Parts Needed for Flat Towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee Behind an Entegra Odyssey Class C

Question:

I am having a hard time trying to decide on which company has the best equipment for our situation. We are an older retired couple with only one car a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It would thus be our primary means of transportation but would also be our dinghy when we travel several shorter trips in spring and fall and a longer 6 week or so trip during the summer. We would appreciate an easy to hook up and detach system. I like the idea therefore of Demcos inch accessible but not visibleinch baseplate. However, Im not sure about their tow bars and permanent proportional braking systems as compared to Blue OX and Roadmaster. We would need to have these professionally installed and most RV dealers want to go with a system for a particular company.

asked by: Bill H

Expert Reply:

We actually make some great flat towing products, in addition to the Demco Tabless Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # DM9519291, I recommend the etrailer SD Tow Bar, part # e34ZR. It is a great non-binding tow bar and I think you'd be very happy with the quality and ease of hook up of this system. The SD Tow Bar has an adjustable head that tilts up or down 3" to keep tow bar parallel with road during towing, and in most cases can be used without a high/low adapter, plus it's got all the same features as some of the other brands best selling tow bars, including built in safety cables. It has some great reviews that I would encourage you to check out if you're still skeptical.

When it comes to supplemental braking, the Demco SBS Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System - Proportional # SM99251 is also a quality option for a permanently mounted braking system. This is a vacuum pressurized proportional system, so you're going to get smooth braking pressure in proportion with the amount of pressure your brakes are applied in your coach, which will ultimately help with your towing experience.

You'll also need tow bar wiring, like the Demco Tow Bar Combo Kit with Diode System # DM9523057, which is a diode style kit that will prevent backfeeding into the RV electrical system. This kit also comes with locks you can use on the tow bar and base plates to keep everything secure. The Roadmaster Stop Light Switch Kit # RM-751449 and Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Towed Vehicles # RM-156-25 will also be required for flat towing your 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee; if your coach does not have a charge line installed you'll also need the # RM-156-75.

I've linked some review and installation videos for you to have a look at. We don't have a network of installers that we can recommend from, but any local RV dealership with a service department will install these parts for you for a fee; otherwise you can use these videos as a guide and install them yourself.

If you're still not convinced that the Demco systems are the best parts, you can use the flat towing guide I've also linked and piece together a system of your choosing. You will want to match the tow bar to the base plates, but you can go any direction from there.