Boat trailer weight

[Duckee]

Does anyone know if using my v6 JLUS to just to launch and recover my 5K lb boat/trailer from the ramp would be ok since I am not moving it more than 200’? Or is the 3500 lb tow rating based upon the axel strength and it would bend from the weight?

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[jadmt]

You will be fine. Think of all those mb Willys jeeps from the 40’s at the marinas putting boats in and out. We used to use a 1975 Honda civic to launch boats.

 

[BMorgan]

Max tow capacity of 3500 lbs is about getting the weight moving without transmission damage and getting it stopped with the brakes you have. “Maximum combined vehicle weight”.

I imagine when launching a boat you care about being able to stop it and not dragged down the launch by an extra 1500 lbs…

You also need to know tongue weight. Max in the class 2 factory tow hitch is 350 lbs. Don’t rip off your tow hitch down (too much tongue weight) or backwards (too much tow weight).

Damaging your axles is about maximum gross rear axle weight and front axle weight. You can stay within max payload but overload an axle. This is easier, obviously with an 8’ box pickup than your jeep.

All of this but the tongue weight maximum is on your door jamb sticker.

 

[2nd 392]

Does anyone know if using my v6 JLUS to just to launch and recover my 5K lb boat/trailer from the ramp would be ok since I am not moving it more than 200’? Or is the 3500 lb tow rating based upon the axel strength and it would bend from the weight?

I wouldn’t worry about it, low range and just take it easy the whole 200’. The 3A has pulled 18 wheelers (unloaded) that far around the market where Dad’s truck service was .

 

[rk911]

Can you get away with pulling your boat & trailer out the water? Maybe. How many times? And when you do that with no apparent damage will you be encouraged to to the boat & trailer to a different lake?

Go see a hitch dealer and see what, if anything, can be modified on your chassis to increase your towimg capacity. BMorgan is correct about your brakes being sizes to safely stop when towimg 3500-lbs.

Consult a professional for advice.

 

[Duckee]

Thanks everyone for the speedy replies. Tongue weight is about 425.

 

[2nd 392]

Thanks everyone for the speedy replies. Tongue weight is about 425.

Going 200’ slowly in low range won’t overtax the trans or the brakes. Don’t jerk and the receiver will be fine, but do see about getting it checked and or upgraded to relieve your anxiety as needed.
Checking Euro ratings might relieve you too. I think they have a higher one around 5K, but not sure.

 

[BMorgan]

too much boat. Bro.

 

[Duckee]

too much boat. Bro.

 

[2nd 392]

too much boat. Bro.

He left it in neutral and got out ?! He wasn’t that far back with the engine out of the water when he got out, she wasn’t in the boat and it was still attached to the trailer before he backed up, WTF. … I was almost as stupid the One Time I asked my wife to help retrieve the boat with my manual PU. When I was attempting to attach the bar to the bow she lurched backwards. I had to jump for my life then swim for the boat shoved WAY out into the lake.

 

[BMorgan]

He left it in neutral and got out ?! He wasn’t that far back with the engine out of the water when he got out, WTF.

Getting out was the wrong move for sure.

What are his choices? Use a parking brake or drivetrain to hold it? On a wet boat ramp with the back deep underwater?

Nothing was going to hold that Jeep in place.

 

[2nd 392]

Getting out was the wrong move for sure.

What are his choices? Use a parking brake or drivetrain to hold it? On a wet boat ramp with the back deep underwater?

Nothing was going to hold that Jeep in place.

Unhook boat from trailer with driver in boat. Back just until the boat floats and it will slide off the trailer. Park vehicle, get in the boat at pier, or swim a little if no pier or sand beach. ….
If a manual bring someone who can drive a manual to help retrieve.

edit- I went into more detail after you saw the post you responded to.

 

[DNAer]

I have a Malibu that weighs about the same with the trailer and a pontoon boat that weighs more than that. Every year I put them in for spring and take them out in fall. It is about a mile from the launch to my cottage and have never had an issue.

 

[WXman]

These JLs are not 1-ton diesels for certain, but it's amusing to me how many people are scared to death to tow with them. It's as if guys think hooking a trailer onto a Wrangler will cause it to immediately burn to the ground. LMAO.

A boat/trailer combo that weighs 5,000 lbs. will be completely fine. I do recommend putting the Jeep into 4-wheel-drive to enhance control and traction since the ramps get wet (I do this with my full size pickups also). ALWAYS set the park brake AND park on the transmission before stepping out.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Does anyone know if using my v6 JLUS to just to launch and recover my 5K lb boat/trailer from the ramp would be ok since I am not moving it more than 200’? Or is the 3500 lb tow rating based upon the axel strength and it would bend from the weight?

I wouldn't necessarily take my advice, I know a lot of people gave me crap about it when I said it before, but I towed an 8,000 lb fully loaded with furniture trailer 4 hours to my brother's new home with 2/4-lane highways and stop and go traffic in August in Texas, and I didn't see any crazy engine/transmission temps, and other than taking forever to get up to speed, and braking distance being notably worse, I didn't have any issues, or have any lasting problems up till now.

I wouldn't necessarily want to drive across country with that much weight on the tongue, or uphill in Colorado, but here in flat old Texas, your biggest issue is the other drivers, not what your vehicle is capable of.

Also if you want to get technical, that weight is a safety rating, and realistically probably affected more by the quality of the steel hitch and whatever you have it mounted to then the axles and gears.

At the end of the day, if you got too much weight on there you're just going to get wheel spin, you'd have to really slam that pedal down and do some stupid shit to hurt the differential or the transmission.

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