I was thinking the TJ unlimited could tow up to 3,500lbs. I noticed today when looking in the service manual 3,500lbs is only listed with an Automatic transmission. Does this mean the 6sp is limited to 2,000lbs?
Unlimited Towing Capacity
- Thread starter Danarch
- Start date
I have an 05 LJR. 6sp 4:10 rear. According to the OM GTR is 3,500# no mater the trans, cooling or axel. I pull an 1200# teardrop with 800# of gear in the TJ and have no issues going down the road. I do have to down shift on the taller grades. 70mph on the flats and down to 55mph on the long big grades. My saving grace is that I pull a teardrop and wind resistance is negligible. The longer LJ wheel base adds some extra stability.
Thanks for the info, that makes me feel better. The orginal owner kept all the paper work and I found this in it which shows the 3,500. I don’t plan on towing 3,500 but I will be in the high 2,000. Out of curiosity I’ll be looking in the paper OM tomorrow. I have PDF’s of the OM and service manual and often just refer to them.
Nice teardrop! We looked at a couple of them, but they were pricy in CA. We are picking up a pop-up A-Frame trailer.
Keep in mind the trailer weight allowance is also the gcwr minus the weight of your jeep totally loaded with gear and people.
It looks like in your case if the jeep exceeds 4300lbs it encroaches on the trailer capacity.
A train weighing 4 tons would make me worry about braking ability. Be careful!
Absolutely, thank you for the reminder. Trailer is equipped with electrics brakes. That should help with the stopping.
I had a 55 Willys truck. You could load up the bed of the truck and never know till it came time to stop. Certainly needed to allow extra stopping time and I had installed a more modern brake system on it. I think the brake system was from an 70’s CJ which fit the 55 well.
Many are not aware that trailer towing capacity is reduced when a tow rig is modified with heavier axles, bigger tires, skidplates, etc., also when a tow rig is loaded with people and gear. One should have their tow rig weighed at a public scale when fully loaded, the fully loaded trailer as well.
Example: The GCWR for a TJ Unlimited is 8,100#. That is the total weight of jeep and trailer and contents. If one has a modified TJ Unlimited that weighs 5,100# at the public scale when fully loaded, that 5,100# must be subtracted from 8,100# for the total allowable trailer weight, leaving only 3,000# allowable trailer weight, not the 3,500# listed in the vehicle specifications.
Another limiting factor listed by Jeep is the trailer frontal area of 25 sq. ft. for the TJ and 32 sq. ft. for the TJ Unlimited.
Examples: The typical teardrop trailer has a frontal area of about 30 sq. ft. (6' w x 5' h). No es bueno para un TJ pero no hay problema para un TJ Unlimited. However, a Casita trailer although lightweight, has a frontal area of 52 sq. ft. . No es bueno para el TJ o el TJ Unlimited.
It’s interesting I looked in my OM today and its different then yours. Doesn’t mention anything about the WDH if over 1.000lbs, doesn’t have the trailer graphics etc.
Since we are getting a pop-up I am gong that will reduce the wind resistance since it will be shorter then the Jeep.
Thank you everyone for your input.
Thank you for the thoughts.
Where did you find the 32 sq. ft. for the TJU (just curious)? The only thing I’ve ever seen is the 25 sq. ft. I assume that is the simple measurement of the width and height of the front of the unit.
What I haven’t been able to find if is that beyond the limits of the Jeep, and if there is any difference depending on the shape of the trailer as the aerodynamics of a teardrop versus a flat face are different. And that is really just more of a curiosity question as there are a lot of factors that play into the drag.
Short wheelbase jeeps have been towing trailers since WWII. I first started towing with jeeps in the mid 1960's, and for many years I towed a Bantam TC3 trailer behind a CJ-5 with 81" wheelbase. Later, I towed the same trailer behind a CJ-7 with 93" wheelbase.
Yes, one must exercise caution, both with speed and stopping distance. Yes, backing up a short-coupled single axle trailer can be very difficult. However, I disagree with your overgeneralization that "pulling any trailer with a short wheelbase jeep is not the best idea."
That is for sure. We have a utility trailer we use for trips to Lowes / Home Depot, the feed store etc. and yes one little turn and the trailer changes directions very quickly. My wife is much better at than me.
In Post #1 of this thread.
Coincidentally, it is your post.
Duh, I completely missed that! Was too focused on it only listing “automatic”. I feel stupid.
Do any of you wise people have opinions about a weight distribution hitch vs just getting an ant-sway setup? Current thought is an anti-sway as a few people I’ve talked to and what I’ve read to seem to recommend a WDH for trailers over 5,000lbs or so.
Any trailer towed behind a TJ or TJ Unlimited should be small enough and light enough that a weight distributing hitch or anti-sway hitch is unnecessary. If you think your trailer needs a weight distributing hitch you either have the wrong trailer or your TJ is the wrong tow rig.
Our jeeps can tow utility trailers, tent trailers and small teardrops. None of those need weight distributing or anti-sway hitches.
With the appropriate trailer and Class 3 receiver hitch, a regular trailer ball should be sufficient for on-pavement tows. If you intend to go offroad with your trailer, an articulating coupler such as the Lock N Roll or MaxCoupler may be in order.
Our jeeps can tow utility trailers, tent trailers and small teardrops. None of those need weight distributing or anti-sway hitches.
With the appropriate trailer and Class 3 receiver hitch, a regular trailer ball should be sufficient for on-pavement tows. If you intend to go offroad with your trailer, an articulating coupler such as the Lock N Roll or MaxCoupler may be in order.
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I have one for the tow rig. I bought it for use when the heavy truck camper is in the bed and I have to use a 24" extension which tended to move the rear of the truck up and down a bit more that was comfy. On a whim, I used it without the camper and it made towing the Jeep on the trailer more pleasant than I expected so I use it all the time now.
If it makes the same difference for a TJ, it is worth investigating. I'd do a few tows first and see if the tongue weight bothers you with how it affects the rear suspension. If it doesn't bother you much, no need to spend the money.
I agree and the reason I was only looking at the anti-sway. The reason I started to second guess is from the post above, see picture below. Is a load equalizing hitch different than a WDH?