Necessary Equipment for Towing 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Behind Motorhome

Question:

Is a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee a good tow vehicle behind a 2014 Bounder 35K?

asked by: Dave H

Expert Reply:

According to my research, if your Grand Cherokee has a manual transfer case with a Neutral position, it can be flat towed, unless it has the Quadra Trac I 4 wheel drive system. There is a specific procedure that must be followed, which is outlined in your owner's manual.

From what I read online, the Jeep WJ (Grand Cherokee 1999-2004 model years) is a popular vehicle to flat tow. The WJ is lighter than later models, which makes it good for flat towing.

In order to flat tow your Grand Cherokee, you'll need a base plate kit, a tow bar, safety cables, a lighting solution so the towed vehicle's taillights operate while being flat towed, and a supplemental braking system.

For base plates, use the Roadmaster # 1419-6 which are a fit for all models of the 1999 Grand Cherokee. For a tow bar, I'd recommend the Roadmaster Falcon 2, part # RM-520. The Falcon 2 features self-centering and aligning arms, which means that when you're hooking the vehicle up to the tow bar, you do not have to have the vehicle perfectly centered behind the RV. For safety cables, use # RM-643.

When the tow bar is installed, you'll want the tow bar to be within 3 inches of level. The base plates will be approximately 22 inches off the ground when installed, so depending on your hitch height you might need a high-low adapter. You'll need to determine the height difference between the hitch on your RV and 22 inches and then choose the proper high-low adapter to place the tow bar within 3 inches of level. I'll link you to our selection of high-low adapters.

For lighting, there are two alternatives that I really like. Using a magnetic mount kit like # RM-2120 makes for a super easy install, and you won't need to cut or splice into any wiring. The Roadmaster bulb and socket kit, part # RM-155 would install permanently in your taillight assemblies, but wouldn't require any cutting or splicing into the vehicle's wiring. An umbilical like part # HM47065 would work for either system.

There are plenty of braking systems available, but I really like a permanently installed system like the Stay-IN-Play DUO # SM99251. Since it's installed on the Jeep you never have to remove it or set it up and just turn it off and on with a switch.

I'll link you to some FAQ articles about flat towing. I hope you find them helpful.