new towed vehicle - Jeep Wrangler
Well, for various reasons, we have decided to pull the trigger, and trade one of our older vehicles for a Jeep Wrangler. Wife and I both have always loved Jeeps, wanted to one day own one, and now we...
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Another update: Well, we've been working all week on setting the Jeep up to flat tow.
I've had several vehicles set up for towing over last 10 years or so, but this is the first time doing ALL of the work ourselves and not hiring someone else to do any of it. And, did not realize, just how much work it is, and how time consuming it is! Even for a vehicle like a Jeep that is supposedly one of the easiest to set up, its still very time consuming, and means a lot of time laying on your back underneath it. I see now why it costs so much to hire someone to do all this work, haha.
We've been at it since Saturday, and still are not done yet. The tasks that instruction videos make look quick and simple...Let me tell you, for an average joe like me that doesn't have all the expensive, nice tools, it takes a good bit longer. That, and when you're an average joe that also works a full time job during the day and have other responsibilities as well, you can't quite devote as much time to these things. I'm hoping to have it all done by Saturday, in which case will have taken an entire week to do it all.
Fortunately, I am married to one that knows her way around the tool box and is pretty mechanically inclined, too. She (wife) has been right in there with me helping all the way - Torqueing down the bolts for the base plate, keeping my messes organized, crawling around under it with me snaking wires through the frame, or just holding a light while I wrestle cables around and tie them down....She does it all, and that has helped a lot. And, made it much more fun. :)
We have the base plate on and done, and the Readybrake and Readystop cables installed. Started on the tail light wiring yesterday evening and got the wires snaked through the frame for such, but still have some more to do to finish that up. Still have to finish wiring it all to the 6 round connector at the front, and install the brake light relay. Then, just got to put the bumper and front air dam back on and we are good. Don't have any trips planned until next month, so we have time.
We decided to use the Hopkins custom wiring kit that uses existing taillights, with a brake light relay kit to address the issue with the vehicle's braking over-riding the signal coming from the Motorhome. Good thing about the brake relay kit, is installing it provides an easy way to also run the wire up front for the brake light indicator I have on the Motorhome, so we will know when brakes on the Jeep are getting engaged, like we have with our other tow vehicles.
Decided not to get the trailer hitch or trailer wiring kit just yet. Will save that project for another day. Don't plan to tow anything behind the Jeep anytime soon, so no rush on that.
Learned a lot from THESE guys on youtube about how to set up the Jeep. Very helpful videos there about how to install everything.
Once this is all done....Then, we just got to decide on, figure out best way to carry our bikes in the Jeep. We have two we normally carry, but occasionally will want to bring 4 when the kids join us. I thinking, two will go inside with the front wheels off, and two will go on the back on a spare tire mounted bike rack.
I've had several vehicles set up for towing over last 10 years or so, but this is the first time doing ALL of the work ourselves and not hiring someone else to do any of it. And, did not realize, just how much work it is, and how time consuming it is! Even for a vehicle like a Jeep that is supposedly one of the easiest to set up, its still very time consuming, and means a lot of time laying on your back underneath it. I see now why it costs so much to hire someone to do all this work, haha.
We've been at it since Saturday, and still are not done yet. The tasks that instruction videos make look quick and simple...Let me tell you, for an average joe like me that doesn't have all the expensive, nice tools, it takes a good bit longer. That, and when you're an average joe that also works a full time job during the day and have other responsibilities as well, you can't quite devote as much time to these things. I'm hoping to have it all done by Saturday, in which case will have taken an entire week to do it all.
Fortunately, I am married to one that knows her way around the tool box and is pretty mechanically inclined, too. She (wife) has been right in there with me helping all the way - Torqueing down the bolts for the base plate, keeping my messes organized, crawling around under it with me snaking wires through the frame, or just holding a light while I wrestle cables around and tie them down....She does it all, and that has helped a lot. And, made it much more fun. :)
We have the base plate on and done, and the Readybrake and Readystop cables installed. Started on the tail light wiring yesterday evening and got the wires snaked through the frame for such, but still have some more to do to finish that up. Still have to finish wiring it all to the 6 round connector at the front, and install the brake light relay. Then, just got to put the bumper and front air dam back on and we are good. Don't have any trips planned until next month, so we have time.
We decided to use the Hopkins custom wiring kit that uses existing taillights, with a brake light relay kit to address the issue with the vehicle's braking over-riding the signal coming from the Motorhome. Good thing about the brake relay kit, is installing it provides an easy way to also run the wire up front for the brake light indicator I have on the Motorhome, so we will know when brakes on the Jeep are getting engaged, like we have with our other tow vehicles.
Decided not to get the trailer hitch or trailer wiring kit just yet. Will save that project for another day. Don't plan to tow anything behind the Jeep anytime soon, so no rush on that.
Learned a lot from THESE guys on youtube about how to set up the Jeep. Very helpful videos there about how to install everything.
Once this is all done....Then, we just got to decide on, figure out best way to carry our bikes in the Jeep. We have two we normally carry, but occasionally will want to bring 4 when the kids join us. I thinking, two will go inside with the front wheels off, and two will go on the back on a spare tire mounted bike rack.
