Flat Towing my RIG - Simplest Install? Economical? WON'T Damage my Jeep?

[Gramps.busa]

Forget flat towing the Jeep. Like Berb said you have a major investment to prep the Jeep. Consider a smaller fwd car on a tow dolly.

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[alpineovernappa]

Another cheap option would be to tow it with all 4 wheels on a trailer. Flat towing (IE all 4 gladiator tires on the ground) gets expensive when you get into adding braking systems to the gladiator:

 

[Kevin_D]

Another cheap option would be to tow it with all 4 wheels on a trailer. Flat towing (IE all 4 gladiator tires on the ground) gets expensive when you get into adding braking systems to the gladiator:

But then you’ve got the weight of the Jeep AND the trailer back there.

My Sport S, nearly stock, with ~1/4 tank of fuel, is at about 4800# with the tow bar. So a gas coach will tow it.
BUT, you still need the braking system. Even a Brake Buddy is about a grand. And the Brake Buddy used the Jeep’s battery for power, so you have to keep the battery charged.

And you could use a cheap set of magnetic lights for this trip.

Kevin

 

[berb]

Another cheap option would be to tow it with all 4 wheels on a trailer. Flat towing (IE all 4 gladiator tires on the ground) gets expensive when you get into adding braking systems to the gladiator:

That won't work. The Gladiator is over 5,000lbs and then the weight of the trailer.

 

[alpineovernappa]

That won't work. The Gladiator is over 5,000lbs and then the weight of the trailer.

It’ll work if he rents an appropriate class A diesel to tow with and a decent aluminum trailer. Some of those suckers pull 10k. It would be cheaper to buy an old TJ or YJ and tow that for the trip then it would be to try to set his rig up for flat tow

 

[berb]

It’ll work if he rents an appropriate class A diesel to tow with and a decent aluminum trailer. Some of those suckers pull 10k. It would be cheaper to buy an old TJ or YJ and tow that for the trip then it would be to try to set his rig up for flat tow

That’s correct but we were talking about a gasser.

 

[alpineovernappa]

That’s correct but we were talking about a gasser.

Ah ok sorry about that. I must have missed the part where the OP said he wanted to specifically rent a gas motorhome. In that case, you are right. Not going to work

 

[badger719]

A lot of the flat tow equipment can be purchased used on Marketplace/Craigslist for significantly cheaper than new.

I purchased a used Brake Buddy for $250 and lucked out on an old 10k blue ox tow bar for $100.

Already have an LOD front bumper that is rated to flat tow. Scored it on marketplace for $600. Still need to buy the blue ox tow bar adapters but those are $160 new from LOD's website.

I am using a converted school bus which doesn't have a tow rating per se but it is a rear engine with a 315 hp 8.3 liter Cummins ISC which is what many Class A's have so I should be more than fine for flat towing a JT. Still need to install the hitch but I will have a local truck body shop do it. I have a Class IV hitch rated for 14,000 lbs gtw.

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