Hi everyone, I’m a new-ish Jeep and motorhome owner. I need to set up my 2016 Wrangler Unlimited to flat tow behind my motorhome, but my front bumper does not have shackles. I’d be so appreciative of help and advice so that I select the right equipment and install correctly.

This is the tow equipment I have looked at:
https://www.extremeterrain.com/smitt...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

I don’t know where I can install the D-rings on my bumper. As you can see, I have some front end damage from a fender bender which has not been repaired yet. Any and all suggestions on how to set up for towing are appreciated. Thanks!

 

Please, please don't take this the wrong way, but you will be towing an expensive jeep, likely behind an expensive MH, and both your life and the lives of others on the road will all depend on your safety. You really need to budget a lot more than a couple hundred bucks for this. Either 1, a proper baseplate or a bumper you can pull directly from, a proper tow bar, and a proper supplemental brake. If you are going to stick with a factory bumper, look at a baseplate for a corresponding tow bar....something like a RoadMaster or BlueOx. Though I would be ok with an actual Smittybilt bumper, I would not tow via a simple 2" ball hitch like that, neither Smittybilt nor another brand. A typical towing set up is going to cost a couple grand. Lot of times you can buy towbars and supplemental brakes 2nd hand on Craigslist or FB. That is just my 2c.

I've towed my modified jeep many thousands of miles in the past. @rob_engineer and @caryt are currently tow'ers and might chime in. They may or may not have a differing opinion. Caryt has a more extreme set up and Rob tows via a baseplate and, I think, a BlueOx bar. I used BlueOx in the past, both with a baseplate on a different car, and directly from bumpers in my JKU, along with a Patriot Brake.

 

Thank you!
I’m here to learn from people who know more than I do, so I don’t take any offense at all!

 

I set my 2014 jk up last year for towing behind my Newmar. I went with a Currie baseplate. I got lucky and found a used one for $180. It was an easy install. I also think it looks great. Paired with roadmaster tow bars, the thing towslike a dream. I also used a Hopkins wiring harness so the RV takes over control of the headlights. To top it off, I have a classic brake buddy for my braking system. I found most of my components used and did all the work myself, so ended up around the $1200 mark. There is tons of helpful information on the www.iRV2.com forum.

 

I think back in the CJ days it was common to just see a typical 2" ball tow bar like that, but these days the towbars are more like what Rob has pictured. I've towed Honday Odyssey, a Jeep Commander, and my modified JKU. The first two with baseplates like Rob. Those name brand tow bars can be $700 - $1k, but can typically be had 2nd hand for ~$350, which is also what I had to sell a couple for previously. Maybe the MH demand due to covid has impacted that market though.

I'd 2nd IRV2.com as a great forum as well. I used that for years, both for motorhome support and towing support. Whatever you end up doing, stay safe out there. Welcome to JKF! We're here for your jeepin' needs in general.

 

Oh, and absolutely, 100% be sure you check the owners manual for the Jeep to learn how to properly put it into tow mode. Recently a guy made worldwide news for destroying his brand new Jeep by not setting the transmission and transfer case properly. The Jeep looked like someone had put a grenade inside the engine.

 

I learned a lot from this web site Tow Bars and Towing Accessories (etrailer.com) and others. Scroll down about 1/2 and you will find tow bar info. You can also click to see items and most have a video of the product. Also some have install videos. As stated before you will need--
1 A way to connect tow bar to Jeep (base plate or bumper with D ring brackets capable of handling all the stress of towing).
2 A braking system that operates the Jeep's brakes when the towing vehicle applies its brakes.
3 Some sort of system for lights on the rear of the Jeep. There are 3 types, A-- independent of the Jeep. B--Uses the Jeep's rear lights or C--A combo of both.

Searching the internet really helped me out and installed it all myself.