Equipment Needed for Flat Towing 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Behind Motorhome

Question:

Can a 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4 x 4 5 speed automatic be flat towed behind an RV? If so is there any special setup required other than the obvious tow kit?

asked by: Rob

Helpful Expert Reply:

According to my research and what I read in an online copy of the owner's manual for your 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, your vehicle is capable of being flat towed without major modification. There are specific steps that must be followed addressed in the owner's manual and you'll need to follow them exactly to avoid damaging your Jeep.

To complete your towing system, you'll need base plates, a tow bar, safety cables, a wiring solution to operate the taillights of the Jeep as it's being towed, a supplemental braking system and possibly a high/low adapter.

For a base plate, the # RM-521448-5 you referenced would work fine, as long as your Jeep isn't a Hard Rock model. For a tow bar, you can't ever go wrong with the Roadmaster Falcon 2 # RM-520. The durable tow bar self centers,aligns and locks so you don't have to have the Jeep perfectly lined up behind the tow vehicle in order to hitch everything. You'll also need safety cables like part # RM-643.

To wire the Jeep for towing, I'd recommend the Hopkins plug and play taillight wiring kit, part # HM56200. For a supplemental braking system, I really like the Stay-IN-Play DUO, part # SM99251. Once it's installed you flip a switch to activate it each time you tow and it doesn't have to removed each time you want to drive the Jeep either. The only catch is the initial install is a bigger process than some other systems.

When the tow bar is installed, you'll want the towbar to be within 3 inches of level. The base plates will be 14.75 inches off the ground when installed (assuming stock ride height and tire size), so depending on your hitch height you might need a high-low adapter. You'll need to determine the height difference between the hitch on your RV and 14.75 inches and then choose the proper high-low adapter to place the tow bar within 3 inches of level. I'll link you to our selection of high-low adapters.

I've also linked you to some helpful FAQ articles and install videos featuring some of the products I've recommended.

expert reply by: Mike L

Randi D.

8/8/2020

Do you have an idea of how much all of this towing equipment weighs? We are thinking of purchasing a 2016 Jeep Wrangler and it weighs 3,879 lbs. We can only tow 4,000 lbs behind our RV. I've tried to look up weights of all the items but I can't find anything about their weights.

Jon G.

8/18/2020

Base Plate Kit - # RM-521448-5 about 38 lbs Tow Bar - # RM-520 about 58 lbs Safety Cables - # RM-643 about 2 lbs Wiring Kit - # HM56200 about 1 lb Brake Kit - # SM99251 about 10 lbs Total is about 109 lbs so you're good to go!