Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2012 Jeep Liberty Behind a Motor Home

Updated 06/11/2014 | Published 06/09/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(4462)

$548.45

Blue Ox Adventurer Adjustable Tow Bar - Coupler Style for 2" Ball - 5,000 lbs

(103)

$298.18

Blue Ox Alpha 2 Non-Binding Tow Bar - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 6,500 lbs

(437)

$903.64

Hopkins Custom Tail Light Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles

(36)

$76.01

Roadmaster Universal Magnetic Tow Lights with 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector

(43)

$82.67

RoadMaster 68" Single Hook, Coiled Safety Cables - 6,000 lbs

(645)

$67.75

Roadmaster Even Brake Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional

(56)

$1930.00

Question:

i have 2012 jeep liberty can i hook a tow bar to this hitch and tow it behind my rv

asked by: Papes

Helpful Expert Reply:

Flat towing a vehicle requires specific equipment to tow the vehicle safely and in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. A front mount hitch is not suitable for use to flat tow a vehicle behind an RV but I can tell you all of the parts that you will need.

There are at least 5 items you will need to flat tow your 2012 Jeep Liberty: base plates, tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking. But the first thing to check is the vehicle owners manual to make sure your specific model can be flat towed and for specific information on the procedure (if it is flat towable).

For base plates you can use Blue Ox base plates # BX1131. I have linked a video showing how they install.

For a compatible tow bar the most economical option is the Adventurer, # BX7322. This is a vehicle mounted tow bar that couples to a ball like a trailer would. It is rated for 5,000 pounds. If you use this tow bar make sure the gross vehicle weight is under 5,000 pounds (including anything loaded in the Liberty). Safety cables are not included so you will need to add some if you use this tow bar, # RM-643.

For a motor home mount tow bar that includes safety cables you can use the Alpha, # BX7380. It is rated for 6,500 pounds. I have linked a video showing how it installs for you.

For lighting, if you will not be towing the Liberty often, I recommend a magnetic light kit # RM-2120. But if you plan on towing it frequently a more permanent solution is to use Hopkins kit # HM56204 which just plugs in line with the vehicle tail light wiring.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking on the vehicle being flat towed. One of the easiest systems to set up and use is the Even Brake proportional system # RM-9400. It will apply the Liberty brakes in proportion to how much the tow vehicle is braking. This is the easiest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.

Be sure to consult your Liberty owners manual for specific information on flat towing the vehicle. I have also included some helpful links to our series of help articles on flat towing for you.