Rolling With a Jeep Wrangler Toad
Many owners of a Class A coaches flat-tow vehicles behind their RVs. For this, they must choose a suitable “toad”: a vehicle that can be flat-towed (all 4 wheels on the road) without damaging the running gear. Unfortunately, not every vehicle is capable of this kind of transportation, so caution is advised. It’s always best to refer to the manual and/or the dealer you purchase the vehicle from as to its ability to be towed in this fashion. You can also refer to MotorHome magazine’s Guide to Dinghy Towing.
One of the best and most fun vehicles to select for flat-towing is probably the Jeep Wrangler. Not only is it a non-issue for towing 4 down, but it can be a blast to drive once you reach your destination. Four-wheeling on beaches, dune running or exploring the winding mountain trails are just some of the exciting things you can do with this universal vehicles.
Jeep Wranglers come in two- or four-door configurations, as well as convertible or hardtop choices. All seat 4 or 5 people. The doors also can be removed and installed easily which can add even more to your off-road fun.
The newer Wranglers ride surprisingly well, even the two-door models with a shorter wheelbase.
Jeep Wrangler Toad: Made To Flat-Tow
The Jeep Wrangler is built to tow. Chrysler Jeep even has a special flat-tow light wiring harness that interfaces directly into the onboard computer board. Recreational vehicle flat towing is also addressed in the owner’s manual, something you don’t often see.
So, what’s involved in preparing to tow?
- Shift transfer case to neutral (Mechanical shift lever)
- Verify that drive is disconnected (Try to move vehicle)
- Put Transmission in Park (Automatic) in gear (Manual)
- Turn off and remove key (Units from 2008 without steering lock)
- That’s it. You are good to go!
Notes: The transmissions must be in park for automatics or in gear for manual transmissions to prevent the pinion shaft from rotating. The pinion shaft may be damaged if it rotates as it is not lubricated during towing.
Most vehicle manufacturers discontinued the use of steering locks as Jeep did in 2008. This allows the ignition key to be completely removed during towing. For those older units, leave the key in with it positioned one notch, just enough to disable the lock but not turn on the ignition.
Jeep Wrangler Toad Pedigree
Now, here’s a little Jeep trivia!
All Jeep products, regardless of model, have seven vertical openings in their grill. Why?
The seven opening slots are very symbolic. They stand for the first vehicle ever to be employed on all seven continents. Pretty impressive when you consider one of those continents is the Antarctic!
Peter Mercer–With More Than Just A Toad—A Jeep!