WHATS NEEDED TO TOW

My 2014 Wrangler tows with the key off and out of the ignition. The battery has never run down. I use the RVI2 with no charge wire.

I want to thank everybody for their information. I when to a number of sites and found it would cost aprox. $3500.00 just for the parts. also I have read a number of articles and had planed to read the owners book before buying. Still not sure if I will go 4 wheels down at this time. Thank you

This subject is close to my heart. Just bought a 2017 wrangler sport unlimited. With the jeep, comes an users guide. The guide instructions tell you to leave the ignition switch in "AC" position to tow and after towing to reconnect the negative battery cable. Only problem it never says to disconnect the battety. The users guide tells one they need to check the owners manual that is available on line. Those instructions are different from the guide. But that is the "bible" I've called jeep customer service about the discrepancy to get clarification. They say they'll get back to me within 2 days. 2 days later I get an email saying they need to call me. Will call in 2 days. 4 days later I call them. They say they called and tred to leave a voice mail. NEVER HAPPENED. They tell me poc will call me. Again NEVER HAPPENED. One lesson. No good manual in the vehicle to look at before buying. Second lesson Jeep factory customer service lousy. They can only read what computer says. I've checked mine. Can tow and I'm still checking to see if I need a power line from coach to jeep. Don't think so. GOOD LUCK. I do love the jeep though

rockhillmanor wrote:

DAVEMCD wrote:
I am looking to buy a new Jeep. What do I need to get to tow a 4x4.

First things first is to make SURE you buy a car that CAN be towed 4-down!! Do NOT EVER take a salesman's word for it either. Use the owners manual to see if the car can be towed 4-down or needs a dolly.

In the owners manual it is usually found under "Recreational Towing".

Most use BlueOx towing products. They have been around for years and many of us use them.

base plate (for car)
tow bar
led kit for taillight
brake away switch
cable/coiled tow chains
auxiliary braking system - (for car) either Brake Buddy or brake system incorporated in tow bar

I would read everything you can what is all involved for towing a car off the BlueOx website. LOTS of good info there for the newbie to read and learn about towing, 'all in one place' !

And then ask questions of other forum members regarding using other brands and the pros and cons of using other brands.

My first Toad I went Blue Ox products all the way. If I had do overs the only thing I would change is I would buy a tow bar that has the braking system incorporated in it as opposed to using the Brake Buddy.

blueox.com

Do Not Believe anything a car salesman tells you. There is a yearly guide published . Read it until it falls apart!

Yearly Tow Guide

Hitch Source

eTrailer

Road Master Inc.

Good luck

scbwr wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

DAVEMCD wrote:
I am looking to buy a new Jeep. What do I need to get to tow a 4x4.

Most use BlueOx towing products. They have been around for years and many of us use them.

base plate (for car)
tow bar
led kit for taillight
brake away switch
cable/coiled tow chains
auxiliary braking system - (for car) either Brake Buddy or brake system incorporated in tow bar

blueox.com

So, approximately how much does it cost to buy and install the needed items? I'm curious as we are contemplating getting a motorhome in a year or two and will want to tow something 4 down.

When I went full time I had sold the house with the garage so I had no where to install it myself. And being new at a toad I paid to have it all installed.

So yes, I could have bought all the pieces and installed them myself for less, but I chose to just drop the toad off at an RV dealership and they picked out all what was needed and installed it. All I had to do was pick it up, hook it up and drive away.

So all that said, and it being a dealership rates, it cost me around $2,500. but I also bought a cover for the tow bar, locking keyed alike hitch pin kit (3 of them), and real heavy duty coiled safety chains.

IMHO I really do think that an RV dealership is the way to go. They do thousands of them vs a local repair shop where they really don't even get towing a car 4 down behind a MH.

For instance on the year of my Tracker which went thru 3 manufacturing changes from Chevy, Geo, Isuzu, etc.

If you bought the base plate for my year Tracker it would not fit. The dealership knew that upfront because they had done so many. So I avoided the wrong part coming in and then waiting for the correct one to come in. A plus for me.

Off Pavement wrote:
We've towed a Jeep Wrangler of one sort or another over 100K miles. Here is an article I wrote that will provide some of the answers you are looking for...

Towing a Vehicle With an RV

Interesting and informative read, thank you for taking the time to write the article and for posting it.

rockhillmanor wrote:

DAVEMCD wrote:
I am looking to buy a new Jeep. What do I need to get to tow a 4x4.

Most use BlueOx towing products. They have been around for years and many of us use them.

base plate (for car)
tow bar
led kit for taillight
brake away switch
cable/coiled tow chains
auxiliary braking system - (for car) either Brake Buddy or brake system incorporated in tow bar

blueox.com

So, approximately how much does it cost to buy and install the needed items? I'm curious as we are contemplating getting a motorhome in a year or two and will want to tow something 4 down.

additional thoughts, don't "assume" that since blue ox, et.al. make a base plate for it that means it is towable, and
"I saw one being towed down I-95>>>>>>>>>>>>>>" means anything. nor relying exclusively on third party lists, etc.
bumpy

DAVEMCD wrote:
I am looking to buy a new Jeep. What do I need to get to tow a 4x4.

First things first is to make SURE you buy a car that CAN be towed 4-down!! Do NOT EVER take a salesman's word for it either. Use the owners manual to see if the car can be towed 4-down or needs a dolly.

In the owners manual it is usually found under "Recreational Towing".

Most use BlueOx towing products. They have been around for years and many of us use them.

base plate (for car)
tow bar
led kit for taillight
brake away switch
cable/coiled tow chains
auxiliary braking system - (for car) either Brake Buddy or brake system incorporated in tow bar

I would read everything you can what is all involved for towing a car off the BlueOx website. LOTS of good info there for the newbie to read and learn about towing, 'all in one place' !

And then ask questions of other forum members regarding using other brands and the pros and cons of using other brands.

My first Toad I went Blue Ox products all the way. If I had do overs the only thing I would change is I would buy a tow bar that has the braking system incorporated in it as opposed to using the Brake Buddy.

blueox.com

Check the owners manual of the Jeep you are considering. Look under Dinghy Towing.
Don't take a salesman's word that something can be towed 4 down, look for yourself.