Towing a vehicle behind a MH is becoming a PITA

[JKChic]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions! This is quite embarrassing but I'll admit it anyway....

They make 1 size bigger in the adapters (1" ) where I had bought the only other size they make (3/4") because I was convinced that my d ring mounts were 3/4" and nothing was gonna convince me otherwise.

Well, I had an epiphany the night I wrote my post. It woke me up that night as I was sleeping as a matter of fact. This is the embarrassing part....I thought why don't I just try the bigger size they make and see? If those don't work, try the fabricator.

Well, the adapters came in this past Friday (sent the others back). And....well.....they fit perfectly. So embarrassing. That's what I get for assuming I know everything about the aftermarket items I've put on my Jeep since buying it. Sheesh....

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by JKChic

Thank you all for your help and suggestions! This is quite embarrassing but I'll admit it anyway....

They make 1 size bigger in the adapters (1" ) where I had bought the only other size they make (3/4") because I was convinced that my d ring mounts were 3/4" and nothing was gonna convince me otherwise.

Well, I had an epiphany the night I wrote my post. It woke me up that night as I was sleeping as a matter of fact. This is the embarrassing part....I thought why don't I just try the bigger size they make and see? If those don't work, try the fabricator.

Well, the adapters came in this past Friday (sent the others back). And....well.....they fit perfectly. So embarrassing. That's what I get for assuming I know everything about the aftermarket items I've put on my Jeep since buying it. Sheesh....

JKChick,
You did nothing wrong, nothing that many of us haven't already done too. No bodies perfect. Jeeps have one of the largest aftermarket systems on the planet. And, coordinating other companies like Blue Ox and other tow bar makers to co-inside with bumper makers, is no small feat. As you've found out, there are some variables in equipment. So, you've learned your lesson, (as we all have) and, if and when it comes time to order up more equipment, take your time, make sure you know what you have, and what is needed to work with it.

We've towed 9 different Jeeps over a 35 year period and, to say the least, it's been a bit of an on-going experiment. Things change but, in the JEEP WORLD, there's also somethings that are a given and don't change. The wife and I work as a team in prep for towing. She drives the Jeep up to me as I stand, straggling the tow bar. I stop her when it's right. At that time, she holds the Jeep in position while I hook up the tow bar ends and the safety cables.

Then, I give her the thumbs up and at that time, she backs up the Jeep 'till she feels the tow bar arms lock. Then, at that point, I continue my outside work and she does all the inside stuff. Normally, that total operation, start to finish, takes us right close to about one minute. And that's not racing, just normal.
When it comes time for disconnect, she again handles all the inside stuff and I do the tow-bar disconnect. That also takes us around 45 seconds to a minute.
You'll get a system down to where it's second nature and, you'll be off and enjoying traveling.
Now, if I may make a suggestion, if you haven't already done it, set your toad lights up with this unit:

https://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-56200...=Hopkins+56200

It's a very nice, plug and play unit that make setting up toad lights hassle free. It utilizes your Jeeps tail lights and, therefore NO extra bulbs, no magnetic ones with wires hanging all over the place etc. Very easy and efficient. Good luck and have fun.
Scott

[OLD1SGT]

We used the d rings to tow from NH to AK . We had the bumper d ring brake off as wee pullrd into a camp ground, lucky we were only doing 5 mph. The weld on the bumper let go.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by OLD1SGT

We used the d rings to tow from NH to AK . We had the bumper d ring brake off as wee pullrd into a camp ground, lucky we were only doing 5 mph. The weld on the bumper let go.

May I ask,
Who was the maker of the bumper involved and, when did happen? I ask because many makers reinforce the tab and mounting area due to the phenomenal stress that is to be expected on the tab and, the surrounding area if and when the vehicle that it is mounted on, needs to be pulled or "recovered" from a predicament that warrants the use of it.
Scott

[JKChic]

Originally Posted by OLD1SGT

We used the d rings to tow from NH to AK . We had the bumper d ring brake off as wee pullrd into a camp ground, lucky we were only doing 5 mph. The weld on the bumper let go.

I've heard of that too and hoping (but pretty confident it won't ) that doesn't happen to me. My bumper mounts are extremely well made, pretty insane really. Not sure a tow bracket would even work as I off road it and things would get in the way aside from the fact it would be somewhat unsightly (the Jeep has a lift).

