Flat Towing Vs. Using a Tow Dolly for Jeep Wrangler

Question

Question:

We have a Thor Miramar 35.2 RV and are looking to buy a jeep wrangler to pull behind it. My wife and are are at odds with how to pull it. She thinks a tow dolly is best, providing better steering of the jeep around corners/etc. I think the flat tow will provide adequate steering as well as it folds up for storage when not in use. Thoughts?

asked by: Alan J

0

Expert Reply:

Deciding between flat towing your vehicle with all four wheels down or using a tow dolly partly boils down to your preference and application.

For your Jeep Wrangler, I recommend going with a flat towing setup. This is going to be simpler to hookup/unhook once everything is installed, so it's a better option if you plan on towing the vehicle more than once or twice. Also, as you mentioned, flat towing won't leave you with a tow dolly to find storage for when you reach a campsite or whatever your destination might be. When all is said and done, both options will be roughly the same in terms of price. When flat towing, you will have no issue with steering or braking as long as you have all the necessary components installed.

I have attached an article on flat towing that breaks down all the various parts that will be needed like the Blue Ox Patriot braking system # BLU37TR. If you happen to know what year and model vehicle you will be getting, I will be happy to recommend all the parts you will need.

expert reply by: Chris R

0

Hugh N.

5/6/2020

OK .. can see pros or cons for the two tow methods. Already towing a Honda CRV via dolly. Can a 2020 Wrangler 4 door be towed on a dolly? Yes or No? Thanks

Chris R.

5/8/2020

The owner's manual for your 2020 Wrangler states that the Jeep should NOT be towed using a dolly. The 4WD model can be flat towed though with all 4 wheels on the ground.

James

9/1/2020

@ChrisR I know what your saying and have read the same thing. I’m assuming the issue with a dolly is the back driveshaft turning while the front is not. There’s nothing else that’s different as far as the driveline is concerned. I own a 98 Wrangler with Warn lockout hubs. Everyday driving has the rear driveshaft turning while the front is not. What’s the difference between my driving with lockout hubs and dolly towing?

Jon G.

9/4/2020

@James It sounds like those essentially work like a driveshaft disconnect. For other vehicles we have seen that it's okay to tow them using a dolly if the driveshaft disconnect is used so I'd imagine going that same kind of route for your '98 Wrangler would produce the same results. I always like to add that it's never a bad idea to double check this kind of stuff with your nearest dealer just to be on the safe side of things.

See All (5) Replies to Hugh N. ∨

Mike C.

6/22/2020

Can a 2020 Jeep Wrangler automatic transmission 4wd be used on a tow dolly

Chris R.

6/25/2020

I checked the owner's manual for your 2020 Wrangler and it says that it CANNOT be towed on a dolly with either the front or rear wheels on the ground.

Answer 1

You can use a tow bar like the Blue Ox Alpha #BX7380 with the 7/8" D-Ring #BX88357 or 1" D-Ring #BX88358 bumper adapters (whichever matches what you have on your Jeep), but you do need to confirm with Rough Country that the bumper you have…

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Answer 2

The Adapter for Jeep D-Ring Bumper Mounts part #RM-035 is a great option for flat-towing a 2021 Jeep Wrangler with aftermarket front bumper. It can be used with any motorhome mounted Roadmaster tow bar for which I recommend the Roadmaster Nighthawk…

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Answer 3

Hi Milo, We don't currently offer a front bumper and winch for your 2022 Jeep Wrangler but I can say that what you're going to need to look for is how the new bumper would mount to the frame rails. The etrailer Invisible Base Plate Kit…

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Answer 4

Gladly! The difference between the Blue Ox Patriot 3 Radio Frequency, Portable Braking System BRK2019 and the Blue Ox Patriot Radio Frequency, Portable Braking System #BLU37TR is that the Blue Ox Patriot 3 RBRK2019 is older, no longer available, and…

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Answer 5

When it comes to choosing between the Blue Ox Patriot #BLU37TR and the Brake Buddy Select 3 #HM39524, these systems are extremely similar in their setup and functionality. Both of these systems provide proportional braking in a compact and easy to…

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Answer 6

Hello Chris, You can run the Patriot off an auxiliary 12V battery, but it’s not something I’d recommend as a long-term solution. The unit is designed to pull from the Jeep battery, and the draw is actually pretty low. If your battery is going dead…

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Answer 7

Hey Greg, since you have a Blue Ox tow bar the correct base plate kit would be the Blue Ox part #BLU53FR. Since you said you wanted an EZ wiring lighting kit the Curt wiring harness part #C96JR would be what you want as this does not require any…

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Answer 8

Hey Kathryn, what specifically on the Blue Ox Alpha are you needing to replace? Unlike Roadmaster they don't have as many replacement parts but you can contact them about getting yours rebuilt but that's just not something we can help with.…

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Answer 9

Both the Roadmaster and Blue Ox tow bars are great options. But if it was my decision to make I would go with the Blue Ox Avail part #BX7420 as we have found that the Blue Ox tow bars are a little easier to connect and disconnect from. Also this tow…

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Answer 10

Thanks for the information Bob! Flat towing a leased 2025 Ford Bronco Badlands without making any modifications is going to be creative when it comes to powering your lights and a braking system but we do have all the parts you'll need. I've…

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Flat Towing Vs. Using a Tow Dolly for Jeep Wrangler

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