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Towing at almost max capacity

4K views 43 replies 27 participants last post by  Unstuck 16 
#1 ·
Relatively new Jeep Owner (2013, Unlimited, Sport model), and I'm heading on a 1400 mile move to California this weekend.

I've towed a lot of trailers, but always with a truck, so my question is regarding tow capacity/performance of the jeep. I'm heading west/mountains and extreme elevation changes, and my trailer is coming in at around 3,300 lbs, and my jeep has a 3,500lb tow capacity.

Is the jeep going to be able to handle this load/perform and get up/down the mountains as I head west.

Should I be worried or am I over thinking towing this trailer?

Thanks for any input.
 
#2 ·
I think you should be fine. There's a current thread about someone hauling ~6000# on a move. Is it recommended to haul more than rated for? Hell no. But it sounds like they have had no troubles. Just take it easy and let your jeep tell you what speeds on what incline it can handle. Let us know how it does!
 
#3 ·
Your overloaded based on the math. that being said..i would go and do a test pull on the highway for a few miles to see how it handles. Auto or manual?
 
#5 ·
I would carry several extra bottles of ATF... and make sure you have a trans cooler, and if not install one asap.
 
#6 ·
^^^2012, through 2015s with automatics, come as standard from the factory with a transmission cooler......:thumb:
 
#7 ·
OP, :welcome: to the Forum...:wavey:
 
#8 ·
You say 3500 pounds....do you have 3.73's?

Here is the deal. From a "power/pulling" standpoint....if you have 3.73's, then you will be able to get the load moving. And you will probably be fine in the mountains. The 3.6 and WA580 can handle it (as long is it does not run hot).

The issue would be controlling the load....that is where the Wrangler has its limitations. Gravity will get you down from the mountain...it just might be faster than you wanted it to be.
 
#10 ·
Relatively new Jeep Owner (2013, Unlimited, Sport model), and I'm heading on a 1400 mile move to California this weekend.

I've towed a lot of trailers, but always with a truck, so my question is regarding tow capacity/performance of the jeep. I'm heading west/mountains and extreme elevation changes, and my trailer is coming in at around 3,300 lbs, and my jeep has a 3,500lb tow capacity.

Is the jeep going to be able to handle this load/perform and get up/down the mountains as I head west.

Should I be worried or am I over thinking towing this trailer?

Thanks for any input.
Clearly stated that you are under the maximum capacity......just make sure you get the trailer loaded correctly.....i.e. 10% tongue weight....brakes functioning properly and you will be fine.... However......NO speeding!!!!
Good luck in your endeavors!!!
 
#11 ·
You will have no problem moving the load. Im assuming you have a JKU so control should not be a problem. different can of worms if you are driving a 2 door even with a 4.10 axle maxtow weight is 2000/200 and legally speaking if the trailer wt is 3000 + then brakes are required. If you are pulling a rental it will probably have surge brakes but if trailer has electric brakes then a controller is required
 
#12 ·
I'm glad this thread just popped up, i was planning on doing some towing with my JKU as well.. this clears up alot of questions so far.
 
#13 ·
We pulled a teardrop camper to Co from Texas this summer. Loaded was around 1300 lbs. Towing was not an issue at all. However, when in the mountains on those long grades going up, watch your temps. We got to 248 degrees on one grade. Needles was moving up towards the red, got to just over 3/4 on temp gauge when we crested the summit.
 
#14 ·
Our teardrop fully loaded with gear, water, and food for a week of no-services backcountry camping weights about 2000lbs, right at the limit of towing for my 2-door JK. We have towed it all over the place here in CA up and down plenty of hills.

The 3.6 won't have any trouble getting it going, it's stopping it quickly that you have to worry about.

My suggestion is if at all possible, rent a trailer with electronic breaks and put a brake controller in the Jeep. Most of the time, and easy way to tell is if it takes a 7-pin trailer electronic harness instead of a 4-pin one then it probably has brakes. (You can also just look at the axle on the trailer).

You'll need a 7-pin hitch wiring kit and a controller in the cab installed in your Jeep to do this. Most pickup truck bed places have these in stock and it can be installed in about 1/2 an hour by a pro.

If you want a "no install" option, they do make wireless controllers, but they are ... less reliable.

Trailer brakes *are* worth the cash. When fully loaded and starting at about 30mph in an empty parking lot my "emergency" breaking distance is *cut in half* when the trailer brakes are turned on.
 
#15 ·
trailer brake controller is a must in my opinion, and when dealing with trailer weight it's not simply trailer weight that needs to be considered but the GCVW (gross COMBINED vehicle weight) often that is significantly lower than the GVW added to the max tow rating. So by the time you get the jeep loaded up with the trailer behind you would technically be "overweight". Stopping and controlling the trailer/Jeep will be the issue rather than keeping it moving.
 
#27 ·
Overseas the JKU can tow 2000 kg (about 4400 lbs) with the gasoline engine. Chrysler manufactures a big brake kit for Wranglers, but I've never heard of a U.S. Wrangler being sold with one. Maybe this has something to do with the matter at hand? I'm uncertain as to what else may cause the difference in tow ratings, maybe someone else does?
I hate to drag an old post up from the dead, but I'm doing some searching to decide on a brake controller setup and came across this comment that nobody addressed. It's worth leaving the answer here for future readers.

There's nothing different about European Jeeps that allow them to tow more. It's not bigger brakes or coolers or anything like that. The big difference is that European countries have laws with respect to towing and that Europeans follow them to keep safe. So in Europe you can pull a bigger load but you won't be doing it over 80 km/h or so (50 mph) while in America there are places where you can drive over 80 mph (130 km/h) and nothing to tell people they shouldn't do that with a 3500 lb trailer behind their Jeep.

Tow ratings have to account for this, and they do.
 
