The Jeep Wrangler is factory-approved for flat towing all four wheels down behind any motorhome. Every current JL Wrangler, including automatic, manual, and 4xe, has a two-speed transfer case with a true mechanical neutral that completely disconnects the driveshafts. No flatbed, no tow dolly, no drivetrain modifications required. Jeep officially documents the procedure in the owner's manual under "Recreational Towing." This guide walks through the verified step-by-step procedure, the five pieces of gear you need before your first hookup, special notes for the 4xe, confirmed speed and distance limits, and a free printable glovebox checklist.
In this guide
- Can you flat-tow a Jeep Wrangler four-down?
- What gear do you need?
- Step-by-step flat-tow procedure
- Flat-towing the Wrangler 4xe
- Speed and distance limits
- Dress up your toad
- Free glovebox checklist
- Frequently asked questions
Can you flat-tow a Jeep Wrangler four-down?
Yes. Jeep officially approves four-down flat towing for all JL Wrangler trims (Sport, Sahara, Rubicon, and 4xe) in the owner's manual. The reason every Wrangler qualifies comes down to the NV241 two-speed transfer case. Unlike most vehicles, which cannot be flat-towed because the driveshafts stay connected to the transmission, the Wrangler's transfer case has a true mechanical neutral position. In neutral, both driveshafts are fully disconnected, so the wheels can roll freely without spinning the engine or transmission internals. No lubrication is consumed and no mileage restrictions apply.
Older JK Wranglers (2007 to 2018) are also flat-towable. If you own a JK, verify the exact procedure in your owner's manual, as the key position and one or two steps differ between model years and between automatic and manual transmissions.
What gear do you need to flat-tow a Jeep Wrangler?
Five items are required before your first trip. Skipping any one of them either puts you outside the law in most states or puts the Wrangler's drivetrain at risk.
| Item | What it does | Common brands |
|---|---|---|
| Baseplate | Frame-mounted bracket on the Wrangler that accepts the tow bar connection | Blue Ox, Roadmaster |
| Tow bar | Links the motorhome hitch to the baseplate; JL Wrangler weighs 4,000 to 4,500 lbs | Roadmaster Falcon, Blue Ox Aventa |
| Safety cables | Required by law in most states; cross them under the tow bar | Usually included with tow bar |
| Tow lights | Mirrors the motorhome's brake and turn signals on the toad; required by law | T-One diode kit, magnetic light bar |
| Supplemental braking | Required in most states for vehicles over roughly 1,500 lbs; activates the Wrangler's own brakes when the motorhome brakes | SMI Stay-IN-Play DUO, Roadmaster Even Brake |
Sources: Quadratec, etrailer, Truck Camper Adventure.
How to flat-tow a Jeep Wrangler step by step
Follow this sequence every hookup, in order. The sequence matters: moving the transfer case out of order, or leaving the transmission in the wrong position, is how drivetrain damage happens. Verify the exact key position and any trim-specific differences against your owner's manual before the first tow.
- Stop on level ground and hold the brake. Park both the motorhome and the Wrangler on flat pavement. Hold the Wrangler's brake pedal firmly.
- Shift the transmission to Neutral. Automatic: move the shifter to N. Manual: press the clutch and put the gearbox in neutral.
- Turn the engine off. Do not skip this step. The transfer case must be moved with the engine off.
- Move the transfer case lever to N (Neutral). On the JL, the transfer case lever is the shorter of the two levers on the center console. Move it to the N position. Wiggle it slightly if needed to seat it fully.
- Verify with the roll test. Restart the engine. Shift to Reverse, release the brake for 5 seconds, and confirm the Wrangler does not roll. Shift to Drive and repeat. If either position causes movement, the transfer case is not fully seated in neutral. Stop and re-seat it before towing.
- Engine off; key to the correct accessory position. Turn off the engine. Leave the key in the accessory position that unlocks the steering column (check your owner's manual for the exact position). This allows the steering wheel to turn freely while towing and keeps running lights powered.
- Connect the tow bar, safety cables, and tow lights. Follow your tow bar manufacturer's hookup sequence. Confirm all pins are seated and safety cables are crossed under the bar.
- Activate supplemental braking per your unit's instructions.
- Walk around before you move. Confirm nothing is dragging, the toad is tracking straight behind the hitch, and the tow lights match the motorhome's signals.
Transfer case to neutral walkthrough for the JL Wrangler and Gladiator. Verify the exact key position and any trim-specific steps against your own owner's manual.
What is different when flat-towing the Jeep Wrangler 4xe?
The 4xe uses the same nine-step procedure above, but two things must be adjusted before you tow.
Lower your supplemental braking pressure significantly. The 4xe has an always-on electric brake booster that provides much more braking force than a conventional vacuum booster. Set your supplemental braking unit to roughly 5 to 15 PSI instead of the standard 65 to 75 PSI used on non-hybrid vehicles. Starting too high will either lock the 4xe's brakes mid-tow or accelerate brake wear considerably.
A charge line is mandatory on long tows. The 4xe's 12-volt battery drains faster in tow mode than a standard Wrangler because the hybrid system keeps drawing power with the engine off. Run a charge line from the motorhome's 12-volt outlet to the 4xe's auxiliary port to maintain battery voltage. Without it, a dead battery mid-trip can cause loss of power steering assistance on a rig that weighs over two tons.
