My hopes for towing a Patriot behind my motor home just went down the tubes. The Patriot was looking good until I got this news, now I have to look elsewhere for a replacement for my Wrangler.

A trailer for the Patriot would add more than a 1,000 pounds to it. The new Wranglers are over 4,000 pounds making them too heavy.

Below is Chryslers reply to my question: Can the Patriot be towed with four wheels down?

Thank you for contacting the Chrysler Group Customer Assistance Center
regarding the Jeep Patriot.

According to the owner's manual for this vehicle, while recreational
towing (behind an RV) all four wheels must be off the ground.

Do not flat tow this vehicle damage to the drivetrain will result

Thank you again for your email.

Sincerely,

Susanna
Senior Staff Representative
Chrysler Group Customer Assistance Center

This also means that if you have mechanical problems while "off roading", your buddies can not "pull" you out for any distance at all unless they happen to have a flat bed tow truck or a trailer along.

Then why put Tow Hooks on em if your buddy can't tow you out?

Doesnt matter to me anyway. Yoda tought me to levitate Jeeps. I practised on an Xwing for a while but space flight is soo boring compared to off roading.

Luke

This also means that if you have mechanical problems while "off roading", your buddies can not "pull" you out for any distance at all unless they happen to have a flat bed tow truck or a trailer along.

I think that this primarily means no towing at hwy speeds - especially for ove long distances. I doubt that towing you out of a stuck is going to be an issue.

Then why put Tow Hooks on em if your buddy can't tow you out?

Doesnt matter to me anyway. Yoda tought me to levitate Jeeps. I practised on an Xwing for a while but space flight is soo boring compared to off roading.

Luke

LOL!!! :D :D :D Thats awesome! I wish I could use Jedi mind-trick when I go to the dealership. 'You want to throw in the sun-roof.'

You still need/want tow hooks though. Because they work both ways.

As for recovery, it sounds like if the engine still runs put it in neutral and pull it out. That way you should be able to tow it a short distance with little or no damage to the CVT. If the engine doesn't run (roll over/water ingestion) then...

May the Force be with you!!!

I think that this primarily means no towing at hwy speeds -
especially for ove long distances. I doubt that towing you out of a stuck is going to be an issue.

From a mechanical standpoint, this sounds accurate to me.

At 65mph and covering highway distances, the drivetrain can
take major damage from the slightest bumping because of the
speed, friction, and time involved spent towing the Jeep.

However, being pulled at 10mph for 10-15 feet out of the mud
doesn't create the same threat, let alone an equal comparison
to the above written highway situation.

I could be wrong, though, Lord only knows what they've done to
the guts of these things recently with newer technology.

We towed a used VW Rabbit (manual) behind our motorhome with the two front wheels on a dolly....could you not do the same with a Patriot?

I think a Dolly would only be an option for the 4x2. But wouldnt work on a 4x4.

With a manual tranny, in neutral, this shouldn't be a problem, right?

The PTU and prop shaft are always spinning for an AWD Compass/Patriot/Caliber.

The AWD system works by the ECC (electronically coupled clutch) system that mounts between the prop shaft and the differential. I believe it never distributes more than 50% of the torque to the rear wheels. This torque transmittal varies per the signal sent to the ECC unit.

I wonder if towing is not recommended because the ECC is susceptable to damage. It would be turning the driveshaft, the power take-off unit, and some transmission internals - maybe even the CVT belt. That's a whole lotta stuff spinning during a tow.

Also, some transmissions need oiling to occur while it's internals are spinning, and perhaps this CVT doesn't receive proper lubrication unless the engine is running (input shaft is spinning).

With all that said, I do not know if it is any different for the manual transmission AWD. If the souce of concern is the ECC unit, then that would apply to the manual too.

(perhaps this leads to more questions than answers...)

OH NO!!!
My wife needs to replace her Cherokee (172,000 miles) and since the Liberty drivers seat is very uncomfortable to her we were hoping this would tow behind a motorhome. The 2007 Wrangler is too close to 4000 pounds to be comfortable for us to tow according to the motorhome people.

OH NO!!!
My wife needs to replace her Cherokee (172,000 miles) and since the Liberty drivers seat is very uncomfortable to her we were hoping this would tow behind a motorhome. The 2007 Wrangler is too close to 4000 pounds to be comfortable for us to tow according to the motorhome people.

