Can I safely tow this??

[Zandcwhite]

My JT mojave has a 6k pound rating. Towed 8420lbs 600 miles without issue. No weight distribution hitch, no added trailer brake controller, 3.5" metalcloak springs and 37s. Even up a 4k for elevation gain in 20 miles it had no issues maintaining 65mph. American tow ratings are very limited by the required grade test in 90⁰plus heat. I'd be way more comfortable towing 4500lbs with the JLU than the WJ that was rated for it. Stronger axles, stronger brakes, better engine, real frame not unibody and a longer wheelbase. The new JLUs are even available with a 5k pound rating.

Sponsored

 

[bthomp]

i wouldn't... look at something like an Aliner..

That's a very cool trailer. I just read up on them a bit, may go look at one locally.

 

[bthomp]

A JLU doesn't have a shirt wheelbase. It's longer than a grand cherokee and most of those over the last 20 years have had a 5k pound tow rating. In Europe and Australia the JLUs have a 5k pound rating. You can argue legality, but there's nothing unsafe about towing 4-5k pounds with one.

I can't imagine towing anything that heavy with a 3.6L. Down hill perhaps, definitely not up any mountain passes.

 

[RudeJeepin]

Hi Guys,

I have a 2018 JLU 3.6 Wrangler. I am looking for a trailer that can tow comfortably no more than 300 miles round trip... I am currently looking at the Forest River Flagstaff E-Pro.
https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/flagstaff-e-pro/E19FBS/9711

If you have to ask, then the answer is probably no.

Well, darn it... Okay now to plan C... Motorhome and tow the Jeep.

Thanks for the input everyone...

That's where we're headed. I'd rather have a 10k pound motorhome in front of 5k pound Jeep vs 5k Jeep in front of 7k trailer. Probably end up with similar fuel economy either way.

 

[LazyJL]

A motorhome towing the Jeep has worked best for us, over the last 20 years, we have towed Jeeps almost 150,000 miles without problems.
If you crash towing over the manufacturer's limit, and a sharp lawyer has your trailer weighed, when found overweight you will lose big time. Check with your insurance agent and see what they have to say about this.

 

[YBABRAT]

My JT mojave has a 6k pound rating. Towed 8420lbs 600 miles without issue. No weight distribution hitch, no added trailer brake controller, 3.5" metalcloak springs and 37s. Even up a 4k for elevation gain in 20 miles it had no issues maintaining 65mph. American tow ratings are very limited by the required grade test in 90⁰plus heat. I'd be way more comfortable towing 4500lbs with the JLU than the WJ that was treated for it. Stronger axles, stronger brakes, better engine, real frame not unibody and a longer wheelbase. The new JLUs are even available with a 5k pound rating.

Wow howw did you get that awsome Loves light bar? Its way cool on your Mojave

 

[Valpo Jeep]

Well, darn it... Okay now to plan C... Motorhome and tow the Jeep.

Thanks for the input everyone...

 

[Zandcwhite]

A motorhome towing the Jeep has worked best for us, over the last 20 years, we have towed Jeeps almost 150,000 miles without problems.
If you crash towing over the manufacturer's limit, and a sharp lawyer has your trailer weighed, when found overweight you will lose big time. Check with your insurance agent and see what they have to say about this.

Your insurance covers both stupid and illegal. Being under or over weight would have 0 effect on liability. You're either at fault or not. Blow a stop sign and kill a bus full of nuns towing 5 pounds, you're at fault. Get hit while sitting at a stop sign by a bus full of nuns while you're towing 500k pounds, they are at fault. Have you ever seen what an rv trailer looks like after a major accident? Do you honestly believe they are picking up the pile of kindling, water, black water, and everything else that was in the trailer and weighing it to prove you were a few hundred pounds over your vehicle rated capacity? Insurance covers you if you fall asleep because you tried to drive across country in one shot. Insurance covers you if you're drunk. Neither stupid nor illegal are excuses for them to not cover an accident. I'm pretty sure that's the cause of nearly every accident in one way or another. From texting while driving to not paying attention to the road to following too close.

 

[Joe98]

.. so I wanted a more hands on opinion.

Please ask the opinion of your car insurance company. If you never crash their opinion is irrelevant. When a child is killed their opinion matters.

