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Your guess is 100% correct.The drivetrain is disconnected at the transfer case. My guess would be is they do not want the transmission moving without oil circulating.
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Your guess is 100% correct.The drivetrain is disconnected at the transfer case. My guess would be is they do not want the transmission moving without oil circulating.
OK guys, I've looked around for this answer for 2 days,...
I have ordered a 2dr Rubi with the Mopar steel bumper package
I am planning on flat towing it.
Going with Ready Brute system
3 questions:
I will be going by a dealer to crawl around under the 1 they have on the lot,...thought I'd post the questions.
- Can this bumper be used to flat tow? ie; is it strong enough? I assume it is since a winch can be mounted to it
- If so, where can I mount the Blue ox clevis mounts to it?
- If not, can "D" ring mounts be welded on so as to safely be flat towed?
Thanks
I have been flat towing Jeep Wrangler's behind Class A Mobile Homes since 2004. I would never ever consider bumper towing a JK or JL. Quality base plates with a high tow weight capacity tow bar is the sanest, safest only way to go. Bolting a tow bar straight to a bumper will save you a few $ but ....No takers, huh?
I'm really not wanting to add a $400 bracket below the bumper.
How many tow truck operators do you think will follow those instructions? Hopefully it is just a guideline and not going to wreck anything. Also in the past just to be sure there was no issue on a long tow, I have decoupled or removed the rear driveshaft.I often get annoyed by people asking questions that could be answered by reading the manual, but today I just realized I've clearly not read mine well enough. I didn't realize until reading the JL manual that my LJ should always be towed on a flatbed (or flat towed, but definitely not towed by two wheels). TIL.
The bumper cannot be used to connect the tow bars (winches are mounted to a winch plate between the frame rails). Tow bars need a secure connection to the frame rails, the bumper is not strong enough for that.
Maximus-3 makes D-ring brackets for the JK Hard Rock which give a secure connection to the frame rails, I assume they will eventually make d-ring brackets for the JL. Blue Ox makes a set of D-ring adapters specific to their tow bar.
Another option is to install a Blue Ox tow bracket.
Brackets like these are for aftermarket bumpers that do not utilize the OEM crush cans. They bolt on to the front of the frame rails by utilizing the same bolts that bolt an after market bumper directly to the front of the frame rails. With an OEM bumper there are crush cans in front of the frame rails. The crush cans are in the way. These brackets cannot be mounted in front of the crush cans, have to go directly to the frame rails.
AEV bumpers utilize the OEM crush cans, that is why they have D-ring brackets mounted below. These brackets won't work with the AEV bumper either. At least not without significantly modifying and removing the crush cans.
I don’t know either, but my manual has the same warnings. No two-wheel towing.I'm not sure why the LJ could not be towed 2 wheels down with a part time transfer case in neutral. Now, the JL has the front axle electronically disconnected when in 2wd which applies the same rotations as towing with only the back wheels down. Unlocking the front hubs back in the day also did the same thing.
The steel bumpers still have crush cans on the end of the frame rails. Won't work. Have to use D-ring brackets which mount to the bottom side of the frame rails or a Blue Ox tow bracket which also mounts to the bottom side of the frame rails.
Or get an aftermarket bumper that will accept the brackets in your post above.
The tow bars should not be connected directly to the bumper in a way that relies on the strength of the bumper for flat towing. Bumpers are not designed for that. The tow bars need to connect to the frame rails either directly or through a bracket connected to the frame rails that is designed to handle the towing forces it will incur.
I’ve flat towed 2 jku’s for the last 10 years behind our class A motor home.
If your doing any long distance towing the blue ox baseplate that mounts to the frame rails is the only safe way to go. You really can’t even see the darn thing.
Currie industries makes a skid plate also that replaces factory plastic air dam as well and is compatible with blue ox tow bar. This mounts to rails. Can’t really see this installed either.
We saw a guy two years ago down in Florida on i95 that was towing connected to his bumper and it must have failed. The accident created wasn’t pretty! Let’s just say several cars involved.
Probably tough to explain to the insurance company!
let me know if you figure this out before me. I was thinking the same thing, if we were to strong back the bumper in front of the frame mounts then weld on the brackets I would think that'd work and safelyThanks for the reply,
I was wondering if the brackets they sell, (bolt on or weld on) for aftermarket bumpers would be the same on the steel upgraded OEM bumper on the JL.
I know they have class III and class IV, (20k lbs), and I was thinking of beefing up the bumper perhaps.
Not sure if there is enough surface area for the flat brackets on the bumper though.
$400 for a bracket? I'm thinking time to call me welder buddy and get something fabbed up.
My rig doesn't come in for another 6 weeks, so I have time to conquer this one, even if I end up selling the bumper and going aftermarket.
Appreciate the input.
These are Blue OX brackets I was pondering installing near / attached to frame on bumper
Had to look up EPS.Another flat towing question. I read this on one of my RV forums concerning the EPS being used in the JL and it maybe causing a wobble.
"The release of the EPS system in the Cherokee started the “wobble” discussion but Jeep did release a flat wire tow harness in order to fix the problem. In 2016, the EPS system was incorporated into the Grand Cherokee and as of today the “wobble” exists without a solution. Someone else may chime in with all of the technical data, but the bottom line is that with the ignition in the off position (towing) the power steering system goes to sleep. Jeep has now added the EPS to the JL and no one really knows if the problem will occur."
Anybody heard of this as a potential issue with towing the JL ??