TheMike
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Mike
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2018
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 133
- Reaction score
- 262
- Location
- Anchorage, AK
- Vehicle(s)
- Red 2021 JLURD "The Big D"
- Build Thread
- Link
- Occupation
- Supervisor, Air Traffic Control. RETIRED at 51 baby!!!
- Thread starter
- #1
I always start out trying to do a quick and to the point post but once I get to typing things just flow. With that being said, sorry for the long post.
I've had 3 Jeeps. a new 2006 LJ Rubi (which I highly modified), a 2007 JKU (Which I installed a 6.1 STR Hemi), and now a JL Rubi with the 2.0 Turbo.
I've driven the Alaska Highway 4 times. I'm not new to Jeeps or that road. Only the road in the winter is a new experience.
I'll start off by saying I love this JL! Coming from a guy that had 330HP/331TQ at the wheels with my Hemi JK, saying the 2.0 Turbo is impressive should mean something.
Since I was moving to Alaska we decided to replace both cars with new Jeeps. My wife really liked the Cherokee so that's what we did. We ordered them both and picked both vehicles up Mid Oct.
We had decided to liquidate most everything and move up with just stuff we wanted to keep. Our chosen method to move was with trailers and haul ourselves. With a kid still in school we decided I would move up to Alaska just prior to Christmas and then the family would join after school let out late May. So.....two seperate trips, two new Jeeps, and therefore we needed two trailers.
We decided on two 6x12 Aluma, all aluminum, enclosed trailers. Both could be resold in Alaska for what we paid for them in the states so it was a win win for us. So we shopped and found them in Minnesota. Cost to ship about the same to go get them so off to Minnesota we go (for a little road trip and to see how the Jeeps pulled them).
The unloaded rigs:
The trailer and my JL both have a 3500lb towing rating (The Cherokee has a 4500). I knew I was going to be at that or worse so I added brakes to the trailer as well as putting on D Rated trailer tires (they came with C rated). I was a little concerned about driving the Alaska Highway in the winter and having a problem. I also added airbags to the rear springs in the JL. Between all that stuff I felt ready to load and go.
I loaded the trailer and holy cow. The Jeep squated! Oh yeah....air bags. Adding 45lbs in them almost leveled the Jeep. What I was now concerned about was the trailer axle. That baby was definitely stressing as almost all the torsion axle movement was taken up just sitting there. Meaning it too was squatting.
I hauled the loaded trailer to a local truck stop and had everything weighed. Get this folks......
Trailer Axle weight: 4000
Toung weight: 600
Total trailer weight 4600lbs!!!!
Between the trailer and the Jeep my entire setup weighed 10,500lbs. That's included full fuel and myself with some extra stuff in the Jeep to simulate crap I had yet to load for the trip.
Boy was I a little concerned. There wasn't really anything I could remove to lighten the load. Weather was to be below freezing and at some points way below zero. Having a breakdown on this trip could prove to be dangerous.
On Dec 7 I headed from my old home outside of Denver to my new home in Anchorage. When I left Denver I had right at 3000 miles on the JL. Perfect miles including some very rough and difficult wheeling! A Google map of the plan.
You can see in the next pic how the air bags helped immensely to level the JL out!
What I wanted to report was more of the JL's towing capacity and how the rating is truly more of a "guideline". As stated, the Jeep has a 3500 tow rating here in the states with a Class II hitch. I exceeded both ratings.
Oh, forgot one thing....I bought a 2nd set of duplicate rims and planned to add studded snow tires to the setup at a friends place in Saskatoon Canada (1/3 of the way up). Another concern I had was the winter road conditions. That meant I was going to add an additional 250 lbs of tires to the setup as the rims were already in the trailer. The added meat....
In the end, the trip was completely uneventful. Both the trailer and Jeep were flawless. The Jeep got an average of 14.5 MPG over the entire 3266 miles. I don't know what my average speed was but I purposely kept it always under 65. I did go faster a few times to see how it rode and did but the fuel economy went into the toilet.
THE ACTUAL TRIP! TRACK AND LIVE DATA (at the time)
On hills I saw instant MPG as low at 2! TWO!! That turbo just kept whatever speed I had selected no matter the grade. I credit that also to that 8 speed AT! Pulling 4850 lbs after the original tires and rims were put in the trailer didn't eve stress the thing out.
Now, I will say that there are concerns with towing with this engine. I've read engine temperatures are one of them. I didn't have that concern (or see anything out off the ordinary) at all because of the season I was traveling. Trans temps were staying close to 200 degrees or under. Everything on this trip was normal. I don't know if I'd expect the same results say if I towed this in the heat of the summer.
Brrrr. It was cold one morning!
Saw as low of -27f at the Alaska border.