How much can you tow behind your motorhome? I doubt the Liberty is any less than the Wrangler.

Can someone repeat here what the owners manuel in the glove compartment says about flat towing the Patriot? I was wondering if any configuration would be able to be towed behind the motorhome.

To me Jeep really missed a key market for the Patriot by not designing it to be flat towed like the old Cherokees could be.:(

You can probalby flat tow the 4x2 since there wouldn't be a electronic center diff

With a manual tranny, in neutral, this shouldn't be a problem, right?

I'm wondering about this as well. Being able to tow behind the camper is one of the things i love about my Cherokees. I figured the CVT would be out so i'm looking at the manual transmission at this time. I also don't like that i can't shift from AWD to 2wd. Both systems seem to be all the time AWD, so i'm thinking about <gasp> going with the 2wd version. Hopefully this one can be towed on all fours.

I called Jeep's 800 number - they stated you cannot flat tow a Patriot, FWD or 4X4. I don't understand this since you can flat tow an Escape Hybrid which also has a CVT transmission? I have a Jeep dealer looking into this.

Maybe there will be an after market fix for this. I have seen where there is an after market fix that allows the Liberty FWD to be flat towed?

The Patriot would be an ideal dinghy vehicle based on MSRP, weight and mpg.

You can flat tow a Liberty 4X4 but weight is about a 1,000 lbs higher, cost is higher and gets poor gas milage.

Looks like Jeep is going to leave the bulk of the Dinghy towing to Ford and GM vehicles.

I had my heart set on a Patriot but looks like I might have to settle for a Chev HHR.

I sent this to Jeep - New Vehicle Information - Jeep Brand Site Brief Description:
Flat Towing a Jeep Patriot FWD 4X2 behind motor home
Comments:
Can you flat tow (all 4 wheels on the ground) a Jeep Patriot FWD 4X2 Limited behind a motor home?

Received this from Jeep.com on line.

We are pleased to read about your interest in the 2007 Jeep Patriot.
Because this vehicle does not have a N (Neutral) position in the transfer case it can not be recreationally towed.

I sent this reply.

I understand you cannot recreationally tow the 4WD Jeep Patriot, but can you recreationally tow the FWD Jeep Patriot (it does not have a transfer case)?? It does have a Neutral position on the Shifter. You can flat tow a Ford Escape Hybrid which also has a CVT transmission like the Patriot.

Will post their reply when I receive it. It took 10 days the last time.

I stumbled upon a good article about towing tips in this month's (May) '4Wheel Drive & Sport Utility Magazine. To quote them:

"There is also the issue of disengaging your engine and drivetrain so they won't spin without lubrication. This can be achieved in many 4x4s by placing both the transfer-case shift lever and transmission shifter in Neutral. Some manual transmissions require the shift lever to be placed in gear to keep the mainshaft from spinning; however, if the shifter should accidentally fall into gear while towing, quite a bit of damage can occur. It's a good idea to use a bungee cord to secure the shifter in place to avoid such occurences. Vehicles with manual-locking hubs and full-floating rear axles with manual hubs can simply disengage the hubs so the wheels will spin freely. Many who flat-tow will also remove he driveshafts to completely disengage the drivetrain. You'll also need to leave the key in the ignition to unlock the steering wheel, or damage can occur. Some transfer cases, such as those used in full-time 4WD and AWD systems, cannot be flat-towed because they do not offer a true Neutral. Check with the vehicle manufacturer or consult your vehicle's owner's manual to find out if your vehicle is capable of being flat-towed before doing so."

So as far as I can tell the only way you could tow a Patriot would be to either disconnect the drive axles or to put on wheel hubs. Also, the FWD Patriot would have to have its front wheels off the ground for towing. Putting the transmission in Neutral only disconnects the transmission from the engine but it does not disconnect the transmission from the drivetrain so the tranny would still spin. Without the engine running there would not be adequate lubrication to the tranny.

I went in to look at the new Patriot and fell in love with it. A nice light weight 4 cyl vehical that I could get the family around with. I was ready to purchase one and then I found out from my dealer that this vehicle could not be towed 4-down. WoW I can't believe Jeep could make such a good looking car with out their transfer case.:(

Unless you have a "transfercase" with "N" for Neutral on it...you can't flat tow stock. You can get driveshaft disconnects for some vehciles but they are a pain. The Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee and Liberty all make great "toads" for towing behind motorhomes.

bumped up :D

Flat tow ok for my FWD 5 sp manual 08 Pat!. So say today Chrysler Customer Service email reply to my question: inconsistency with online owners' manuals for Caliber & Patriot.

