Towing with 3.0 Diesel

[00 Trans Ram]

Europe has incredibly tight limits on how fast you can go when towing. That's why their ratings are significant higher than ours.

They're not THAT much lower. All the countries have different laws, but around half of them are 62mph (80kph) for a vehicle+trailer>3.5t. So, for me, 5000lb Jeep + 5000lb boat, it'd be 62mph.

Which is right around where I tow when on the interstate (cruise control in Jeeps seem to overcompensate sometimes, so it can range up to 64-65mph when trying to readjust after a hill or bridge).

And, those speeds are for both cars AND trucks hauling trailers. I think that we can all agree that a Golf TDI isn't nearly as safe with a trailer as a JLUD.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/planning-your-route/european-speed-limits/

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[00 Trans Ram]

Wheelbase, if you’re not careful you can get a “tail wagging the dog” type situation.

Wheelbase of a JLU is 4" shorter than an F-150. It's not going to make a huge difference.

 

[Rubi SoHo]

Wheelbase of a JLU is 4" shorter than an F-150. It's not going to make a huge difference.

more like 24”, and an F150 is heavier and very much weight forward.

 

[00 Trans Ram]

more like 24”, and an F150 is heavier and very much weight forward.

Jeep has a 4.4" shorter wheelbase and is 46lbs heavier. I'm not certain that the F150 is more weight forward, at least not compared to a diesel JLU. All that's rearward of the transmission in a Jeep is a tub and fiberglass top. The beds on F150s, though aluminum, are still pretty heavy.

Note the F150 tow rating of 8200lbs.

I'm not saying the Jeep can tow what an F150 can. What I'm saying is:
- same engine as a Dodge 1500
- same brakes as a Dodge 1500
- similar wheelbase as an F150
- similar weight to an F150
- similar weight distribution F/R to an F150

Given all that, I think it's fair to say that I'm safe towing 2/3 the weight that an F150 is rated at (and under the rating the JLU is given in the EU and Aus).

As for front/rear weight distribution, 2 threads have anecdotal evidence.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jeep-392-weight-per-axle-scale-weighed.72171/
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/front-rear-weight-distribution-464744/

Jeep 392 = 54/46
Ford F150 157" wheelbase = 56/44

 

[Rubi SoHo]

Jeep has a 4.4" shorter wheelbase and is 46lbs heavier. I'm not certain that the F150 is more weight forward, at least not compared to a diesel JLU. All that's rearward of the transmission in a Jeep is a tub and fiberglass top. The beds on F150s, though aluminum, are still pretty heavy.

Note the F150 tow rating of 8200lbs.

I'm not saying the Jeep can tow what an F150 can. What I'm saying is:
- same engine as a Dodge 1500
- same brakes as a Dodge 1500
- similar wheelbase as an F150
- similar weight to an F150
- similar weight distribution F/R to an F150

Given all that, I think it's fair to say that I'm safe towing 2/3 the weight that an F150 is rated at (and under the rating the JLU is given in the EU and Aus).

As for front/rear weight distribution, 2 threads have anecdotal evidence.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jeep-392-weight-per-axle-scale-weighed.72171/
https://www.f150forum.com/f82/front-rear-weight-distribution-464744/

Jeep 392 = 54/46
Ford F150 157" wheelbase = 56/44

Dang it, you’re right on wheelbase. I didn’t want to believe it, and I don’t have the numbers committed to memory so when I googled “JL unlimited wheelbase” I got this:

But that’s actually the 2dr wheelbase.

That’s what I get for assuming my little JLUR is so much smaller than a full size truck.

 

[Valpo Jeep]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned yet but…. Just because you can does not mean you should. Towing a weight beyond what the vehicle was rated for can open you up to legal ramifications should something go horribly wrong.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1703-tow-ratings-and-the-law-discussing-limits-of-trailer-size/

 

[Ratbert]

They're not THAT much lower. All the countries have different laws, but around half of them are 62mph (80kph) for a vehicle+trailer>3.5t. So, for me, 5000lb Jeep + 5000lb boat, it'd be 62mph.

Which is right around where I tow when on the interstate (cruise control in Jeeps seem to overcompensate sometimes, so it can range up to 64-65mph when trying to readjust after a hill or bridge).

And, those speeds are for both cars AND trucks hauling trailers. I think that we can all agree that a Golf TDI isn't nearly as safe with a trailer as a JLUD.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/planning-your-route/european-speed-limits/

From what I'm reading most seem to have an 80kph (~50mph) limit when towing. That's pretty damn low in comparison to places like Texas with an 85mph limit when towing.

