Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Behind a Motor Home

Question:

We have a 2014 Thor Chateau and would like to get some advise about towing this Jeep. I understand that the capacity is 5,000 and dont know if the hitch is welded onto the Thor or bolted in but with the weight of 6,150, am I able to get a different hitch to hold more weight? Or is it advisable to get a different car with 4 AWD? We dont want to get a dolly as my husband wouldnt be able to handle it with his bad back.

asked by: Ava C

Expert Reply:

The capacity of any given trailer hitch is set in stone whether it is a weld-on application or a bolt on. So basically, since your 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee weighs 6,150 pounds, trailer hitch # 13703 would not be sufficient.

You will want to look at heavy duty truck hitches, see link, and have it installed by a professional welder.

After you have a hitch with enough capacity installed you can then get all the items needed to flat tow the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. You will need base plates, a tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking.

For base plates we have options as long as the Jeep is not an SRT-8 model. I recommend Blue Ox base plates # BX1123 since Blue Ox is one of the leaders in the industry. Then for a compatible tow bar that has enough capacity for your Jeep I recommend going with either the Alpha, # BX7380, or the Avail, # BX7420.

The Alpha is rated for 6,500 pounds so the Jeep will be close to that capacity. The Avail is rated for 10,000 pounds so it is much more than the Jeep but that extra capacity will give you peace of mind. Both tow bars come with safety cables.

For lighting, if you will not be towing the Jeep often I recommend a simple magnetic kit, # RM-2120. Or for a more permanent solution you can use # RM-15267.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking on the vehicle being flat towed. One of the easiest systems to set up and use is the Even Brake proportional system # RM-9400. It will apply the Jeep brakes in proportion to how much the tow vehicle is braking. This is the easiest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.

Be sure to consult your Jeep owners manual for specific information on flat towing the vehicle. I have also included some helpful links to our series of help articles on flat towing for you.