The document error is noted. In the Caliber manual on page 296, Fwd 5 sp manual Cali can flat tow; but other drivetrains (CVT, AWD) cannot flat tow.

The Patriot manual on pages 319, 333 simply warn against flat tow. No drivetrain differentiation mentioned.

The Chrysler email reply clarified that my simple Riot can flat tow; They acknowleged that the documentation will be updated. Wonder if this also apply to 2007's?

BTW my dealer's service manager said that the Riot can be flat tow a few days ago. I'm lucky that my dealer rep & service manager are young down-to-earth guys. Maybe they are too young to have yet developed the art of doubletalk.

This seems odd. In reality, unless the AWD is engaged, you are "towing" the rear wheels in normal driving. I could understand the flat tow issue with a CVT, but a dolly should work without problems. With the key off the electronics or more specifically, a mis-read by the electronics should not happen. I wonder if CRX could be more specific about exactly why? Next time I go to my dealer I am going to ask the service manager. He's a good-old-boy and won't BS me. I've known him for years.

So...If I break down and need a tow in my 4x2 I should ask for a flatbed?

I'm pretty sure my manual says Manual Tranny is OK to flat tow.....I'll check it out and get back.

As the Jeep email said that my VIN# pat can flat tow. it implies that during an emergency, my FWD 5 sp could be towed with rear wheels on the ground. We'll know for sure when Jeep updates the documentation.

In the meantime, look at the Caliber online documentation which explains in more detail the towing protocols for various drivetrains. The current document for Patriot advise flatbed emergency towing PERIOD, no further details. stay tune for revision.

For folks thinking of buying MK for flat towing behind their RV, there's light at end of the tunnel (for FWD manual tranny).

This whole idea of not flat towing does sounds a little fishy to me. The Saturn Vue, a similiar size vehicle with AWD can be flat towed with the following restriction: Vehicle must be started and idled for a few minutes every 1,000 miles. I guess that cycles the fluid in the drive train. Maybe that's why we're seeing GM vehicles as tow'd vehicles these days...

Sign on the back of a Vue behind a motorhome: "I only go where I towed!"

Here you go, OK to flat tow manual tranny's
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/hitzy/towing.jpg

Good info Hitzy. I am still reluctant to ground tow, although they do say it is OK with the manual.

Also, it looks like you are getting ready for a summer BBQ with those burgers holding the page open. Really made me laugh !!

Good info Hitzy. I am still reluctant to ground tow, although they do say it is OK with the manual.

Also, it looks like you are getting ready for a summer BBQ with those burgers holding the page open. Really made me laugh !!

I need to get me a scanner.......:)

What about getting towed due to illegal parking or mechanical issues?

I have a 2010 4 x 2 Patriot with Front Wheel drive. It has a neutral position on the shifter. Can I tow it behind my Motorhome rear wheels down on a tow dolly?

If its just FWD, not AWD/4x4, there is NOTHING connecting the rear wheels to the drivetrain. If you were to use a dolly, front wheels up, I can see no reason at all why you couldnt do it. The issue is only with flat tows or with towing a 4x4.

That doesn't surprise me. When I roll backwards and do a full 90 degree turn in neutral with the engine off, (daily in my driveway) I Never feel any binding or tire slip.

However, will the steering wheel lock at some point without the key in the ignition and turned one notch?

FYI: 2009+ Jeep Patriot and Compass models with the 5-speed manual transmission CAN be flat towed behind a motorhome. :notworthy:

No additional maintenance (some other vehicles need starting every X hours/miles), no limits on speed, distance, or anything other than common sense. :banana:

http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/output.cfm?ID=213607

Not sure what the difference was for 2009. :confused: Either way MK's have made the 2009 Model Year list for vehicles approved for towing. :Racing:

Think about this..... If the car is not turned on, the 4x4 magnetic clutch can not be engaged.

The reason you cant tow an automatic is the torque converter is a big pump, pumping the oil all around the transmission. If the wheels are rolling and the pump isn't pumping there are some gears that are rotating without the correct amount of lubrication. The manual transmission oils itself by having the gears spin around.

