vehicle roll into a ditch at 60 MPH.
  • wildtoad's avatar
    wildtoad
    Explorer II
    May 20, 2020
    Not sure you’ll get it done in the time you want. But look into a NSA Ready Brute Elite. It’s a towbar with built in braking system. The part that attaches to the Jeep is just a steel cable the runs from the front of the car to the brake pedal. Very easy and virtually foolproof. I use the Roadmaster base plate and it works quite well.
  • Y-Guy's avatar
    Y-Guy
    Moderator
    May 20, 2020
    Check your manual. Jeep Wranglers say "Front or Rear Wheel Lift or Dolly Tow - NOT ALLOWED" They need to be Flat Towed or on a Flatbed.
  • DallasSteve's avatar
    DallasSteve
    Nomad
    May 20, 2020
    carringb wrote:
    What are you buying? If its not AWD, what about just dollying it this first trip? I certainly would not want to rush a baseplate and wiring install.

    Interesting idea. I bought a 4 door Jeep Wrangler. It weighs around 4,300 lbs and my hitch max is 5,000. How much will the dolly add in weight? Does the dolly come equipped with brakes? Thanks for your input. That may be the best solution.

    Edit: I did a quick search and I found one that weighs about 500 pounds. I would be right at my max, but it might be a solution.

    Random Dolly
  • carringb's avatar
    carringb
    Explorer
    May 20, 2020
    What are you buying? If its not AWD, what about just dollying it this first trip? I certainly would not want to rush a baseplate and wiring install.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,108 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 30, 2025