Flat Towing a Jeep Gladiator with a Factory Rubicon Steel Bumper

[articcatbill]

Flat Towing a Jeep Gladiator with a Factory Rubicon Steel Bumper

This post outlines a solution for flat towing a Jeep Gladiator while retaining the factory Rubicon steel bumper and addressing common electrical issues encountered with LED taillights.

Towing and Safety Chain Connections

To maintain the factory Rubicon steel bumper, which I chose to keep due to prior investments in winch plates and light mounts, I selected a this towing setup.

Tow Bar Connection: I will be using the HK Offroad D-ring shackle tabs, which are approved for flat towing. It is important to note that additional components, such as specific ends, must be purchased to ensure compatibility with Roadmaster tow bars. The full list of required part numbers is provided below.

Safety Chains: A common issue with using D-ring shackle tabs for the primary tow bar connection is the lack of a suitable attachment point for safety chains. To address this, I acquired the Flat Tow Brackets for Quest Series Front Bumpers from Rockslide Engineering. Although these brackets are specifically designed for RSE's bumpers, they mount directly to the vehicle's frame horns using existing factory holes. This provides a secure and reliable point for connecting safety chains.

Addressing the LED Taillight Electrical Issue

Gladiator models equipped with factory LED taillights can present a unique challenge during flat towing, particularly when a supplemental braking system is in use.

The Problem: When the vehicle's brakes are applied simultaneously with a turn signal, the Jeep’s computer-controlled brake lights override the turn signal, causing the turn signal to not flash. This occurs because the supplemental braking system's signal to the LED lights "wakes up" the Jeep's computer, which then commands the brake lights to turn on, taking precedence over the turn signal. Many people may be unaware of this issue as it is difficult to detect during static light tests.

The Solution: To resolve this, I installed a separate set of aftermarket lights in the rear bumper, replacing the factory reflectors. These lights were wired to the existing Curt wiring harness I purchased for flat towing. Diodes were added to the circuit to prevent power from the Jeep's main lighting system from back-feeding into the Curt harness. These secondary lights are now dedicated exclusively to providing turn signals during flat towing, ensuring visibility and compliance with regulations without interfering with the Jeep’s primary lighting system. I chose to keep the Curt harness for the Jeep's brake lights and running lights as it performs these functions very well.

This setup provides a solution for flat towing a Jeep Gladiator with a factory Rubicon steel bumper. By combining aftermarket components for both the tow bar and the safety chains, along with a creative electrical solution for the LED taillights, I have created a reliable and safe flat-towing system. I have not yet installed the shackle tabs or mounts for safety chains; I am still waiting on the D-ring shackle tabs.

Parts list:

RM-676 Roadmaster Nighthawk All-Terrain Tow Bar w/ LED Lights - Non-Binding - RV Mount - 8,000 lbs

RM-035 Adapter for Jeep D-Ring Bumper Mounts to Roadmaster Motor Home Mount Tow Bars - 3/4" Thick

RM-156-25 Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Towed Vehicles

C96JR Curt Custom Taillight Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles

HM47115 48" Long 4-Pole Loop with Cover

BLU37TR Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System – Proportional

RM-9332 12 Volt Outlet Kit, 20 amps

HK-Offroad Jeep Wrangler JK/JL/JT Front Shackle Tab Kit

Rockslide engineering FB-300-FTB Flat Tow Brackets For Quest Series Front Bumpers

CURT 57208 Vehicle-Side Trailer Wiring Harness Mounting Bracket for 4-Way or 6-Way Round

57204 Vehicle-Side Trailer Wiring Harness Clamp-On Bracket Mounting Kit Fit for 4-Way, 5-Way & 6-Way

ECAHAYAKU Compatible With Jeep Gladiator 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 LED Rear Bumper Reflector Light Fog Lamp Brake Light Dynamic Turn Signal Reflector Driving Lights

Roadmaster 690 - Park Light Diode

Sponsored

 

[professorkx]

Nice write up, this will help folks thinking about towing a Jeep behind a motorhome.

I have towed my 4 door Jeep and now my Gladiator behind our Thor Magnitude that has been modified with a lift, 41” tires and all the goodies that go with it for several years with no issues.

Like you, I am also using the Roadmaster Nighthawk tow bar with D-ring connections at the end, and like it better than the Blue Ox we started with. Unlike you, I swapped to an aftermarket front bumper with D-ring mounts for the towbar attachment points, but is similar to your setup.

