Tips on Towing a Jeep

Towing a jeep is something most jeepers have done at some point or the other. Some jeepers do it because they want to go off-roading or on a trail run. Others find themselves moving a jeep across the country because they are changing jobs or houses.

Whatever the reason for towing jeeps, the concern remains the same. How does one go about it without damaging precious parts and accessories that can cost a pretty penny to replace?

There are two possible ways of towing a jeep:

Flat towing

Using a trailer

Flat towing:

Flat towing refers to towing without putting it on any kind of trailer or dolly. You simply hook the front end of the jeep with the vehicle you are using to tow it and be on your way.

Before flat towing, always check your owners manual to see how you should tow your specific year and make of jeep.

If you have any doubts about towing a jeep, here are some tips to ensure safety of the rig while flat towing.

Disconnect the rear driveshaft before you begin towing your jeep. It can play havoc with the gears on some jeeps.

Tighten all the lug nuts. This may not seem all that important, but some people have lost tires while towing their jeeps.

Take off the front hubs before you start towing. Use a makeshift protective cover (even a soup can will do) to cover the hubs with duct tape and protect them against the elements.

Wire the driveshaft up underneath and wrap lots of duct tape around the U-joint.

Using a trailer:

While all the above tips will help if you plan on flat towing a jeep, there are a lot of skeptics who believe that you absolutely must use a trailer or dolly for towing. The point that these serious jeepers make is that why would you want to flat tow your jeep at 65+ MPH when the original machine itself was designed to do about 55 MPH!

Jeepers promoting the use of a trailer for towing, feel that the components of the jeep were designed for certain speeds and specific requirements. Flat towing is a definite way to kill it for some jeeps.

Flat towing a jeep can also cause steering problems. The Ross cam and lever type gear cannot tolerate the reverse flow of energy, where the road causes the cam to turn the worm shaft. The Saginaw system although better than the Ross cam and lever, is still susceptible to damage.

Overall, using a trailer for towing a jeep seems like a more prudent option.

Jeep Trailer Hitch
A jeep trailer hitch is very useful for jeepers who like going camping, off roading, cycling and outdoor sports in general.

Jeep Trailers
Jeep trailers are commonly used to tow large quantities of military supplies. Civilians can use them just as effectively as well.

If your going to use your jeep for towing, or towing it behind another rig, be sure you have the right Jeep Bumpers



Return to Top of Towing a Jeep

Return to Best Jeep Guide Home Page