Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade Behind an RV

Question:

I have a 05 keep liberty renegade thinking about flat towing it behind my motorhome

asked by: Al G

Expert Reply:

I'm glad you asked because there are several subtle things to consider and other not so subtle things when flat towing a vehicle. The first place to start is the vehicle owner's manual.

I checked the owner's manual online for your 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade. If you have a 4-wheel drive model it can be flat towed with 4 wheels down behind an RV. If it is a 2-wheel drive model it cannot be flat towed.

If you have a model that can be flat towed then the first item needed is a set of base plates. I recommend the Demco tabless kit # DM9519181 because of the clean look when you're driving the Jeep. For a tow bar use the Demco Commander # DM9511012. It pairs up with the base plates, has its own safety cabes and provides 1-1/2 inches of rise or drop without an adapter.

In addition to the base plates, tow bar, and safety cables you will also need a lighting solution and supplemental braking. There are several possible lighting options from simple magnetic kits such as # RM-2120 to more permanent kits such as diode kit # RM-15267. I have linked a video showing an example installation on a different Jeep vehicle. It will be similar on your Liberty.

You may also need a high/low adapter to keep the tow bar level. I have linked a help article showing how to measure and a link to the high/low adapters we carry.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking on the vehicle being flat towed. One of the preferred systems for our installers and what I recommend is the SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO proportional system, # SM99251. It will apply the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the tow vehicle is braking. This is the safest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.

Be sure to consult your vehicle 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.