Wiring Needed to Flat Tow a 2016 Jeep Wrangler

Question

Question:

I have a 2016 Jeep Wrangler that I am wiring to be used as a towed vehicle behind my class C Motor Home. I will be installing a Blue Ox Patriot portable breaking system on the Jeep, this will require a 12 volt draw from the Jeep battery via a cigarette lighter plug. My motor home is wired with a 7 way plug. I will be wiring my Jeep lights using a Demco 9523129 harness with 4 way end. I purchased the etrailer H20043 wire harness and A7WCB plug to connect from the RV to the Jeep. I will be providing a constant 12volt from the RV to the Jeep battery. I also purchased the PK54540 to place in line of the constant 12 volt supply to the battery but as I look at it I am not sure that is what I want. What should I add in line for the 12 volt supply to avoid over charging the Jeep battery while the RV is feeding this supply? I will be using a converting 7 way plug to 4 way plug with 10 gauge 12 volt supply available

asked by: Albert H

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Expert Reply:

It sounds like you've created your own umbilical to go from the 7-way on your RV to a 7-way on your Jeep. The Hopkins connector # H20043 is 4 feet long, which isn't going to be long enough to bridge the gap of space for flat towing. You're going to need at least 6 foot umbilical. For a 6 foot 7-way molded cable use # H20044. We typically don't see 7-ways on the front of vehicles, for a great 7-way to 6-way umbilical with a 6-way (which is most common) connecter and mounting bracket I recommend # RM-146-7.

Since you have the Demco flat towing 4-way harness, you'll use that to connect to the 7-way umbilical you've made (or 6-way). In order to plug your 4-way Demco harness into the 7-way umbilical you will need a 7-way trailer connector socket # HM48480 with open pins. You'll need to cut off the 4-pin connector of the harness, if it has one, and wire it to the 7-way socket. Now you can plug your umbilical adapter from your RV into your Jeep.

From the 7-way (or 6-way) socket in the front of the Wrangler you will need to install the Roadmaster Battery Charge Line # RM-156-25 and connect it to the Jeep's battery. I spoke with our installer, and he said you can use the 40 amp circuit breaker in place of the included 15 amp, however it isn't needed because the charge kit includes a 15 amp circuit breaker. The 15 amp will be plenty, when you use a higher rated amp like the 40 amp you could end up damaging wiring if it's temperature rating is not high enough which will fry the wiring. The chargeline kit is designed to handle the 40 amp breaker as well as the included 15 amp one.

If the Jeep does not have a 12 volt connector that runs with the vehicle turned off or if the Patriot doesn't have a long enough cable to reach it you will need the 12 volt outlet kit # RM-9332. This will need to be plugged directly into a 20 amp fuse and your battery. This kit has a built in 20 amp circuit breaker which would eliminate the need for the 40 amp breaker to be used inline for this connection.

Our installer also suggested a Brake Light relay # RM-88400. This is something you won't know you need until you hook everything up and test it. So it's good to have it ahead of time instead of after you find out you need it.

If you don't already have them you're also going to need a tow bar like the Blue Ox Avail # BX7420 which comes with the safety cables. You'll also need the base plates that are specific to your Jeep, see attached link. And possibly a high/low adapter. See the help article I've attached to this page.

expert reply by: Charles S

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Answer 1

The Blue Ox #BLU79FR tow bar wiring kit is a fit for the 2018+ Jeep Wrangler JL, and wouldn't fit your 2017 JK. The good news is, we do offer a plug and play option that will work with your JK. I'd recommend the Hopkins #HM56200 which…

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Answer 2

The Blue Ox Patriot Portable Braking System - Proportional #BLU37TR needs power for proper function, so it does require a direct connection to your battery which isn't an issue on your 2015 Ford Flex. Some vehicle require a separate…

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Answer 3

The Blue Ox Patriot Portable Braking System #BLU37TR will charge off of a 12v power source in your toad vehicle. I recommend installing the BrakeBuddy Towed Vehicle Battery Charge Kit #BB54FR to keep your vehicle's battery from draining…

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Answer 4

The Blue Ox Patriot Portable Braking System - Proportional #BLU37TR, uses a 12V powered remote that wirelessly connects to the 12V powered braking unit. This wireless remote has an inertia-based sensor in it that can sense the braking of the towing…

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Answer 5

If you are installing your own wiring for the Prodigy P3 #90195 on your 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 like our Universal Wiring Kit #ETBC7 then you'll need a 20A Circuit Breaker #PK54220 for that application. According to my research though you should…

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Answer 6

The T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness part #118286 is what I recommend to add a 7-way to your 2017 Honda Pilot. The harness connects to the rear plug in the vehicle's hatch. This plug then runs through the length of the vehicle up behind the…

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Answer 7

On GM vehicles of that vintage, the 12-V pin should be hot regardless of whether the ignition is on or not. If it isn't showing voltage even with the ignition on, you're almost certainly on the right track thinking it's a blown or…

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Answer 8

The 12V feed from your tow vehicle's 7-Way connector carries enough current to maintain a charge on your trailer mounted battery, but it does not have enough to actually charge up a depleted battery. Since the battery will really only get a…

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Answer 9

If those circuit breakers are indeed for the jack and the trailer brakes then they are likely redundant since the 12 volt circuit and brake circuit are already circuit protected on the vehicle side. Electric trailer jacks also usually have an…

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Answer 10

Circuit breakers can have current run through them in either direction. The #9506P just needs be wired between the battery and the 12 volt power circuit of your brake controller. The basically you would run from the black wire on your controller to…

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Answer 11

Most if not all trailer wiring harnesses/connectors use larger wires for the 12 volt and ground circuits compared to the other circuits (lights). The sockets themselves don't have an amperage rating so you will go by the draw of the things…

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Answer 12

The BrakeBuddy Towed Vehicle Battery Charge Kit part #BB54FR comes with a the Brake Buddy Select 3 Portable Supplemental Braking System part #HM39524. I have attached a wiring diagram of how this is setup with the Brake Buddy.

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