Max Tow= 3.73 gears, hitch & wiring

All auto trans JKs since 2012 have a trans cooler. In the case of the Willys the 3.73 gears are standard. So.....Sorry to tell you that you paid $499 for a $49 receiver/wiring.... :drinks:

 

That's what I thought. And my $499 stamped steel receiver is getting tossed next week too when I install my new smitty rear bumper that has an integrated Class II receiver built in.

Live an Learn...

 

Can’t you sell it? At least get something back

 

Nah... You can buy the exact same receiver for $59 brand new. I've seen take offs on Ebay going for $40. Hardly worth the effort.

 

You may have gotten better springs.
My non max tow willys has 17/59s.

 

I didn't want the max tow package because I also knew I could get the complete hitch and harness for way less than $100. With that said, the JKUR I bought was pretty much fully loaded and had the max tow package in it. I said F it and drove it off the lot. I didn't have the patience to drive to every dealer in my area to find one without a hitch package.
Just checked.. I have 18/59 springs.

 

My 2017 JK Willys had the tow package and I had a hunch it was nothing more than an overpriced hitch and wiring harness. In visiting several dealerships during the shopping phase I asked the salesfolk the question whether the tow package included anything more than the hitch and harness and I consistently got vague answers or outright misinformation. The Jeep website describes it as just a hitch and harness and it looks like that's really all it is. Another nice profit center for Jeep.

The JK I bought had everything I wanted plus a few things I didn't think I needed, like the tow package and the 430 radio plus Alpine speakers. Now that I've driven it 1650 miles over the past month I'm glad I have the radio and speakers but the hitch is still a big "meh" since I have no plans to tow with the JK and I know I paid too much for it. Not a big deal in the grand scheme. It's there if and when I want to use it.

 

Hell, my window sticker shows the Tow Package and then 3.73 gears separate. In other words, $495 + $695 = $1190 for the exact same thing the the MAX Tow Package would have given for $845. The dealership had a few different JKs ordered this same way. Craziness.

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Hell, my window sticker shows the Tow Package and then 3.73 gears separate. In other words, $495 + $695 = $1190 for the exact same thing the the MAX Tow Package would have given for $845. The dealership had a few different JKs ordered this same way. Craziness.

That's one of the cases where the Max Tow package is more reasonable. If you want 3.73 gears on a Wrangler that doesn't already have them, the Max Tow package gets you that plus the factory installed hitch and wiring for "only" $150 more.

 

Yep, this is why I ordered my Jeep. The only options I picked for my 2018 JKU Willys Wheeler were hard top and LED lights. Can do everything else myself with better aftermarket parts for cheaper. I think options like this are where dealerships/Jeep make most of their margins on the vehicle sale (excluding financing and service). $500 for a hitch and wiring is highway robbery...

 

Join the club on getting ripped off on the max tow. Don't toss the hitch. I did, and later down the road I ended up changing bumpers and had to buy a $50 quadratec hitch. Doh!

 

Just because you don't plan on towing anything doesn't mean the two hitch is woethless.
You can put a bike rack on it
If you hall trash gas cans or propane tank get a hitch hauler and keep nasty things on the outside of your jeep.
Up until a few months ago I always had a ball hitch on my jeep. It saved my jeep when some idiot fell asleep while driving and tried to run me over. Now I have a smittybilt beaver tail step. This gives me a step a tow point and protect the jeep if it is rear ended again.

So it still has a use beside towing

 

The reason why Max Tow was a bone head move for me, (if it was nothing other than the OEM stamped steel receiver), was that I KNEW I was going to replace the rear bumper before I even bought the Jeep.

What I "DIDN'T" realize at the time was that only a couple rear bumpers on the market provide a cutout to accommodate keeping the factory receiver. Most either have a faux hitch receiver that's only good for bike racks, or have an integrated class II receiver like the Smitty Gen2 I just ordered.

 

Never going to tow with my Recon However I do like the hitch with a loop hanging down, helps stop idiots from bumping into the bumper. Yeah the 500 dollars is a rip off, In my case the dealer put on locking lug nuts that cost 200 dollars as a option on the side of the sticker. In my mind just as bad. Got a good deal on the jeep but damn tell me before I drive 200 miles. I did install the receiver and the wiring and it did take some time.

 

When I ordered mine I ordered the 3.73 ($600.00 I think) and ordered the hitch from Q tech for around $60.00. Mopar headliner is similar. If I remember it was $495.00 as an option. I ordered an OEM Mopar one online for $199.00. My understanding is even if you order the headliner from the factory you just get it in a box and it is not installed.

 

This thread left it unclear, and left me a bit nervous. I just bought a new 2017 with the Max towing pkg $845... It has the 3.73 gears i the pkg. According to the manual, it is 3500lbs max, 350lbs max tongue wt, 32sqft max frontal area on the trailer. And here she is!

 

Congrats on the Big Bear purchase. Welcome to the club.

 

I’m not outide to check, but doesn’t the door sticker detail what “your” Jeep is rated to tow?

Any 3:73 guys out there without max tow. What does your door sticker say for towing capacity?

I would hate to be on the side of the road having a discussion with a cop because a trailer is 2900lbs and the Jeep is only rated for 2k eventhough another Jeep is equipped the exact same way is rated higher because it was factory installed.

Or worse yet, having the same conversation with lawyers after an accident.

My Willys has the max tow. I didn’t order it. I missed the window for ordering an ‘18 but after thinking about it I am happy it has the max tow.

 

I’m not outide to check, but doesn’t the door sticker detail what “your” Jeep is rated to tow?

Any 3:73 guys out there without max tow. What does your door sticker say for towing capacity?

