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Old 06-15-2015, 12:29 AM   #21
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Big dog 1 take a look at Tomken machine front bumper and tow bar. I've been towing YJ's, TJ's and JK's around with their set up all over the USA with no problems or issues ever. Made in Colorado. Just google Tomken machine.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry
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Old 06-15-2015, 12:30 AM   #22
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Oops, wanted to add that I've used Tomken machine front bumpers and tow bars for over 20yrs now.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry
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Old 06-19-2015, 05:04 PM   #23
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Originally Posted by wayne and sherry View Post
Big Dog 1 pick up a Jeep Wrangler for flat towing. Just put the transfer case in neutral and transmission (auto) in park and your ready for towing. Nice thing is when you place the transfer case in neutral, it automatically unlocks the steering wheel. If the Wrangler is a stick shift, then just place the transmission in gear.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry
I'm wondering... (never towed a jeep) why do you put the manual tranny in gear and not neutral? I get the part about the transfer case being in neutral but not sure why the tranny needs to be in gear?
I just bought a 2015 FR3 30DS and plan on towing my 95 YJ 5-speed...
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Old 06-19-2015, 06:29 PM   #24
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I'm wondering... (never towed a jeep) why do you put the manual tranny in gear and not neutral? I get the part about the transfer case being in neutral but not sure why the tranny needs to be in gear?
I just bought a 2015 FR3 30DS and plan on towing my 95 YJ 5-speed...
This is a good question. I just went through this exercise today and couldn't get a straight answer from either the jeep dealer service department or our local truck accessories and jeep shop. I just bought a used 2002 TJ to tow behind our new 30DS and had the blue ox tow system installed. Mine is a manual shift too so I wanted to know why it has to be in gear after the transfer case is placed in neutral. The dealer just finally told me to follow the manual, which says to shift it into gear but they didn't know why either. The Jeep shop told me it didn't make any difference whether it's in gear or neutral with a 5 speed and they set these things up all the time. So I left it in neutral and towed it home. Let me know if you ever find out...just curious. It drives fine.
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Old 06-19-2015, 06:53 PM   #25
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I've been towing jeeps mostly my whole life. The reason to place the manual transmission in gear is so that nothing is turning in the transmission while going down the road. Even though the transfer case in in neutral while towing, the transmission can still turn and a slow speed and there for components would be turning with out any transmission oil, or turning dry. Auto transmissions are to be placed in park for this same reason.
I hope this is helpful.
Wayne.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry
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Old 06-19-2015, 09:23 PM   #26
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Originally Posted by wayne and sherry View Post
I've been towing jeeps mostly my whole life. The reason to place the manual transmission in gear is so that nothing is turning in the transmission while going down the road. Even though the transfer case in in neutral while towing, the transmission can still turn and a slow speed and there for components would be turning with out any transmission oil, or turning dry. Auto transmissions are to be placed in park for this same reason.
I hope this is helpful.
Wayne.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry
Well that makes sense... I thought that might be the reason... How foes your FR3 pull with the jeep back there?
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Old 06-19-2015, 10:50 PM   #27
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I haven't flat towed a jeep behind JeNNY yet though I do have my 2013 JK set up to flat tow, I've only pulled my 2000 TJ so far and it rides on a car trailer. I've flat towed a 92YJ, 2003 TJ, 2010 Unlimited Rubicon be for behind other class A motorhomes and they tow just fine. All Jeeps were towed with Steering unlocked (the newer JK's once you place the transfer case in Neutral the steering auto unlocks) transfer case in neutral, and auto transmission in park / manual transmission in gear (it don't matter what gear, I just placed my manual transmissions in 1st gear).
I've always used Tomken Machine bumpers and tow bars and have never had any problems. Tomken Machine is in Colorado, you can google them.


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry
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Old 06-23-2015, 02:46 PM   #28
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Jeep Wrangler

I flat tow my 2012 Jeep Wrangler Freedom. I installed Metal Cloak Frame Mount Bumpers and use a Blue Ox Tow Bar with the attachment that I ordered from Metal Cloak. It tows great and the front/rear bumpers look nice too. I went with full width bumpers front and rear to protect the fenders, but they have shorter options as well.

Mine is an automatic and I tow according to Jeep instructions. Jeep iPhone app has good reminders. Start Jeep, put transmission in Neutral, then put transfer case in neutral. Then put Jeep in drive and reverse to confirm the tranny is not engaged. Return to neutral, kill engine then place in park. Lock the doors, put the key in your pocket and start rolling!

Yes, it sounds weird towing in park and made me nervous the first time. I think I stopped twice before I left the my street too make sure I wasn't dragging it and the steering wheel didn't lock...

I barely notice it back there behind my previous Class C (Ford V-10) or behind tour new FR3. Of course I tow the boat more often than the Jeep!

Craig Thomas
US Air Force-Retired
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Old 06-23-2015, 04:17 PM   #29
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Good advice from experienced jeep people. I appreciate it and just bought a 2002 Wrangler to tow. I had it set up with the blue ox tow system which works really well. This is a first for me. Doesn't seem to hard to do but setting it in gear after shifting the transfer case into neutral will take some getting used to.

I too am an Air Force Vet, six years 1970 - 1976

This is our first motor home. We traded in a 2014 Stealth Toy Hauler for it and have yet to venture out with it. I enjoy reading the forum and learning as we go.

thank you for your service gentlemen and thank you for contributing the benefit of your rv experiences in this forum.
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Old 06-24-2015, 05:12 AM   #30
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Go postal that is one nice looking Jeep (OlllllllO)!


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry
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Old 06-24-2015, 05:12 AM   #31
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Big Dog 1 you are welcome and thanks for your service bro!!


JeNNY (2015 FR3 / 30DS)
2000 Jeep TJ Moab Rock Crawler
2013 Jeep JK
USS Seattle (AOE-3) 84-88 Wayne
US Army 06-15 Sherry
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Old 06-24-2015, 05:55 AM   #32
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Jeep

Wayne and Sherry,

Same to you, times two!

Craig
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Old 07-15-2018, 01:32 AM   #33
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I tow a Jeep trailhawk...love the Jeep but double the weight of my previous tow ...a Hyundai Accent with transmission pump for the auto transmission
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Old 07-16-2018, 02:11 PM   #34
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It can tow any towable .. get what you want
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Old 12-02-2018, 09:08 AM   #35
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What is the best car to flat tow with a 30ft FR3?
thread up date just incase someone is looking. I tow one of 2 vehicles with a 30ds with no issues. 2018 4dr jeep and a 2008 2dr jeep. I also chose the Ready Brute elite tow bar because of its simple built in braking system that i can use on both jeeps with no electronics to go bad or drain batteries. the 4dr is stock and i used the Currie base plate with blue ox clevises.(looks like a skid plate and simple to hook up) on the 2dr i have a smitty built XRC offload bumper with 7/8 D-rings and ready brute will custom make your clevises for $100. i just change the clevises for the jeep I'm towing. hope this helps
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Old 12-10-2018, 09:20 PM   #36
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Are we on Jeep Wrangler x3? I’ve posted this before, but it’s great. I have a 2011 2D. I have an offroad vehicle for the mountains and desert, tops off at the beach, it can go anywhere. Full disclosure, fuel mileage is not the best but if you’re worried about that maybe a motorhome was a bad idea 🤣 But seriously, it’s easy toad, you can hardly tell it’s back there.

Antone
2015 FR3 30DS
2011 Jeep Wrangler 2D[ATTACH]192914
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