Anyone Flat Tow a Wrangler with their Gladiator?

[pcrawfordpt]

Moab trip planned from California, and don’t want to drive my TJ there and back. Considering towing it with my JTR, still on factory 33’s. Anyone done a Wrangler flat tow? At 3250 pounds, seems way below the maximum weight.

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[pcrawfordpt]

Thread got immediately moved from General Topics to here, and as usual ZERO replies every time this happens...

 

[KVJ]

Start a new thread, title it "Need opinion"

 

[Kevin_D]

I don't know why you couldn't, as long as the Wrangler is set up to flat tow, i.e. baseplate, lights, and braking. And you use an appropriate tow bar.


Kevin

 

[pcrawfordpt]

What supplemental brake systems are you all using?

 

[Kevin_D]

I'm using a Brake Buddy. Y'know, the portable type that sits on the floor and pushes against the driver's seat. It fits in the Gladiator without any modification. I flat-tow my Gladiator.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm using a Brake Buddy. Y'know, the portable type that sits on the floor and pushes against the driver's seat. It fits in the Gladiator without any modification. I flat-tow my Gladiator.

I'm really curious about how that works, and how well, since we know after a couple of pushes there's no boost for the brakes and it takes a lot more pedal pressure.
I assume there's adjustment? Is it like a trailer brake controller where you can drive and test the setting and increase brake pressure if needed?

 

[Kevin_D]

I'm really curious about how that works, and how well, since we know after a couple of pushes there's no boost for the brakes and it takes a lot more pedal pressure.

There's a compressor that runs up to 65+PSI (it's adjustable, based on the weight of the vehicle) that actuates the pedal. The start-up procedure pumps the brakes 5 times to purposely remove any vacuum from the booster, that way the Brake Buddy doesn't have to second-guess the state of the vacuum. With 65PSI, it has plenty of power to depress the pedal.

I assume there's adjustment? Is it like a trailer brake controller where you can drive and test the setting and increase brake pressure if needed?

There are several adjustments that can be made. Depending on the model, you can set pedal pressure, proportional or full braking, and a couple of other things I can't recall. The more expensive models come with a wireless remote for the towing vehicle that shows the status of the Brake Buddy, and allows you to adjust a couple of the settings.
With my 20,000lb. coach, I can tell when the Brake Buddy actuates, as I can feel the drag.

Kevin

 

[sarguy1941]

I towed our 2 door JK that wouldn't start about 20 miles. We already flat tow it behind the MH so it was setup for it. Use a break buddy. I did find it did pull around the ass end a bit in the wind. With a little bit of weight in the bed of the JT I'd felt better but it got home fine.

 

[pcrawfordpt]

I'm really curious about how that works, and how well, since we know after a couple of pushes there's no boost for the brakes and it takes a lot more pedal pressure.
I assume there's adjustment? Is it like a trailer brake controller where you can drive and test the setting and increase brake pressure if needed?

This is an excellent point! Since I'm towing and older TJ, How would that work?

 

[pcrawfordpt]

There's a compressor that runs up to 65+PSI (it's adjustable, based on the weight of the vehicle) that actuates the pedal. The start-up procedure pumps the brakes 5 times to purposely remove any vacuum from the booster, that way the Brake Buddy doesn't have to second-guess the state of the vacuum. With 65PSI, it has plenty of power to depress the pedal.

There are several adjustments that can be made. Depending on the model, you can set pedal pressure, proportional or full braking, and a couple of other things I can't recall. The more expensive models come with a wireless remote for the towing vehicle that shows the status of the Brake Buddy, and allows you to adjust a couple of the settings.
With my 20,000lb. coach, I can tell when the Brake Buddy actuates, as I can feel the drag.

Kevin

Thank you...Guess it wont be an issue then?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thank you...Guess it wont be an issue then?

His info is great in a couple of ways - I learned something new, and he's shown that's a good product for towing Jeeps like that. I like how he's described it. It sounds well thought-out.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

We use a mechanical braking system called Ready Brake, from NSA, that works well. How does it work? Well, when the tow vehicle slows down the towed vehicle pushes against the tow bar, which activates a lever built in to the Brady Brake, which then pulls on the toad's brake pedal via a length of cable. It takes about 200 lbs of pressure to activate, and that is plenty to pull on the brake pedal. No need to worry about applying 12V power to anything!

 

[Blackjeepjk]

Squirrelly as hell but the gladiator is on 40’s and the jk has 2.5in lift with 34’s.
both are set up to be flat towed. I use a blue ox supplemental brake. Jk weighs 4400lbs.
This was done because the lil blackjeepjk had a stuck thermostat/broken fan and I wanted to pull it home to work on it in garage.

Just because it can be done, doesn’t mean it should be done.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

What are the specs on your TJ? 3,250 sounds really light.

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