Small travel trailer

[RenegadeJeeper]

So I'm getting mixed reviews / answers.
What is the real max towing of a travel trailer

Looking at Gulfstream enlighten 17hb and told my 2018 Jlu can't haul it.
But the wife's 2024 grand cherokee l will be no issue.


So my pros of pros.....what do you all do?

Tia. :

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[LazyJL]

Your Jeep's owner's manual has the specs how how much or little you can tow.

 

[ArmyRN]

At best, the JLU is rated for only 3500 lbs.

 

[Heimkehr]

What is the real max towing of a travel trailer

0 lbs.

my 2018 Jlu

3,500 lbs.

 

[nositting]

this has come up MANY times. the answer is - it depends. it depends on which version of the JL you have and how scary you want to go. the 2 door might be 2,000 or 2,500 lbs, something like that. 4 door is 3,500 lbs. full float axle is, i believe, 5,000 lbs. most say stay under this for better towing experience. some say they’re comfortable going over for short trips to local campground. most say if you’re near capacity, get a “weight distribution hitch with sway control “
keep in mind, i’ve never towed anything but a light utility trailer!
google and youtube these things and ask more questions!

 

[RenegadeJeeper]

Thanks all. I know it has come up and I looked through the search.
Any folks willing to provide what kinda camping trailer, not custom build unfortunately, off the lot that they have experience with?
We as te looking at the 4 person with bunk beds as I have a 2 and 7 year old daughters.
Gulfstream enlighten 17bh

 

[MtCamper]

Can it tow it? Sure. Should you? Maybe. The receiver on your JLU looks like a class 3 but it's really a class 2. You need a WDH to tow that trailer any distance. A class 2 hitch is not rated for the long term effect of the rotational forces a WDH exerts. You can have a hitch shop mod your class 2 to a class 3. Having done that, you still need to tow it. Your Jeep would do fine if you limit your daily distance and speed. You aren't going to arrive stress free after a 6-700 mile day at 75mph. If you can keep your travel days to a few hundred at 50-60 mph you should do fine. I'd recommend you consider packing your trailer and jeep for camping and weigh them. A diet may be needed. I'd be very hesitant to exceed the GCVWR. (gross combined vehicle weight rating). PM wibornz and pick has brain. Ted has more RV towing with a JLU than anyone I know and he's a great guy willing to share.

 

[RenegadeJeeper]

Can it tow it? Sure. Should you? Maybe. The receiver on your JLU looks like a class 3 but it's really a class 2. You need a WDH to tow that trailer any distance. A class 2 hitch is not rated for the long term effect of the rotational forces a WDH exerts. You can have a hitch shop mod your class 2 to a class 3. Having done that, you still need to tow it. Your Jeep would do fine if you limit your daily distance and speed. You aren't going to arrive stress free after a 6-700 mile day at 75mph. If you can keep your travel days to a few hundred at 50-60 mph you should do fine. I'd recommend you consider packing your trailer and jeep for camping and weigh them. A diet may be needed. I'd be very hesitant to exceed the GCVWR. (gross combined vehicle weight rating). PM wibornz and pick has brain. Ted has more RV towing with a JLU than anyone I know and he's a great guy willing to share.

Thank you again and that made my might up. Shucks just when I get the wifey on board to purchase and camp.

 

[jadmt]

I have towed a fair amount with JKUR's those had tow ratings of 3500lbs . I live in Montana so either going up or down. My Jayco195 had a dry weight of close to 3000 lbs and in reality it takes nothing to get over 3500lbs. It did fine but I 100% liked towning my Aliner better. I could tow that 70 mph all day long without even knowing it was back there if it were loaded up. My JLUR has a tow rating of 5000lbs. I would tow the gulfstream enlighten as it looks like a dry weight of 3000lbs with mine but would be careful how I packed and not carry water while traveling.

 

[wibornz]

I have towed a camper 74,000+ miles with my JLUR on 37s. I currently tow this set up. The camper is about 2600 empty and loaded, I am about 3200 to 3300. I have towed this camper approximately 22,000 miles this year. Over many mountain passes and into big head winds and all kinds of weather conditions. I would not want to go any heavier than I am. The Jeep handles it well, I keep the speed between 62 and 67 mph. I can tow it faster, but man will you pay at the pump. Mountain pass, I can tow it at 60, I prefer 50. The Jeep is in 4 gear and about 4000 or so RPMs. My temps stay normal and does not generate a bunch of extra heat.

With that said, I don't want to pull more weight. Could I, yes, Could I safely maybe. Do I want to no.

It should be noted, I am on 37s, and I am running 5.13 gears. There are now four of us in my group that pull this camper. So between us, we have about 35,000 miles of a JLUR towing this set up with out issues.

 

[Upnarms]

Do you want your jeep to last? Ihave a jlur w 3.6. I towed a 2k lb off road trailer w rtt around in summer months to go camping. Lots of hills, altitudes from 1200 to 9000ft. At 55k miles the rocker arms went bad. Covered under warranty, but i try to do all my towing with my truck now. Imo, Jeeps are not good for towing. Could be coincidental but i know of 2 others who had same issue and also towed small trailers.

Just my opinion on this after my experience.

 

[GCMWillys]

I have towed a camper 74,000+ miles with my JLUR on 37s. I currently tow this set up. The camper is about 2600 empty and loaded, I am about 3200 to 3300. I have towed this camper approximately 22,000 miles this year. Over many mountain passes and into big head winds and all kinds of weather conditions. I would not want to go any heavier than I am. The Jeep handles it well, I keep the speed between 62 and 67 mph. I can tow it faster, but man will you pay at the pump. Mountain pass, I can tow it at 60, I prefer 50. The Jeep is in 4 gear and about 4000 or so RPMs. My temps stay normal and does not generate a bunch of extra heat.

With that said, I don't want to pull more weight. Could I, yes, Could I safely maybe. Do I want to no.

It should be noted, I am on 37s, and I am running 5.13 gears. There are now four of us in my group that pull this camper. So between us, we have about 35,000 miles of a JLUR towing this set up with out issues.

Hey Ted (@wibornz), didn’t you also upgrade the rear axle setup? I vaguely remember something about stepping up to the Dana 60 because of heat issues and wrecking the locker stuff in the differential.

 

[Lonniew09]

Thank you again and that made my might up. Shucks just when I get the wifey on board to purchase and camp.

 

[Lonniew09]

Geo Pro FTB15
Tow it all over SoCal. We carry a lot of stuff and have had no issues. I would not recommend any bigger/ more weight. I am on 35s now, same gears.

 

[wibornz]

Hey Ted (@wibornz), didn’t you also upgrade the rear axle setup? I vaguely remember something about stepping up to the Dana 60 because of heat issues and wrecking the locker stuff in the differential.

I did upgrade to a 60. I believe that the Dana 44 electronics do not handle the heat generated in a bunch of towing. I cooked the electronics several times. I think if you are just doing normal towing, like hauling the camper to a campground for a weekend, you would probably be fine. I found that the Dana 44 does not like 16 hour days for multi days in a row kind of towing.

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