In the instructions for the Mopar towbar for a new Jeep Wrangler (JK) it says that towing with a pickup truck or van is not recommended because this setup is inheriently unstable.  Does anyone have any comments about this?

My tow vechicle would be a 2001 Ford F250 Super Duty, extended cab with a 8' box with a pickup camper on the back (that weights about 1800 lbs fully loaded).  Would this be a good tow vechicle?  

nothing to worry about due to the size of your tow rig. it's not gonna stop really well, drive accordingly.

put the t case in neutral and leave the auto in park, the manual in gear, and tow....  

flat towing is no problem...just like mud says, drive accordingly! I flat towed my 79 cherokee w/my 1/2 ton chevy @ 45-50mph w/the hazzards on so people know what im doing...I drove about 130 miles w/out problems, sure it was slow but we got it home safe and sound. and also have the steering column unlocked so the steer axle on the jeep turns when you turn...I was gassing up my pup the other day and some crazy came in the station flat towing a 65 mustang w/his steering locked and the front tires were screaming!!! so to save your tires unlock your column.  

why leave the trans in park but case in neutral? when i flat towed my blazer the trans and case were in neutral, and how could you flat tow a car with steerring locked????!!!! id worry more about breaking something in the steering rather than tires!!  

if you leave the auto/manual in neutral the output shaft will turn from the centrfugal force/ surface tension, what ever... of the transfer case, and can toast the bushing that isn't recieving any lubrication.   kinda like a bicycle tire in the wind..

gm trannies will survive a whole bunch of miles before they have a problem.. a torquflite or a c4-6 ford will die in 20 miles.

the locked steering was his point there, don't work well!  

your NOT supposed to flat tow w/the column locked for that reason. your just dragging the car around w/will quite possibly wreck your bearing,rag joint,blow out your tires or severely where them down.
Now, if you dont want to put your tranny in nuetral or t case in nuetral then pull the rear drive line and make sure the front hub are unlocked too.  

Personally I would put Jeep on a tow dolly if I planned to tow it far. Not because of tranny issues but because of torque the 4 wheel towing places on front end and frame as front is forced to turn. In a tow dolly it just goes along for the ride with no turning stresses.  

TRUE but when you have wide 35" tires on its quite hard to fit on a tow dolly...I thought about a dolly but didnt want to get it to the jeep and find out I have more work to do.  

I understand the issues related to the transmission and steering lock.  I’ve seen someone myself dragging their car behind a SUV with the steering locked at an angle.  I don’t think I would make that mistake after seeing it.  What I was really wondering about is the safety of my setup and how well my vehicle will handle.  I intend to take my jeep along on a lot of trips with my camper but I just don’t have room in my yard for a dolly or trailer.  

your ford is large enough for the job, saftey will depend on how your drive according your stopping ability.  

And always think ahead!...youll never know what idiot lurks around the corner! as I found that out the hard way, well almost,...I was coming to a light and some moron jumped right in frt of me at the same time the light turn red and ate up my space I had to stop so I had to jump hard on the brake and I felt the cherokee push me a little. SO when your flat towing THINK and expect the unexpected.  

keithpapa:
And always think ahead!...youll never know what idiot lurks around the corner! as I found that out the hard way, well almost,...I was coming to a light and some moron jumped right in frt of me at the same time the light turn red and ate up my space I had to stop so I had to jump hard on the brake and I felt the cherokee push me a little. SO when your flat towing THINK and expect the unexpected.

rember this foever.... just think about how a big truck may not stop when ya do it them....  

that is the truth!! I see it every time and Im just waiting for a TRUCK to use one of those idiots as a speed bump!