How to Flat Tow a Jeep Wrangler In 6 Easy Steps

Jeep Wrangler is a beast of a car and can make any trip memorable, but what if your Jeep breaks down in the middle of nowhere or you run out of fuel, etc.? Instead of panicking, you can just tow your Jeep but are you worried because you have no idea how to flat tow a jeep wrangler? Well, no worries because I am here to disclose this today. So feel free to take help from our article and flat tow your Jeep Wrangler like a pro.

How to Flat Tow a Jeep Wrangler

How to Flat Tow a Jeep Wrangler

Flat towing any vehicle, especially 4WDs, is one of the easiest ways of transferring it from one place to another. However, only a few people know this super easy way of towing. So read ahead and learn with us how you can flat tow a jeep wrangler. I will explain how I flat tow my Jeep Wrangler in steps to make it understandable. But before discussing the stepwise guide of flat towing a jeep wrangler, you should check a few necessary things. The checklist includes:

Check If Your Jeep is Flat-towable?

Before moving forward, take a moment and check if your Jeep Wrangler is flat-towable or not because only some Jeeps have this function. I have a tip for you if you don’t know how to check. All the jeeps designed after 1991 are flat-towable so check the model of the jeep you own and you are good to go. You can also check, can you flat tow a Jeep Renegade?

Check If Your Jeep is Flat-towable

Check the Towing Capacity

The most important thing in towing is the vehicle you are using to tow your car should be able to handle its weight. Therefore, before you step up everything, be wise and check the towing capacity of your RV or any vehicle you are using to tow your Jeep Wrangler.

Before towing any Jeep Wrangler, I go through this checklist and then move on to the towing process. Follow these few simple steps, and Voila will be at your destination with your Jeep Wrangler flat-towed like professionals.

Get and Set Up Your Equipment

To flat tow your Jeep Wrangler safely, you need the right equipment. These include a tow bar, base plates, safety chains, and a lighting kit. Connect the base plates with the car’s frame and then attach a tow bar to the towing vehicle. Also read, can you flat a Jeep Cherokee?

Prep Your Jeep Wrangler for Towing Process

The next step is to put your Jeep Wrangler in tow mode. When your jeep is in the right gear, the chances of the vehicle catching fire are zero, and will be towed easily and safely. So always remember to put the jeep in tow mode before towing. Here is how I put my Jeep in tow mode.

Prep Your Jeep Wrangler for Towing Process
  • Start the engine.
  • Engage the brake pedal and put the vehicle in neutral mode.
  • Leave the vehicle in neutral mode and turn OFF its engine before removing the car keys.
  • I also removed the negative terminal cable from the battery to prevent it from drainage.

Most of the time, the steps to put a Jeep in tow mode are similar, but I suggest you consult the user’s manual and follow it blindly because your Jeep Wrangler model can be different from mine.

Final Inspection

Before you sit in your vehicle that will tow your Jeep Wrangler, do the final inspection to be safe from mishaps. Check both cars’ oil, transmission fluid, coolant, and engine. Then check the attached equipment to see if it works properly, like the brake lights, turn signals, etc.

Final Inspection

Begin Towing

If you have followed our guide until now, be happy because you are just a step away from towing your Jeep Wrangler like champs. If you are satisfied with the car and towing equipment condition and setup, move on to the next step.

After setting up your towing equipment with your car and attaching it to the tow vehicle, you can either tow your Jeep Wrangler manually or automatically. You don’t need a second driver for the auto method; just put your Jeep in neutral mode, and you are good.

However, the process is a little different from towing your Jeep manually. I am sharing the steps I follow when I have no option other than the manual transmission of the Jeep. Sit in your jeep and follow the below-mentioned steps.

Begin Towing
  • Press the brake and clutch pedal.
  • Put your jeep in neutral mode using a transfer case.
  • Ignite the engine.
  • Shift your jeep into second or third gear to keep the engine lubricated while flat-towing.
  • Now, release the brakes to ensure no movement during the process.
  • Shut down the engine and keep the key in the unlocked OFF position so you don’t have difficulty steering the car while it is towed.
  • Apply parking brakes.
  • Attach the jeep with the towing vehicle and release the parking brakes.

Move slowly or match your speed with the towing vehicle so both cars can move simultaneously. Always maintain a safe distance between both vehicles throughout the whole towing process.

Final Step

After you have arrived at your destination, take a breath of relief because this has finally ended. Stop your vehicle and turn on the parking brakes on your Jeep so you can disconnect the towing equipment without any safety concerns. Remove the tow bar and safety chain to disconnect both vehicles completely.

Final Step

Bonus Tip

If you don’t want to take risks while towing your Jeep Wrangler, I recommend a “breakaway kit”. Add this to your towing equipment, and it will save your car from every possible damage or mishap that can happen while you are on your way to towing.

Benefits of Flat Towing a Jeep Wrangler

  • Setting up the towing equipment for flat towing is easy and takes less time than other towing methods.
  • The maneuverability that you get with this towing method is incredible. Change lanes, take sharp turns, and move around obstacles and other vehicles on the road without damaging your car like never before.
  • The most exciting fact about this is it is cost-effective.
  • The chances of damaging your Jeep Wrangler while towing are minimum with this towing method.
  • Moreover, it is not only to tow jeeps when they stop working out of nowhere. You can enjoy many more perks with flat tow methods, like taking your Jeep Wrangler on family trips and exploring new terrains and adventurous places.

FAQs

Is it safe to flat tow a Jeep Wrangler?

Yes, it is completely safe to flat tow any Jeep Wrangler. Make sure it is designed to be flat towed. If the Jeep’s design favors this towing method, there is nothing wrong with flat towing your Jeep Wrangler.

How do you put a Jeep Wrangler in neutral for flat towing?

Flat towing Jeep Wrangler can be done with automatic or manual transmission methods. Firstly, turn OFF the engine and press the brake pedals. Now put the transmission in drive mode if you opt for auto transmission while for manual transmission choose the first gear. Now shift the transfer case lever into the “Neutral” position and slowly depress the brakes. That’s it. Your Jeep Wrangler is in neutral mode now.

What gear should I flat tow my Jeep in?

Your jeep must be in neutral mode if you want to flat tow it. However, putting your car in first gear is recommended for jeeps with manual transmissions.

Conclusion

Everyone who loves going to new places on jeeps but couldn’t due to any reason just flat tow your Jeep Wrangler and make memories while moving around doing adventures. I have broken down the whole process of flat-towing a Jeep Wrangler in simple steps to make it a cakewalk for you. Keep in mind towing is not only for broken-down cars. You can enjoy its benefits by taking your Jeep Wrangler on one trip. So take your game to the next level and enjoy.

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