Towing question: Wrangler vs. Gladiator

[Swanny297]

What I found interesting is that maximum tow doesn't come at the Rubicon trim level but rather with add ons at the Sport trim level:

I think This is primarily due to available payload - Rubicon has heavier axles, heavier suspension, heavier bumpers...that’s all I can figure

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[RussJeep1]

It has Ram 1500 rear

Jdog @JC7, Travis, @TA1ton really guys, does it have to be me all the time that does your research for you?!

Sigh, confirmed.

 

[TA1ton]

@RussJeep1; if I did the research we wouldn’t get the privilege of seeing your...uuuhhh...creative...visualizations of the subject matter.

 

[liquids]

Yes. Rear brakes are bigger. JT has better cooling as well.

Cooling is a big deal in tow rating. It's why the small rear end JKU was only rated 1,000 lbs at first. Part of the rating is based on how they'd do towing up a long incline in the heat, e.g. the Death Valley Grade.

 

[WXman]

You keep saying that the wrangler suspension has nothing to do with its row rating. Talk to an engineer. It has everything to do with it.

I have talked to engineers actually. The suspension has little to nothing to do with it. JL is a multi-link rear end with coils, just like Ram 1500, just like Gladiator. It's got a track bar and anti-sway, just like Ram 1500, just like Gladiator. It's not ultra soft and it's not ultra flexible in stock configuration. The suspension is NOT what limits towing on the JL.

I think This is primarily due to available payload - Rubicon has heavier axles, heavier suspension, heavier bumpers...that’s all I can figure

Exactly. You start with a maximum GVWR. Then anything you add in options has to be subtracted elsewhere to keep that number the same. So that's why Overland and especially Rubicon trims have the lowest payload and towing.

Cooling is a big deal in tow rating. It's why the small rear end JKU was only rated 1,000 lbs at first. Part of the rating is based on how they'd do towing up a long incline in the heat, e.g. the Death Valley Grade.

Yeah cooling is a big part of it too. The guy who used to be an engineer on solid axle Jeeps did an article on the specific tests they'd do and the things they'd design for in the real world. It was interesting. I like how the 850RFE trans has a cooler mounted to the side even in JL models. With the higher ratings, JT likely will have lots of add-ons for cooling since it's still a small grille opening.

 

[Torero]

I have talked to engineers actually. The suspension has little to nothing to do with it. JL is a multi-link rear end with coils, just like Ram 1500, just like Gladiator. It's got a track bar and anti-sway, just like Ram 1500, just like Gladiator. It's not ultra soft and it's not ultra flexible in stock configuration. The suspension is NOT what limits towing on the JL.



Exactly. You start with a maximum GVWR. Then anything you add in options has to be subtracted elsewhere to keep that number the same. So that's why Overland and especially Rubicon trims have the lowest payload and towing.



Yeah cooling is a big part of it too. The guy who used to be an engineer on solid axle Jeeps did an article on the specific tests they'd do and the things they'd design for in the real world. It was interesting. I like how the 850RFE trans has a cooler mounted to the side even in JL models. With the higher ratings, JT likely will have lots of add-ons for cooling since it's still a small grille opening.

I thought we had exhausted this topic on another thread, but oh well.
I just want to emphasize one of @WXman observations which is GVW. Every once of weight added has to be substracted from the combined max GVW of the trailer and the Jeep. One of the most difficult ones is unfortunately the most commun modification: bigger heavier tires and wheels. The complication is that those are not pound per pound, but geometrical because on the top of the weight, the bigger diameter by itself is detrimental since the rotors stay at the same diameter, and then there is the issue that the extra pounds are not static but rotating and the greater the speed the greater the compounded effect. In a way I’m glad that the Wrangler has a low towing capacity, expecting that the safety factor is bigger because people just love to modify things, we are all experts, but when things go bad we run to the seller to blame, lol
I’m not against modifying the jeep, mine is victim too, but we have to take responsibility of looking beyond to the possible consequences.

 

[JIMBOX]

OK, It's a jeep pickup---but

The damn thing has a 138" wheelbase, a couple inches shorter than my RAM 1500, so how will you be able to take it off-road, other than FORESTRY ROADS--

Talk about 3-point turns !!

W.E.

JIMBO

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