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98 xj flat tow

4K views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  jslenk 
#1 ·
I want to flat tow my xj behind my rv and was wondering if they make wiring to make the stock lights work with my rv.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Yes they do, but there are different types and designs for wiring kits, normally these are universal or can be custom made.

I had one installed by an RV shop along with other towing equipment (in another vehicle). Then eventually used some of the pieces from the kit to install in a Jeep.

The kit was for a Roadmaster Tow Bar.

There are other brands usually from companies that make tow bars such as BlueOx.

etrailer has tow bar wiring kits for sale online, with basic information about the different types of wiring kits.

Search for tow bar lighting or tow bar wiring.



You can make your own if you know what your doing. Basically Trailer lighting wire, diodes and connectors. But the wiring can sometimes become a little complicated from vehicle to vehicle. Getting the correct grounding, connections, etc.

I added a voltage/current amplifier to mine, this one was installed to draw current from the tow vehicles battery, but can also be installed to run off the RVs battery. Sometimes the tail lights become dimmer than that of the OE lighting. (usually because of a voltage and amps. drop .. due from the length and size of the wiring from the towing vehicles battery to the rear of the tow vehicle.)

diodes are important and sometimes encased (wateproofed) in a plastic resin and attached to a heat sink.

tow veh wiring _____
veh. wiring ________|diode|----- taillight bulb.

Some kits use a diode terminal block which will use less room than trying to install individual diodes for each connection.

I found things like heat shrink tubing and water proofed connectors to be an advantage over some of the connectors included with some of the kits. Over time corrosion in the connections can become a problem.

You also need a cable that plugs in between the towing vehicle and towed vehicle. Sometimes these come with the tow bar but may need to be modified to fit your connectors.

I also added an additional charging circuit for the tow vehicles battery. This is advantageous if your running a portable or non-portable braking system in the tow vehicle that requires a constant 12 volts. (braking and lighting equipment that runs off the tow veh. batt. potentially drains the tow vehicles battery down while towing.)

Find a schematic of your RV trailer hitch lighting, some RVs include an additional charging and/or electric brake circuit.

A good portable braking system (e.g. Roadmaster even brake and others) works well (uses an inclinometer type of device to sense when your braking) ... while braking you now have an additional set of brakes, while on steep inclines, driving through traffic, mountain roads, etc.
 
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