Towing with a TJ

[The Ontario jeeper]

As we all know the towing capacity of a stock TJ is 2k lbs for the most part. The LJ got 3500 lbs. So knowing those numbers, knowing the wheelbases, brakes, engines ect why can a XJ have a towing capacity of 5k? Cant be the wheelbase as the LJ is actually longer than a XJ. Has less rear overhang ( better for towing ) same engine, brakes should be on par if not the same. What causes the boost in tow rating for the XJ? Is it purely the transmission cooler it gets? Some would say leafs vs coils but the KJ ( rear coils ) also can have a tow rating of 5k. Wondering what actually causes that difference. Food for thought

 

[Gilaguy23]

My guess, and what Iv read is a 4 cyl XJ is maxed at 2000lbs, with the 4.0., auto, HD cooling and trans cooler (tow pkg) are OK for 5000. Maybe Jeep didn't wanna blur the lines of people who cant figure out what they have and stated 2000lbs is it on a TJ, YJ or LJ. Having had 5 XJ's, all pre 99, I dont recall any of them having lover then 3.55 gears if not the 3.73's. Im sure the 3.07 in many TJ's would suck.

 

[macleanflood]

Weight. XJ is heavier.

TJ will haul just about anything you want to put behind it. It's the weight of the trailer throwing you around that's the problem.

-Mac

 

[The Ontario jeeper]

Weight. XJ is heavier.

TJ will haul just about anything you want to put behind it. It's the weight of the trailer throwing you around that's the problem.

View attachment 686674

-Mac

XJ’s don’t weigh that much.

When you really look at it, it’s transmission, and maybe axle gearing?

 

[The Ontario jeeper]

My guess, and what Iv read is a 4 cyl XJ is maxed at 2000lbs, with the 4.0., auto, HD cooling and trans cooler (tow pkg) are OK for 5000. Maybe Jeep didn't wanna blur the lines of people who cant figure out what they have and stated 2000lbs is it on a TJ, YJ or LJ. Having had 5 XJ's, all pre 99, I dont recall any of them having lover then 3.55 gears if not the 3.73's. Im sure the 3.07 in many TJ's would suck.

I didnt even think about axle gearing.
I’m not trying to tow more than our TJ’s were rated for, this is just me being me having dumb thoughts.

 

[B1Toad]

I'm wondering if it could be partly for liability reasons, it appears that no Jeep model throughout all the years with a soft top option is rated to tow over 3,500 lbs and all the shorter wheelbase ones 2,000 lbs. Kind of like U-Haul who won't rent you a trailer if you don't have a hard top, and won't rent trailers to be towed with convertibles.

 

[The Ontario jeeper]

I'm wondering if it could be partly for liability reasons, it appears that no Jeep model throughout all the years with a soft top option is rated to tow over 3,500 lbs and all the shorter wheelbase ones 2,000 lbs. Kind of like U-Haul who won't rent you a trailer if you don't have a hard top, and won't rent trailers to be towed with convertibles.

that could also be a very good possibility! Didn’t even think about that.

 

[RangerTJ]

Also the XJ has rear leaf springs which are more stable when towing.

Look at all the HD trucks. They are all leaf spring rear.

Even with the fullsize trucks, the Ram and Tundra have coil springs in the rear and are maxed at a lower tow rating than the leaf spring trucks from GM and Ford.

 

[The Ontario jeeper]

Also the XJ has rear leaf springs which are more stable when towing.

Look at all the HD trucks. They are all leaf spring rear.

Even with the fullsize trucks, the Ram and Tundra have coil springs in the rear and are maxed at a lower tow rating than the leaf spring trucks from GM and Ford.

I saw someone else argue rear springs which I am really inclined to lean on, but another rebuttal to that is the KJ uses coils not leafs and can also have a tow rating of 5000lbs.

Upon doing some digging it appears jeep is now offering select JL models with such a rating too. I am genuinely curious on what boosts that. In my eyes a LJ rubicon should be able to match what a XJ can do in terms of towing. Weight, wheelbase, brakes, power it is all comparable.

 

[RangerTJ]

I saw someone else argue rear springs which I am really inclined to lean on, but another rebuttal to that is the KJ uses springs not leafs and can also have a tow rating of 5000lbs.

Upon doing some digging it appears jeep is now offering select JL models with such a rating too. I am genuinely curious on what boosts that. In my eyes a LJ rubicon should be able to match what a XJ can do in terms of towing. Weight, wheelbase, brakes, power it is all comparable.

The JL with the full floating rear has the 5k capacity.

Other aspects of the suspension come into play as well when a manufacturer is rating their vehicle.

