This is a fantastic video! We just purchased our 2020 Jayco Seneca and have been researching the Blue Ox and learning all we need to know to purchase one for our Jeep Wrangler - 2 Door. So all this information has been extremely useful and reassuring for us. We have been following your channel from the beginning of our research into purchasing our Seneca and have enjoyed watching all the places you are visiting in your Seneca. We especially appreciate the learning videos from your personal experience with your Seneca. Thank you.
We use Air Force One for our braking system. So it has a connection from the back of our RV and connects to the Jeep in the front. When the air brakes engage on our RV it engages the brakes on the Jeep so they are braking together. Best for safety and we don’t have to setup any braking system inside of the Jeep which makes it quicker to attach and detach the tow vehicle.
No, it doesn’t lock. It basically is loose and just moves as needed with the tires. So as we turn the RV, the tires adjust on the Jeep along with the steering wheel.
I have to ask. Since when do you have to turn the engine off to shift to Neutral. You should be able to do that when the engine is running unless they changed something in the last few years.
The manual is pretty clear that the engine must be turned off to change the drive train into neutral. It warns that engine damage can occur if still on. I think each model and year can differ so I highly recommend checking out your specific manual. Your year and model might be different.
THANK YOU!!! I rechecked my owners manual and it does say “Damage to the transmission may occur it the transmission is shifted into PARK with the transfer case in NEUTRAL (N) and the engine running. With the transfer case in NEUTRAL (N) ensure that the engine is OFF before shifting the transmission into PARK.” Thank you Brian and RV Homeschool for highlighting this for us all.
@@THExxFIREMAN I’m glad it was helpful. I hesitated to make this video because I know the different Jeeps have requirements and I don’t want anyone to damage their Jeep. But I also want people to see how easy it is to do. At least on the newer ones, it seems to need the engine off.
You should. The Air Force One braking system was the most expensive since it ties into the air brakes in the Seneca. And, we had to go to a Jayco approved place in order to not void our warranty on the Seneca braking.
One other thing I want to mention. I've seen others go through the hassle of putting the AirForce One unit it and attaching the tow bar, then they find out they can't flat tow their Jeep because it was a 2-wheel drive model. Always make sure you have a 4-down towable vehicle before you invest the money to modify it for towing.
Good point. We bought the Jeep as our intended tow vehicle so we knew it would tow with all four down. We have really loved it and the Air Force one braking works great.
Can’t back up. We have to detach if we need to back up so we work really hard to NOT get into those situations. Part of that means scouting roads ahead of time with Allstays app or Google earth. Sometimes we scout out roads with the Jeep. It takes us less than two minutes to detach. We have it down.
For $6,000 I would buy a nice trailer instead... I you drive a lot with the RV and flat towing the Jeep as video showed, the Jeep still make a lot of miles... tires, etc...
The only problem with a trailer is it greatly increases our length. We’ve stayed in national park campsites with a 35’ limit and been able to squeeze the rig in (and the Jeep can fit anywhere). A trailer is a whole other item we have to find parking for. A trailer would have let us do a higher lift though which would have been nice for some of the trails we tackle.
Is it cheaper to stay outside the national park vs the park itself? Not to mention trying to get a reservation sometimes! We went with a trailer for our Seneca… have an ESV Escalade and the coach pulls it like nothing.
This is a fantastic video! We just purchased our 2020 Jayco Seneca and have been researching the Blue Ox and learning all we need to know to purchase one for our Jeep Wrangler - 2 Door. So all this information has been extremely useful and reassuring for us. We have been following your channel from the beginning of our research into purchasing our Seneca and have enjoyed watching all the places you are visiting in your Seneca. We especially appreciate the learning videos from your personal experience with your Seneca. Thank you.
Janell Thank you. We are trying to add more videos about things we have fixed on the rig, modifications, etc. glad you enjoy.
Thanks. Good overview of what's involved.
Thanks so much this helped clarify the connections
You are welcome. Obviously all systems could be a little different but it should give you a general idea of the set-up.
Do you use a brake buddy. And if so how do you keep it on if you are using the cig lighter for power?
We use Air Force One for our braking system. So it has a connection from the back of our RV and connects to the Jeep in the front. When the air brakes engage on our RV it engages the brakes on the Jeep so they are braking together. Best for safety and we don’t have to setup any braking system inside of the Jeep which makes it quicker to attach and detach the tow vehicle.
What happens with your Jeep steering once you are all hooked up. Does it lock somehow?
No, it doesn’t lock. It basically is loose and just moves as needed with the tires. So as we turn the RV, the tires adjust on the Jeep along with the steering wheel.
I have to ask. Since when do you have to turn the engine off to shift to Neutral. You should be able to do that when the engine is running unless they changed something in the last few years.
The manual is pretty clear that the engine must be turned off to change the drive train into neutral. It warns that engine damage can occur if still on. I think each model and year can differ so I highly recommend checking out your specific manual. Your year and model might be different.
@@RVHomeschool Weird. I'll have to remember to check future purchases to make sure I know what's recommended.
THANK YOU!!!
I rechecked my owners manual and it does say “Damage to the transmission may occur it the transmission is shifted into PARK with the transfer case in NEUTRAL (N) and the engine running. With the transfer case in NEUTRAL (N) ensure that the engine is OFF before shifting the transmission into PARK.”
Thank you Brian and RV Homeschool for highlighting this for us all.
@@THExxFIREMAN I’m glad it was helpful. I hesitated to make this video because I know the different Jeeps have requirements and I don’t want anyone to damage their Jeep. But I also want people to see how easy it is to do. At least on the newer ones, it seems to need the engine off.
Wow, I did all that on my 2018 JK but used the brake buddy stealth for less than 2,200, but I installed all of myself. I need to open a shop
You should. The Air Force One braking system was the most expensive since it ties into the air brakes in the Seneca. And, we had to go to a Jayco approved place in order to not void our warranty on the Seneca braking.
One other thing I want to mention. I've seen others go through the hassle of putting the AirForce One unit it and attaching the tow bar, then they find out they can't flat tow their Jeep because it was a 2-wheel drive model. Always make sure you have a 4-down towable vehicle before you invest the money to modify it for towing.
Good point. We bought the Jeep as our intended tow vehicle so we knew it would tow with all four down. We have really loved it and the Air Force one braking works great.
Thank you so much! Very helpful :-)
You are welcome. I was terrified to do this wrong when we started. But now we can do it in under five minutes.
What do you do when needing to back up?
Can’t back up. We have to detach if we need to back up so we work really hard to NOT get into those situations. Part of that means scouting roads ahead of time with Allstays app or Google earth. Sometimes we scout out roads with the Jeep. It takes us less than two minutes to detach. We have it down.
Will this add miles to the odometer?
No it does not.
Only paid $3400 for my 12K trailer… less drama
For $6,000 I would buy a nice trailer instead... I you drive a lot with the RV and flat towing the Jeep as video showed, the Jeep still make a lot of miles... tires, etc...
The only problem with a trailer is it greatly increases our length. We’ve stayed in national park campsites with a 35’ limit and been able to squeeze the rig in (and the Jeep can fit anywhere). A trailer is a whole other item we have to find parking for. A trailer would have let us do a higher lift though which would have been nice for some of the trails we tackle.
Is it cheaper to stay outside the national park vs the park itself? Not to mention trying to get a reservation sometimes! We went with a trailer for our Seneca… have an ESV Escalade and the coach pulls it like nothing.