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Towing a camper lifted

CallMeJoe

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So...the weight limit no matter?

Can you screenshot where it says that in manual?

Not sure I understand why that would matter if the weight is well below max?
Page 352 of my manual. Lists frontal area 30 square feet Max, regardless of weight...
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KnG818

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Page 352 of my manual. Lists frontal area 30 square feet Max, regardless of weight...
I go read manual in a few.

"Frontal", meaning weight of trailers' front(closest to hitch)??

What does "frontal" mean?

Soooo...if I'm towing a 6'x15' utility trailer that weighs 1000lbs that's not recommended? Something not adding up.
 

CallMeJoe

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I go read manual in a few.

"Frontal", meaning weight of trailers' front(closest to hitch)??

What does "frontal" mean?

Soooo...if I'm towing a 6'x15' utility trailer that weighs 1000lbs that's not recommended? Something not adding up.
Frontal means how wide the trailer is by how tall it is. Length is not part of the equation. It refers to how big the size of hole you need to poke in the air as you go down the road. It has nothing to do with gross trailer weight. Just the size of the trailer that catches the wind.
 
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KnG818

KnG818

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Frontal means how wide the trailer is by how tall it is. Length is not part of the equation. It refers to how big the size of hole you need to poke in the air as you go down the road. It has nothing to do with gross trailer weight. Just the size of the trailer that catches the wind.
Ooohhh....so I'm right, that doesnt matter lol
 

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Ooohhh....so I'm right, that doesnt matter lol

Yes, weight matters. But the size of the object you are dragging down the road at 70 MPH also matters.

Think of it this way: there are two trailers that both weigh 2,000 lbs. The first one is a pop up trailer and the front section measures 7’ wide X 4’ high when you are pulling it down the road.

The second is a travel trailer that measures 7’ wide X 8’ high at the front cross section. Keep in mind: they both weigh the same. However, the front face of the travel trailer will have a lot more forces acting on your pull when you are going down the road, braking, etc. Its a sail that extends over the roofline of the vehicle. Just remember that you are towing with a relative light vehicle with light duty suspension that is designed to be the most flexible suspension in the industry and not designed to be a rigid, tow-friendly system.
 

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Yes, weight matters. But the size of the object you are dragging down the road at 70 MPH also matters.

Think of it this way: there are two trailers that both weigh 2,000 lbs. The first one is a pop up trailer and the front section measures 7’ wide X 4’ high when you are pulling it down the road.

The second is a travel trailer that measures 7’ wide X 8’ high at the front cross section. Keep in mind: they both weigh the same. However, the front face of the travel trailer will have a lot more forces acting on your pull when you are going down the road, braking, etc. Its a sail that extends over the roofline of the vehicle. Just remember that you are towing with a relative light vehicle with light duty suspension that is designed to be the most flexible suspension in the industry and not designed to be a rigid, tow-friendly system.
Trust me I wont be going 70mph towing 3000lbs on my lifted Rubicon..that's ridiculous. 55-60mph the most - nice and easy.

And I understand the "drag" concept very well(which is why you dont see many wranglers towing full box campers).

@CallMeJoe makes a valid point but it's a very minor equation figuring out if a Jeep can/cant tow a pop up camper @ 3000lbs weight.
 
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KnG818

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@CallMeJoe @Will

Forgive the stupid question...is our Jeeps pre-wired for electric brakes? I have the hitch with both plugs...can I just plug in the camper and the electric brakes will work or is this an additional unit I need to have installed?

Any input much appreciated!
 

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@CallMeJoe @Will

Forgive the stupid question...is our Jeeps pre-wired for electric brakes? I have the hitch with both plugs...can I just plug in the camper and the electric brakes will work or is this an additional unit I need to have installed?

Any input much appreciated!
No but it is prewired for a brake controller. Up under the drivers dash on the left side is the outlet/jack.

You will need a brake controller with a harness for your trailers brakes to function.
 
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KnG818

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No but it is prewired for a brake controller. Up under the drivers dash on the left side is the outlet/jack.
Nice!!! Thank you
 

Adventure.AS

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No but it is prewired for a brake controller. Up under the drivers dash on the left side is the outlet/jack.

You will need a brake controller with a harness for your trailers brakes to function.
The power wire is in the seven-pin plug with the Max Tow package, but as was mentioned you need a brake controller.

I use the Prodigy P3 brake controller. The company provided me with a Jeep compatible harness time test. It required a diode to prevent electrical feedback when you apply the brakes. I’m not sure they have put it on the market yet. Apparently the harness for the RAM truck has the diode, but two of the wires need to be switched (there are YouTube videos on the process.) This unit works great, but the controller itself is difficult to position in a good spot.

If I was doing it again, I would investigate the RedArc unit. There is a YouTube from a Jeeper who installed one.
 

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KnG818

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The power wire is in the seven-pin plug with the Max Tow package, but as was mentioned you need a brake controller.

I use the Prodigy P3 brake controller. The company provided me with a Jeep compatible harness time test. It required a diode to prevent electrical feedback when you apply the brakes. I’m not sure they have put it on the market yet. Apparently the harness for the RAM truck has the diode, but two of the wires need to be switched (there are YouTube videos on the process.) This unit works great, but the controller itself is difficult to position in a good spot.

If I was doing it again, I would investigate the RedArc unit. There is a YouTube from a Jeeper who installed one.
Nice, thanks bud
 
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KnG818

KnG818

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The power wire is in the seven-pin plug with the Max Tow package, but as was mentioned you need a brake controller.

I use the Prodigy P3 brake controller. The company provided me with a Jeep compatible harness time test. It required a diode to prevent electrical feedback when you apply the brakes. I’m not sure they have put it on the market yet. Apparently the harness for the RAM truck has the diode, but two of the wires need to be switched (there are YouTube videos on the process.) This unit works great, but the controller itself is difficult to position in a good spot.

If I was doing it again, I would investigate the RedArc unit. There is a YouTube from a Jeeper who installed one.
RedArc has one for the Gladiator, but not for Wrangler JL. I wonder if it's the same(interchangeable between Wrangler JL and Gladiator?)

See link below:

https://redarcelectronics.com/colle...ontrollers/jeep-cherokee-2014-2019-esi9198209
 

Adventure.AS

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RedArc has one for the Gladiator, but not for Wrangler JL. I wonder if it's the same(interchangeable between Wrangler JL and Gladiator?)

See link below:

https://redarcelectronics.com/colle...ontrollers/jeep-cherokee-2014-2019-esi9198209
I don't think there is any difference in the wiring of the JT vs JL. Here is a video of an install in the JT. He had to switch the wires in the harness. In the comments section of the video you will see a response from the designer from Australia.

 

CallMeJoe

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My JLUR didn't come with the tow package so I put that all on. Hitch is off my 2017 JKUS, wiring harness is from Mopar. The Mopar 7-way harness is a nice kit and worth the ching. It takes awhile to install. I am using a proportional brake controller that I installed.
winter.jpg
 

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I went with the Curt Spectrum controller, and am quite happy with it:
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