 

[00 Trans Ram]

Dang it, you’re right on wheelbase. I didn’t want to believe it, and I don’t have the numbers committed to memory so when I googled “JL unlimited wheelbase” I got this:

But that’s actually the 2dr wheelbase.

That’s what I get for assuming my little JLUR is so much smaller than a full size truck.

No worries!!

 

[Plongson]

I pull a 4800lb 18' Rockwood GeoPro (fully loaded with water and groceries ready to camp). We've had it over two years and it's got thousands of miles behind the JLURD. It's properly set up with trailer brakes, EQ and sway bar. It will go as fast as I want but I really like around 60 to 65 MPH. It's a sweet spot and will get 17 MPG pretty consistently.

With this setup, it's solid as a rock...rain, wind or snow...and it's been in all of them.

Haters can hate all day long and worry warts can worry...but I'm just fine.
It pulls like a short bed pickup...

 

[rikity]

A Jeep can pull an 80k lb semi, but it cant stop it. The ability to bring the load to a stop is the primary factor. The 3.6L comes standard in the 1/2 ton truck, rated for 7000+ towing. The main issue is the Wrangler doesnt weigh enough to offset higher towing weights. You could probably get away with 4500 but the problem is if you exceed manufacturer specs, you get yourself into a liability situation. If something bad happens, insurance can refuse to cover it and you could get a few citations for exceeding the capabilities of the Jeep.

 

[00 Trans Ram]

A Jeep can pull an 80k lb semi, but it cant stop it. The ability to bring the load to a stop is the primary factor. The 3.6L comes standard in the 1/2 ton truck, rated for 7000+ towing. The main issue is the Wrangler doesnt weigh enough to offset higher towing weights. You could probably get away with 4500 but the problem is if you exceed manufacturer specs, you get yourself into a liability situation. If something bad happens, insurance can refuse to cover it and you could get a few citations for exceeding the capabilities of the Jeep.

Standard Jeep JLU weighs more than an F150; my JLUD is 5000lbs (got a CAT weight in one of these threads).

Brakes on the JLU are 12.9" rotors with dual-piston, sliding-pin calipers. Brakes on a 2020 F150 are 13.7", JLU is 12.9". So, a 5% smaller rotor, but towing 20% less weight. Seems OK so far.

Insurance can (and will) try to refuse to cover anything. You'd have to read your policy to see what it says.

As far as I've been able to tell, because there is no Federal or state law that sets a standard for tow ratings, you won't receive any citations for it. What are they gonna do - tow your trailer away, weigh it, then come back and give you a ticket later?

 

[zouch]

trailers get weighed on portable scales right on the side of the road all the time.

Standard Jeep JLU weighs more than an F150; my JLUD is 5000lbs (got a CAT weight in one of these threads).

Brakes on the JLU are 12.9" rotors with dual-piston, sliding-pin calipers. Brakes on a 2020 F150 are 13.7", JLU is 12.9". So, a 5% smaller rotor, but towing 20% less weight. Seems OK so far.

Insurance can (and will) try to refuse to cover anything. You'd have to read your policy to see what it says.

As far as I've been able to tell, because there is no Federal or state law that sets a standard for tow ratings, you won't receive any citations for it. What are they gonna do - tow your trailer away, weigh it, then come back and give you a ticket later?

 

[00 Trans Ram]

trailers get weighed on portable scales right on the side of the road all the time.

Never seen that. Not once when working for the police in college (not highway patrol, though) and not once since.

But, even if they do that, what law are they going to accuse me of breaking?

 

[zouch]

it happens.

what you might be cited for depends on where you are.
but here’s an example from (at least) one state:

“Section 21715 CVC states, no passenger vehicle regardless of weight, or any other motor vehicle under 4,000 pounds unladen, shall draw or tow more than one vehicle in combination, except that an auxiliary dolly or tow dolly may be used with the towed vehicle. Additionally, no motor vehicle under 4,000 pounds unladen shall tow any vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds or more gross.”

Never seen that. Not once when working for the police in college (not highway patrol, though) and not once since.

But, even if they do that, what law are they going to accuse me of breaking?

 

[Ratbert]

Brakes on the JLU are 12.9" rotors with dual-piston, sliding-pin calipers. Brakes on a 2020 F150 are 13.7", JLU is 12.9". So, a 5% smaller rotor, but towing 20% less weight. Seems OK so far.

You obviously realize that increasing the diameter of a rotor by 1.2 inches (~6%) has the potential to increase its surface area by significantly more than 5%.

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