Tow vehicle

Topic: Tow vehicle (Read 788 times) previous topic - next topic

Tow vehicle

January 12, 2020, 11:43:01 am

We are in the market for a tow vehicle.
We found a 2011Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4 wheel drive that they towed.
They have a brake buddy select but it's not the boost. They have used it however. So is it preferable to get the brake buddy boost for 4 wheel drive.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #1 – January 12, 2020, 12:24:00 pm

Quote from: 18360 – January 12, 2020, 11:43:01 am

We are in the market for a tow vehicle.
We found a 2011Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4 wheel drive that they towed.
They have a brake buddy select but it's not the boost. They have used it however. So is it preferable to get the brake buddy boost for 4 wheel drive.

I have been using the vantage select on Cherokee's and Grand Cherokee's for over 15 years. Still works, but the remote monitor needs repair.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #2 – January 12, 2020, 12:30:02 pm

Thanks.
Is it a 4 by 4.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #3 – January 12, 2020, 01:43:41 pm

Quote from: 18360 – January 12, 2020, 12:30:02 pm

Thanks.
Is it a 4 by 4.

They have to be to be towed 4 wheels down and must have a neutral in the transfer case. If you are not familiar with the tow procedure, put the transfer case in neutral and the trans. in park and unlock the steering wheel if it has a lock. Some grand Cherokees after 2006 do not have the neutral transfer case ability. Look in the owner's manual for that feature.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #4 – January 12, 2020, 02:02:57 pm

Been towing 4 down a 2005 RAV4 (last year in the states for manual trans) AWD since we bought the coach. Just under 3000 lbs so aux brake is not required in all states. Toyota reliability with zero issues in 240,000 now. Just tires and brake pads, no timing chain to worry about. Goes off road like a jeep and better in the snow than heavier AWD SUVs. Must stop every 200 miles or so and run the engine for five minutes.

Pierce

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #5 – January 12, 2020, 02:45:25 pm

Your question (if I read it correctly) asked if you needed to use the boost version of Brake Buddy if you have 4WD. That answer is no.

The braking system (Brake Buddy) is not dependent on whether you have 4WD or not. When towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee the transmission is not engaged after the transmission is placed in NUETRAL. The Jeep will roll away from you if the parking brake is not engaged or already hooked up to the tow bar and RV (or chocked). Read the owners manual to understand how to place the transmission into neutral. You can not just put the gear shifter into neutral on a "automatic transmission" vehicle.

Motorhome magazine puts out an annual Dinghy Towing Guide covering which vehicles can be towed "Four Down"
Downloadable Dinghy Towing Guides | MotorHome Magazine

Always refer to the owners manual, but.... There was a discrepancy a few years ago with the Cherokee (not Grand Cherokee) owners manual stated the Cherokee was towable Four Down and owners were having some pretty significant problems. Jeep finally offered a wiring kit ($$) to correct the problem, but it left many owners upset having to incur an extra cost when the manual stated to was towable right out of the showroom.

Ed

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #6 – January 12, 2020, 02:54:28 pm

Quote from: Lance Camper – January 12, 2020, 02:45:25 pm

Your question (if I read it correctly) asked if you needed to use the boost version of Brake Buddy if you have 4WD. That answer is no.

The braking system (Brake Buddy) is not dependent on whether you have 4WD or not. When towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee the transmission is not engaged after the transmission is placed in NUETRAL. The Jeep will roll away from you if the parking brake is not engaged or already hooked up to the tow bar and RV (or chocked). Read the owners manual to understand how to place the transmission into neutral. You can not just put the gear shifter into neutral on a "automatic transmission" vehicle.

Motorhome magazine puts out an annual Dinghy Towing Guide covering which vehicles can be towed "Four Down"
Downloadable Dinghy Towing Guides | MotorHome Magazine

Always refer to the owners manual, but.... There was a discrepancy a few years ago with the Cherokee (not Grand Cherokee) owners manual stated the Cherokee was towable Four Down and owners were having some pretty significant problems. Jeep finally offered a wiring kit ($$) to correct the problem, but it left many owners upset having to incur an extra cost when the manual stated to was towable right out of the showroom.

Ed

Even the manual transmissions are supposed to be put in gear with the transfer case in neutral.

towing a jeep 4x4 with manual transmission - Google Search

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #7 – January 12, 2020, 02:55:21 pm

Having towed Cherokees and Grand Cherokees for 20 years, all 4x4 never knew Jeep quit putting the neutral feature in all models starting in 2006, until I decided to get a newer one. They are electronic and have to have the button that disengages the output shaft at the transfer case. To get the newer one a '14 it had to be a Limited, Overland or a Summit. Didn't even consider the Trail Hawk didn't need 700 hp.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #8 – January 12, 2020, 02:56:12 pm

Maybe a little heavy, however, for the past 15 years we've towed a 1998 to 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser or Lexus LX and now 27 months with a Lexus GX470. Now, for the first time in what seems forever, we are down to one car. This past two years, to lighten the load by a 1,000 lbs, and maintain comfort and safety with full time all wheel drive when just driving the toad, we tow a 2004 Lexus GX470 with all Roadmaster equipment: tow bars, base plate, and Brake Master.

