Boat Bum
Well-known member
The two models I listed come from my own research not hearsay
Which way to tow?
- Thread starter analemma77
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Larry N.
Well-known member
The JL, JK, TJ, CJ (all Wranglers) and many other models of Jeep (pretty much all Wranglers, plus more) can be flat towed.
Ray-IN
Well-known member
IF they have the correct automatic transmission or straight shift; otherwise no flat-towing.
Isaac-1
Well-known member
Pretty much is the key words here, I would hate to go out and pay several thousand dollars for a used Wrangler just to find out it is one of the obscure versions that can't be flat towed. I think there were some in the late 90's in certain trim levels what should not be flat downed due to something about the transfer case, but I don't remember what at the moment.
Boat Bum
Well-known member
Suffice to say, check twice buy once.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
True, but he didn't say "all". He said any Jeep JL or JK, i.e. Wranglers, and I believe that info is correct.
Skookum
Well-known member
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The advice about Wranglers is basically correct, but there are a few gotchas and exceptions.
Not all models come without a steering wheel lock.
Not all Wranglers have 4-wheel drive (specifically, early '07- Wrangler Unlimited models, which were available in 2wd).
I'd definitely read the owner's book before flat towing a newer JL Wrangler with 4xE hybrid systems.
I do have a '12 Wrangler 2-door Sport 4x4 that I tow behind my motorhome. Super easy... does not have a steering wheel lock, so can be towed without the ignition on or keys inside of it. Put it in Transfer Case Neutral, put the transmission in gear, parking brake off, and it's ready to go down the road.
Not all models come without a steering wheel lock.
Not all Wranglers have 4-wheel drive (specifically, early '07- Wrangler Unlimited models, which were available in 2wd).
I'd definitely read the owner's book before flat towing a newer JL Wrangler with 4xE hybrid systems.
I do have a '12 Wrangler 2-door Sport 4x4 that I tow behind my motorhome. Super easy... does not have a steering wheel lock, so can be towed without the ignition on or keys inside of it. Put it in Transfer Case Neutral, put the transmission in gear, parking brake off, and it's ready to go down the road.
ButchW
Well-known member
Locking hubs in freewheel?
Butch
Skookum
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ButchW
Well-known member
I don’t have a Wrangler, but I do have a Suzuki Samurai. And I do need to put the manual locking hubs in freewheel to tow.Yes, if you have an old enough Wrangler to have locking hubs
Butch
Old_Crow
Well-known member
The Wranglers pretty much ended the locking hubs when the YJ's replaced the CJ's in '86. The YJ's had a vacuum actuated disconnect internal to the front axle, which carried on through the TJ's.
I'm not sure what they use in anything newer than '06, because I've got no interest in a Jeep newer than a TJ.
We have only been RVing for a couple of years. If I had a choice at this point I would tow with four down. Unfortunately, we do not have a vehicle which will do so. We have a Honda Odyssey with front wheel drive, which we tow on a dolly, which is OK, as I am still able to fairly easily do the necessary work involved.
The dolly is fairly lightweight and basically holds the majority of the weight of the car on itself. The odyssey weighs about 4500 pounds and there is probably less than 200 pounds on the tongue or ball of the coach. At a fairly easy pace it takes probably about 10-15 minutes or so to load the vehicle and be ready to go, the same goes for unloading it as well. As far as convenience of the dolly and campgrounds, it has not been an issue so far. As in almost every campground we have been in I have been able to back the dolly right into our space without an issue or if they are pull through spaces there is almost always been plenty of room to leave the dolly on the coach. That also saves the work of unhooking the dolly and finding a place to store it. As others have mentioned, there are some bothersome things about using the dolly some of which are are doing it in the rain, sometimes pulling the car up on the wet ramps was a bit of a nuisance, but doable. Lying on the ground to hook up safety chains underneath has been probably the biggest pain, but some people don’t even use them. All in all,just a little more manual work. All things considered it is reasonable for us at this point to use the dolly and I am OK with it in most occasions. Unless I had a vehicle that absolutely needed to be towed on a trailer of any type I would probably never go that route because of the inconvenience of the trailer once you’ve arrived at your destination, again that was mentioned above. In the future, for ease and convenience and less work I would definitely get a vehicle that I could tow four down.
