Cost-Effective Flat Towing Setup for 2009 Jeep Wrangler JK with 7/8 inch D-Rings

Question:

I have a 2009 Jeep JK, two door, with 35 inch tires and Rock Slide Engineering front bumper with 7/8in D rings spaced 33.5 inches apart. Looking to flat tow this with a 2018 GMC Canyon with 2 inch hitch. At most I would tow this once per year to a jeep event so Id prefer not to spend a ton of money. What setup do I need? Thanks!

asked by: Marc C

Expert Reply:

We do have some flat towing equipment for you to get your 2009 Jeep Wrangler to Jeep events and while there are cost effective options, flat towing equipment in general can get a bit pricey so you'll need to keep that in mind. With that being said, I have narrowed down the options for you to some cost-effective products.

Since you have the D-Rings on your bumper I recommend using the Roadmaster D-Ring Adapters # RM-035 for 3/4" thick D-Rings or # RM-035-1 for 1" thick D-Rings. Both of these use the 7/8" pin so you need to determine the thickness and verify with your bumper manufacturer that your bumper is rated for flat towing. Then for a tow bar that is compatible with these you can use the Falcon 2 # RM-520 which is the most cost-effective tow bar that works with these adapters. I will say that if your Jeep events require you to unhook your Jeep on uneven surfaces then the Falcon All-Terrain # RM-522 will be a better option because it has non-binding arms which make disconnecting much easier. You can use the 6K Safety Cables # RM-643 with this setup.

To complete your flat towing setup you also need wiring and a braking system (which is required by most states but we recommend regardless). For wiring I recommend the Hopkins # HM56200 which is a cost-effective option that remains installed on your Jeep. This means that you don't have to keep track of a set of magnetic lights.

Then for a braking system I recommend the Brake Buddy Classic 3 # HM39494 because of how easy it is to use and it is portable so you don't have to permanently install anything. Braking systems are the most expensive part of a flat towing setup but they are completely necessary for safe towing and most of them are around this price point. You do need to install the 12V Outlet Kit # RM-9332, the Stop Light Switch Kit # RM-751452, and the Roadmaster Automatic Battery Disconnect with Switch for Towed Vehicle w/ Supplemental Braking System # RM-766 for this to work on your vehicle.

Attached are the written instructions for the various components that you can check out.