2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon toasted from flat towing incorrectly

[gsbrockman]

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39794...-new-jeep-wrangler-by-flat-towing-it-in-4-low
https://www.thedrive.com/news/39794...-new-jeep-wrangler-by-flat-towing-it-in-4-low

 

[bcbender]

Wow....

 

[FOXY005]

WOW ... That's right up there with Hold My Beer and Watch This. Well maybe a little bit above that!

 

[Ozymandias]

I don't blame the owner, things like that happen.
Maybe something distracted him at the wrong moment, lost the track of routine and there we go - Boom.

 

[gsbrockman]

I don't blame the owner, things like that happen.
Maybe something distracted him at the wrong moment, lost the track of routine and there we go - Boom.

I certainly blame the owner. Sure won’t be a warranty claim.

There’s a procedure for insuring it’s NOT engaged before attaching to the tow vehicle.

 

[Tuesdak]

Electric shift transfer case?

And if I was the vehicle owner where the shop was making fun of me online there would be trouble.

 

[Ozymandias]

I certainly blame the owner. Sure won’t be a warranty claim.

There’s a procedure for insuring it’s NOT engaged before attaching to the tow vehicle.

Yeah, that's for sure that this is not covered by any warranty because it's an users error.

But things like that happens, we are all human.
I once dragged a tall trailer under an overpass because I simply forgot about that trailer in tow and took the usual route... unbelievable afterwards but it happened. We normally didn't had trailers at that job and it was a Monday morning.

 

[LandShark]

Maybe not covered under warranty, but insurance would cover it.
Similar thing happened to a neighbor a few years back. He hooked up his week old Jeep to his HR diesel pusher and dragged it down the street 6/10 of a mile for a test run. He had the drivetrain engaged and flattened the bottom of all 4 tires. No engine damage, just a new set of tires.

 

[Wiredawg]

I'm getting ready to flat tow my 2014 Wrangler for the first time this next week. Going to make laminated instructions from the OM and follow checklist... a simple error can be real costly.

Cheers, Ron

 

[JR]

Perfect donor for a diesel swap.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

I'm getting ready to flat tow my 2014 Wrangler for the first time this next week. Going to make laminated instructions from the OM and follow checklist... a simple error can be real costly.

Cheers, Ron

Just curious... would trailering the vehicle be a safer option all around? Those additional miles on the Jeep can't be good for it long term. Plus, a trailer let's you back up when necessary.

 

[Jim W]

A couple of years ago I was camping next to a class A that flat towed a Jeep Wrangler. The next day after they pulled in, a dealer flat bed truck was in picking up the Jeep. At the time it would not move under it's own power. Will the Jeep showed back up on the flat bed, I found out the owner needed a new transfer case as the one in the Jeep was junk from being flat towing. He was going home to have the Jeep fixed as he needed to get back to work and could not wait on parts.

He told me he had been flat towing this Jeep for a couple of years now but something went wrong on this trip and the transfer case was destroyed. He did notice a slight decrease in the ability to get the load moving from a stop light he said but other than that the class A worked fine.

Just saying.

 

[Wiredawg]

Just curious... would trailering the vehicle be a safer option all around? Those additional miles on the Jeep can't be good for it long term. Plus, a trailer let's you back up when necessary.

I'm pretty leery about flat towing it. RV came with all the Blue Ox hardware and bought brake system for $600 from previous owner. who after one trip, decided to go back to 5er.

I've read a lot here and RV forums and the consensus seems to favor flat towing. Got trip planned Friday, so will give it a whirl. Already mentioned to DW I might want to get 12 to 14 ft flat bed cuz I'm not thrilled about not being able to back up. Other side of the coin is extra space needed for trailer a negative when staying in smaller parks.

Although not specified for change, might change out xfer case fluid with fresh... wonder if gentleman referenced which flatowed for years service the xfer case?

I believe @Larry Willard flat tows his Ram 3500 dually 40K miles with no problems, so worth a try. Jeep specifically engineered to flat tow. Discussion was on my thread "Bought Another Cummings".

I'll report week after next how it goes.

Happy Trails, Ron

 

[gsbrockman]

Perfect donor for a diesel swap.

https://www.cummins.com/engines/repower

 

[JR]

Thats the one!

 

[AnonEd]

My buddies run locking hubs on the back too...as long as the wheel bearings stay together they can get them home. Of course, they break them on the trail instead of the highway...

 

[AH64ID]

who after one trip, decided to go back to 5er.

That had to give you a momentary pause as you traded your 5er in on his MH.

 

[Wiredawg]

That had to give you a momentary pause as you traded your 5er in on his MH.

Nope, didn't give it a second thought. Lots of year old and less RVs out there (buses, As, Cs, 5ers, etc.) that folks figured out they didn't want or didn't like and took the loss. Considering the MH only had 3500 miles on it and it was approximately 1,100 miles from Indiana to deliver it to TX, I'd say previous owner only took it out a a few shorter trips or one intermediate one. They hadn't used the external intertainment system (sticky film still on the TV), never connected the in-motion satellite, and I got their Blue Ox towing system. I watched this for a ouple months and did lots of research on Nexus Wraith... there's a lot on the road and some pretty impressive YouTuber owners. The fit and finish is excellent and the quality the same. You get a chance to see one you should check it out.

Just a sidenote: I bought my first Ram Cummins pretty much the same way in 2000... old guy and his wife bought SLT 2500 QC 4x4 6spd, installed GN, side steps, kept it 3 months, brought it back and traded for a 2wd Ram Cummins auto. I saved $5k on that truck. It had a measely 235HP and 460TQ (I think).

As you know, there's been discussion about power and trans... I'm used to the power level of this MH as I just had it updated by International to the same as my 2017 Ram 5500 at 325HP/750TQ. And that discussion also had a negative slant about the Allison 2500 trans, but it looks to be a good transmission.... lot of RVs, school buses and delivery trucks running them. Not saying a 3000 isn't better, (Ive driven one with it too), but the 2500 will do the job for us just fine. A friend with a Class A had a Cat and Allison 2500... it took the grades out West just fine, he put over 300K miles on it before passing away. The 2500 has been around a long time and likely will be around a longer time. The GCW of MH and Jeep is about 6KLbs lighter (28KLbs) than my 5500 with the MS (34KLbs).

Anhoo, DW and I are still very excited about it.

Cheers, Ron

 

[HPSimpson]

Just for note my Jeep goes on trailer I don't like I idea of flat towing behind especially in the California hills!

 

[Wiredawg]

Just for note my Jeep goes on trailer I don't like I idea of flat towing behind especially in the California hills!

Wife has given thumbs up to trailer if I want one... have any pics of yours on a trailer? I basically have about $900 tied up in the Blue Ox System, but could likely get it back selling it all.

Thanks, Ron