This has nothing to do with HP. There are many factors like the chasis, brakes and cooling capacity for the engine, transmission and brakes.The 392 has a 470 HP engine, beefier suspension, etc… but only a 3,500 pound towing limit. A freakin Honda Pilot can tow that. Why is the towing capacity so poor on the 392’s?
Wheelbase
A regular cab f150 only has 3" more wheelbase and can tow up to 8k lbs. It's what Jeep bothered to certify them at. Our 01 wj was rated at 5k and is unibody with weaker axles, engine, transmission, and brakes and 9-10" less wheelbase. Likely they didn't want to bother with recertification of every configuration as few are buying a wrangler as a tow rig anyway. A sport with 3.45 gears and either the v6 or the 2.0t doesn't have the braking capacity, axle strength, or pulling power of a Rubicon with 4.10's let alone an ecodiesel or a 392. It is what it is and there's nothing you can do to increase it. That being said, you aren't hauling commercially, so nobody is ever going to weigh your trailer.Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! This is the real reason. Wheelbase is huge. That is why the Gladiator can tow twice what the Wrangler can with the same exact engine and tow package.
all great points... I think you are right on all that. Hence why over the pond they are rated at pulling so much more.A regular cab f150 only has 3" more wheelbase and can tow up to 8k lbs. It's what Jeep bothered to certify them at. Our 01 wj was rated at 5k and is unibody with weaker axles, engine, transmission, and brakes. Likely they didn't want to bother with recertification of every configuration as few are buying a wrangler as a tow rig anyway. A sport with 3.45 gears and either the v6 or the 2.0t doesn't have the braking capacity, axle strength, or pulling power of a Rubicon with 4.10's let alone an ecodiesel or a 392. It is what it is and there's nothing you can do to increase it. That being said, you aren't hauling commercially, so nobody is ever going to weigh your trailer.