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Old 09-03-2013, 11:46 PM   #1
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2013/14 Jeep Patriot 4wd flat towable?

After consulting the motorhome.com Dinghy Towing Guide 2013, we headed out to find a 4wd Jeep Patriot to replace our current 1995 Geo Tracker toad. We looked at several dealerships and asked each salesman whether the vehicle could be towed 4 down... and got different responses from each. The owners manual does not say that it can be towed beyond short rescue situations. When we finally decided to lock into a purchase, the sales rep called the factory rep and reported that the 4wd Patriot definitely can NOT be towed four down So... back to the drawing board.
We have also looked at the Subaru Crosstrek and the same concerns came up.

We want a comfortable, close to 30 mpg, 4wd or AWD with decent clearance that is flat towable. Any other suggestions??
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Old 09-04-2013, 09:10 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cllecr View Post
After consulting the motorhome.com Dinghy Towing Guide 2013, we headed out to find a 4wd Jeep Patriot to replace our current 1995 Geo Tracker toad. We looked at several dealerships and asked each salesman whether the vehicle could be towed 4 down... and got different responses from each. The owners manual does not say that it can be towed beyond short rescue situations. When we finally decided to lock into a purchase, the sales rep called the factory rep and reported that the 4wd Patriot definitely can NOT be towed four down So... back to the drawing board.
We have also looked at the Subaru Crosstrek and the same concerns came up.

We want a comfortable, close to 30 mpg, 4wd or AWD with decent clearance that is flat towable. Any other suggestions??
We've been looking around,too. Most vehicles that you can shift the transfer case into neutral are towable. The new Cherokee that is coming out, with the selectable transfer case is towable.
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Old 09-05-2013, 06:17 AM   #3
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We tow a 2012 4-door Jeep Wrangler 4-flat down behind our 3170DS. It is extremely easy to tow. We get 23mpg, but a friend of mine installed a cold air induction kit on the wrangler which bumped their mpg up to 25-26.

The sad news, the motorhome mpg is only 8 when towing...Gotta pay the price somewhere. Good Luck!
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Old 09-09-2013, 01:31 PM   #4
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We flat towed our 2005 Jeep Liberty for many years without issues. Transfer case to "Netural" and AT to "Park". Only cost us about a 0.5 mpg with our old Pace Arrow DP, Cummings 8.3 L.

Good luck with your search.

Have a good day.

Dave
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Old 04-09-2014, 09:55 PM   #5
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When towing the 4 door jeep behind the 3170, do you use an auxiliary brake? What is the gear sequence to towing the automatic jeep wrangler? I want to do this, but it makes me nervous. Thanks
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Old 04-10-2014, 12:21 PM   #6
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Flat towing a Jeeg wrangler is extremely easy. I use a Blue ox Alpha tow bar with the Blue Ox Patriot brake system placed on the drivers floor if the jeep.

There is little difference between an automatic or manual, simply shift the transfer case (4x4 shifter) into neutral and put the jeep transmission in Park. Your jeep owners manual will explain the process in detail for flat-towing behind an Motorhome.

If your Jeep is 2011 or newer (I believe it started in 2011, mine is 2012), they no longer have steering wheel locks, so you don't need to tow with the Key in the "on" position.
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