Community Forums

Falcon190 · 06-01-2013, 09:40 AM

I finally decided on a Jeep Wrangler instead of a Liberty. It's a 2000 with a lot of practical bells and whistles. Like LED lights throughout, already set up for towing, hard top, 4.0L, five gear stick, etc. It came with a rigid 5,000 lb tow bar. Anyone else use one? And I can get a pretty good deal on a Brakemaster. I've seen a lot of opinions here about brakes, but that one is often recommended. Any thing else I should know?

vsheetz · 06-01-2013, 10:07 AM

I have towed multiple Jeep Wranglers thousands of miles. They are a great toad. I have Brake Buddy I bought used cheap. Works well, but would like to have something that did not require putting it in and out and having to be stowed somewhere.

I have my eye on a Ready Brake setup. Search here and you will find a lot of user experiences.
ReadyBrake Supplemental Brake System for Towed Vehicles - NSA RV Products

Your Jeep setup for towing:

transfer case to neutral
manual trans in any gear
let the clutch in a bit to ensure transfer case really in neutral
key one notch to unlock the steering wheel

Falcon190 · 06-01-2013, 10:58 AM

Like others here, I plan on disabling the steering wheel lock. Just wondering - have you (or anyone else looking at this) had problems with the U-Joints? I'm hearing a "clunk" when I take my foot on or off the gas.

JMonroe · 06-01-2013, 04:36 PM

I might like a stronger tow bar. I think the 5k lb one is a bit marginal, although the Jeep weighs a lot less than that (probably 3700 - 4000 lbs?).

In a past life we used to do a lot of muddy off road exploring. Learning to replace U-joints was part of the life style.

vsheetz · 06-01-2013, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon190

Like others here, I plan on disabling the steering wheel lock. Just wondering - have you (or anyone else looking at this) had problems with the U-Joints? I'm hearing a "clunk" when I take my foot on or off the gas.

The Jeep appears to have a mild (maybe 2") suspension lift on it? The stock rear drive shaft is very short, making any lift a substantial change of the operating angle of the U-joints, causing premature wear.

The 5000 pound tow bar is fine.

I am not aware of how to disable the steering wheel lock on a TJ - how is that done? And it's easy enough to just do the one click to unlock it, albeit one has to leave the key in. If you have Sentry Key I think you can use a dummy key without a security chip.

CampDaven · 06-01-2013, 05:27 PM

What?
Oh, NOOOOOOO!!!!
Now you will be seeing wildlife and scenery the common tourist cannot dream of.
And competing for my space off-road.
Welcome!

tcopeland · 06-01-2013, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsheetz

I have towed multiple Jeep Wranglers thousands of miles. They are a great toad. I have Brake Buddy I bought used cheap. Works well, but would like to have something that did not require putting it in and out and having to be stowed somewhere.

I have my eye on a Ready Brake setup. Search here and you will find a lot of user experiences.
ReadyBrake Supplemental Brake System for Towed Vehicles - NSA RV Products

Your Jeep setup for towing:

transfer case to neutral
manual trans in any gear
let the clutch in a bit to ensure transfer case really in neutral
key one notch to unlock the steering wheel

Tow a 2011 Jeep Unlimited with a Ready Brute Elite. Love it!

LongDogRanch · 06-01-2013, 05:53 PM

Welcome to the world of Jeep toads. You will probably have as good a time with it as those of us who have had them for a while. The DW and I first towed a '95 Wrangler (stick) with a Roadmaster Tracker rigid towbar with the crossbar bolted directly to the stock flat bumper of the Jeep. Pulled it behind a 22' Class C for many miles without a problem. Have since purchased a '13 Wrangler automatic and we are using the rigid Tracker bar on the new Jeep behind the new Class A gasser. The bumper is not appropriate on the newer Jeep for a direct bolt on installation so we have a Roadmaster baseplate and, after our initial trip, it seems to be doing quite well. We use the RVI 2 brake system. Smaller and lighter than the others that are removable. The brake system seemed to work well also. And finally, we ran wiring through the Jeeps frame for auxiliary rear lights and did not tap into the Jeep's electrical system this time. (I did use diodes and the Jeep's electrical system connected to the MH on the '95....it worked well.)
As you undoubtedly know by now Jeep is one of the most popular toads. IMHO you just have to use the components that seem appropriate to your needs and preferences......and, in the end, those that give you the performance and confidence for safe and successful travels.
Best of luck and have fun!

So Cal Roo · 06-01-2013, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon190

Like others here, I plan on disabling the steering wheel lock. Just wondering - have you (or anyone else looking at this) had problems with the U-Joints? I'm hearing a "clunk" when I take my foot on or off the gas.

Clunking might be the rear end. Very common problem with the Dana rear end. Had to have ours re-built. We had very nice 2001 Sahara Edition Wrangler . I found a rear end shop in So. Cal. They installed all new parts. Wasn't cheap but worth it. Hopefully it's a cheaper fix for you. Enjoy.

Mekanic · 06-02-2013, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CampDaven

What?
Oh, NOOOOOOO!!!!
Now you will be seeing wildlife and scenery the common tourist cannot dream of.
And competing for my space off-road.
Welcome!

I was thinking the same thing.

so to the OP, ever been to Ouray and Silverton Colorado, Or Moab Utah? Really nice places to visit in a Jeep.

CampDaven · 06-02-2013, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mekanic

I was thinking the same thing.

so to the OP, ever been to Ouray and Silverton Colorado, Or Moab Utah? Really nice places to visit in a Jeep.

Oh yeah! They are on my bucket list.
Spent a lot of off-road time last winter near Prescott, Casa Grande, Jerome, and Sedona AZ, and Parhump, NV.

Jeeps love to get dirty!

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Chaffeekid · 06-02-2013, 04:56 AM

WOW that is a great looking Jeep, I learned to drive on Camp Pendleton when I was 17 the Marines put me on a 2 week course out in the boonies with an M38A1 and a trailer. Up and down those mountians, it was great for an old country boy. Loved it. I use a roadmaster Brakemaster 9000 that I got from e-bay for 59.00 WHOOHOO, bought the remaining items needed at etrailer.com, great people.
Wish I had that jeep and you had my Ram 1500, hmmm thinking.....
Jim

CampDaven · 06-02-2013, 05:35 AM

Wheeler Pass, Pahrump, NV

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Falcon190 · 06-02-2013, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CampDaven

Oh yeah! They are on my bucket list.
Spent a lot of off-road time last winter near Prescott, Casa Grande, Jerome, and Sedona AZ, and Parhump, NV.

Jeeps love to get dirty!

You guys and your adventures are giving me major spring fever (it's still overcast and rainy in the northwest)! Time for me to get that Jeep out and check off my bucket list, too. My list includes the ghost towns of Idaho, Montana and Nevada. But I've not explored Colorado or Utah - yet! My Jeep is way too clean! Did you notice the rack on the hood? Only three jeeps have that. I bought it from the man that designed them. And the roof rack becomes a tent frame. So, if you have a bucket list, where do you want to go wheeling?