Recommended Equipment Needed to Flat Tow 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Behind an RV
Published 07/26/2016
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Question:
Hi, I am looking to make an expensive purchase from you to tow my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee behind my rv. I am trying to get information on if I can tow that vehicle with all four wheels down without doing transmission damage, but cant seem to get an answer from anyone including Jeep as its an older model. The manual seems to say yes. Can you advise or guide? Thanks!
asked by: John
Expert Reply:
According to my research, the 4WD version of your vehicle is capable of being flat towed, if the guidelines outlined in the owner's manual are followed exactly. I've tried unsuccessfully to download a copy of the owner's manual, so unfortunately I cannot provide any further explanation than that. The Rear Wheel Drive version CANNOT be flat towed unless a transmission lube pump is installed. We don't offer the lube pump kit, but you can find them easily enough online.
To flat tow your vehicle, you'll need base plates, a tow bar, safety cables, a lighting solution that would allow the towed vehicle's lights to work in tandem with those of the RV and a supplemental braking system. In some cases, a high/low adapter might also be needed.
For a base plate, I'd recommend the Roadmaster # 1419-5, along with the # RM-643 safety cables and the # RM-520 Falcon 2 Tow Bar. The Falcon 2 self centers and the arms self lock, which means you don't have to have the vehicle perfectly lined up behind the RV when you're hooking up. The tow bar has a 6000 lb capacity, which would be plenty for your Grand Cherokee.
For wiring, I'd go with a permanently wired option like the Roadmaster # RM-15267 Diode system. The system includes the coiled cable to join the two vehicles, the diodes and the necessary wire and hardware.
For a supplemental braking system, I prefer a portable system like the Even Brake, part # RM-9400. The system takes just a few moments to install and remove, versus up to a few hours of expensive shop labor needed to install a permanently mounted system.
When the tow bar is installed, you'll want the tow bar to be within 3 inches of level. The base plates will right at 19 inches off the ground when installed (assuming factory ride height and stock tire sizes) so depending on your RV hitch height you might need a high-low adapter. You'll need to determine the height difference between the hitch on your RV and 19 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.
