Tow system for 17 Jeep Wrangler
We just picked up a 2017 Jeep Wrangler to use as a toad. Shopping for a tow and brake system. Blue Ox seems to be the most popular. Are there better systems? How about the Ready Brake and Ready Brute system?
Forum Discussion
- Demco base plate and Demco Commander tow bar. Excellent service and inexpensive. I installed it myself.
- On my 2011 Wrangler I use a NSA Ready Brake and a CoolTech wire harness. Have used the same setup with my old RV and my new RV and towed the Jeep thru the Rockies 3 or 4 times and once to Alaska and back. Never had a problem. Love the surge braking system - it's fool proof. And the CoolTech harness wires the Jeeps clearance, tail, brakes lights and turn signals into the RV thru a standard trailer 4-pin connector. I do use a battery cut-out switch on the Jeep as a precaution to make sure both the Jeep and RV aren't trying to supply power to the lights at the same time, but I've been told by a Jeep engineer that isn't necessary. He said there's enough intelligence in the Jeep's CanBus setup to prevent bad things from happening.
Oh, no need to fiddle with the key as the Wrangler doesn't have a locking steering wheel. So I tow without a key in the ignition, the transmission set in Park and the transfer case in neutral. - On my 2016 Wrangler I did the Blue Ox and a M & G Brake and I am pleased with their performance. My 2015 Wrangler, I used the Falcon III and a SMI. Between the two Tow Bars, I like the Blue Ox better, the Falcon III had a lot more parts to deal with, the Blue Ox was a simpler set up. Both the SMI and M & G Brakes are a built in system that stays with the Jeep, towing or not. I did not want to put in and take out a big clunky box on the floor every time I hook or unhook my TOAD. My last Motorhome had a gas motor and the SMI system worked well. The SMI system did not work well with my Diesel Pusher with Air Brakes. The SMI system is activated from the motorhome brake lights so when I use my Exhaust Brake, my brake lights come on and I had burning brakes at the end of several long grades. The M & G System has been flawless and I will use the M & G System again when I change Motorhomes, if it has Air Brakes. Just my two cents worth. JH
