2021 JEEP PATRIOT towing

Towing TipsBefore setting out on a trip, practice turning,
stopping and backing the trailer in an area away
from heavy traffic.
Manual Transmission — If Equipped
If using a manual transmission vehicle for trailer
towing, all starts must be in first gear to avoid
excessive clutch slippage.
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
The DRIVE range can be selected when towing.
However, if frequent shifting or changes in
engine speed occur while in DRIVE, use the
AutoStick shift control to manually select a
lower gear ratio.
NOTE:
Using a lower gear ratio while operating the
vehicle under heavy loading conditions, will
improve performance and extend transmis-
sion life by reducing excessive shifting and
heat buildup. This action will also provide
better engine braking.
If you REGULARLY tow a trailer for more than
45 minutes of continuous operation, then
change the transmission fluid and filter asspecified for"police, taxi, fleet, or frequent
trailer towing."Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance intervals.
AutoStick
•When using the AutoStick shift control, select
the highest gear that allows for adequate
performance and avoids frequent downshifts.
For example, choose"4"if the desired speed
can be maintained. Choose"3"or"2"if
needed to maintain the desired speed.
•To prevent excess heat generation, avoid
continuous driving at high RPM. Reduce
vehicle speed as necessary to avoid ex-
tended driving at high RPM. Return to a
higher gear or vehicle speed when grade and
road conditions allow.
Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped
•Do not use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
•When using the speed control, if you experi-
ence speed drops greater than 10 mph
(16 km/h), disengage until you can get back
to cruising speed.•Use speed control in flat terrain and with light
loads to maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission
overheating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, shift the
transmission into NEUTRAL and increase en-
gine idle speed.
Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
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RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
Towing Condition Wheels OFF the Ground Manual Transmission Automatic Transmission
Flat Tow None
•Transmission in NEUTRAL
•Key in ACC PositionNOT ALLOWED
Dolly TowFront FWD Models ONLY FWD Models ONLY
Rear NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
On Trailer All OK OK
NOTE:
•
When recreational towing your vehicle, al-
ways follow applicable state and provincial
laws. Contact state and provincial Highway
Safety offices for additional details.
•Vehicles equipped with manual transmis-
sions may be recreational 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.
CAUTION!
•DO NOT flat tow any vehicle equipped with
an automatic transmission. Damage to the
drivetrain will result. If these vehicles re-
quire towing, make sure all drive wheels
are OFF the ground.
•DO NOT dolly tow any 4WD vehicle. Inter-
nal damage to the transmission or transfer
case will occur if a dolly is used when
recreational towing.
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•GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .244
•TOW EYE USAGE . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245
•Front Tow Eye Installation.........................246
•Rear Tow Eye Installation.........................246
•TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE......................247•With Ignition Key..............................248
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7. Move the gear selector to the NEUTRAL
position.
8.
The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.
9. Reinstall the gear selector override access
cover.
TOW EYE USAGE
Your vehicle is equipped with a tow eye that can
be used to tow a disabled vehicle.
When using a tow eye be sure to follow the “Tow
Eye Usage Precautions” and the “Towing A
Disabled Vehicle” instructions in this section.Tow Eye Usage Precautions
NOTE:
•Ensure that the tow eye is properly seated
and secure in the mounting receptacle.
•The tow eye is recommended for use with
an approved tow bar and or rope.
•Do not use the tow eye to pull the vehicle
onto a flatbed truck.
•Do not use the tow eye to free a stuck
vehicle. Refer to “Freeing A Stuck Ve-
hicle” in this section for further
information.
WARNING!
Stand clear of vehicles when pulling with tow
eyes.
•Do not use a chain with a tow eye. Chains
may break, causing serious injury or
death.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not use a tow strap with a tow eye. Tow
straps may break or become disengaged,
causing serious injury or death.
•Failure to follow proper tow eye usage may
cause components to break resulting in
serious injury or death.
Tow Eye
Tow Eye Warning Label
245

