Community Forums

sandrooney · 01-18-2023, 05:01 AM

Hi All, I am new to the forum but not new to RVing. We sold or last Motorhome a couple years ago and thought we were done but got the itch again. We just purchased a 2000 National Dolphin 38 ft buggy with a Triton V10 with 41,000 miles and are in the negotiating stage of buying a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4 door already set up for towing. We need the tow bar and a brake system. I am looking at a brake buddy, it seems the simplest to install and either a Roadmaster or Blue Ox tow bar. My question is, what do I need to do to put the jeep in towing mode and do I have to stop and start it up every so often? This is our first flat towing experience, we have used a dolly in the past. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

RajTaj · 01-18-2023, 06:01 AM

Instructions are in the Jeep owners manual. Here's a link that may help.

https://www.larrymillerchryslerjeept...p-wrangler.htm

andy29847 · 01-18-2023, 06:28 AM

You wrote already set up for towing. What does that mean?

There are 3 things to deal with. The physical connection - hitch, tow bar, base plate. The braking system - normal braking and emergency braking. And lights - for night, turn signal, and brakes.

If your new Jeep already has some of these parts, it might be easiest to go with what the previous owner used.

I have always used the NSA Ready brake tow bar. I like the Ready Brake system because the towed vehicle brakes are operated via a surge brake mechanism on the tow bar. I have almost 50,000 miles towing using one of these systems.

I connect to my tow bar via brackets on my front bumper. I had a local welder make a set of brackets for the first Jeep I had. The newest Jeep has a Rockhard bumper with Rockhard brackets on it. My safety cables hook to the recovery shackles on the bumper.

I used magnetic wireless battery powered lights on the toad when I first started. It was a pain to keep them working, so I have switched to a commercial harness for the Jeep that operates the taillights from the trailer plug on the camper.

Setting up a Jeep for tow is easy. I haven't had a 2018, so you should check in your manual to verify my instructions go with your vehicle. The transfer case goes in neutral, the transmission goes in park, and you need to make sure the steering wheel is unlocked (if yours locks).

All the RVers I know that tow Jeeps aim their rear camera at the front of the Jeep. We call them baby cameras.

sandrooney · 01-18-2023, 07:09 AM

It's got the baseplate and lights already installed. I have pretty much decided on the Ready Brute Elite 2 with the ready brake. Will I have to install a battery charger as well? Thanks a lot.

sandrooney · 01-18-2023, 07:12 AM

RajTaj Thanks for the link.

sandrooney · 01-18-2023, 07:14 AM

Another question Andy. Do you have to un hook the ready brake to back up?

**Lt Dan** · 01-18-2023, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandrooney

Another question Andy. Do you have to un hook the ready brake to back up?

As a general rule, you cannot backup with a toad attached. Backing can cause the front wheels on the toad to suddenly turn to one side causing the tow bar to bind and bend.

ChrisDParise · 01-18-2023, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandrooney

Will I have to install a battery charger as well? Thanks a lot.

Across all toads, not just Jeeps, many install a charge line from the motorhome to the toad battery or a battery charger.

What does your owners manual say about this? If explicitly called out in the manual you must.

It's possible the vehicle already has a charge line or charger. Have you looked?

There's such a thing as parasitic draw while towing, despite having a tow bar with a manual non electric braking system, and there's more than a few posts on this thread of Jeeps with dead batteries

wildtoad · 01-18-2023, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandrooney

It's got the baseplate and lights already installed. I have pretty much decided on the Ready Brute Elite 2 with the ready brake. Will I have to install a battery charger as well? Thanks a lot.

No… The ready brute elite does not require and power at the Jeep. It uses a simple cable between the Ready Brake and the brake pedal in the Jeep.

wildtoad · 01-18-2023, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

As a general rule, you cannot backup with a toad attached. Backing can cause the front wheels on the toad to suddenly turn to one side causing the tow bar to bind and bend.

This…

wildtoad · 01-18-2023, 08:04 AM

You do not need to run the Jeep every so often. Not needed, as the brake system does not require any power.

Check your manual for procedure to set it for tow. But the basics are:

Turn key to acc, move gear shift to neutral.
Move transfer case to neutral.
Move gear shift to Park (Yes park), or any gear if a manual.
Turn key off remove key.

When you get where you’re going, turn key to ACC.
Move gear shift to neutral.
Move transfer case to 2wd.
Move gear shift to Park.

The manual has a few steps to make sure transfer case is in neutral. I simply hookup on level ground and simply give the Jeep a push to make sure it rolls freely after hooking up.

Sometimes getting the Jeep back into gear can be a bit fussy, but don’t use brute force.

MtCamper · 01-18-2023, 08:15 AM

There are two 2018 Wranglers. Both the JK and the JL were made that year. I don't know if there are any differences between the two as far as towing is concerned but be sure you follow the instructions that apply to your specific model. I use a Brake Buddy in my Jeep. Mostly because I chose to put a 4 pin plug behind the trailer rather than a 7 pin. No requirement to start every so often and no steering wheel lock to deal with. When you follow the manual and shift from neutral to forward and reverse to confirm your transfer case is in neutral, be sure your door is closed. If it is open you may set the auto brake. I use a Blue Ox tow bar and am quite happy with it.

sandrooney · 01-18-2023, 10:05 AM

Thanks for all the info.

AKIQPilot · 01-19-2023, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandrooney

It's got the baseplate and lights already installed. I have pretty much decided on the Ready Brute Elite 2 with the ready brake. Will I have to install a battery charger as well? Thanks a lot.

Great choice. You will love the RBE2. And no. You dont need a charge line for that Jeep.

I have read here that some of the new Wranglers may “wake up” while being towed depending on what method you use to lock the doors. I dont think that affects the 2018 Wrangler.

Word is if the vehicle wakes up enough it could run the battery down after a wake ups. Hahaha