Flat towing with your truck camper

[GULFMAN]

Hello all.
I am preparing a Jeep to flat tow out west this winter. I have it all ready to go except I can not decided on a portable brake controller. Looking seriously at the Blue Ox but would greatly appreciate hearing other peoples opinions on this subject.
Thanks

[bighatnohorse]

Killingsworth wrote:
Mine is the same as Mike/Kellie NSA tow bar and surge brake system. Works great. I think the toughest test for this set up for us was a trip on CA 20 from Willits to Ft Bragg, if you have ever been on that road, you know it has its share of ups and down hills and twisty curves. For lights for my jeep I went with the "Hopkins" towing light wiring kit for towed vehicles. Works perfect no problems whats so ever.Its been working perfectly for the paast 3 years.
2006 f 350, 2002 Lance 1130, flat towing TJ

There's not a straight line on that road.

[Killingsworth]

Mine is the same as Mike/Kellie NSA tow bar and surge brake system. Works great. I think the toughest test for this set up for us was a trip on CA 20 from Willits to Ft Bragg, if you have ever been on that road, you know it has its share of ups and down hills and twisty curves. For lights for my jeep I went with the "Hopkins" towing light wiring kit for towed vehicles. Works perfect no problems whats so ever.Its been working perfectly for the paast 3 years.
2006 f 350, 2002 Lance 1130, flat towing TJ

[CA_Traveler]

A non collapsed tow bar will not prevent the two vehicles colliding giving the right conditions.

[mkirsch]

Bedlam wrote:
Think about what your tow bar can handle if you don't use a braking system. Some will not handle the deceleration of a 5k lb Jeep without pretzeling and letting the Jeep go into your camper.

I can't imagine any modern manufacturer would make a tow bar that collapses just because the toad's brakes didn't activate. That's a HUGE liability risk.

[Bedlam]

Think about what your tow bar can handle if you don't use a braking system. Some will not handle the deceleration of a 5k lb Jeep without pretzeling and letting the Jeep go into your camper.

[Grit_dog]

CA Traveler wrote:
In the US you have to meet the towing laws from every state you travel in regardless of your resident state. And there are 50 states. And is a toad a trailer with regards to towing?

Except no one official really cares, including the cops unless you’re unlucky enough to get some overzealous donut destroyer on your 6.
With regards to weight, most states are at/around 3klbs before trailer brakes are required by law.
Again, not worth overthinking. Install brakes if you want or need them. It’s ultimately up to the owner to be informed of what they’re doing and capable of handling their vehicle.

[CA_Traveler]

In the US you have to meet the towing laws from every state you travel in regardless of your resident state. And there are 50 states. And is a toad a trailer with regards to towing?

[BCwestcoast]

I flat tow a Suzuki Vitara 2 door soft top without any brake system behind my truck and camper.
In Canada I am legally permitted to tow up to 1400KG (3086 pounds) without brakes on the towed vehicle (trailer)

There are rules however on how much the tow vehicle must weight vs. towed vehicle weight.

Check how much your jeep weighs and your local laws as to what the trailer weight can be before you must have brakes.

[BradW]

Ditto on Ready Brake. Simple and functional. Works great with our Rubicon.

[bigfootford]

Yes to ReadyBrake... Over 6,000 miles towing over 15 years.. Works great.

[deltabravo]

Check out the "Dinghy Towing" section on this forum. You will probably get a lot more information, since there's a lot more activity about flat towing there than there is here in the truck camper forum.

[Barry_W]

Gulfman I have the blue ox towbar and breaking assist. I tow a two door wrangler sport behind my f350 dually and host cascade. Hitching is made easy with the telescoping hitch bars. Breaking system is simple and easy to set up. I am pleased so far with the blue ox tow system. Also, I replaced my wired tow lights with wireless and wished I had sooner. Barry

[mike_kellie]

I found magnetic lights on e-trailer often used with recovery vehicles to avoid stringing wire and lights over a towed vehicle. They're battery operated and receive brake, turn and running lights via a plug inserted in your 7-way. I have a metal cargo basket above my spare tire (2017 2 door Rubicon) and use additional velcro straps to hold them in place. 6 double A batteries in each fixture made it through our 6 week road trip last summer.

[NatParkJunkie]

+1 for ready brake. That's what I use.
I had an issue with my tow bar last year half way through a trip, and they overnighted me a replacement part under warranty coverage, free of charge. The hardest part was figuring out where I could have them ship the part to because I was literally in the middle of nowhere.
I have my ready brake paired with the roadmaster baseplate, and the additional crossbar on the front of my jeep, which is needed for extra support when the jeep surges towards the truck when you step on the brake.