Tips for Towing Your Jeep Safely

Towing a Jeep is something that every Jeep enthusiast has had to do at some point. Some Jeep owners tow their Jeeps in order to get them to their off-roading destination while others tow them out of necessity after a breakdown has occurred. Whatever the reason behind your need to tow your Jeep we are going to offer you some helpful tips to keep the process safe.

The primary concern among Jeep owners who need to have their vehicle towed is avoiding damage during the process. When done improperly your Jeep may experience damage to costly parts and accessories, the more you know about the towing process the better equipped you will be when the time comes that your Jeep needs to be towed. The two towing methods we are going to discuss is flat towing and trailer towing.

Flat towing is a term used to describe towing your vehicle without using a trailer. The most common method of flat towing is to hook the front end of your Jeep to the vehicle being used to tow it. But for those of you who have never done this before we are going to offer some helpful tips to make the process easier for both you and the person towing your Jeep.

• Before flat towing your Jeep you should disconnect the rear driveshaft of your Jeep. If left engaged it can damage the gears.
• Make sure that all of your lug nuts are tight. This will help prevent a loose tire from falling off during the towing process.
• To prevent damage to your driveshaft you should wire it up underneath the Jeep and wrap duct tape around the U-joint to hold it in place.
• Before flat towing your Jeep you should also remove the front hubs. Once they are removed you can then use duct tape to protect them from the elements while you are towing.

Using a trailer to tow your Jeep is a much easier process than flat towing. To properly tow your Jeep using a trailer all you need to do is securely attach the trailer to your towing vehicle and then drive the Jeep up onto the trailer. Using a trailer will not require you to take any precautionary measures other than securing your Jeep to the trailer. Securing your Jeep to the trailer can be done using straps or chains; these will keep your Jeep from rocking or slipping while it is on the trailer. Many Jeep owners prefer this method of transporting their Jeeps because it is easier than flat towing and doesn't place any additional strain on your Jeep. Towing your Jeep can be stressful for any owner, but if you follow some of these tips the towing process can be much easier on you and your Jeep.

By Dee Marshall