Can I Flat Tow a 2017 Jeep Compass with Manual Transmission

Question:

Good morning etrailer, Are both 2017 manual Jeep Compass models towable four down? There is so much conflicting info on the internet, but, trust your expertise in this matter. I keep hearing that there are 2 owners manuals for that year one for the new Compass and the other for the old Compass both marketed for 2017. How do you tell which owners manual on the internet applies to which Compass for the 2017 year? Before we purchase the necessary base plates and tow bar we need to get the tow vehicle figured out first. Really hope you can help. Stay safe and we are looking forward to receiving our Thule bike hitch from etrailer. Thank you! Respectfully

asked by: Stephen P

Helpful Expert Reply:

I can see why this might be confusing, and I can tell you that the 2017 Jeep Compass with a manual transmission can be flat towed, where the "All New 2017 Compass" cannot- this would explain the differences between the two manuals. Since these are two distinct vehicles, you would just need to know which version of the 2017 Jeep Compass you've got in order to make the determination as to whether or not it is flat-towable. If you're not sure, then your best bet is to contact Jeep with your VIN and have them tell you which version of the Compass you have, which will give you direction as to how to proceed.

If it turns out that you have the original 2017 Jeep Compass that can be flat towed, then I've gone ahead and listed the parts I recommend using below, as well as linking some helpful articles that I recommend checking out.

You'll need 4 basic components for flat-towing: Baseplates, Tow-Bar, Wiring and Supplemental braking, an potentially safety cables and a high/low adapter.

1) Baseplates: Roadmaster EZ Baseplate kit # 521442-1 - These are removable; easy to mount and simple to remove, so there's no worry about anything protruding when you're driving the vehicle at your location or home.

2) Tow Bar: Roadmaster Nighthawk # RM-676 - The Nighthawk is a great choice with a ton of great features. The self aligning design means that you'll be able to hook up and drive, allowing the arms to lock into place on their own after you get straightened out and the non-binding arms will allow you to hook up or release on uneven/off-road surfaces without worry. I also love the fact that it has lights built in to make for easily connecting your dinghy in the dark and cable channels to keep the included safety cables and installed wiring off the ground when towing.

3) Wiring: Roadmaster Diode Kit # RM-152 ; since the Nighthawk tow bar comes with a 7-way to 6-way connection, this is going to be the best option for wiring. If you'd like your brake lights and turn signals to operate independently of each other you will also need the Vehicle to Vehicle Tail Light converter # 118158 and 2 diodes # RM-792 - but this isn't necessarily required hardware for this application.

4) Supplemental Braking: Roadmaster Invisi-brake System # RM-8700 This is recommended if you're interested in convenience, and plan on keeping your towed vehicle for the foreseeable future. This system requires adding a brake light relay kit like # RM-88400 . If you're looking for a portable system the Roadmaster Even Brake system # RM-9400 which is a proportional braking system that installs in around an hour, with no components required to install on the RV. You will need the Roadmaster seat adapter # RM-88253 for this to work in your dinghy.

This towing setup might also require a High-Low hitch adapter similar to # RM-048-6 . I've attached a help article that we have on our site to help you determine whether you'll need one, as well as which size you'll need for your 2017 Jeep Compass.