I paid a ridiculous amount of $ for those bumpers but trust the Poison Spyder Concepts folks to provide a good weld. If I can figure it out, maybe I'll post a pic on here of the D ring mounts...they seem pretty darn solid! Thanks for your advice.

[JKChic]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

JKChick,
You did nothing wrong, nothing that many of us haven't already done too. No bodies perfect. Jeeps have one of the largest aftermarket systems on the planet. And, coordinating other companies like Blue Ox and other tow bar makers to co-inside with bumper makers, is no small feat. As you've found out, there are some variables in equipment. So, you've learned your lesson, (as we all have) and, if and when it comes time to order up more equipment, take your time, make sure you know what you have, and what is needed to work with it.

We've towed 9 different Jeeps over a 35 year period and, to say the least, it's been a bit of an on-going experiment. Things change but, in the JEEP WORLD, there's also somethings that are a given and don't change. The wife and I work as a team in prep for towing. She drives the Jeep up to me as I stand, straggling the tow bar. I stop her when it's right. At that time, she holds the Jeep in position while I hook up the tow bar ends and the safety cables.

Then, I give her the thumbs up and at that time, she backs up the Jeep 'till she feels the tow bar arms lock. Then, at that point, I continue my outside work and she does all the inside stuff. Normally, that total operation, start to finish, takes us right close to about one minute. And that's not racing, just normal.
When it comes time for disconnect, she again handles all the inside stuff and I do the tow-bar disconnect. That also takes us around 45 seconds to a minute.
You'll get a system down to where it's second nature and, you'll be off and enjoying traveling.
Now, if I may make a suggestion, if you haven't already done it, set your toad lights up with this unit:

https://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-56200...=Hopkins+56200

It's a very nice, plug and play unit that make setting up toad lights hassle free. It utilizes your Jeeps tail lights and, therefore NO extra bulbs, no magnetic ones with wires hanging all over the place etc. Very easy and efficient. Good luck and have fun.
Scott

Hi Scott, thank you SO much for your input! Unfortunately I do not have a partner to help me out with the towing thing, I have to figure this out/do it all myself (unless my son is around who can help). I'm sure I can get it done though!

I am very interested in that towing light adapter thingy you provided the link for! I'll have to google some vids on how to put it in as I am only somewhat mechanically inclined. There are soooo many types of lighting options for a tow vehicle that it gets daunting trying to decide and then how to install. I need something easy and not too expensive. I've already spent what seems like a fortune to just tow a vehicle behind the RV (what an eye opener it's been!) but I want to do it the right, safe way.

Thank you so very much for posting your hookup procedure. Perhaps when my son is there to help I can follow the same!

Many thanks!

[FIRE UP]

JKChick,
You're welcome. Setting up a Jeep for towing is, in all reality, a piece of cake. Some make it a lot harder than it should be. You need:

1. A Tow bar, preferably one that stays on the coach when not towing.
2. A set of safety cables, waaaaaaay better than the proverbial "chains".
3. A "Pig tail" or, wiring harness that connects the coach to the toad, that's used for conveying light signals to the back of the toad, so that folks following you have an idea what your intentions are, i.e. braking, turning, etc.


Now, when it comes to setting up your toads (Your Jeep JK, in your case) for lighting, there's a number of ways. I won't go into all of them as it's waste of time here. The link I posted you refers to a wiring harness that, is installed in the rear corner of the Jeep, behind the left rear tail light. I won't go into all the details of the install, unless you ask but, suffice to say, when it's installed and ready to work, this is how it works.

When you're hooked up to your Jeep and ready for towing, your "Pig tail" is plugged into the coaches trailer plug on the rear. The other end is plugged into the Jeeps front plug (that you, or anyone of your choice, installed when that harness we're talking about is continued forward, to the front of the vehicle).

So, now, when you test your lights and connections, here's what you should find.

1. Turn the parking lights on in the coach. You should then see the rear ONLY tail lights come on too. You should see NO front lights working on the Jeep.

2. Now, turn the ignition on in the coach, (you don't have to start it, just turn the ignition on) and, put a left turn signal on in the coach. You should then see the left tail light "blinking" on the Jeep. Again, the front turn signal light on the Jeep will NOT WORK, with this operation.

3. Then, do the same for the right side. You should see the right tail light on the Jeep blink.

4. And finally, you'll need two people for this part. You need to step on the brakes of the coach and, have someone watch the Jeeps tail lights to see the brake lights come on. Once all those are tested and working, you've completed the system setup and are ready to tow. Hope this helps some.
Scott