Can a Tow Bar be Bolted to a Front Hitch to Flat Tow a 2002 Jeep Wrangler

Question:

Can I bolt a tow bar to the hitch, to tow the Jeep?

asked by: Ed H

Expert Reply:

To flat tow your 2002 Jeep Wrangler you would need to have base plates installed. A front hitch is not rated for this application.

If your Jeep has a double tube bumper or U-channel bumper and does NOT have front leaf spring suspension you can use Roadmaster base plates # RM-521424-4. If you have a different bumper and/or front suspension let me know.

For a compatible tow bar I recommend the Falcon All Terrain # RM-522. This is a non-binding tow bar meaning you won't have to be perfectly straight and level to release or hook up the tow bar. If you ever had to deal with a bound up tow bar then using this tow bar will make things so much easier on you. And if you have not used a tow bar before trust me; non-binding is the way to go for sure.

If you don't already have safety cables you can use # RM-645. These are straight cables that will fit through the channels on the Falcon All Terrain tow bar.

For lighting the Roadmaster diode kit # RM-15267 is a popular option for Jeep owners. I have linked a video showing an example installation for you.

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.

The # RM-88400 relay is required to prevent the towed vehicle's brake signal from overriding the turn signal from the RV when applying the brakes during a turn.

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.