JLUR battery flatlining when flat towing

[Kraxler]

What I’m actually looking for is the pin that goes in the MOPAR harness. I need the male pin for the MOPAR plug

pin that is on the Jeep side of the MOPAR plug.

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[gxceb0t]

So i'm picking up a 22 JLUR next week and plan to flat tow it. It has the rear led lights, and I will be using the ready brake system. Am I correct that in order to protect myself against the battery going dead on long/night tows I need to either install the cooltech switch or a battery tender?

 

[CoolTech]

For Jeep's having the rear LED light option, there is a circuit back to the Body Control Module whose function it is to tell the BCM that the LED light is working properly... and to notify the driver when it is not. Unfortunately, when a tow harness activates a rear light (stop, turn, or running light), this circuit will cause the Jeep to come out of its low-power sleep state and wake-up. This will cause you, the owner TWO problems. First, as the Jeep is out of sleep state, it will start consuming power from its battery and in longer tow durations - 3 hours or more, this could deplete the battery enough such that the Jeep cannot start. The SECOND problem is that when the Jeep is awake, any aux brake system that moves the jeep's brake pedal will cause the Jeep to activate its rear lights. This becomes a problem when the tow vehicle has a blinker on. The Jeep's rear light will be blinking. But, if the tow vehicle has a turn signal on and brakes, the Jeep's activation of it's brake lights will override the blinking turn signal. For anyone behind you, the turn signal will no longer be blinking.

So, yes, rather than install our LED light fix, you could install a charging system to prevent the Jeep's battery from going dead. However, you will still have the brake/turn signal conflict mentioned above (assuming you have an aux brake system that moves the Jeep's brake pedal.)

 

[Jim1964]

I have set up quite a few toads over the years. Jeeps used to be easy, and simply plug and play with the right parts. However reading all the hassle involved in installing the Mopar harness on a JL, as well as credible reports of dealers refusing warranty service for electrical problems on Wranglers with Mopar tow wiring, caused me to take another path this time.

I fabricated a PVC bracket to hang on the spare, and mounted some trailer lights from Amazon. Even included a CHMSL just because I could. I wired the Jeep just like a trailer; completely separate wiring from the front bumper socket all the way to the rear tow hitch, where it has a socket to plug in the tow lights at the rear.

All in, I’ve got maybe $150 in it, and absolutely no wiring connection to any factory wire.

 

[Butchy]

I have set up quite a few toads over the years. Jeeps used to be easy, and simply plug and play with the right parts. However reading all the hassle involved in installing the Mopar harness on a JL, as well as credible reports of dealers refusing warranty service for electrical problems on Wranglers with Mopar tow wiring, caused me to take another path this time.

I fabricated a PVC bracket to hang on the spare, and mounted some trailer lights from Amazon. Even included a CHMSL just because I could. I wired the Jeep just like a trailer; completely separate wiring from the front bumper socket all the way to the rear tow hitch, where it has a socket to plug in the tow lights at the rear.

All in, I’ve got maybe $150 in it, and absolutely no wiring connection to any factory wire.

Pics and more detail about the PVC bracket would be appreciated

 

[garykk]

I have set up quite a few toads over the years. Jeeps used to be easy, and simply plug and play with the right parts. However reading all the hassle involved in installing the Mopar harness on a JL, as well as credible reports of dealers refusing warranty service for electrical problems on Wranglers with Mopar tow wiring, caused me to take another path this time.

I fabricated a PVC bracket to hang on the spare, and mounted some trailer lights from Amazon. Even included a CHMSL just because I could. I wired the Jeep just like a trailer; completely separate wiring from the front bumper socket all the way to the rear tow hitch, where it has a socket to plug in the tow lights at the rear.

All in, I’ve got maybe $150 in it, and absolutely no wiring connection to any factory wire.

That’s the way to go. I will use some bar type LED lights . I will also use a charging wire from the MH battery (Toad Charge) as I will use a M&G braking system that operates the brake pedal which will in turn activate the LED taillights on the Jeep so Jeep must be charged.
http://www.lslproducts.net/ToadChargePage.html

 

[Gaffer]

Does the Mopar tow harness eliminate the dead battery problem? If so an RV Tow Harness by Mopar is now a factory option. I wonder if there will be a front bumper mounted connector or if they will just bring it up to the engine bay.

