Towing this pig

4Lo4Sho

4Lo4Sho

TJ Enthusiast
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Ok, so been waiting to grab a trailer for our TJ. Got it weighed today and as it sat with a good amount of gear/tools in the trunk, 1/2 tank of gas, 2 gallons of water and no driver it was 4950lbs.

35’s, long arms, ALL the armor, hard top, etc.

Our tow rig is rated at 500/5000 at the hitch and can go up to 1000/10000 with a weight distribution hitch.

Overall rating is about 7500lbs based on our drivetrain and gear ratio.

Our options seem to be a trailer with a WDH setup or flat towing. Anyone have any new guidance in 2024 on what works for you?

Tow rig is a 2015 2.7l F150 crewcab shortbed.
 
4Lo4Sho said:
Ok, so been waiting to grab a trailer for our TJ. Got it weighed today and as it sat with a good amount of gear/tools in the trunk, 1/2 tank of gas, 2 gallons of water and no driver it was 4950lbs.

35’s, long arms, ALL the armor, hard top, etc.

Our tow rig is rated at 500/5000 at the hitch and can go up to 1000/10000 with a weight distribution hitch.

Overall rating is about 7500lbs based on our drivetrain and gear ratio.

Our options seem to be a trailer with a WDH setup or flat towing. Anyone have any new guidance in 2024 on what works for you?

Tow rig is a 2015 2.7l F150 crewcab shortbed.
Click to expand...
I both flat tow and put my LJ on a trailer. I do have a brake system on my Jeep for flat towing. I really wouldn’t want to tow it without one. I will use the trailer for longer trips so I don’t have to drive it both ways and risk breaking it. I have a standard hitch and move the Jeep to get my tongue weight correct. One concern with flat towing is if you have an issue with something on the Jeep you may not hear it from your tow vehicle.
My tow vehicle is a 21 f150 super crew with 5.0. It tows fine, I don’t know how the 2.7 will do.
 
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I've done both with my F150 and a trailer is much better. My LJ weighs just over 4200lbs empty. For flat towing I use the BrakeBuddy which is all but worthless. It essentially just keeps me legal. If I had room to store one I'd get a trailer in a heartbeat. If it's just an occasional trip then flat towing gets the job done. If your going to tow the Jeep frequently or just want a better experience then the trailer is the way to go. Being able to reverse without disconnecting is also really a nice benefit.
 
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Just realized another option. Upgrade our hitch from a class 3 to a class 4. That would bring our hitch rating to 1000/10000 without a complicated weight distribution setup.

Is this as much of a plug and play option as it seems?
 
I flat tow mine 2-4 times a year on hunting trips, 2-6 hours each way. I use a Ready Brake system and tow with my Sierra 2500 Dmax. The truck doesn't even know the TJ is there and the braking system works well.

If I were towing much further, much more often, or to wheeling trips where there could be more chance of something breaking, I'd probably prefer a trailer.
 
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06lj said:
I've done both with my F150 and a trailer is much better. My LJ weighs just over 4200lbs empty. For flat towing I use the BrakeBuddy which is all but worthless. It essentially just keeps me legal. If I had room to store one I'd get a trailer in a heartbeat. If it's just an occasional trip then flat towing gets the job done. If your going to tow the Jeep frequently or just want a better experience then the trailer is the way to go. Being able to reverse without disconnecting is also really a nice benefit.
Click to expand...

I use the invisi brake when I flat tow and really like it. Takes a bit to get adjusted but works great and nothing involved when towing. Hook up the jeep and go. Unfortunately the price has gone up since the pandemic.
https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...17Oro-eEAxXkN0QIHbCzA5UQwg8oAHoECAEQDQ&adurl=
 
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4Lo4Sho said:
Just realized another option. Upgrade our hitch from a class 3 to a class 4. That would bring our hitch rating to 1000/10000 without a complicated weight distribution setup.

Is this as much of a plug and play option as it seems?
Click to expand...

Tow capacity is hard to figure out on ford f150’s at least with my 2021. Lots of factors, I figure mine is between 8500 and 10500 which covers my LJ and trailer. I would suggest a set of air bags if you get a trailer.
 
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NskLJ said:
Tow capacity is hard to figure out on ford f150’s at least with my 2021. Lots of factors, I figure mine is between 8500 and 10500 which covers my LJ and trailer. I would suggest a set of air bags if you get a trailer.
Click to expand...

With good weight distribution you shouldn’t need airbags but they will help when used in addition. On a half ton you should have a weight distribution hitch.

https://www.equalizerhitch.com/blog/how-airbag-suspension-systems-affect-weight-distribution-hitches
 
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Trailer over flat towing every time. Gives you so many more options to tow other things around too and saves wear and worries associated with flat towing. A dual axle trailer with electric brakes and weight distribution hitch is the way to go. Is your F150 equipped with the tow package options? If not it's worthwhile to add the in cab brake controller and 7 pin trailer connector harness. That way you can pretty much tow any trailer you want to at any time, subject of course to weight limitations.
 
