Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo & Does Battery Need Disconnecting

Question:

2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Laredo WK. say negative battery needs disconnecting to tow 4 wheels down. But disconnecting causes all sort of issues. What is an answer to this issue.

asked by: Terry R

Expert Reply:

After research and checking with Roadmaster I found that the battery does not need to be disconnected on your 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo to flat tow it. You can certainly reach out to Jeep for verification but the latest online version of the manual also does not have this step as a requirement. So that will alleviate any of the issues, and in order to flat tow your '20 Grand Cherokee Laredo you will need the following:

- Base Plate Kit: Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # RM-521440-5

- Tow Bar: Roadmaster BlackHawk 2 All Terrain, Non-Binding Tow Bar # RM-422

- Safety Chains: RoadMaster 68" Single Hook, Coiled Safety Cables # RM-643

- Wiring Kit: Roadmaster 4-Diode Universal Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles # RM-152-98146-7

- Roadmaster Stop Light Switch Kit # RM-751449

- Towed Vehicle Battery Charge Wire Kit for Demco Supplemental Braking Systems # DM66VR

- Supplemental Braking System: Demco SBS Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System # DM86VR

The Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plates are great because they have removable arms which means your Grand Cherokee is going to keep a clean look when you aren't flat towing it. The BlackHawk tow bar has a hefty 10k capacity so it is one of the strongest tow bars available, a long 52" reach which allows your tow vehicle to track behind your motorhome better than bars with shorter arms, and cable guides so you can keep your wiring up off the ground.

The diode wiring kit will prevent any type of electrical feedback to keep your Jeep's electrical system safe, and has a straight cord to go through the cable guides on the BlackHawk tow bar. As for the braking system, the Stay-IN-Play DUO is easily the best because it gives you braking proportional to that of your motorhome. So when you hit the brakes on your motorhome, your Jeep is going to get the same amount of braking power, resulting in much smoother braking than other systems.

The stoplight switch will ensure the monitoring system is always active, and the battery charge line will keep your Jeep's battery charged at all times even on long journeys. The only other thing I recommend considering, to keep rocks and other debris from hitting your Jeep while you are flat towing it is the Roadmaster Tow Defender Protective Screening # RM-4750.