You won't hurt the manual by having the wheels turn the transmission, but you will (may) damage the automatic. At slow speeds and only for a short distance (like getting un-stuck) the lubrication problem with the automatic shouldn't cause harm.

Just my thoughts on it.

If its just FWD, not AWD/4x4, there is NOTHING connecting the rear wheels to the drivetrain. If you were to use a dolly, front wheels up, I can see no reason at all why you couldnt do it. The issue is only with flat tows or with towing a 4x4.
Page 323 of the 2008 Patriot owners manual explains recreational towing(behind motorhome etc.)
NOTE: ONLY vehicles equipped with MANUAL TRANSAXELS may be recationally towed (flat towed) at any legal highway speed, for any distance, if the MANUAL TRANSAXEL is in NEUTRAL and the ignition is in the acc position.
No mention is made of being unable to tow AWD vehicles. However they do mention that two wheel dolly tows (rear wheels on ground) should never be used with manual or automatic transmission.

Page 323 of the 2008 Patriot owners manual explains recreational towing(behind motorhome etc.)
NOTE: ONLY vehicles equipped with MANUAL TRANSAXELS may be recationally towed (flat towed) at any legal highway speed, for any distance, if the MANUAL TRANSAXEL is in NEUTRAL and the ignition is in the acc position.
No mention is made of being unable to tow AWD vehicles. However they do mention that two wheel dolly tows (rear wheels on ground) should never be used with manual or automatic transmission.
That should be recreationally towed...

The 2010 owners manual says the same thing, which makes no sense to me???? FWD, 4 x 2, a neutral position on the shifter...........I see no reason it can't be towed rear wheels down on my tow dolly???

Can someone explain why??? The dealership is clueless!!

The 2010 owners manual says the same thing, which makes no sense to me???? FWD, 4 x 2, auto transmission with a neutral position on the shifter...........I see no reason it can't be towed rear wheels down on my tow dolly???

Can someone explain why??? The dealership is clueless!!

The 2010 owners manual says the same thing, which makes no sense to me???? FWD, 4 x 2, auto transmission with a neutral position on the shifter...........I see no reason it can't be towed rear wheels down on my tow dolly???

Can someone explain why??? The dealership is clueless!!

No. No one can explain that. If the rear axle is just an idler with no power, ther is no good reason it shouldn't be able to be towed with the front end on a dolly. If the ignition were on the ESP would freak out, but you weren't going to do that anyway.

I have a 2008 patriot front wheel drive. I was told by Jeep that the only way to tow the patriot (2008) was to put it on a flat bed. I am not happy, since we were told at the dealer (before we bought it) that it could be towed behind our motorhome with no problem.

This concerns me like Speedfreak above. If I break down and need a tow, should I make sure the front is elevated or the rear is elevated or should I make sure they send a flat bed?

So what`s the outcome? Can the manual tranny Pat be towed in neutral without damadge or not? :confused:

Would it not be better overall to pull it on a trailer with all four wheels off the ground? That way you don't take the chance of damaging the drivetrain and you are also not putting the additional wear and tear on your tires.

Did we ever determine if the manual transmission 4x4 Patriot can be flat towed in neutral?

I can't see why not. If you part on a hill with the ignition off it will roll away without any crunching or banging.

Did we ever determine if the manual transmission 4x4 Patriot can be flat towed in neutral?



Yeah, at least according to the 2010 manual you can:

" NOTE: Vehicles equipped with manual transmissions may be recreationally towed (flat towed) at any legal highway speed, for any distance, if the manual transmission is in NEUTRAL and the ignition key is in the ACC position."

Yeah, at least according to the 2010 manual you can:

" NOTE: Vehicles equipped with manual transmissions may be recreationally towed (flat towed) at any legal highway speed, for any distance, if the manual transmission is in NEUTRAL and the ignition key is in the ACC position."

I thought I had seen that somewhere. (of course "flat tow" gets everything but in the search function. Tragically humorous, "tow" said "no results found" LOL)

I had to ask because the 08 manual says "Manual or CVT do not flat tow. Damage will occur to the transaxle will result"

I get the feeling that it was just easier for Jeep to say no, rather than outline all the variables and what works and what won't.:mad:

This could be the only plus to the electronic owners manual. They can update it when they find errors.

Did we ever determine if the manual transmission 4x4 Patriot can be flat towed in neutral? See, now the 25 year deal Chrysler made with Ford and Gm is up. Now they can produce really good Jeeps and kill the competition completely.