#17 ·
I have towed quite a bit with my 2010 6 speed manual JKU and now some with my 2014 Auto JKU Rubicon. I concur with all the comments above and will just add that you want to try to run between 60-70 on the freeway as much as you can. Don't get going too fast as your MPG will drop like a brick and you can have some serious control issues when running too fast. My typical watercraft load is 600 lbs lighter than yours but it is still advanced driving when they are in tow. Be careful and watch the big uphills and down. There are plenty of them out here.

Safe travels.
 
#18 ·
Pulling a trailer and stopping a trailer, safely are two totally different things.

There are factors beyond just the trailer weight you need to be aware of. You can overload your Jeep if you are pulling a full loaded trailer and have the Jeep loaded up too. Though your max towing is 3500# your max payload is 1,220# - that's people, luggage and your hitch weight.

Stopping is the biggest factor, you didn't indicate if you installed a 7pin wiring harness and brake controller or if you have surge brakes. Personally I wouldn't tow anything beyond a small utility trailer without electric or surge brakes.
 
#20 ·
On all (auto) 3.6's

If I remember correctly, technically for the auto's, the 3.8 has one (but it is small) and the 3.6 has two...or something like that.
 
#21 ·
I just pulled a 1300lbs trailer over 13000 miles and i have pulled a car on a tow dolly 1100 miles, both time the 2013 JKUR, auto, 3:73 gears pulled just find.
The car was pulled from east Texas to New Mexico and for the the hills it was a little slow going up and 2 or 3 gear going down, gas mileage dropped big time.
The trailer was all over the western half the US, Canada & Alaska, on long hills or mountains, the JKUR was working hard. On most steep grades the temp gauge went to 3/4 and stayed there, Jeep ran find, on 2 long grades through Death Valley the JKUR when into protection mode and as temps climbed just above 3/4 the engine would not rev over 4000rpm, so my speed slowed, temps never went past that point and after cresting the mountain, the temps came right back down. So pulling a larger load, be ready for this in the mountains.
 
#24 ·
Relatively new Jeep Owner (2013, Unlimited, Sport model), and I'm heading on a 1400 mile move to California this weekend.
I've towed a lot of trailers, but always with a truck, so my question is regarding tow capacity/performance of the jeep. I'm heading west/mountains and extreme elevation changes, and my trailer is coming in at around 3,300 lbs, and my jeep has a 3,500lb tow capacity.
Is the jeep going to be able to handle this load/perform and get up/down the mountains as I head west.
Should I be worried or am I over thinking towing this trailer?
Thanks for any input.
Questions:
1st- Manual or Auto?
2nd- Are you sure you have the 3.73 gears? It's much less common in the '13s than the 3.21

I've towed extensively with a 2013 Sport 6 speed (3.73) and a 2014 Rubicon Auto (4.10) Here are my perceptions.
Sport 6 speed, no issues, no worrries. Had the Teraflex larger rotors LINK ... for under $300 it's silly not to get at least this upgrade if you're towing.
Rubicon auto. also has the teraflex rotors, towed great when stock. HUGE difference, to the negative, with 37's. An effective 3.53 gearing (if I remember correctly)

So IMO if you're sure you have the 3.73 gears you will be fine, auto or manual. And it would be a smart move to upgrade the brakes.

Read up on the owners manual for all the towing recommendations before you leave.

Here's a thread with more details, even though it's for a 2014 the 2013s will be the same.
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f202/2014-wrangler-towing-capabilty-689562.html

Good luck and :welcome: to the addiction :)
 
#25 ·
I don't have all of the technical details about gearing. I bought a 2013 JKUR, automatic, and did not get the max tow package because I thought I would never use it. Everything I read is that the max towing is 3500 (per the manual) but is that IF I got the max tow package? If not, then I am stuck in the 2000 range?

Never thought I would tow a camper, and here I am, 2 years later, wishing I had planned ahead. What about the trailer hitch? is that easy to install?
 
#29 ·
Nobody should go over the tow rating as they open themselves up to all sorts of liability issues if they do. For you though... none of that stuff matters as much as the speed. If you keep it under 50 mph, you'd be safe if you were driving in a bubble but if you're cruising down a 85 mph highway doing 50 then you're a rolling hazard no matter what because nobody expects that here.
 
#31 ·
The reason for running slower other than it is just safer is trailer sway and tongue weight. As speed increases tongue weight also has to increase. Oversea's because of there lower speed limits there tongue weight is typically 4 to 7 percent. Here because we don't have national speed limit for towing it is up to 85 mph, hence 10 to 15 percent. With the limited cargo capacity we have and the 10 to 15 percent rule we are limited to 3500 lbs. It is that simple.

If you want the strongest hitch available for your Jeep with out something custom made look at this:


 
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#32 ·
Well said. Another thing that hasn't really been mentioned relating to the above is that the 3500 is WITHOUT trailer brakes. Meaning: yes, the ABSOLUTE number than can be towed WITH or WITHOUT trailer brakes is 3500. In my opinion, you are out of your mind if you don't use trailer brakes when even coming close to 3500. Also, the tongue weight as mentioned is exceptionally important to be cognizant of as a lighter front end can have disastrous consequences. When I see folks towing with a substantial reverse rake, it makes me very nervous.

The OEM brakes in US spec JKs are beyond pathetic in my opinion, and towing obviously exacerbates that situation. I towed a pop up camper for over 10k miles with zero issues, but I spent a lot of time setting up my brake controller to appropriately assist the Jeep in stopping, while not doing all the work.

The big mistake most make is very similar to driving in snow: People gain confidence because they have 4 wheel drive and can get going in bad conditions. But how well do you stop? I'll come out and say it: braking is more important than getting going when other vehicles are around that have more capability of stopping.
 
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