For lighting, I used a harness I bought off Amazon that attaches to the factory harness to use the stock lights for turn signal and brakes. I also added a 6 pin trailer plug to the front bumper for easy connection to the tow bar. I had to fabricate an attachment point for my safety cables, but wasn’t a big deal since I have a well equipped shop.

Overall, flat towing a Jeep is really easy, and I have flat towed everything from a cj2a to my current Gladiator…they all flat tow great. We’ve gone down the wrong muddy road before and needed to turn around, and with our setup, we can disconnect the Jeep in 2-3 minutes, make the u-turn in The Beast, and have the Jeep hooked up again in another 2-3 minutes. This gives my wife great comfort, as she knows that no matter where we go…even the wrong road in the rain…we can self rescue.

We’ve had almost 15 RVs ranging from tongue pull, off-road trailers, class A, to our current Super C, and this one is by far our favorite. I just wish we would have figured it out sooner…we would have saved a ton of money…

 

[articcatbill]

Nice write up, this will help folks thinking about towing a Jeep behind a motorhome.

I have towed my 4 door Jeep and now my Gladiator behind our Thor Magnitude that has been modified with a lift, 41” tires and all the goodies that go with it for several years with no issues.

Like you, I am also using the Roadmaster Nighthawk tow bar with D-ring connections at the end, and like it better than the Blue Ox we started with. Unlike you, I swapped to an aftermarket front bumper with D-ring mounts for the towbar attachment points, but is similar to your setup.

For lighting, I used a harness I bought off Amazon that attaches to the factory harness to use the stock lights for turn signal and brakes. I also added a 6 pin trailer plug to the front bumper for easy connection to the tow bar. I had to fabricate an attachment point for my safety cables, but wasn’t a big deal since I have a well equipped shop.

Overall, flat towing a Jeep is really easy, and I have flat towed everything from a cj2a to my current Gladiator…they all flat tow great. We’ve gone down the wrong muddy road before and needed to turn around, and with our setup, we can disconnect the Jeep in 2-3 minutes, make the u-turn in The Beast, and have the Jeep hooked up again in another 2-3 minutes. This gives my wife great comfort, as she knows that no matter where we go…even the wrong road in the rain…we can self rescue.

We’ve had almost 15 RVs ranging from tongue pull, off-road trailers, class A, to our current Super C, and this one is by far our favorite. I just wish we would have figured it out sooner…we would have saved a ton of money…

That's really a beautiful rig, if I ever upgrade it would be based on the Ford F550 chassis. They make a great setup.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Flat Towing a Jeep Gladiator with a Factory Rubicon Steel Bumper

This post outlines a solution for flat towing a Jeep Gladiator while retaining the factory Rubicon steel bumper and addressing common electrical issues encountered with LED taillights.

Towing and Safety Chain Connections

To maintain the factory Rubicon steel bumper, which I chose to keep due to prior investments in winch plates and light mounts, I selected a this towing setup.

Tow Bar Connection: I will be using the HK Offroad D-ring shackle tabs, which are approved for flat towing. It is important to note that additional components, such as specific ends, must be purchased to ensure compatibility with Roadmaster tow bars. The full list of required part numbers is provided below.

Safety Chains: A common issue with using D-ring shackle tabs for the primary tow bar connection is the lack of a suitable attachment point for safety chains. To address this, I acquired the Flat Tow Brackets for Quest Series Front Bumpers from Rockslide Engineering. Although these brackets are specifically designed for RSE's bumpers, they mount directly to the vehicle's frame horns using existing factory holes. This provides a secure and reliable point for connecting safety chains.

Addressing the LED Taillight Electrical Issue

Gladiator models equipped with factory LED taillights can present a unique challenge during flat towing, particularly when a supplemental braking system is in use.

The Problem: When the vehicle's brakes are applied simultaneously with a turn signal, the Jeep’s computer-controlled brake lights override the turn signal, causing the turn signal to not flash. This occurs because the supplemental braking system's signal to the LED lights "wakes up" the Jeep's computer, which then commands the brake lights to turn on, taking precedence over the turn signal. Many people may be unaware of this issue as it is difficult to detect during static light tests.

The Solution: To resolve this, I installed a separate set of aftermarket lights in the rear bumper, replacing the factory reflectors. These lights were wired to the existing Curt wiring harness I purchased for flat towing. Diodes were added to the circuit to prevent power from the Jeep's main lighting system from back-feeding into the Curt harness. These secondary lights are now dedicated exclusively to providing turn signals during flat towing, ensuring visibility and compliance with regulations without interfering with the Jeep’s primary lighting system. I chose to keep the Curt harness for the Jeep's brake lights and running lights as it performs these functions very well.

