Tow Bars for RV Travel

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tmorg05

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Warrior, AL.
New to the Jeep world. Just bought a 1999 TJ. We have an RV and needed it to pull behind. Jeep has a smitty bilt bumper so I bought the smitty bilt tow bar because of good reviews and cost effective. We have a big trip planned for a month of travel - 4400 miles round trip (Wyoming, Montana, etc). Does anyone have experience with this tow bar? Starting to question if it is as good as others we see. Just don’t want to be in a bind because I went cheap.

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I snagged a used Excali-Bar for $25 and completely rebuilt it for less than a new bar. Keep in mind almost all states require supplemental braking. I bought a Blue Ox Patriot Braking System on sale at Amazon. Yes it is expensive but it is totally portable meaning I can use it on any vehicle. I thought that in the long run that was a better deal. You can get similar units used. Factor braking into your plans.
 
I tow my LJ with a Blue Ox BX7380. I use brackets bolted to my bumper, similar to what you posted. I chose the tow bar that fits into a 2" receiver over one that fits over a ball for two reasons. The first, fitting into a receiver supposedly is more tolerable to different hitch heights, and the other reason was it would be easier to switch tow vehicles. My RV and pick up have very different hitch heights.

Shop around, I'm pretty sure I paid less than 1/2 the price shown below.

https://www.blueox.com/product/bx7380-alpha-2-tow-bar/

I also use a Blue Ox brake unit. I bought my wiring from eTrailer.

I've flat towed my Jeep for several thousand miles without a problem.
 
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I’ve had three RV’s over the years and never setup a tow vehicle until getting a Jeep. My goal was to NOT hack the factory Jeep wiring and decided on the NSA Ready Brute Elite II tow bar with integrated braking (cable actuated). There are many options on the wiring and brake controller but after seeing a few tow bar installs I was set on a more analog setup.

I purchased a TowMate wireless magnetic taillight that is 32” wide and has magnetic pucks. The RV model was the RVHW32-7RV and fit perfect under the stock rear bumper. I picked the hardwired option vs rechargeable and just ran power from the battery back to rear bumper with battery tender style connector for quick dismount.

https://nsarvproducts.com/products/rv-tow-bar-ready-brute-elite-ii?variant=40449788281018

https://www.towmate.com/RVHW32-Wireless-RV-Tow-Light-Package_p_34.html
 
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AVGodZ said:
I’ve had three RV’s over the years and never setup a tow vehicle until getting a Jeep. My goal was to NOT hack the factory Jeep wiring and decided on the NSA Ready Brute Elite II tow bar with integrated braking (cable actuated). There are many options on the wiring and brake controller but after seeing a few tow bar installs I was set on a more analog setup.

I purchased a TowMate wireless magnetic taillight that is 32” wide and has magnetic pucks. The RV model was the RVHW32-7RV and fit perfect under the stock rear bumper. I picked the hardwired option vs rechargeable and just ran power from the battery back to rear bumper with battery tender style connector for quick dismount.

https://nsarvproducts.com/products/rv-tow-bar-ready-brute-elite-ii?variant=40449788281018

https://www.towmate.com/RVHW32-Wireless-RV-Tow-Light-Package_p_34.html
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Nice. Am looking at the RBE as well and will go with that.
My LJR was flat towed by the PO so 4-pin wiring for jeep toad lights is already in place
I have a pal who tows his JK with the RBE and loves it.
 
I’ve had three RV’s over the years and never setup a tow vehicle until getting a Jeep. My goal was to NOT hack the factory Jeep wiring and decided on the NSA Ready Brute Elite II tow bar with integrated braking (cable actuated). There are many options on the wiring and brake controller but after seeing a few tow bar installs I was set on a more analog setup.
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What metal surface do you have for the lights? Curt and others make a harness specific to your Jeep that is plug and play with the OEM lights. The harness I bought was ~$40.
 
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NOTNSUV said:
Nice. Am looking at the RBE as well and will go with that.
My LJR was flat towed by the PO so 4-pin wiring for jeep toad lights is already in place
I have a pal who tows his JK with the RBE and loves it.
Click to expand...

I purchased my TJ Feb 2022 and when fishing season opened in May we were at a campsite in the Sierra’s and a big RV pulls in with a JK in tow. I had to ask the owner about the tow bar setup just due to the size of it. He said he loved it and that it towed awesome!
 
The stock rear bumper.. it’s magnetic.
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Yes it is, but with the spare tire mounted the brake lights are mounted under the bumper like your picture. I prefer to have my brake lights higher and more visible.
 
LukesfirstJeep said:
Yes it is, but with the spare tire mounted the brake lights are mounted under the bumper like your picture. I prefer to have my brake lights higher and more visible.
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I agree with you and originally was thinking of the roof or above the spare but getting 12vdc there would’ve been difficult to cable. When testing the light bar off a battery it was super bright and so just went with the lower mount and it actually works well.
 
LukesfirstJeep said:
Yes it is, but with the spare tire mounted the brake lights are mounted under the bumper like your picture. I prefer to have my brake lights higher and more visible.
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I use these magnetic lights. Run the harness thru the cab, out the front door, along the hood and plug into the 7 pin on the truck. They've worked very well.

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Rut Row said:
I route it pretty much the same way but also run it through the engine compartment to keep the wire from rubbing on the
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That's pretty slick; hadn't thought of that. No pics, but i run mine out the passenger door right by the mirror, on the inside of the antenna, unlatch the hood latches, run the wires in the gap behind the rubber straps of the latches, then reconnect the latches.
 
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