 

[Valpo Jeep]

My JT mojave has a 6k pound rating. Towed 8420lbs 600 miles without issue. No weight distribution hitch, no added trailer brake controller, 3.5" metalcloak springs and 37s. Even up a 4k for elevation gain in 20 miles it had no issues maintaining 65mph. American tow ratings are very limited by the required grade test in 90⁰plus heat. I'd be way more comfortable towing 4500lbs with the JLU than the WJ that was treated for it. Stronger axles, stronger brakes, better engine, real frame not unibody and a longer wheelbase. The new JLUs are even available with a 5k pound rating.

That U-Haul trailer has an automatic surge brake system built in to it hence you not needing a brake controller. Just about every state will require supplemental brakes for beyond 3,000 lbs and some states require it for just 1,500 lbs.

Your JT will have a higher tow capacity over a JL/JK due to the increased wheelbase on the JT. Longer wheelbase allows a higher tow capacity as well as a longer trailer.

Next is the debate of if a towed vehicle counts as a trailer and thus requires a supplemental braking system. I went the route of yes I need a braking system to tow a vehicle plus my RV manufacturer states that beyond like 1500 or 2500 lbs (can't remember exact weight) then yes its needed.

 

[jadmt]

I think everyone should check their own insurance and talk to their insurance company and see what they say about it. I know some insurance companies will balk at negligence and they have deeper pockets than I do.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Please ask the opinion of your car insurance company. If you never crash their opinion is irrelevant. When a child is killed their opinion matters.

Show me in print where it says there's an exclusion for towing over the limit... there isn't. Just like driving over the speed limit or over the blood alcohol content limit. You're still covered. Liability, fault, possibly even criminal charges are a different subject, but your insurance covers both stupid and illegal every day. She's not talking about towing 10k pounds. A few hundred pounds over or under the limit makes virtually no difference in how the vehicle drives, stopping distance, etc. You can buy a Wrangler with a 5k pound rating...and a 3500lb rated hitch. If you cause an accident you're at fault regardless of trailer weight. If someone else causes the accident they are at fault.

 

[Zandcwhite]

That U-Haul trailer has an automatic surge brake system built in to it hence you not needing a brake controller. Just about every state will require supplemental brakes for beyond 3,000 lbs and some states require it for just 1,500 lbs.

Your JT will have a higher tow capacity over a JL/JK due to the increased wheelbase on the JT. Longer wheelbase allows a higher tow capacity as well as a longer trailer.

Next is the debate of if a towed vehicle counts as a trailer and thus requires a supplemental braking system. I went the route of yes I need a braking system to tow a vehicle plus my RV manufacturer states that beyond like 1500 or 2500 lbs (can't remember exact weight) then yes its needed.

As you noted, you don't need a brake controller for most trailers as the electric brake system functions off your brake light wiring. As I stated, the JT has a higher tow rating, and I exceeded it by 2400lbs. If it's wheelbase dependent, why can you buy a Rubicon with a 5k pound rating now? If it's wheelbase, why did my 01 grand cherokee with weaker axles, brakes, unibody, and 10" less wheelbase have a 5k pound rating? Why have JLUs world wide been rated at 5k pound since 2018? Sure most of Europe and Australia limit trailer aired to 60-65mph, but you could do that yourself if you decided to tow a 4k pound trailer.

 

[Zandcwhite]

I think everyone should check their own insurance and talk to their insurance company and see what they say about it. I know some insurance companies will balk at negligence and they have deeper pockets than I do.

Like the claims that insurance won't cover you off road, they can say whatever they want, but what's actually in wiring in your policy? Then there's also how you ask the question. "Am I covered if I intentionally tow a trailer that's double what my vehicles rated at"? Of course they'll say no, but what's in writing? "If my trailer accidently gets over loaded by a bit, am I covered"? Of course you are. "If I'm on forest service road n69 and I have an accident am I covered"? Of course you are. "If I'm driving off road and have an accident am I covered"? They may say no, but what's actually written in your policy? If you are driving too fast and miss your off ramp, all of the damage occurred after you were well off the road and into the trees but obviously your covered. Why would anyone think it was different out on the trails?

 

[OnJMilesWay]

Towed a UHaul from MI to WA through the mountains. 3.6 manual transmission.

I never weighed the trailer but I'd guess I was exceeding the suggested limit. Many mountain passes I was resided to doing 50-55mph in 3rd gear. Ran most of the trip in 4th doing 65mph.

I was surprised by the stability but I think having a dual axle trailer helped. Trailer also has hydraulic brakes.

I would say that, aside from the steepest mountain passes, it felt fine. I wouldn't hesitate to get something like the Aliner(?). But, it's also obvious the Jeep wasn't built for towing.

Sponsored