This setup provides a solution for flat towing a Jeep Gladiator with a factory Rubicon steel bumper. By combining aftermarket components for both the tow bar and the safety chains, along with a creative electrical solution for the LED taillights, I have created a reliable and safe flat-towing system. I have not yet installed the shackle tabs or mounts for safety chains; I am still waiting on the D-ring shackle tabs.

Parts list:

RM-676 Roadmaster Nighthawk All-Terrain Tow Bar w/ LED Lights - Non-Binding - RV Mount - 8,000 lbs

RM-035 Adapter for Jeep D-Ring Bumper Mounts to Roadmaster Motor Home Mount Tow Bars - 3/4" Thick

RM-156-25 Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Towed Vehicles

C96JR Curt Custom Taillight Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles

HM47115 48" Long 4-Pole Loop with Cover

BLU37TR Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System – Proportional

RM-9332 12 Volt Outlet Kit, 20 amps

HK-Offroad Jeep Wrangler JK/JL/JT Front Shackle Tab Kit

Rockslide engineering FB-300-FTB Flat Tow Brackets For Quest Series Front Bumpers

CURT 57208 Vehicle-Side Trailer Wiring Harness Mounting Bracket for 4-Way or 6-Way Round

57204 Vehicle-Side Trailer Wiring Harness Clamp-On Bracket Mounting Kit Fit for 4-Way, 5-Way & 6-Way

ECAHAYAKU Compatible With Jeep Gladiator 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 LED Rear Bumper Reflector Light Fog Lamp Brake Light Dynamic Turn Signal Reflector Driving Lights

Roadmaster 690 - Park Light Diode

Nicely, and neatly done!

 

[JTGuy]

Great rigs but for me a 30+ foot MH and a 20 foot JT is just more than I want to deal with alone. 10 tires on the ground and about 7MPG with a many thousands invested.

 

[CyberShanks]

I setup my JT Willys for flat tow with the stock bumper, stuck everything under it, went Roadmaster and AirForce One for just about everything. Curt for the diode based light harness I think was the only exception. Tows like a dream...

Other two of our rigs (whichever one we're taking) lands on the 20' flatbed, cause I'm much more likely to break those off-road. Gladiator is just my 'daily driver Jeep'.

Jim

 

[caryt]

Been doing this for few years now.. first the JK now the JT
GenY mega drop hitch 16k if needed to level

BlackHawk All Terrain 2 10k

Curt Towed-Vehicle RV Wiring Harness

RVI3 60 sec and your ready to go..
can find most used and DIY all.
RVI battery charger

https://www.hkoffroad.com/products/jeep-wrangler-jl-jt-shackle-tab-kit-for-stock-rubicon-bumpers

 

[CyberShanks]

While I'm new to flat-towing (JT is my first), I've been working on and pulling Jeeps around the country for ~25 years. I did my flat-tow install myself as well, just takes time and patience. AirForce One deal with tapping into air brakes on coach, just gotta do a lot of reading and ask questions before cutting the air lines IMO.

Jim

 

[B Bedgood]

We tow our 2022 Gladiator Sport S with Max Tow behind our Foretravel bus using a Road master Nighthawk towbar and the Airforce 1 system for airbrakes. Going on 6 years now with no problems. Easy hookup and release. We are full-time riders, so we appreciate how easy it is to tow a Jeep!

 

[Balor]

Flat Towing a Jeep Gladiator with a Factory Rubicon Steel Bumper

This post outlines a solution for flat towing a Jeep Gladiator while retaining the factory Rubicon steel bumper and addressing common electrical issues encountered with LED taillights.

Towing and Safety Chain Connections

To maintain the factory Rubicon steel bumper, which I chose to keep due to prior investments in winch plates and light mounts, I selected a this towing setup.

Tow Bar Connection: I will be using the HK Offroad D-ring shackle tabs, which are approved for flat towing. It is important to note that additional components, such as specific ends, must be purchased to ensure compatibility with Roadmaster tow bars. The full list of required part numbers is provided below.

Safety Chains: A common issue with using D-ring shackle tabs for the primary tow bar connection is the lack of a suitable attachment point for safety chains. To address this, I acquired the Flat Tow Brackets for Quest Series Front Bumpers from Rockslide Engineering. Although these brackets are specifically designed for RSE's bumpers, they mount directly to the vehicle's frame horns using existing factory holes. This provides a secure and reliable point for connecting safety chains.

