2007 Jeep Patriot Flat-Towed

Question:

What do I have to do to make a 2007 jeep patriot sport 2.4L manual 5 speed FWD towable. I have left the key in the on position with trans in neutral at the end of the day the battery is dead. I have disconnected the battery with key on and in neutral and front tires on the inside of tires wore out in 3 days. Is there way to do it properly.

asked by: Steven F

Expert Reply:

From specs available to me the Jeep Patriot with a manual transmission is able to be flat-towed but you need to consult your vehicle specific owners manual to ensure your trim package does not have any special stipulations. Inside wear is usually caused by camber wear, meaning the tire is aligned inward. When caused as a direct result of towing it is generally a sign that the front has been pulled across a turn rather than the wheels moving into the turn. If you let us know what base plates, tow bar etc. you are using with your flat towing set-up we can better evaluate. In addition, please review the positioning of your tow bar, if it is not flat this can contribute to your issue. You will need to adjust the tow bar height using a high/low adapter. See attached article. The "Safe Zone" for a motor-home-mounted tow bar ranges from 3" above level to 3" below level. Car-mounted tow bars must be completely level. A tow bar adapter will provide the necessary rise or drop to get into the "Safe Zone".

To keep your battery charged while in flat tow, I suggest the Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Towed Vehicles, # RM-156-25. This kit allows up to 15 amps from your RV's battery to be used to maintain the charge of your Jeep's battery while being towed. The charge line connects to the 6-way or 7-way plug on your tow vehicle and requires separate charge line for the RV. Which would be the Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Motorhomes, # RM-156-75.

Please note the attached videos linked below.

expert reply by: Michael R