Saw buffalo on the side of the road
and Dall sheep IN THE ROAD!
Anywho.....it was an awesome trip. Awesome Jeep! And I'd have zero concern over towing 5000 lbs with proper equipment.
I've had 3 Jeeps. a new 2006 LJ Rubi (which I highly modified), a 2007 JKU (Which I installed a 6.1 STR Hemi), and now a JL Rubi with the 2.0 Turbo.
I've driven the Alaska Highway 4 times. I'm not new to Jeeps or that road. Only the road in the winter is a new experience.
I'll start off by saying I love this JL! Coming from a guy that had 330HP/331TQ at the wheels with my Hemi JK, saying the 2.0 Turbo is impressive should mean something.
Since I was moving to Alaska we decided to replace both cars with new Jeeps. My wife really liked the Cherokee so that's what we did. We ordered them both and picked both vehicles up Mid Oct.
We had decided to liquidate most everything and move up with just stuff we wanted to keep. Our chosen method to move was with trailers and haul ourselves. With a kid still in school we decided I would move up to Alaska just prior to Christmas and then the family would join after school let out late May. So.....two seperate trips, two new Jeeps, and therefore we needed two trailers.
We decided on two 6x12 Aluma, all aluminum, enclosed trailers. Both could be resold in Alaska for what we paid for them in the states so it was a win win for us. So we shopped and found them in Minnesota. Cost to ship about the same to go get them so off to Minnesota we go (for a little road trip and to see how the Jeeps pulled them).
The unloaded rigs:
The trailer and my JL both have a 3500lb towing rating (The Cherokee has a 4500). I knew I was going to be at that or worse so I added brakes to the trailer as well as putting on D Rated trailer tires (they came with C rated). I was a little concerned about driving the Alaska Highway in the winter and having a problem. I also added airbags to the rear springs in the JL. Between all that stuff I felt ready to load and go.
I loaded the trailer and holy cow. The Jeep squated! Oh yeah....air bags. Adding 45lbs in them almost leveled the Jeep. What I was now concerned about was the trailer axle. That baby was definitely stressing as almost all the torsion axle movement was taken up just sitting there. Meaning it too was squatting.
I hauled the loaded trailer to a local truck stop and had everything weighed. Get this folks......
Trailer Axle weight: 4000
Toung weight: 600
Total trailer weight 4600lbs!!!!
Between the trailer and the Jeep my entire setup weighed 10,500lbs. That's included full fuel and myself with some extra stuff in the Jeep to simulate crap I had yet to load for the trip.
Boy was I a little concerned. There wasn't really anything I could remove to lighten the load. Weather was to be below freezing and at some points way below zero. Having a breakdown on this trip could prove to be dangerous.
On Dec 7 I headed from my old home outside of Denver to my new home in Anchorage. When I left Denver I had right at 3000 miles on the JL. Perfect miles including some very rough and difficult wheeling! A Google map of the plan.
You can see in the next pic how the air bags helped immensely to level the JL out!
What I wanted to report was more of the JL's towing capacity and how the rating is truly more of a "guideline". As stated, the Jeep has a 3500 tow rating here in the states with a Class II hitch. I exceeded both ratings.
Oh, forgot one thing....I bought a 2nd set of duplicate rims and planned to add studded snow tires to the setup at a friends place in Saskatoon Canada (1/3 of the way up). Another concern I had was the winter road conditions. That meant I was going to add an additional 250 lbs of tires to the setup as the rims were already in the trailer. The added meat....
In the end, the trip was completely uneventful. Both the trailer and Jeep were flawless. The Jeep got an average of 14.5 MPG over the entire 3266 miles. I don't know what my average speed was but I purposely kept it always under 65. I did go faster a few times to see how it rode and did but the fuel economy went into the toilet.
THE ACTUAL TRIP! TRACK AND LIVE DATA (at the time)
On hills I saw instant MPG as low at 2! TWO!! That turbo just kept whatever speed I had selected no matter the grade. I credit that also to that 8 speed AT! Pulling 4850 lbs after the original tires and rims were put in the trailer didn't eve stress the thing out.
Now, I will say that there are concerns with towing with this engine. I've read engine temperatures are one of them. I didn't have that concern (or see anything out off the ordinary) at all because of the season I was traveling. Trans temps were staying close to 200 degrees or under. Everything on this trip was normal. I don't know if I'd expect the same results say if I towed this in the heat of the summer.
Brrrr. It was cold one morning!
Saw as low of -27f at the Alaska border.
Saw buffalo on the side of the road
and Dall sheep IN THE ROAD!
Anywho.....it was an awesome trip. Awesome Jeep! And I'd have zero concern over towing 5000 lbs with proper equipment.
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Last edited:
In management and been doing this for 31 years now but does that help me???? Noooooooo
