Four Winds 31W and a Jeep towing question

[bglanning85]

After reading lots of very expensive options for protecting the front and windshield of my 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara, I am wondering if, since this Class C has the rear wheels so far away from the end of the RV, is there really much chance of anything being "kicked up" to hit the tow vehicle? Just wondering if anyone has experience with or without something like the Protect a Tow - or other shields?

[halfprice]

i tow a 2016 wrangler and havent added any protection. So far no chips or damage of any kind

What ive heard is the rocks are being kicked up by the big flap that some install that cover the entire back end

Jerry

[TyCreek]

Normal mud-flaps right behind the rear tires is the best defense. They tame stuff flipped up from tires early.

Rear bumper area flaps can be wickedly brutal to the front of a toad. Especially if you travel gravel/dirt roads, though the same kick-up happens on paved surfaces. Longer rear overhangs cause more vertical travel, so a bumper/hitch flap would have to be very short to keep it from touching down. Think about those road sections that give oscillation or just whoopty where you know the bump stops are engaging ... Do you really want something touching down to flip up everything it can as it grazes the surface?

Some DPs need rear flap for proper airflow and IMO... any other use of rear hitch/bumper flap, that hangs down far enough to touch sometimes, is a flag that says: look at this gimmick I fell for In contrast, I've see a few folks with a rear flap way up off the ground (looks sort of funny really) but those folks are smart, just taking an extra layer of precaution for what might get by rear wheel flaps. Not for me to say what overly cautious is... We've pulled a wrangler behind every motorhome and learned the rear flap lesson the hard way!

[Jimi]

I use a protect a tow, and it works very well for my Jeep Wrangler. I had to modify the rv bumper slightly to lower the eyehooks and make the device more effective.

[Jimi]

[bglanning85]

Originally Posted by Jimi

I use a protect a tow, and it works very well for my Jeep Wrangler. I had to modify the rv bumper slightly to lower the eyehooks and make the device more effective.

Thanks Jimi - those pictures above are super helpful. Still undecided but that definitely looks like the #1 solution - just gotta save up for it after getting all the other parts necessary (phew thought getting the Tow Vehicle was the hard part!).

[Jimi]

Your right about that, I attached the post covers with heavy wire ties so as not to drill the bumper. Best of luck!

[gmc]

I've had no issues without extra protection towing my Wrangler behind my Class A... The towbar is dead level with no drop at the receiver. Be hard for anything to get up to the windshield...
What it needs is protection from normal driving... Jeep about to get its 3rd windshield installed from non-tow rock damage - took a rock in the windshield last week. Gotta love full glass coverage.

[Jimi]

Originally Posted by gmc

I've had no issues without extra protection towing my Wrangler behind my Class A... The towbar is dead level with no drop at the receiver. Be hard for anything to get up to the windshield...
What it needs is protection from normal driving... Jeep about to get its 3rd windshield installed from non-tow rock damage - took a rock in the windshield last week. Gotta love full glass coverage.

Yep, they sit upright and a stone hit that would glance off of anything else will break a Jeep windshield. They’ve always had this flaw,except the older CJ’s seemed to have more resistant windshields.

[Fish and Dear]

Never had an issue towing with a class A. We have a class C now and tow on a dolly. Still no issues. Friends tow four down with a variety of rigs and toads. None of them have anything added for protection. Never heard any of them complain about any road rash on the toad either.

[Jimi]

That sounds great, hope you and they never have a problem[emoji106]

[Badmanrick]

I just installed the Roadmaster Defender debris screen on my hitch.
Highly recommend.
Runs about 375.00 on Amazon. Easy to install.

[sduff]

Originally Posted by Fish and Dear

Never had an issue towing with a class A. We have a class C now and tow on a dolly. Still no issues. Friends tow four down with a variety of rigs and toads. None of them have anything added for protection. Never heard any of them complain about any road rash on the toad either.

I am glad I found this post. Just bought a FWD Sedan and a two dolly so we can tow behind our class C. Wife said I could get new rear shocks or rock guards...not both!

Based on what I have read on this post I think we will be good to go without rock/mud guards!!!