The Dirt Staff

With summer just around the corner, the season of road trips is fast approaching. What's a great way to take a road trip? In an RV, of course. You don't need to worry about carrying and setting up camping equipment, or booking hotels and motels along the way, as you literally take a house with you. RVs are great for road trips, and it's no surprise that they are an integral part of the great American outdoor life. However, if you're also a Jeeper, or Jeep-loving off-road enthusiast, you may want to take your Jeep to some trails and do some exploring as well. This means you need to take two vehicles along. While it's ostensible that you could drive one vehicle and ask your partner or friend to drive the other, it's not the ideal situation for a fun trip. Add to that you will be fueling two vehicles, which in this era of skyrocketing gas prices can really put a dent in your wallet. There is a solution, and that is known as flat towing. Let us take you through it.

What Is Flat Towing?

Flat towing is a way of towing a vehicle behind another vehicle in a way that all four wheels of the vehicle being towed are on the ground. Flat towing is intensely popular for those who want to take an off-roader behind an RV, and you may have noticed such on the interstates. All you need are the necessary accessories to flat-tow a Jeep, and you can check out our comprehensive range of towing accessories. The advantages of flat towing include:

• Fastest way to hitch and unhitch a vehicle for towing.
• No requirement for trailers or dollies, you can simply unhitch the vehicle being towed at the destination and drive it away.
• Significant space savings in your garage at home, as a flat tow kit is much easier to store than a trailer or dolly.

Jeeps That Can Be Flat Towed

You need to bear in mind that not all vehicles can safely be flat towed, and not all Jeep models are flat tow compatible. To safely flat tow a vehicle, it's important to ensure that the wheels are disconnected from the drivetrain in the manufacturer-approved way, as if they were to remain connected, severe drivetrain wear can result. Recently, there was a case of a brand-new Jeep being incorrectly flat-towed, which resulted in a wrecked engine. Let's take a look at which Jeep models are safe to flat tow, and remember to constantly check the manufacturer's website as new models are released, and they may or may not be able to be flat towed.

• The Jeep Compass range cannot be flat towed, as its drivetrain is not designed for this. You cannot dolly tow it either. The only safe way to tow a Jeep Compass is to place it on a trailer and ensure that all four wheels are on the trailer and thus not rotating when being towed.
• The same applies to the Jeep Renegade range. It also cannot be flat towed, and, if necessary, can only be trailer towed where all four wheels are on the trailer and not rotating.
• Certain variants of the Jeep Cherokee can be flat towed, depending on trim level and spec, unless your Jeep Cherokee has a single-speed transfer case. Models with a two-speed transfer case or Active Drive II, you can be flat-towed with a Mopar towing kit to ensure that the warranty is not voided. Otherwise, you must do a trailer tow, as with the Compass and Renegade.
• The Jeep Grand Cherokee can be flat towed unless it's an SRT variant or does not have 4-LO range on it. If it has 4-LO, you may flat tow it.
• Some Jeep Wrangler models may be flat towed as well. You should check the owner's manual or manufacturer's website to see if your trim level can be flat towed.
• All models of the Jeep Gladiator may be flat towed.

Process & Tips

The process for airing down your off-road tires isn't complex, as long as you've got the necessary tools that we've outlined in the previous section. Basically, you just need to follow the steps below.

• Determine the required pressure for your tires based on the surface you're going to tackle and what we've recommended above. If there's a pro in your group, go by what they say.
• Remove the dust cap from your tire valve, and connect the tire deflator.
• Gently release the pressure until the gauge indicates your desired pressure. Ensure that you remove the deflator from the valve quickly so that air does not escape while removing it.
• Once you've finished the trail and are ready to drive on the pavement again, don't forget to air your tires back up to their recommended pressures for tarmac driving.

Some tips to make the process easier include:

• Check your tire pressures before setting off from home, and ensure that they are set to the recommended pressures for road or tarmac driving. This simple step will ensure you catch any potential air leaks before setting off.
• Always ensure that you've stopped on firm and level ground before airing your tires down.
• When airing your tires back up, keep an eye on the air compressor, and ensure that it isn't overheating. Many cheaper air compressors can only operate for a few minutes at a time before needing to cool down.

Tires, Wheels, and Everything Off-Road At 4 Wheel Parts

Hit us up at 4 Wheel Parts for all your off-road requirements. No item is too big or small for us, as we deal with hundreds of brands, and carry thousands of high-quality products. You can either visit us at one of our 90+ physical stores located nationwide, or visit our website to browse the entire range, as well as make purchases from the comfort of your armchair. If you choose this avenue, you don't need to worry about timely delivery as we've got six distribution centers and a great logistics team to ensure that your order reaches your doorstep as quickly as possible, and in good condition.

If you're a newbie or seeking some advice, our friendly off-road experts are happy to offer help and support via our physical stores, or through the website. A price matching policy ensures that you always get the best prices from us, and we offer applicable warranties depending on each item. Choose 4 Wheel Parts for all your off-road requirements and you won't need anyone else - really.