I would hate to be on the side of the road having a discussion with a cop because a trailer is 2900lbs and the Jeep is only rated for 2k even though another Jeep is equipped the exact same way is rated higher because it was factory installed.

From all that I have read on the forums, and checking the door post sticker on my Wrangler, there is no tow limit data printed on the door jam sticker. That is, no GTWR (Gross Trailer Weight Rating, Max Loaded trailer) or GCWR (Combination Weight Rating, Max Jeep and the trailer Combined Weight) data is printed on the sticker.

There was a lot of discussion on this topic when the 2017 2-door JK with 3.73 gears or higher mysteriously had a published factory 3500 pound towing capacity, when in all previous years the 2-door JKs had a max towing capacity of 2000 pounds. Other than the requirement for 3.73's or higher, there was no other physical changes to the 2017 2-door JK's (ie, no heavier springs or suspension, etc) that would explain the jump in rated towing capacity from 2000 pounds to 3500 pounds.

 

Max Tow Springs

I've read in several places that getting the Max Tow Package might mean getting heavier duty springs, even though that's not listed in any official Jeep information I can find.

Does anyone know for sure? What springs do folks with Max Tow have?

I'm shopping for a new JKU Sport S before they're all gone. I've mostly been looking at ones with the Max Tow Package since I want the 3.73 gears. But I just saw one with the 3.73's as a stand alone option. I'm wondering if I go with this one, will I be missing out on heavier duty springs? Since I intend to add a winch & bumper, plus Gobi rack, plus will occasionally be hauling my 300 lb. dirt bike on a receiver rack, the stiffer springs would be appreciated.

Thoughts?

 

I've read in several places that getting the Max Tow Package might mean getting heavier duty springs, even though that's not listed in any official Jeep information I can find.

Does anyone know for sure? What springs do folks with Max Tow have?

I'm shopping for a new JKU Sport S before they're all gone. I've mostly been looking at ones with the Max Tow Package since I want the 3.73 gears. But I just saw one with the 3.73's as a stand alone option. I'm wondering if I go with this one, will I be missing out on heavier duty springs? Since I intend to add a winch & bumper, plus Gobi rack, plus will occasionally be hauling my 300 lb. dirt bike on a receiver rack, the stiffer springs would be appreciated.

Thoughts?

I've been on several Jeep forums for many years, I've never seen any explanation for why Jeeps have different spring numbers. Most believe it has to do with the weight of the Jeep as configured.

I can tell you that my '14 Rubi (4 door, hard top) with no tow packages had better springs than my '13 Sport (4 door, hard top) with Max Tow... ??? ... ??? ... ???

For many people the point is moot because they do a coil lift. YMMV

Good luck! :thumb:

 

Max tow is the gearing over the towing package which is the hitch and wiring. In the manual for my departed 2015 JKU (traded it, kept the pdf of the manual which I downloaded) all JKs regardless of transmission or gearing is limited to 2000#. For JKUs, with 3.21 gearing, 2000# regardless of transmission, with 3.73 or 4.10 gearing it is 3,500# regardless of transmission.

In my 2017 manual for the 3.21 gears it is 2000# regardless of transmission or whether it is a 2 door or 4 door, and for the 3.73 or 4.10 it is 3500# regardless of transmission or whether it is a 2 door or 4 door.

My '15 Sahara had 3.21s and towing package. My '17 Chief has the max towing package and although it costs a bit more in gas, I really, really like the 3.73s.

To the best of my knowledge they don't change the springs. I don't believe stiffer springs exist and in most cases, the difference in the springs is in the height of the springs. If you feel the weight has lowered the Jeep too much, you can always add small spacers under the springs to raise it back up. The front is normally a little lower than the rear from the factory, some add 1" spacers to the front to get rid of the rake.

 

Just wanted to throw some additional links out for folks who like to do some reading.

Hitch class explanation

Class 3 hitch: TYGER Towing Combo: 2inch Receiver Hitch & Wiring Harness & Hitch Cover Fits 2007-2018 Wrangler JK 2Dr & 4Dr (Exclude 2018 JL Models) $59 for whole kit

2018 jeep towing capacity

Always refer to your manual over anything you read on the internet.



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This tow package is just one reason why you should do your homework and order one and not buy off the dealers lot. I was so anal about getting the options I wanted that ordering was the only way for me, I'm not one of those persons that have to have it right now, I can wait for exactly what I want.

trainman

 

My 2012 was ordered with the heavy duty tow package and the 4:10 axles. But I guess the spring issue is mute since there is a 4 1/2" AEV lift on it now. So if your going to do a major lift and install new springs anyway, paying more than 60 bucks for the aftermarket hitch is probably a waste of money in my opinion....

 

There are many reported instances of identically optioned Jeeps of the same year factory fitted with different spring numbers as well as several reports of JK's coming from the factory with different spring numbers on the same axle, likely to fix a lean.
My gut tells me that if the assembly line runs short on a certain given spring part number that they have simply went to the next available part number up or down one number.

 

I think it is just random chance, and I am happy that they seem to be able to mostly use four matching springs whatever the rate.

 

I found the stickers on the springs of my new JKU, but I don't see a number that says 17/59 or 18/59, it's a much longer number. Where do I find this information and what does it mean?

 

It's the last 2 numbers like pictured below. The higher the number the stiffer the spring.
The fronts will range from 14 to 19
The rears range from 56 to 60

 

Well, crap. Then I got 17/58. So much for bigger springs with Max Tow. Oh well.

I guess adding the steel bumper and winch will force my hand on a leveling lift then. Hey, it's only money... :-/

 

I got 19/59 springs on my Willys which came equipped with the max tow package

 

I think that this thread has been the most useful thread I have read on here so far.
Thank you all.