Like Craneman said, we tow with manual transfer case in neutral, vehicle in park. I also have a neutral cutoff switch at the battery. The cutoff is useful as toad is once a year stored for over six months when we visit wife's family 9,000 miles south each winter.

My plan is to eventually run charge wire from rv to toad thru coiled cable from rv. Toad battery is an Odyssey AGM.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #9 – January 12, 2020, 03:02:39 pm

Quote from: craneman – January 12, 2020, 02:55:21 pm

Having towed Cherokees and Grand Cherokees for 20 years, all 4x4 never knew Jeep quit putting the neutral feature in all models starting in 2006, until I decided to get a newer one. They are electronic and have to have the button that disengages the output shaft at the transfer case. To get the newer one a '14 it had to be a Limited, Overland or a Summit. Didn't even consider the Trail Hawk didn't need 700 hp.

I almost told the OP that a Laredo could not be towed four down because of what you just said, but caught myself. In 2011 a Laredo could be towed if it had the proper transmission. A Quadra Track II or Quadra Drive II. I believe, as you said, after 2014 the Laredo could not be towed. Jeep did not offer that tranny in that Trim level.

Ed

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #10 – January 12, 2020, 05:36:48 pm

Do consider making sure you have a charge line (can be part of the umbilical wiring) from the coach to the toad since the Brake Buddy relies on power from the 12V of the toad in order to operate.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #11 – January 13, 2020, 09:38:17 am

Added a new vehicle on Saturday. 2018 Equinox Diesel awd, every option Chevy provides. Will make a good toad.

Diesel Equinox and Terrain were only made for 2018 - 2019. 40 plus highway fuel mileage.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #12 – January 13, 2020, 09:51:47 am

Jeep..... Just empty every pocket.
I tow mine. It's easy...and it's hard. You have to push a bunch of small buttons.. (1) .. while standing on your head and asking the gods to make it work.
Seriously, don't understand why they made it so hard to disconnect the transfer case. But it works.
But when I get there, a Jeep is a good thing to have.
BTW, I put in a air Force one as the brake controller. Works great.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #13 – January 13, 2020, 04:50:55 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – January 12, 2020, 02:02:57 pm

Been towing 4 down a 2005 RAV4 (last year in the states for manual trans) AWD since we bought the coach. Just under 3000 lbs so aux brake is not required in all states. Toyota reliability with zero issues in 240,000 now. Just tires and brake pads, no timing chain to worry about. Goes off road like a jeep and better in the snow than heavier AWD SUVs. Must stop every 200 miles or so and run the engine for five minutes.

Pierce

I believe in North Carolina I was told it is only 1500 lbs It was on blue ox towing video

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #14 – January 13, 2020, 05:10:02 pm

Towing limit without supplemental brakes DOES vary by state. But, my understanding is in Canada (at least in most provinces) it is required on all, irrespective of weight.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #15 – January 13, 2020, 06:00:09 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – January 13, 2020, 05:10:02 pm

Towing limit without supplemental brakes DOES vary by state. But, my understanding is in Canada (at least in most provinces) it is required on all, irrespective of weight.

I didn't know that I am doing research on it now and trying to figure out which is the best tow bar I have a Hyundai Elantra 2017 with manual transmission I do have a 16 enclosed car haulier but I think it would be too awkward to get around in campgrounds and find a place to park it

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #16 – January 13, 2020, 06:15:12 pm

On the Elantra you might want to start research on base plate. Etrailer has good installation videos that cover many specific applications. Watch the video to see what kind of surgery will be required. I wish I had gotten a tow bar with "non binding" latches. Worth the extra in my opinion.

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #17 – January 13, 2020, 07:02:42 pm

Our 2014 Elantra manual transmission was a great 4 down toad. No idea if things changed with the next generation Elantra.

But, the 2017 FMCA towing guide does show it as towable 4 wheels down ( may have to be an FMCA member to view it): http://fmca.com/images/stories/pdf/2017Towables-Updated_FMC0117.pdf

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #18 – January 13, 2020, 07:15:46 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – January 13, 2020, 07:02:42 pm

Our 2014 Elantra manual transmission was a great 4 down toad. No idea if things changed with the next generation Elantra.

But, the 2017 FMCA towing guide does show it as towable 4 wheels down ( may have to be an FMCA member to view it): http://fmca.com/images/stories/pdf/2017Towables-Updated_FMC0117.pdf

What is FMCA stand for I seen it somewhere in my reading

Re: Tow vehicle

Reply #19 – January 13, 2020, 07:21:48 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – January 13, 2020, 07:15:46 pm

What is FMCA stand for I seen it somewhere in my reading

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