CAUTION!
•
The tow eye must be used exclusively for
roadside assistance operations. Only use
the tow eye with an appropriate device in
accordance with the highway code (a rigid
bar or rope) to flat tow the vehicle for a short
distance to the nearest service location.
•Tow eyes MUST NOT be used to tow
vehicles off the road or where there are
obstacles.
•In compliance with the above conditions,
towing with a tow eye must take place with
two vehicles (one towing, the other towed)
aligned as much as possible along the
same center line. Damage to your vehicle
may occur if these guidelines are not fol-
lowed.
Front Tow Eye InstallationThe front tow eye receptacle is located on the
lower right side of the front fascia.
To install the tow eye, remove the rubber plug
and thread the tow eye into the receptacle.
Insert the flat end of the jack handle through the
eye and tighten, refer to “Jacking and Tire
Changing in Section 6 for information”. The tow
hook must be fully seated to the attaching
bracket through the lower front fascia as shown.
If the tow hook is not fully seated to the attach-
ing bracket, the vehicle should not be towed.Rear Tow Eye InstallationThe rear tow eye receptacle is located behind a
door, located on the left rear bumper fascia.
To install the tow eye, open the door using the
vehicle key or a small screwdriver, and thread
the tow eye into the receptacle.
Insert the flat end of the jack handle through the
eye and tighten, refer to “Jacking and Tire
Changing in Section 6 for information”. The tow
hook must be fully seated to the attaching
bracket through the lower front fascia as shown.
If the tow hook is not fully seated to the attach-
ing bracket, the vehicle should not be towed.
Front Tow EyeRear Tow Eye
246

TOWING A DISABLED
VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a
disabled vehicle using a commercial towing
service.
Towing ConditionWheels OFF the
GroundManual
Transmission6-Speed Automatic
(FWD Only)6-Speed Automatic
4WDCVT Automatic
Transmission
Flat Tow NONE
•Transmission in
NEUTRAL
•Key in ACC or
ON/RUN position
If transmission is
operable:
•Transmission in
NEUTRAL
•Key in ACC or
ON/RUN position
•25 mph (40 km/h)
maxspeed
•15 miles (24 km)
maxdistance
If transmission is
operable:
•Transmission in
NEUTRAL
•Key in ACC or
ON/RUN position
•25 mph (40 km/h)
maxspeed
•15 miles (24 km)
maxdistance
NOT ALLOWED
Wheel Lift or Dolly
To wRearNOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Front FWD ModelsONLY OK NOT ALLOWEDFWD ModelsONLY
FlatbedALL BEST METHOD BEST METHOD BEST METHOD BEST METHOD
247

With Ignition Key
Automatic Transmission
•Front Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicles can be
towed with the front wheels elevated, or on a
flatbed truck (all four wheelsOFFthe
ground).
•Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicles can be
towed on a flatbed truck (all four wheelsOFF
the ground).
If the transmission is operable, Front Wheel
Drive (FWD) and Four Wheel Drive (4WD)
vehicles, with the 6-speed automatic transmis-
sion only (NOTthe Continuously Variable auto-
matic transmission [CVT]), may be flat towed
(with all four wheels on the ground) under the
following conditions:
•The transmission must be in NEUTRAL.
•The key must be in the ACC or ON/RUN
position.
•The towing speed must not exceed 25 mph
(40 km/h).
•The towing distance must not exceed 15
miles (24 km).Front Wheel Drive (FWD) models (with 6-speed
automaticonly) may also be towed (under the
same limitations shown above) with the rear
wheels elevated.
CAUTION!
DO NOT flat tow any vehicle equipped with a
CVT automatic transmission. Damage to the
drivetrain will result. If these vehicles require
towing, make sure all drive wheels are OFF
the ground.
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above
requirements can cause severe transmission
and/or transfer case damage. Damage from
improper towing is not covered under the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty..
If the vehicle’s battery is discharged, refer to
“Gear Selector Override” in this section for
instructions on shifting the automatic transmis-
sion out of PARK for towing.Manual Transmission
•Front Wheel Drive (FWD) or Four-Wheel
Drive (4WD) vehicles can be flat towed (all
four wheels on the ground) with the transmis-
sion in NEUTRAL and the key in the ACC or
ON/RUN position.
•FWD vehicles can be towed with the front
wheels elevated.
•FWD or 4WD vehicles can be towed on a
flatbed truck (all wheelsOFFthe ground).
CAUTION!
•DO NOTflat tow any disabled vehicle if
condition is related to the clutch, transmis-
sion or driveline. Additional damage to the
drivetrain could result.
•
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above
requirements can cause severe engine,
transmission, or drivetrain damage. Damage
from improper towing is not covered under
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
248

All Transmissions
If you must use the accessories (wipers, de-
froster, etc.) while being towed, the key must be
in the ON/RUN position, not the ACC position.
Make certain the transmission remains in
NEUTRAL.
CAUTION!
•Do not use sling-type equipment when
towing. Vehicle damage may occur.
•When securing the vehicle to a flatbed
truck, do not attach to front or rear suspen-
sion components. Damage to your vehicle
may result from improper towing.Without The Ignition Key
Special care must be taken when the vehicle is
towed with the ignition in the LOCK/OFF posi-
tion. The only approved method of towing with-
out the ignition key is with a flatbed truck.
Proper towing equipment is necessary to pre-
vent damage to the vehicle.
249