Source: JLwranglerforums 4xe flat-towing thread; Jeep 2026 Wrangler 4xe FAQ.
How fast can you flat-tow a Jeep Wrangler?
Per Jeep's official guidance for the current JL Wrangler: 65 mph maximum, no mileage limit, when the vehicle is correctly set up for flat tow. Because the driveshafts are mechanically disconnected in transfer case neutral, no lubrication is being consumed and no mileage interval applies. A 500-mile interstate day is within spec and routine for RVers who tow Wranglers regularly.
One practical note on very long tows: the 4xe's battery drain is the only distance-related concern, and a charge line solves it. For standard Wranglers, the main consideration is keeping speed at or under 65 mph to stay within Jeep's guidance and to minimize stress on the tow bar connections.
Your Jeep is the toad every driver behind you is watching
When you are flat-towing, every car on the highway behind your motorhome has a direct line of sight to your Wrangler's rear end for hours at a time. The spare tire cover is the highest-visibility panel on the whole rig. RVers traditionally call their towed vehicle the "toad," and a lot of them like to mark it with a cover or decal that fits the trip, the campground crowd, or a name they have given the Jeep.
New to towing a Jeep behind your RV? Two guides are worth a read before you shop: our RV spare tire cover sizing guide for getting the fit right, and the top 10 spare tire cover designs for inspiration.
A classic for a reason. The Gadsden rattlesnake on the spare says everything about why you drive a Jeep. Fits every JL and JK Wrangler.
A flowing flag design that looks intentional, not like a sticker. Works on any color Wrangler and fits the whole rig's aesthetic.
RVers name their toads. Put that name on the hood in your font and color. Cut vinyl, outdoor-rated, no background panel.
Free flat-tow glovebox checklist
Download the one-page PDF below (or print this page), fold it to glovebox size, and keep it with your tow bar kit. Check it every hookup until the sequence is automatic.
Download the printable PDF checklist ↓
Jeep Decal Store
Flat-Tow Your Jeep Wrangler
General reference only. Verify each step against your owner's manual for your year and trim before towing.
- Stop on level ground. Hold the brake.
- Transmission to NEUTRAL.
- Engine OFF.
- Transfer case lever to N (Neutral).
- Restart engine. Roll test: Reverse 5 sec, then Drive 5 sec. Confirm zero movement.
- Engine off. Key to accessory position (steering unlocked, running lights on).
- Connect tow bar, cross safety cables, plug in tow lights.
- Activate supplemental braking unit.
- Walk around: nothing dragging, toad tracking straight, lights working.
Speed: 65 mph max. No mileage limit when correctly set up.
4xe only: Supplemental braking at 5-15 PSI. Run a charge line from the motorhome.
Never: use a tow dolly or wheel lift. Never shift to Park with the transfer case in N and the engine running.
Dress your toad before the next trip
Every car on the highway is looking at your Wrangler's spare. Make it worth the view with a cover or custom decal from Jeep Decal Store.
Shop Spare Tire Covers →Frequently asked questions
Does flat-towing a Jeep Wrangler add miles to the odometer?
No, not if the setup is correct. With the transfer case in neutral, the driveshafts are disconnected from the transmission, so the mechanical odometer input is not turning. Miles can creep onto the odometer only if the key is left in a position that powers the instrument cluster electronics. Leave the key in the correct accessory position per your owner's manual and the odometer will not change.
Can you flat-tow a Jeep Wrangler with an automatic transmission?
Yes. The two-speed transfer case with a true mechanical neutral makes every JL Wrangler, including all automatic trims, flat-towable. The transfer case neutral position disconnects the drivetrain regardless of whether the gearbox is automatic or manual. This is one of the main reasons the Wrangler consistently tops the toad vehicle lists published by RV magazines each year.
What happens if you forget to put the Jeep in transfer case neutral before towing?
If the transfer case is in 2H or 4H instead of neutral, the driveshafts remain connected to the transmission. Towing in that condition forces the transmission to turn without the engine running and without the transmission pump circulating fluid. Depending on distance and speed, this causes damage ranging from overheating to complete transmission failure. The roll test in Step 5 exists specifically to catch this before it happens.
Is there a speed limit when flat-towing a Jeep Wrangler?
Yes: 65 mph, per Jeep's official guidance for the JL Wrangler. There is no mileage or distance restriction when the vehicle is correctly in flat-tow mode. Towing above 65 mph is not prohibited by the drivetrain setup, but it puts additional stress on the baseplate and tow bar connections and is outside Jeep's documented guidance.
Can you flat-tow a Jeep Wrangler 4xe?
Yes, using the same transfer case neutral procedure as any other JL. Two differences apply: set your supplemental braking unit to 5 to 15 PSI (the always-on electric booster provides much more force than a standard vacuum booster), and run a 12-volt charge line from the motorhome to prevent battery drain over long tows. The 4xe is fully rated for flat towing with those two adjustments in place.
Do you need a supplemental braking system to flat-tow a Jeep Wrangler?
In most U.S. states, yes. Requirements vary by state and by the weight threshold that triggers the requirement, but the JL Wrangler's curb weight of 4,000 to 4,500 lbs puts it well above the typical 1,500-lb threshold. Check your state's DMV rules and any states you plan to drive through. Beyond the legal requirement, supplemental braking significantly reduces stopping distances for the combined motorhome-and-toad weight and reduces wear on the motorhome's brakes considerably.
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