Towing a Jeep

[krminyl@...]

Hi Scott,

It all depends on what you want, and how much you want to spend. I use a
Stowmaster 5000 (by Roadmaster), and have used it on my old 4X4 Durango, my 4X4
Grand Cherokee, and now my 2003 Wrangler Rubicon. I just changed the
mounting brackets, and kept the towbar. The mounting brackets mated perfectly
to
the existing front bumper bolts, and you can take the tow bar off by pulling
two pins.

You might choose the coach mounted tow bar...I've heard they are a little
easier to hook up the towed vehicle, but they cost more. As for the lighting,
most of the hitch or tow bar manufacturers make kits to install new separate
bulbs in the tail light housings, avoiding the use of diodes in the car's
circuits to prevent feedback into the car's wiring system, which is bad. A
good
alternative is buying or making a "light bar" that plugs into the Wrangler's
tow hitch receptacle, and running your wiring from the light bar to the rear
of the BB. Check the voltage at the rear of the BB, at the wiring plug...I
was only getting about 9v, not enough to even light the LED's on my trailer.
I rewired the RV plug at the back of the BB with Bosch relays, and I get a
solid 13-14+ volts at the plug. Something to consider. Most states also
require a braking device in towed vehicles, although I've never used one. A
Jeep
Wrangler is pretty light, but most likely still requires an add-on braking
system. Whatever tow bar system you get, make sure you don't exceed the max
towed vehicle weight limit of the bar.

Make sure you put the Jeep transfer case in neutral, key in the ignition,
and turned to the first position to unlock the steering column before
towing....and they don't like being backed up when still attached to the tow
vehicle!

Good luck.....lots of options, and I'm sure you'll get lots of advice and
suggestions.

Kevin McKeown
Yorba Linda, CA
1986 38' PT





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