Question for Gladiator owners who flat tow - - The 2020 Good Sam Dinghy Towing Guide says that the negative battery terminal has to be disconnected when towing, but the Jeep owner's manual does not mention that at all - just tranny in Park, and transfer case in Neutral.
Anybody know the straight scoop? Our first four-down towing, and I tend to believe the Jeep manual.
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Ed
Some Other Brand w/2020 Jeep Gladiator Toad
Living The Dream in "God's Waiting Room"
I have a 2018 Wrangler JLU and yours should be just like mine. Follow the procedure in the manual for "Recreational Towing" and placing the Transfer Case in N followed by the transmission in Park.
I tow a Gladiator. No need to disconnect the battery. The last Wrangler-type that needed that was, I believe, the pre-2012's that had steering wheel locks
My 2019 Grand Cherokee does not require the battery to be disconnected, however, the 2020 Grand Cherokee does require the battery to be disconnected. And that change is a real PITA because the battery is under the passenger's seat.
Changes often happen mid-model year.
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Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
I have a 2020 JLU and flat tow. I did find that after a long day of towing in the mountains when the brakes are used more frequently, it drains the battery. I am pretty sure that this happens because the instruments light up when the brakes are applied. I had the pin connector updated with a charging line to the battery so this is not a problem. Hope this helps.
Thanks, folks. All things considered, I think I'll call Jeep tomorrow and find out which one is right - the owner's manual, or the Good Sam towing guide. Just want to make sure I don't destroy the new baby before we make the first payment!
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Ed
Some Other Brand w/2020 Jeep Gladiator Toad
Living The Dream in "God's Waiting Room"
Thanks, folks. All things considered, I think I'll call Jeep tomorrow and find out which one is right - the owner's manual, or the Good Sam towing guide. Just want to make sure I don't destroy the new baby before we make the first payment!
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There is a section for this in your owner's manual... before towing and after towing. I have a friend who had a good suggestion that I took. Copy these instructions verbatim and laminate them for use in your glove compartment. Use them every time, every time. Placing the transmission in Park while the engine is running can cause damage. You don't have to call Jeep because you may get some brand new guy that will give you bad information.
I have a friend who had a good suggestion that I took. Copy these instructions verbatim and laminate them for use in your glove compartment. Use them every time, every time.
Now, that's just scary. You must have read my mind. After my last post above, I made a Word document with the exact wording from the owner's manual, including pre-towing and post-towing, and prepared it for laminating tomorrow morning. Making two copies - - one to keep in the Jeep and one in the motorhome. Then I came back here and saw your post.
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Ed
Some Other Brand w/2020 Jeep Gladiator Toad
Living The Dream in "God's Waiting Room"
Now, that's just scary. You must have read my mind. After my last post above, I made a Word document with the exact wording from the owner's manual, including pre-towing and post-towing, and prepared it for laminating tomorrow morning. Making two copies - - one to keep in the Jeep and one in the motorhome. Then I came back here and saw your post.
Do that and you'll be in good shape. Happy flat towing! By the way, I invested in the Blue Ox guard for the front of the Jeep.
This is a link to a wireless remote control battery cutoff switch.
Very cheap, very handy. Mount the remote somewhere hidden and it will work as a hidden kill switch too.
Thanks, folks. All things considered, I think I'll call Jeep tomorrow and find out which one is right - the owner's manual, or the Good Sam towing guide. Just want to make sure I don't destroy the new baby before we make the first payment!
O||||||O
You can call Jeep but they will tell you that Owners Manual is the Bible. There is a specific section called: Recreational Towing — Four-Wheel Drive Models
I attached a screen shot from my manual so you can see what it looks like.
I also created a check-list that primarily came right out of the Jeep Owners Manual. I normally charge $100 for it but for today only it is free for anyone to download so I have attached it as well.
I went with the Roadmaster Direct Connect Baseplate (I installed it myself in a couple hours), the Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow Bar (by far the best one on the market) and the RVi Brake3 (I wanted a removable brake system so I could move it to another toad... it is very quick and easy to use). I also added the Roadmaster Tow Defender to protect the front of the Jeep from rocks and road debris.
I have a 2020 Jeep Gladiator that my husband and I flat tow behind our 2019 Thor Aria 3601. You only need to put the transfer case in neutral and the automatic transmission in park. You do not have to do anything else. This is by far the best toad that we have ever had.
I have a 2020 Jeep Gladiator that my husband and I flat tow behind our 2019 Thor Aria 3601. You only need to put the transfer case in neutral and the automatic transmission in park. You do not have to do anything else. This is by far the best toad that we have ever had.
^^^^THIS^^^^
Installation completed. As the installer told me, the battery cannot be disconnected in this vehicle because the Demco braking system relies on the electric vacuum pump to function. He installed a charging circuit from the MH to keep the battery charged.
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Ed
Some Other Brand w/2020 Jeep Gladiator Toad
Living The Dream in "God's Waiting Room"
Installation completed. As the installer told me, the battery cannot be disconnected in this vehicle because the Demco braking system relies on the electric vacuum pump to function. He installed a charging circuit from the MH to keep the battery charged.
Well the braking system does need the battery but there’s no reason why it couldn’t be connected directly to the battery even while disconnecting the factory car wiring. If Jeep wants the wiring disconnected I’d certainly disconnect it and just wire the Demco directly. My Jeep Wrangler does not require disconnecting he battery but I added a charging system anyway.
Jeep has to have some reasoning behind disconnecting the battery while flat towing on your Gladiator. Personally I would refer to the owners manual as deviating from those instructions might void the warranty.
Jeep Gladiator question
Linear Mode