Scott,Orlando
The dolly is fairly lightweight and basically holds the majority of the weight of the car on itself. The odyssey weighs about 4500 pounds and there is probably less than 200 pounds on the tongue or ball of the coach. At a fairly easy pace it takes probably about 10-15 minutes or so to load the vehicle and be ready to go, the same goes for unloading it as well. As far as convenience of the dolly and campgrounds, it has not been an issue so far. As in almost every campground we have been in I have been able to back the dolly right into our space without an issue or if they are pull through spaces there is almost always been plenty of room to leave the dolly on the coach. That also saves the work of unhooking the dolly and finding a place to store it. As others have mentioned, there are some bothersome things about using the dolly some of which are are doing it in the rain, sometimes pulling the car up on the wet ramps was a bit of a nuisance, but doable. Lying on the ground to hook up safety chains underneath has been probably the biggest pain, but some people don’t even use them. All in all,just a little more manual work. All things considered it is reasonable for us at this point to use the dolly and I am OK with it in most occasions. Unless I had a vehicle that absolutely needed to be towed on a trailer of any type I would probably never go that route because of the inconvenience of the trailer once you’ve arrived at your destination, again that was mentioned above. In the future, for ease and convenience and less work I would definitely get a vehicle that I could tow four down.
Scott,Orlando
In addition to the above mentioned, when I say “backing the dolly into a campground” that of course is with the vehicle already offloaded. I have been able to back the dolly with the car on it but for very short distances, possibly to get out of a bind or a tight turn. It is not recommended with a dolly or four down to do any backing up. With the dolly it puts a strain on both the dolly and the tow vehicle. When I have done it I do it very slowly and carefully with someone behind watching the car and dolly
ButchW
Well-known member
How do you disconnect the front axle if there is no vacuum with the engine off? Or do you? I've never had a jeep product, so I'm not familiar with there operation...
Butch
Larry N.
Well-known member
The 4WDs without manual locking hubs basically use a centrifugal clutch so that you don't have to do the manual lock/unlock on those hubs. The transfer case connects the transmission to front and rear wheels, generally allowing you to engage or disengage the front wheels OR to put it in neutral which leaves both front and rear freewheeling EXCEPT that they still have the driveshafts attached to the axles, but disconnected from the transmission/engine.
The above is, in general, true for pickups and Jeeps/SUVs, to the best of my knowledge. There may be some exceptions I'm not aware of, though.
The above is, in general, true for pickups and Jeeps/SUVs, to the best of my knowledge. There may be some exceptions I'm not aware of, though.
Old_Crow
Well-known member
The older YJ's had a vacuum actuator in the axle. The TJs do not. Everything in the front end just freewheels (being "driven" by the front wheels turning) when you're in 2wd. No locking hubs on either.
You just put the t/case in neutral to tow, and the trans either in gear for a manual or in Park for an automatic.
The older Chevy's and Fords had the automatic locking hubs that Larry is talking about. You used to have to take the t/case out of 4wd and back up for like 15-20 feet to get them to disengage.
You just put the t/case in neutral to tow, and the trans either in gear for a manual or in Park for an automatic.
The older Chevy's and Fords had the automatic locking hubs that Larry is talking about. You used to have to take the t/case out of 4wd and back up for like 15-20 feet to get them to disengage.
ButchW
Well-known member
I've only had manual locking hubs on my Samurai, and an old '73 GMC... In later model Suzukis (Samurais and Top/kicks) they suggest you replace the auto hubs wit manual for towing...
Butch
Butch
Longshoes
New member
We just bought an Odyssey…needed to for the wheelchair lift for Mom…what brand and model tow dolly do you have…shopping around and it’s a little confusing.
Thanks!
SeilerBird
Well-known member
Have you priced used Wranglers lately? A whole lot more than several thousand dollars.
