Having seen a few other posts suggesting that the details needed are in the manual, but I could find no reference to flat towing a JK in mine.

I successfully flat towed my nearly 2100 miles with little trouble recently, by following the steps I use when flat towing my 97 TJ.

The only issue is the TJ provided a position in the ignition key that unlocked the wheel, but did not engage any power usage. I could not find a similar position on the JK, so I disconnected the battery to save it from being drained.

The only issue is, that to use the auxiliary braking system that I have, it requires power from the cig lighter.
Is there a position on the JK ignition that I may have missed or overlooked?

Also, since you can flat tow a jeep, what would be the technical reason for not using a tow dolly? After all, the rear wheels are rolling when flat towed, why not rolling the rear wheels on a tow dolly?

 

Not towing the JK on a dolly has to do with the transfer case. If the rear drive shaft spins while the front is held stationary, the manufacturer says the t-case will be damaged.


If the book you are looking at has no reference to flat towing, it's not the Owner's Manual.
Flat towing appears in all the owner's manuals I have read for the JK.

You can download one from the Jeep web site, on the Owner's Page.

http://www.jeep.com/en/owners/manuals/

 

If yours does not have a locking steering wheel, there is no need to have the key in it. I flat tow my 2010 JKU , transfer case in neutral, shifter in park. parking brake off, key in pocket. That simple. I use a Redi Brake system, no power needed.

 

I will try that.
I am using the brakebuddy, which is a power unit that sits in the dr floorboard, but requires a connection to cig lighter.

 

Do you have the locking steering wheel?

 

our 2012 has a HOT (always on) power plug IN the center console box (so still no need for a key).
Personally i'd hard wire that brakebuddy w/ a more positive connection - imo cigarette lighter/plugs can easily come loose (bouncing around etc).

we flat tow ours all the time w/out issue....iirc anything after 2010 does not have a steering wheel lock & there for does NOT require either a key in the ignition (used to keep the wheel lock unlocked) or the fuse pulled.

I also use the mopar wiring harness, which allows me to use the factory tail lights via my 7 pin standard trailer connection on our truck or coach....it doesnt take long to learn to dislike magnetic lights stuck on the back of the jeep !

there was a recent thread on flat towing where i provided some advice and pictures Here ---> https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-t...urance-256098/

 

I did look thru my manual, little book in the green kahki folder, (with the jeep logo), but apparently I suck at searching for data, didn't help that I was looking for "flat towing". I downloaded the manual, searched using towing, and found what I needed under "RV towing".
Which is also on page 376 of my very own manual.
Thanks.!

 

on the 09' there is no steering wheel lock. There should be 2 12v power outlets in the lower part of the radio console., the left one is keyed to the ignition the Rigjt one is always on.

Pat

 

it is a 09 JKU.....I will have to check.

 

You may have to turn the wheel past 180° to know for sure.

On my ''08, if I pull the key when the wheels are straight ahead, the steering wheel won't lock until it's rotated past 180°.