Addressing the LED Taillight Electrical Issue

Gladiator models equipped with factory LED taillights can present a unique challenge during flat towing, particularly when a supplemental braking system is in use.

The Problem: When the vehicle's brakes are applied simultaneously with a turn signal, the Jeep’s computer-controlled brake lights override the turn signal, causing the turn signal to not flash. This occurs because the supplemental braking system's signal to the LED lights "wakes up" the Jeep's computer, which then commands the brake lights to turn on, taking precedence over the turn signal. Many people may be unaware of this issue as it is difficult to detect during static light tests.

The Solution: To resolve this, I installed a separate set of aftermarket lights in the rear bumper, replacing the factory reflectors. These lights were wired to the existing Curt wiring harness I purchased for flat towing. Diodes were added to the circuit to prevent power from the Jeep's main lighting system from back-feeding into the Curt harness. These secondary lights are now dedicated exclusively to providing turn signals during flat towing, ensuring visibility and compliance with regulations without interfering with the Jeep’s primary lighting system. I chose to keep the Curt harness for the Jeep's brake lights and running lights as it performs these functions very well.

This setup provides a solution for flat towing a Jeep Gladiator with a factory Rubicon steel bumper. By combining aftermarket components for both the tow bar and the safety chains, along with a creative electrical solution for the LED taillights, I have created a reliable and safe flat-towing system. I have not yet installed the shackle tabs or mounts for safety chains; I am still waiting on the D-ring shackle tabs.

Parts list:

RM-676 Roadmaster Nighthawk All-Terrain Tow Bar w/ LED Lights - Non-Binding - RV Mount - 8,000 lbs

RM-035 Adapter for Jeep D-Ring Bumper Mounts to Roadmaster Motor Home Mount Tow Bars - 3/4" Thick

RM-156-25 Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Towed Vehicles

C96JR Curt Custom Taillight Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles

HM47115 48" Long 4-Pole Loop with Cover

BLU37TR Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System – Proportional

RM-9332 12 Volt Outlet Kit, 20 amps

HK-Offroad Jeep Wrangler JK/JL/JT Front Shackle Tab Kit

Rockslide engineering FB-300-FTB Flat Tow Brackets For Quest Series Front Bumpers

CURT 57208 Vehicle-Side Trailer Wiring Harness Mounting Bracket for 4-Way or 6-Way Round

57204 Vehicle-Side Trailer Wiring Harness Clamp-On Bracket Mounting Kit Fit for 4-Way, 5-Way & 6-Way

ECAHAYAKU Compatible With Jeep Gladiator 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 LED Rear Bumper Reflector Light Fog Lamp Brake Light Dynamic Turn Signal Reflector Driving Lights

Roadmaster 690 - Park Light Diode

Is your gladiator an automatic or stick? I would like to know, I have an automatic and would like to flat tow too?

 

[articcatbill]

Is your gladiator an automatic or stick? I would like to know, I have an automatic and would like to flat tow too?

It is an automatic, you can flat tow an automatic gladiator because it has the transfer case allowing for neutral in the transfer case.

 

[professorkx]

Yup, both an auto and manual can be flat towed.

Auto = transmission in park, transfer case in neutral

Manual = transmission in first, transfer case in neutral.

with an Auto, when I disconnect, I have to shift the transmission to neutral, shut off the Jeep, shift the transfer case into 2H, start Jeep, shift transmission into Park.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Is your gladiator an automatic or stick? I would like to know, I have an automatic and would like to flat tow too?

Check the owners manual - it's all spelled out.

 

[yoda13]

Great write up! Aside from weight, our JTs are awesome flat-towed vehicles!

 

[articcatbill]

I finished the install of my Shackle tabs, I went with the HK Offroad D-ring shackle tabs on my factory steel Rubicon bumper. I was very happy with the results. The install took some time, but was straight forward. Because of larger hardware you need to enlarge some holes from 1/2 to 9/16. I was wondering how it would be to enlarge the holes in the factory hooks, but it went easy. I bought a reaming bit and some cutting oil. Everything that needed enlarged went well just using my Dewalt cordless drill.

While everything was apart I also installed the Flat Tow Brackets for Quest Series Front Bumpers from Rockslide Engineering. Woohoo perfect, they simply replace the frame horn support on the outside of the frame. Bolt right up and are very heavy duty. Provide an excellent spot to hook the safety chains.

Sponsored