 

[CoolTech]

I will also use a charging wire from the MH battery (Toad Charge) as I will use a M&G braking system that operates the brake pedal which will in turn activate the LED taillights on the Jeep so Jeep must be charged.

The Jeep will be in a sleep-state while towing and the brake lights will NOT illuminate when the brake pedal is moved when it is in this sleep-state.

 

[CoolTech]

Does the Mopar tow harness eliminate the dead battery problem? If so an RV Tow Harness by Mopar is now a factory option. I wonder if there will be a front bumper mounted connector or if they will just bring it up to the engine bay.

The Mopar Tow Harness has been available for some time. If you Jeep has the rear LED tail lights, then when the Mopar Harness activates the rear LED lights (via the tow vehicle), the Jeep will come out of sleep-state and start consuming power. Our tow harness includes a cast 6-pin round connector for the front of the Jeep. You can use a 6pin round to 7-pin (tow vehicle) umbilical cord to connect the Jeep to the tow vehicle. We have a "deluxe" version of our kit that also includes a coiled 6-pin to 7-pin umbilical cord as well as RVi's Towed Battery Charger Plus. Our Wrangler/Gladiator kit is HERE.

 

[garykk]

The Jeep will be in a sleep-state while towing and the brake lights will NOT illuminate when the brake pedal is moved when it is in this sleep-state.

So you are saying that if the jeep is off and asleep. If the brake pedal is pressed the brake lights will not come on? No insult intended, but I find it hard to believe. I will test this as soon as I get my Jeep and wired.

 

[CoolTech]

So you are saying that if the jeep is off and asleep. If the brake pedal is pressed the brake lights will not come on? No insult intended, but I find it hard to believe. I will test this as soon as I get my Jeep and wired.

Yeah, that's exactly what I am saying - and it is the way that the Jeep JL and Gladiator work. It's easy enough for you to test. Next time you park your Jeep, lower the driver's side window and then shut off the Jeep, exit the vehicle and shut the door. Wait 3-4 minutes and then stick the handle of a broomstick in through the open window and press the brake pedal. The rear lights will not illuminate.

 

[garykk]

Yeah, that's exactly what I am saying - and it is the way that the Jeep JL and Gladiator work. It's easy enough for you to test. Next time you park your Jeep, lower the driver's side window and then shut off the Jeep, exit the vehicle and shut the door. Wait 3-4 minutes and then stick the handle of a broomstick in through the open window and press the brake pedal. The rear lights will not illuminate.

Would you know if the same happens when the steering wheel is turned?

 

[CoolTech]

Would you know if the same happens when the steering wheel is turned?

Hi Gary - what is the context of the steering wheel question? Just in case, please note that the JL/JT's do NOT share the issues that the Cherokee has with (towing) death wobble. The JL/JT platforms still use "conventional" hydraulic steering which still has a high level of resistance when there is no hydraulic pressure. What's new in the JL/JT's is that the hydraulic pump is electric as opposed to being driven by a belt off of the engine... but fundamentally it is still hydraulic.

 

[garykk]

Hi Gary - what is the context of the steering wheel question? Just in case, please note that the JL/JT's do NOT share the issues that the Cherokee has with (towing) death wobble. The JL/JT platforms still use "conventional" hydraulic steering which still has a high level of resistance when there is no hydraulic pressure. What's new in the JL/JT's is that the hydraulic pump is electric as opposed to being driven by a belt off of the engine... but fundamentally it is still hydraulic.

Yeah, that’s the question , was wondering if the electric side of the pump would activate when the steering wheel is turned when the Jeep is off. I had a GMC PU a few years ago that was a PIA to tow with the electric/ hyd steering.

 

[CoolTech]

OK, I had assumed that's why you asked. The electric pump will NOT activate in any circumstance until/unless the engine is running... which is a GOOD thing from a TOAD perspective.

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