Flat Tow Setup Opinions

jchadscud

jchadscud

TJ Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2017
Messages
548
Location
Dallas, TX
Looking to add a flat tow setup to the TJ. I see that the total cost is about the same as a trailer which has the added benefit of getting the Jeep home in the event of mechanical failure but I don’t have a place to store a trailer and don’t want to deal with a trailer once unloaded.

It will likely be towed behind an SUV on longer trips where I want to have the Jeep for shorter drives at the destination. (SUV has a tow rating of 5,000lbs) It will also be used a few times a year behind an RV.

I’ve also discovered that you don’t want to tap into the Jeep’s electrical for lights since that can cause issues that are difficult to chase down. I’ve found this harness that plugs into the rear tailight connections.

https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bar-Wiring/Hopkins/HM56202.html
It says a brake light relay may be required to allow the turn signal to flash when the brakes are applied, but the relay wants to splice into the Jeep electrical so I may skip on that as long as the brake lights illuminate over the turn signal during a turn. Not exactly legal, but the SUV turn signal will be visible to anyone behind.

Looking at these for the other components:

Base plate
Roadmaster RM-521424-4
$415
https://www.etrailer.com/p-RM-521424-4.html
Tow Bar
Roadmaster Falcon 2 RM-520
$625
https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bars/Roadmaster/RM-520.html
Safety chains
Roadmaster - RM-643
$51
https://www.etrailer.com/p-RM-643.html
Texas doesn’t require supplemental brakes until you get over 4,500lbs, but I think I’d like to add them for safety. Looking at this:

Supplemental Brakes
Stay in play Duo
$1,050
https://www.etrailer.com/p-SM99251.html
I know $2,000+ goes a long way to other upgrades, but this will allow me to get everyone to a destination safely and comfortably and still enjoy the TJ.

Sorry for long post. Any flaws or better options on any of the above?
 
Last edited:
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You pretty much nailed it, I suggest looking for a used sterling all terrain on Craig’s list, they can be found for 3-500, I have the evenbreak from roadmaster and currently roadmaster diodes but will be switching over to the wiring harness you mentioned. Shoot me a message if you have questions, you might need a relay on the break circuit, call smi, they will tell you. For the wiring I bought heavy four way trailer wire encased in a round shielded cover so I didn’t run the flat four wiring down the body,I did,t want the to short out
 
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Example in Portland area.
https://eugene.craigslist.org/tro/d/springfield-roadmaster-sterling-tow-bar/6785458202.html
I’d suggest getting the towbrackets that do not need the crossbar

https://fitmaster.roadmasterinc.com...ars=2006&make=JEEP&model=WRANGLER&type=direct
I actually upgraded to these and have the older version of the ones you linked above, and I have an older sterling too... do a price search on the net, and etrailer will match it with an after purchase credit.

I’m on my 6th toad vehicle in 9 years, I’ve learned a lot.
 
Thanks @T Crawford - What are the advantages or disadvantages to the crossbar. The info I was able to find seemed to indicate that the crossbar was a preferred setup on a lifted Jeep to minimize the sway force.
 
Less crap to put away and store, it’s big and has to go somewhere. If you plan to run a rock guard go with what you have. But there’s a lot more to what your looking at, you need badevplates, plus the brackets with the tow bar, extension from the frame to the bracket, with the direct connect the ears of the tow bar go directly to the two xtensions that go to the base plate, they twist out and remove and sit between the door and the seat. I know don’t roll it with them sitting there., send me a pm and I will give you my number probably easier
 
T Crawford said:
Less crap to put away and store, it’s big and has to go somewhere. If you plan to run a rock guard go with what you have. But there’s a lot more to what your looking at, you need badevplates, plus the brackets with the tow bar, extension from the frame to the bracket, with the direct connect the ears of the tow bar go directly to the two xtensions that go to the base plate, they twist out and remove and sit between the door and the seat. I know don’t roll it with them sitting there., send me a pm and I will give you my number probably easier
Click to expand...

I’m following you on the direct connect, but the base plate I listed as the first item has the part that mounts to the frame as well as the brackets that connect the frame part to the tow bar.
 
If you look at the photo I posted above- the two sides of the tow bar arms go directly into the arms, instead of the flat arms the require a bracket to accept the cross bar
https://www.etrailer.com/tv-Demo-Roadmaster-Tow-Bars-RM-520.aspx. This is the type of tow bar your looking at, if you get the direct connect you do not need the bar on the end between the the ears of the tow bar,
Vs this type where there is no crossbar
https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bars/R...MI2p2Hrcq_4AIVNB-tBh3RZg9HEAQYAyABEgIS9vD_BwE
When you fold the arms back against the rv you have have to put the cross bar some where
 
I use a Ready Brute Elite tow bar. It has surge brakes. The brakes on the jeep are activated by cable. The install was simple enough that I felt comfortable doing it at home. I also have a break away cable (costs extra) that would stop the jeep if my tow vehicle and my towed vehicle became separated. I would not consider towing a jeep without both braking systems. You can get the Ready Brute with ends that fit the Blue Ox tow bar. I had a local welder make the brackets that I bolted onto the front of my Jeep (Warn bumper with a winch). My lights are wireless magnetic mount lights. I much prefer this to modifying my Jeep's wiring harness.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK56P1U/?tag=wranglerorg-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK56R4A/?tag=wranglerorg-20

https://www.quadratec.com/products/...yEpjXThwDrJEz4OmGykJbppDtWf96PyxoCG0YQAvD_BwE
77682
 
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I use the Blue Oxe
jchadscud said:
Looking to add a flat tow setup to the TJ. I see that the total cost is about the same as a trailer which has the added benefit of getting the Jeep home in the event of mechanical failure but I don’t have a place to store a trailer and don’t want to deal with a trailer once unloaded.

