Truck campers offer unparalleled freedom, allowing you to explore remote destinations. But what if you want to bring along a vehicle for exploring trails and towns once you’ve set up camp? Flat towing, or “four-down towing,” is an excellent solution, and the Jeep Wrangler is ideally suited for this. This guide will walk you through the process of preparing your Jeep Wrangler Truck for flat towing, ensuring safe and hassle-free travels.
One of the significant advantages of owning a truck camper is the ability to tow vehicles like a Jeep Wrangler. For many adventurers, a Jeep Wrangler is the perfect companion vehicle, offering off-road capability and open-air fun. Preparing your Jeep Wrangler for flat towing is a straightforward process, allowing you to bring your trusty 4×4 along on your truck camping adventures. This preparation involves several key steps, including setting up the tow bar, safety chains, lighting, and considering supplemental braking. Let’s dive into how to flat tow your Jeep Wrangler truck in these easy steps.
After considering various options, flat towing the Jeep Wrangler proved to be the most practical and efficient method. The Jeep Wrangler is specifically designed to be flat towed, making it a prime candidate for this towing style. Unlike many vehicles, the Wrangler’s drivetrain is built to handle four-down towing without causing damage. While trailer towing was an option, the added weight and bulk of a trailer were less appealing, especially when trying to stay within Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWR) with a fully loaded truck camper. For flat towing, a tow bar is the central piece of equipment. After researching various tow bars, a robust yet affordable Reese Class III adjustable tow bar was selected. While higher-end tow bars are available, the Reese tow bar offered a great balance of strength and value, with a 5,000-pound towing capacity, well exceeding the weight of a typical Jeep Wrangler.
1. Tow Bar Installation on Your Jeep Wrangler Truck Bumper
The first crucial step is installing the tow bar brackets onto your Jeep Wrangler truck’s bumper. This process is generally straightforward and can be accomplished with basic tools. For this installation, a T-55 Torx bit is needed to unbolt the factory bumper from the Jeep frame. Before attaching the brackets, remove the plastic bumper pads. In some cases, like this one, the existing holes from the bumper pad mounts can be reused for the tow bar brackets, simplifying the installation. The tow bar manufacturer’s instructions will specify the acceptable distance range for bracket placement. In this case, the instructions recommended a spacing of 24 to 41 inches, and the brackets were mounted approximately 35 inches apart, falling perfectly within the recommended range.
A common concern among Jeep Wrangler owners is the strength of the stock 1/8-inch thick bumper to handle the stress of towing. It’s a valid point, as the factory bumper isn’t designed for heavy towing loads. However, by reinforcing the bumper with backing plates, typically included in tow bar kits, the bumper’s strength is significantly increased. These support plates distribute the towing forces across a wider area, making the setup robust enough for flat towing. Many Jeep Wrangler owners have successfully used this method for thousands of miles without issues, proving its reliability.
2. Essential Safety Chains for Jeep Wrangler Towing
Beyond the tow bar, safety chains are a non-negotiable safety component for flat towing. They act as a crucial backup system, preventing complete separation if the tow bar or hitch were to fail while driving. To attach safety chains, you need secure attachment points on the Jeep Wrangler truck’s frame or bumper. These points are typically tow hooks or D-rings. If your Jeep isn’t already equipped with these, aftermarket solutions are readily available. In this instance, Curt tow hooks were chosen for their affordability and strength. These hooks, rated for 10,000 pounds, mount directly to the top of the bumper and include retainer clips for added security. These Curt tow hooks are easily sourced from retailers like Harbor Freight or online marketplaces like Amazon. Beyond towing, these hooks also provide valuable recovery points should your Jeep Wrangler truck encounter off-road obstacles.
3. Setting Up Towing Lights for Legal Compliance
Legal regulations mandate functional tail lights on towed vehicles. For your Jeep Wrangler truck, you have two primary options for achieving this: utilizing removable magnetic tail lights or hardwiring into the Jeep’s existing tail light system using a diode kit. Choosing the latter provides a more permanent and integrated solution, eliminating the need to mount and remove lights for each tow. Diodes are essential in a hardwired setup as they prevent electrical feedback from the towing vehicle from damaging the Jeep’s electrical system. When hardwiring, it’s highly recommended to protect the wiring, especially runs within the engine compartment, with flex tubing to shield it from engine heat. A standard four-wire system is typically used for towing lights. The umbilical cord, connecting the Jeep to the truck’s electrical system, should be of sufficient length. An 80-inch cord, protected with flex tubing and insulating tape, provides ample length and durability.
4. Considering Supplemental Brakes for Your Jeep Wrangler Truck
Depending on local laws and the combined weight of your towing setup, supplemental braking systems may be required. While Arizona, in this case, doesn’t mandate supplemental brakes for the weight being towed, it’s a crucial safety consideration. Check your state’s towing laws here to determine legal requirements in your area. Even if not legally required, supplemental braking systems like the Brake Buddy offer significant safety benefits, especially in emergency braking situations or downhill driving. While a heavy-duty tow vehicle like an Ford F-250 with robust brakes and transmission braking provides considerable stopping power, supplemental brakes on the towed Jeep Wrangler truck enhance overall braking performance and reduce stress on the tow vehicle’s braking system. For lighter tow vehicles or in areas with mountainous terrain, supplemental brakes are highly recommended for safety.
5. Utilizing a Hitch Box Extension for Truck Camper Clearance
A hitch box extension is often necessary when towing with a truck camper due to the camper’s overhang extending beyond the truck’s rear bumper. This extension provides the required clearance between the camper and the towed vehicle, especially during turns. An 18-inch Reese hitch box extension was used in this setup, resulting in a 26-inch extension from the bumper to the hitch ball when combined with the hitch itself. Coupled with the 41-inch tow bar, this provided sufficient clearance for even sharp turns without risking contact between the Jeep Wrangler truck and the truck camper. When selecting a hitch box extension, consider the required length and weight capacity. For extensions longer than 40 inches, support chains are recommended to minimize lateral movement. Ensure the hitch ball is the correct size and the hitch shank is rated for the weight of your Jeep Wrangler truck. Maintaining a level tow bar setup is also important, particularly if supplemental brakes are not used, as it improves handling and braking stability.
6. Jeep Wrangler Truck Flat Towing Procedure
The Jeep Wrangler truck is exceptionally well-suited for flat towing. However, proper setup and procedures are critical before hitting the road. The transfer case must be placed in Neutral (N), and crucially, the manual transmission MUST be left in gear (second gear is commonly recommended) to ensure proper lubrication of the transmission while towing. Failure to leave the transmission in gear will result in severe transmission damage. Consult your Jeep Wrangler owner’s manual for specific flat towing instructions. For TJ Jeep Wranglers with manual transmissions, the procedure is generally as follows:
- Depress the brake pedal.
- Depress the clutch pedal.
- Shift the transfer case into Neutral (N).
- Start the engine.
- Place the manual transmission in gear (second or third gear recommended, not Neutral).
- Release the brake pedal to confirm no movement.
- Shut off the engine and turn the ignition key to the unlocked OFF position (allowing steering wheel movement).
- Apply the parking brake.
- Attach the Jeep Wrangler truck to the tow vehicle.
- Release the parking brake.
Tow bars themselves have no inherent speed limitations, but always adhere to local towing speed laws and drive cautiously when towing.
By following these steps, you can confidently and safely flat tow your Jeep Wrangler truck, expanding your adventure possibilities with your truck camper.