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Mac57 said:
Trailer over flat towing every time. Gives you so many more options to tow other things around too and saves wear and worries associated with flat towing. A dual axle trailer with electric brakes and weight distribution hitch is the way to go. Is your F150 equipped with the tow package options? If not it's worthwhile to add the in cab brake controller and 7 pin trailer connector harness. That way you can pretty much tow any trailer you want to at any time, subject of course to weight limitations.
Click to expand...

Yeah, aux tranny cooler, trailer Monitoring in the HUD/dash, trailer brake controller, 7pin/4pin hook-up,etc.

It’s the standard tow package for that year, we think. There was an HD package but i don’t know what else would have come with it? Bigger mirrors or a different rear end ratio, maybe?
 
NskLJ said:
Tow capacity is hard to figure out on ford f150’s at least with my 2021. Lots of factors, I figure mine is between 8500 and 10500 which covers my LJ and trailer. I would suggest a set of air bags if you get a trailer.
Click to expand...

Agreed! Here’s what i know.

Rig is 99% stock with no add-on’s except a folding tonneau cover

Hitch rating:
500/5000 alone
1000/10000 w/ weight dist. Hitch

Tow rating:
7600 lbs based on VIN #, engine (2.7l) and rear axle ratio (3.31)

GCVW: 12600lbs
Curb weight: 4700lbs
GVWR: 6250
Payload: 1550

So, passengers: 700
Cargo: 300
Which leaves right about: 5-600 for tongue weight, which puts us right at or over GVWR, with a jeep/trailer in tow.

As opposed to flat towing which seems to leave some payload as extra and also the 5000 jeep doesnt really come close to the 12600 GCVW of around 6000 for the truck and 4900 for the jeep. (About 1000lbs left over, overall)
 
4Lo4Sho said:
Just realized another option. Upgrade our hitch from a class 3 to a class 4. That would bring our hitch rating to 1000/10000 without a complicated weight distribution setup.

Is this as much of a plug and play option as it seems?
Click to expand...

Upgrading the hitch doesn't magically get you more towing capacity. You are limited by the tow vehicle, in particular the payload and the max weight for the rear axle. No way would I tow more than 5000lb without a WDH because a four-point WDH includes anti-sway friction points. Even if you don't need the weight distribution the anti-sway is important IMO.

Andy
 
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AndyA said:
Upgrading the hitch doesn't magically get you more towing capacity. You are limited by the tow vehicle, in particular the payload and the max weight for the rear axle. No way would I tow more than 5000lb without a WDH because a four-point WDH includes anti-sway friction points. Even if you don't need the weight distribution the anti-sway is important IMO.

Andy
Click to expand...

Understood! Thanks for clarifying.

What I was reading on the F150 forum and in our manual is that we have a factory 2” class 4 hitch already. The caveat is that even with that class 4 hitch you have to use a WDH past 500/5000 lbs up to our 7600lb tow rating.

Does that sound right?
 
4Lo4Sho said:
2015 2.7l F150 crewcab shortbed
Click to expand...
Curb 4,930 Lbs. Gross weight 7,050 Lbs. Tow vehicle 6K (depends how much the wife weighs) small engine and Jeep 5K. On a trailer more weight.

Looks like a poor idea to me. FL maybe, in the hills/mtns, no way. I could be wrong. D (this can end in disaster and then what do you say ? "I knew better !")

Options: Drive the Jeep, new tow vehicle (Ford diesel F250)
 
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Flat towing for me. I like the simplicity of pulling up behind the RV, hooking up the tow bar, plugging in the umbilical cord, flip the switch for the stay n play duo brake. The only down side I can see to my system is that if the Jeep becomes undrivable and cant be flat towed home. But I guess that is the risk you run with any vehicle on a road trip whether towed or driven. That is why I pay for 200 mile AAA towing.
 
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tnjeepguy said:
Curb 4,930 Lbs. Gross weight 7,050 Lbs. Tow vehicle 6K (depends how much the wife weighs) small engine and Jeep 5K. On a trailer more weight.

Looks like a poor idea to me. FL maybe, in the hills/mtns, no way. I could be wrong. D
Click to expand...

Yeah, it’s getting pretty close for my comfort, too. Not changing vehicles anytime soon. Have any suggestions?

Does flat towing seem to be a better choice based on weight?
 
Stinkbug said:
Flat towing for me. I like the simplicity of pulling up behind the RV, hooking up the tow bar, plugging in the umbilical cord, flip the switch for the stay n play duo brake. The only down side I can see to my system is that if the Jeep becomes undrivable and cant be flat towed home. But I guess that is the risk you run with any vehicle on a road trip whether towed or driven. That is why I pay for 200 mile AAA towing.
Click to expand...

Yup, that’s becoming a fairly valid option for us, i think.
 
Most max tow ratings are based on the use of a weight distribution hitch. I don't technically need one with 11 tundra and lj but the difference in handling and comfort with a weight distribution is noticeable in a good way.

I would recommend getting a wdh and using it. It helps distribute weight to front axle. Helps handle any large bump incidents while towing. They are easy to set up and once you get it set for the jeep you're done.

If you need help setting it up locally, most rv dealers have them or any reputable hitch/trailer shop.

I am just running an older harbor freight wdh which, at the time, was the same as the budget curt hitch.
 
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