It will likely be towed behind an SUV on longer trips where I want to have the Jeep for shorter drives at the destination. (SUV has a tow rating of 5,000lbs) It will also be used a few times a year behind an RV.

I’ve also discovered that you don’t want to tap into the Jeep’s electrical for lights since that can cause issues that are difficult to chase down. I’ve found this harness that plugs into the rear tailight connections.

https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bar-Wiring/Hopkins/HM56202.html
It says a brake light relay may be required to allow the turn signal to flash when the brakes are applied, but the relay wants to splice into the Jeep electrical so I may skip on that as long as the brake lights illuminate over the turn signal during a turn. Not exactly legal, but the SUV turn signal will be visible to anyone behind.

Looking at these for the other components:

Base plate
Roadmaster RM-521424-4
$415
https://www.etrailer.com/p-RM-521424-4.html
Tow Bar
Roadmaster Falcon 2 RM-520
$625
https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bars/Roadmaster/RM-520.html
Safety chains
Roadmaster - RM-643
$51
https://www.etrailer.com/p-RM-643.html
Texas doesn’t require supplemental brakes until you get over 4,500lbs, but I think I’d like to add them for safety. Looking at this:

Supplemental Brakes
Stay in play Duo
$1,050
https://www.etrailer.com/p-SM99251.html
I know $2,000+ goes a long way to other upgrades, but this will allow me to get everyone to a destination safely and comfortably and still enjoy the TJ.

Sorry for long post. Any flaws or better options on any of the above?
Click to expand...
jchadscud said:
Looking to add a flat tow setup to the TJ. I see that the total cost is about the same as a trailer which has the added benefit of getting the Jeep home in the event of mechanical failure but I don’t have a place to store a trailer and don’t want to deal with a trailer once unloaded.

It will likely be towed behind an SUV on longer trips where I want to have the Jeep for shorter drives at the destination. (SUV has a tow rating of 5,000lbs) It will also be used a few times a year behind an RV.

I’ve also discovered that you don’t want to tap into the Jeep’s electrical for lights since that can cause issues that are difficult to chase down. I’ve found this harness that plugs into the rear tailight connections.

https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bar-Wiring/Hopkins/HM56202.html
It says a brake light relay may be required to allow the turn signal to flash when the brakes are applied, but the relay wants to splice into the Jeep electrical so I may skip on that as long as the brake lights illuminate over the turn signal during a turn. Not exactly legal, but the SUV turn signal will be visible to anyone behind.

Looking at these for the other components:

Base plate
Roadmaster RM-521424-4
$415
https://www.etrailer.com/p-RM-521424-4.html
Tow Bar
Roadmaster Falcon 2 RM-520
$625
https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bars/Roadmaster/RM-520.html
Safety chains
Roadmaster - RM-643
$51
https://www.etrailer.com/p-RM-643.html
Texas doesn’t require supplemental brakes until you get over 4,500lbs, but I think I’d like to add them for safety. Looking at this:

Supplemental Brakes
Stay in play Duo
$1,050
https://www.etrailer.com/p-SM99251.html
I know $2,000+ goes a long way to other upgrades, but this will allow me to get everyone to a destination safely and comfortably and still enjoy the TJ.

Sorry for long post. Any flaws or better options on any of the above?
Click to expand...
I use the Blue Ox baseplate which is easier to mount the tow bar and doesn’t show quite as much when not in use. The Curt wiring harness is similar to what you are showing (diode type) and works great.
 
Great information. Chiming in with a related question. I'm also looking at flat towing for similar reasons/ uses and would prefer using a bumper that the tow bar can connect to. I prefer not to add a base plate as it will possibly decrease clearance in some situations. No crawling, but I don't want to take a chance given some of the off roading we do.

Any recommendations on bumpers that are rated for flat towing? Most I've looked at either aren't rated or can't get a definite yes/ no.
 
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I installed the tail light harness you linked. Has worked just fine for me. I mounted a 4 pole round trailer plug in the front of the grill. I run the Falcon 2 tow bar, but recently bought the brackets to hook directly to my aftermarket bumper d-rings. I have the Roadmaster cross bar that bolts to the frame for sale if you decide to go that direction.

77760
 
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Everything I saw about towing from the bumper said that it wasn’t recommended, but wasn’t definitively unsafe. Just seemed like the manufacturer not wanting to give guidance that relied on a 3rd party bumpers connection to the frame and also a way for them to sell you more parts.

I’ll go with a frame vs bumper connect just to be safe.
 
Yes, you do want to make sure your bumper of choice to be well built if you go that direction. Most bumper makers won't accept the liability.
 
Got the base plate attached last weekend and got the wiring harness all plugged in and routed to the front yesterday. Tested and all lights are working as they should!

Where do you guys physically route the cable that goes from the Jeep to the tow vehicles trailer light plug? I bought the coiled safety cables, so I was thinking of running it through the coils, but basically just looking for a place where the wires won’t get caught up as the tow bar is moving during turns.
 
Used to us the roadmaster coiled one around tone of the arms. Now I used a sterling and it’s the bar has a wire path in it
 
I tow mine with the bumper shackle mounts and a tow bar. No problems back and forth to Idaho and a few trips in state. On top of that, it is a Shittybilt bumper😀 There is less strain towing from those points than yanking a stuck rig with them.
 
Rob5589 said:
I tow mine with the bumper shackle mounts and a tow bar. No problems back and forth to Idaho and a few trips in state. On top of that, it is a Shittybilt bumper😀 There is less strain towing from those points than yanking a stuck rig with them.
Click to expand...

Same here. Absolutely no problems.

8E0E5397-1B80-442A-9EE0-3708573E7979.jpeg
 
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