Getting a Toad ready to be Towed.

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Got our 2011 Jeep Wrangler completely outfitted for flat towing this weekend.. I used the #10,000 Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar BX 7445 $659, there Base plate BX 1126 $349 and there complete set up kit BX88231 that has the 7 pin to 6 pin wiring, $249. Also installed a US Gear Unified Tow Brake system, after looking and researching I chose this setup.
First thing was to lay out everything, looks intimidating but once broke down in steps it really is not that bad. All of the stuff that goes in the Jeep is on the left, the stuff that goes on or in the Motor Home is on the right.
Got all the tools I’ll need all together and cleaned up the shop so we could stay organized.
Then in comes the victim, I mean patient.

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Started the job by removing the front doors for easier access, took off the belly pan, the hardest part was figuring out the way the pins come out, you have to unscrew them while holding the big plastic piece, but you cannot push on the pin as it starts to unscrew. Remove the 8 big nuts that hold the bumper on, an air ratchet is not needed but sure helps. I was lucky because the 2011 Jeep does not have the extra part that needs cutting off, some models do. Bolt up the bottom bolts, the nuts have a long wire welded on them that goes inside the frame rails, level the unit up and add the spacers on the top. Drill the 17/32 hole and install those bolts, that helps stabilize the unit. Oiling the bit helps keeping it cool and clears the shavings. Make sure to use Red Lock Tight on all bolts.

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After everything was torque down the safety cables are installed and locked down. next came some wiring, I removed the tail lights from the Jeep and drilled a 1” hole on the side, then installed the fitting with bulb and added some Marine Goop. The help showed up about this time and things started happening pretty fast so I did get side tracked on taking pictures.
But the tail lights where reinstalled and the wires where run under the frame all the way to the front of the Jeep. Ran the wiring for the brake system so we had an idea where things had to go.. The hardest part of the entire install was locating a hole in the firewall but one was found around the back under the glove box. Had to get on line once to locate what wires went were on the 6 pin plug. Then it was a matter of making all the connections. Added the bumper back on so we knew were we could or could not put the breakaway switch. Once that was added we cut the slots on the belly pan and put it back on. the final install of the tow bar, 6 pin plug and breakaway switch.

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Installed the solenoid on the fire wall up high on the passenger’s side, ran the cable over to the driver’s side and mounted the pulley according to the directions. Found the spot on the brake pedal that has the range of 1 ¼” and installed the bracket, sorry did not get a picture of it until it was complete and the carpet was reinstalled, and did not even get a good picture then. But the cable bracket just bolts to the brake.
Zip tied the vacuum pump under the hood and tee’ed into the main vacuum line and added the check valve with the arrow pointed to the motor. Last hookup was the power line directly on to the battery, I then got a Marine Battery Cut off switch, so that way the brake system will have power all the time but the Jeep will not when we are towing with the key switch left on.

Well that was basically it in a nutshell, we did test the unit by pulling the breakaway switch and everything worked as it should. Once I get my Motor Home back from the dealer I will hook it up and do a test tow.

Hope this helped others decide to take on a job like this knowing it can be done, it was not hard but for one person count on it taking a full weekend to complete. I suggest reading the install instructions word for word twice so you know what you’re dealing with.

If anyone wants some detailed picture let me know, question and comments welcome..

[zook]

Well towed the Jeep back from the dealer this past Saturday, first time every flat towing anything and i can tell you from hooking up the bars, wires, cables and break away switch it was a piece of cake. The dealer watched me and answered any questions I had..

Now all I have to do is find the plug under the dash so I can hook up the controller.