If you are interested in towing Jeeps and trailers, then you will need a truck camper for this task. Truck campers are versatile vehicles that can serve you in many different ways. You may want to tow a Jeep if you plan outdoor trips in your truck camper.
You will first have to know how a Jeep Wrangler can be rigged in the first place so that you can tow it without a fuss. You will have to take care of several items, including a hitch box extension, safety hooks, tow bar, electrical wiring, and tow bar brackets.
You will see how to tow a Jeep Wrangler four-down. It is not hard to understand why. Jeep Wrangler is a vehicle that is ideal for towing four-down. In fact, it is among the few models that have this ability.
For towing four-down, you will need a tow bar, among other hardware items. You can purchase an adjustable tow bar for a little over $100. You can also find other fancy tow bars that cost a few hundred dollars. However, you can get good value for money with inexpensive tow bars rated for towing up to 5,000 pounds. This should be more than enough for your needs.
Table of Contents
1. Tow Bar Installation
The first step entails installing a tow bar bracket on the Jeep bumper. This is a fairly simple task. With the help of Torx fitting, you should first unbolt the Jeep bumper.
To install the tow bar brackets, you must first detach the 2 bumper pads on the OEM bumper. If you are lucky enough, there may be preexisting bumper pad holes on which you can install the tow bar brackets.
You can mount the tow bars at a distance of 24 to 40 inches from each other on the Jeep bumper.
At this point, you will obviously have a key question on your mind. You might be wondering whether the relatively thin bumper is capable of withstanding the force that the tow bar brackets will exert on it. The issue with the bumper is that it is not stout enough. As a consequence, you will have to make use of the support plates to reinforce them.
These may be included in your tow bar kit. If you choose this method, your Jeep will be just fine. Several Jeep owners have safely towed their vehicles over hundreds of miles fairly easily and safely using this straightforward method.
2. Safety Chain Installation
A tow bar by itself is not sufficient no matter how stout it might be. There is always the possibility that the tow bar could break. In such a case, you need to have safety chains as a backup to restrain the Jeep and to prevent it from breaking loose. The safety chain could help you prepare for any such emergency.
However, to attach these safety chains securely to your Jeep, you will first have to install attachment points on your Jeep where the chains can be connected. Suitable points can be either D-rings or tow hooks.
But there is a chance that your Jeep may have none of these. In that case, you will have to find something suitable that you can bolt to your Jeep. You can get a pair of towing hooks fairly inexpensively. You can mount these directly on the upper horizontal part of your bumper.
A major benefit of bolting these hooks on your Jeep is that you will be able to easily tow the vehicle when it gets stuck. No matter how good you are at off-road driving, a time will come when your Jeep will inevitably be stuck.
That is when you can pull your Jeep out by means of the hooks that you bolted to it. So these hooks serve a dual purpose. They can provide safety while your truck camper is towing your Jeep and they can be of great use if your Jeep ever gets stuck.
3. Towing Lights
Towing lights may be legally required in your area. To fulfill this need and to comply with traffic rules, you can purchase removable tail lights. If you want, you can also use a hard-wire diode kit that can connect with the wiring of your Jeep tail lights. The latter is a more permanent solution so you can decide to go this route.
You should know the purpose behind these diodes. They stop the truck’s electric current from going back and damaging the electric parts of the Jeep. When you hard-wire the Jeep, there is one recommendation that you should follow. The wires passing via the engine compartment should be protected with flex tubing since this part can become very hot when the vehicle is running.
Four wires are normally used to connect with the towing lights. You can protect the wiring that passes externally by wrapping it in flex tubing, covered with insulating tape.
4. Supplemental Brakes
Your state may require supplemental brakes. Even if it is not required, you can install a supplemental braking system for the sake of safety. You should also ensure that your truck camper brakes are heavy-duty and strong. That is because they will have to handle the combined force of the moving truck camper as well as the Jeep hitched to it.
With supplemental brakes, you should be able to stop both the truck camper and the Jeep easily in time without problems.
5. Hitch Extension Box
You may or may not need this hardware equipment. If there is some distance between the truck camper and your Jeep, you can install a hitch box extension to take care of it.
There will be enough distance between your truck camper and Jeep with the extension. Hence, you will be able to take sharp turns more easily and brake to a halt without problems. The extension can help maintain a good clearance.
There are a couple of tips that you can use when choosing the hitch box extension. If you want to have an extension that measures more than 39 inches, make sure that there are support chains on the extension to minimize side-to-side movement.
To achieve this, you may have to weld a special plate with the extension. As far as the hitch is concerned, you must ensure that the hitch ball size is correct. The shank should have enough strength to support your Jeep.
Also, you should make sure that when the Jeep is hitched to your truck camper, the tow bar should be more or less level. This is vital, especially if you have not installed supplemental brakes. This will make stopping and controlling much easier.
You will have all the necessary hardware for flat towing your Jeep Wrangler when you do this.
6. Jeep Wrangler Flat Towing
Jeep Wrangler is designed so that you can flat-tow it with ease. Flat towing one some Jeep Wrangler is quite simple. But everything must be set up correctly before you start towing.
You should also refer to the manufacturer’s manual to find directions on flat towing.
And while towing your Jeep, make sure that you remain within towing speed rules that apply to your area.
Bottom Line
We hope by now you will be clear on how to tow a jeep wrangler. If you still have any confusion, follow the guide above.