Ford Ranger Raptor with coil rear springs is rated at 5500 while regular Rangers with leafs are 7500.

 

[B1Toad]

I saw someone else argue rear springs which I am really inclined to lean on, but another rebuttal to that is the KJ uses springs not leafs and can also have a tow rating of 5000lbs.

You may be on to something. The new Ford Rangers are rated to tow 7,500 lbs while the Ranger Raptors are only rated for 5,510 lbs, the Ranger has leaf springs and the Ranger Raptor has coils.

 

[Strizzo]

XJ’s don’t weigh that much.

When you really look at it, it’s transmission, and maybe axle gearing?

Wheelbase probably has a fair amount to do with it also.

 

[Strizzo]

You may be on to something. The new Ford Rangers are rated to tow 7,500 lbs while the Ranger Raptors are only rated for 5,510 lbs, the Ranger has leaf springs and the Ranger Raptor has coils.

The first gen raptors were similar, the rear springs are set up for high speed off road, so compromises were made in the load carrying ability of the rear leafs. But the ranger raptor rear suspension is significantly different from the standard ranger - coils, links, and a watts link vs leaf springs.

Come to think of it, the same was true on the first year tacoma TRD Pro as well, they had lower cargo capacity in exchange for ride off road.

 

[GATORB8]

The first gen raptors were similar, the rear springs are set up for high speed off road, so compromises were made in the load carrying ability of the rear leafs. But the ranger raptor rear suspension is significantly different from the standard ranger - coils, links, and a watts link vs leaf springs.

Come to think of it, the same was true on the first year tacoma TRD Pro as well, they had lower cargo capacity in exchange for ride off road.

It's very apparent in the Ram 2500 Power Wagon compared to a similarly equipped non-PW. 30% reduction in trailer weight rating and 50% payload reduction.

 

[The Ontario jeeper]

Wheelbase probably has a fair amount to do with it also.

LJ has a slightly longer wheelbase than a XJ.

 

[Zorba]

Also the XJ has rear leaf springs which are more stable when towing.

Look at all the HD trucks. They are all leaf spring rear.

Even with the fullsize trucks, the Ram and Tundra have coil springs in the rear and are maxed at a lower tow rating than the leaf spring trucks from GM and Ford.

This. Rear coils are, let's just say, sub-optimal for towing. I have a little utility trailer, rated for 2K lbs. The most I've had in it was somewhere around 1K gross. I could feel it trying to push the rear coils around - not exactly confidence building. I've towed all sorts of trailers with pickup trucks, and never had anything that felt quite like this Jeep and its coils.

 

[GATORB8]

To be honest I haven't looked at many TJ/LJ door stickers, but the significant impacts to the JL platform were payload and cooling.

At least in the JL, stickered payload maximums are not calculated for each vehicles like a truck would be. They are actually reduced to a single identical number across trims. IIRC, all two doors have 700 lb payload, JLUs 850 lb. Actual calculated payload is more like 1300 lbs. It's not a coincidence that that the sticker number is limited to 500 lbs + max tongue weight. Note in 2024 they increased a specific trim to be 5k, but personally I think that was partially due to marketing the full float rear axle strength that model had.

When the JT Gladiator was released, there are some interviews with engineering teams discussing the changes they made to the cooling systems in order to get the towing rating to 5k+. Specifically to pass the standardized towing test.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

XJ’s don’t weigh that much.

When you really look at it, it’s transmission, and maybe axle gearing?

It's wheelbase, ride height, stability driving the difference.

For context, the modern ZR2 and Ranger Raptor with their offroad suspension and shocks give up about 2,000lbs of towing capacity compared to their standard model brethren. No change in power, transmission etc. The tow ratings are about total vehicle safety and stability as well as power. A lifted TJ should be towing even less than the stock 2,000lb rating.

I used to tow a 18 or 19ft fishing boat behind a stock XJ Sport when I was a young fella. My sister in law still has that boat and there is NO way I'd want to tow it on the highway behind my TJ. Moving it around the yard is no problem.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Weight is a non-issue.
The Jeep Cherokee XJ typically weighs between 2,900 and 3,400 lbs, while the Jeep Wrangler TJ ranges from about 3,080 to 3,700 lbs, depending on engine, trim, and modifications.

 

[TheBoogieman]

This. Rear coils are, let's just say, sub-optimal for towing. I have a little utility trailer, rated for 2K lbs. The most I've had in it was somewhere around 1K gross. I could feel it trying to push the rear coils around - not exactly confidence building. I've towed all sorts of trailers with pickup trucks, and never had anything that felt quite like this Jeep and its coils.

You don't need a trailer if you buy an XJ with leaf springs. So stable. I wouldn't try this with a TJ.

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