Best Parts to Flat Tow a Jeep Wrangler TJ with D-Ring Adapters  

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Towing your Jeep Wrangler TJ behind your motorhome requires a tow bar, a kit to connect the tow bar to the Jeep, a lighting solution, and a braking system. You also may need a way to maintain the Jeep's battery while towing and a high-low adapter to keep the towing setup level.

One of the best tow bars on the market is the Roadmaster Nighthawk All Terrain, part # RM-676. It's a non-binding tow bar that makes it easier to connect on unlevel ground. The arms are also self-aligning to make it easier to hook up, and it includes the necessary safety cables and power cord to connect your RV to the Jeep.

Since your Jeep has D-Rings on the front bumper I recommend using the Roadmaster D-Ring adapters to connect the Nighthawk to the Jeep. You need either part # RM-035 if your D-Rings are 3/4 inches thick or part # RM-035-1 if they're 1 inch thick. Just measure the width of the D-Rings on your bumper.

With the motorhome and Jeep connected the Nighthawk needs to be within 3 inches of level for safe flat towing. This often requires using a high-low adapter in the motorhome's hitch receiver to either raise or lower the tow bar. I've linked an article to help you determine if you need an adapter, and if so how much rise or drop will make everything level for you.

The wiring kit I recommend depends on the model year of your TJ. If yours is a 1997 model year I recommend the Roadmaster diode kit, part # RM-152. You need to splice into the Jeep's lighting circuits and run the wiring to the front of the vehicle. Here use the 6-way socket that's included with the Nighthawk to connect the wires to. This way the Nighthawk's wiring plugs right into the Jeep.

If your TJ is between 1998 and 2006 model years then use the Hopkins custom wiring, part # HM56202. The install is a lot easier becasue you plug this harness in behind both of the Jeep's tail lights and then run the wiring to the front. It has a 4-way connector already on it but I recommend cutting that off and using the 6-way from the Nighthawk here as well.

Since the connector that comes with the Nighthawk is a 6-way and the Jeep's lights only use 4 of its pins I recommend adding a charge line kit, part # RM-156-25, to the center pin of the 6-way. Connect the wire to the 6-way connector and run it to the Jeep's battery through the included circuit breaker. This maintains a charge on the Jeep's battery so it isn't drained while being towed.

To make it easier to tow everytime you're ready I recommend a braking system that installs in the Jeep and stays there. The Stay-IN-Play DUO, part # SM99251, fits out of the way inside the engine compartment and doesn't have to be setup each time you're towing. You also need to add the Roadmaster Brake-Lite relay, part # RM-88400, to keep the Jeep's lights from overrriding the motorhome's.

In addition to everything you need to tow your Jeep I also recommend tow bar cover, part # RM-055-3, to keep the Nighthawk protected when you're not using it. Keeping the tow bar covered helps protect it from the elements as well as road debris so it operates just like new whenever you need it.

expert reply by: Charles S

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