I have towed my TJ behind my GC for a short distance and it seemed fine. I have a Stay-in-Play auxiliary braking system in the TJ. My normal tow vehicle is a F350 crew cab, long bed.
Flat Towing the TJ
- Thread starter c_bronson
- Start date
No, I was saying that I understood I would need it and just getting it out of the way so people wouldn't rip me a new one for not having it.
I appreciate the input and this is why I was asking. I did just get my TJ weighed yesterday and that's where I got 4200 lbs. The GC has an automatic rear stabilizer built into it (from the research I've done and asked around on if I would need a stabilizing hitch). Again, I posted on here to get some well-informed opinions rather than just getting chewed out so I really appreciate your helpful feedback.
I guess this is where I get confused with why people thought I was out of my mind. I understand that just because something is "rated" at 7200 lbs doesn't mean you SHOULD. But with 3,000 lbs to away from the limit, I'd assume with all the proper setup and responsible driving, it wouldn't be an issue. Heck even the advertisement pictures of GC show them towing a massive Air Stream and a boat that would weigh more than my TJ. So again, this is why I asked here. All things in place like supplemental braking and the correct towing setup, I just didn't understand why everyone was saying the Grand Cherokee was WAY too small for the Job.
With the correct setup and safe driving it can absolutely tow that. I find it amusing that on a lot of the RV boards people need duallys to tow a 2500lb pop-up camper. Obviously from a comfort standpoint and not wanting to notice the trailer is there I can see how bigger is better, but saying it can't or is unsafe is not true, especially with an experienced driver. I've seen some of those people towing small trailers with dually trucks and I'd stay far away from them, doing 90 mph down the highway, etc. Experience and safety is key when towing close to the limit, which you still have a safety amount of about 3000 lbs.
Have you considered renting a U-Haul car hauler trailer rather than flat towing?
Will U-Haul allow it with your Grand Cherokee? If so you are golden.
If not, all is not lost. Just rent the smallest box truck U-Haul rents and the car hauler trailer. Run the box empty if you have nothing to haul except the jeep. Still cheaper than many other options.
Will U-Haul allow it with your Grand Cherokee? If so you are golden.
If not, all is not lost. Just rent the smallest box truck U-Haul rents and the car hauler trailer. Run the box empty if you have nothing to haul except the jeep. Still cheaper than many other options.
A lot of ifs implied in that statement.
Have you ever actually flat towed a jeep? Or flat towed anything for that matter?
My question is this (again not arguing but trying to educate myself and really understand), I've towed my Jeep on a U-haul car hauler transport behind one of their trucks. The transport trailer they provided and THEY hooked up had nothing but the normal ball hitch attachment and chains. No brake system. So how is that acceptable vs what I was suggesting? The smallest truck they offer is 10' and their website says its max towing capacity is only 6,000 lbs with a wheelbase of 139". Is it strictly the wheelbase of the Uhaul that makes this appropriate? The weights of my GC and the 10' Box Truck are pretty similar.
This is a good idea. The U-Haul car hauler trailers are effective. Probably much less expensive than buying an auxiliary brake and getting it installed if you're not going to tow very often.
I've used Uhaul to bring both Jeeps home, towed behind my GMC Sierra. Enter both vehicles into the website and they will tell you if they allow it. Beware, if the TJ has bigger than 31" tires the straps on the trailer will not go around the tires. Uhaul will also tell you that you cant use their trailer if you have bigger than 31s but I did anyway with auxiliary straps.
Not sure, maybe he had a crappy tow-bar setup. He’s well familiar with towing bumper pull trailers upwards of 14-15k lbs so I doubt there’s issues with the truck or driver. And honestly, it’s been so long since he flat towed (12-13 years) I can’t remember how it was setup.
Glad to hear you have no issues flat towing your TJ since I’m kicking around the idea of flat towing mine with my Ram 2500 to Moab next April.
In no particular order:
All U-Haul car hauler trailers have trailer brakes. The surge brake type, not the type controlled by a lever or button in the cab.
If U-Haul won't let you rent a 10' box truck with car hauler trailer and jeep, step up a size until they will. Still cheaper and easier for a one-time tow. [I once took a Greyhound bus 2300 miles to pick up a car I wanted to restore - took it home with an empty U-Haul truck and trailer, slept in the back of the truck at rest stops. I don't usually suggest shit I haven't tried.
]
Tongue weight makes a difference. There is none when flat towing.
Wheelbase matters.
It is the law in almost every state that a towed vehicle over a certain weight be equipped with supplemental braking. All jeeps are over that weight limit.
Bottom line:
No matter how you slice or dice it, and knowing what I've learned through the years about flat towing jeeps, which began almost 60 years ago at the age of 10 or so when parents actually let their kids ride in the jeeps being flat towed at 60 mph, and having owned a Grand Cherokee, I would not risk my life or the lives of people I care about flat towing a TJ with a Grand Cherokee and I certainly wouldn't want to risk my TJ.
And that's all I have to say about that.
YMMV
All U-Haul car hauler trailers have trailer brakes. The surge brake type, not the type controlled by a lever or button in the cab.
If U-Haul won't let you rent a 10' box truck with car hauler trailer and jeep, step up a size until they will. Still cheaper and easier for a one-time tow. [I once took a Greyhound bus 2300 miles to pick up a car I wanted to restore - took it home with an empty U-Haul truck and trailer, slept in the back of the truck at rest stops. I don't usually suggest shit I haven't tried.
]Tongue weight makes a difference. There is none when flat towing.
Wheelbase matters.
It is the law in almost every state that a towed vehicle over a certain weight be equipped with supplemental braking. All jeeps are over that weight limit.
Bottom line:
No matter how you slice or dice it, and knowing what I've learned through the years about flat towing jeeps, which began almost 60 years ago at the age of 10 or so when parents actually let their kids ride in the jeeps being flat towed at 60 mph, and having owned a Grand Cherokee, I would not risk my life or the lives of people I care about flat towing a TJ with a Grand Cherokee and I certainly wouldn't want to risk my TJ.
And that's all I have to say about that.
YMMV
People often ignore the fact that maximum towing capacity is usually based on a 150lb drive and full fluids and nothing else, not filled with the spouse, 2-3 kids, dog and the storage are filled with goodies. Every pound over the drive reduces maximum towing capacity
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Thanks for taking your time to explain all that and provide the information. At this point I'm well beyond considering flat towing the TJ with the Grand. I just like to truly understand and know why people say what they say. So thank you.In no particular order:
All U-Haul car hauler trailers have trailer brakes. The surge brake type, not the type controlled by a lever or button in the cab.
If U-Haul won't let you rent a 10' box truck with car hauler trailer and jeep, step up a size until they will. Still cheaper and easier for a one-time tow. [I once took a Greyhound bus 2300 miles to pick up a car I wanted to restore - took it home with an empty U-Haul truck and trailer, slept in the back of the truck at rest stops. I don't usually suggest shit I haven't tried.
Tongue weight makes a difference. There is none when flat towing.
Wheelbase matters.
It is the law in almost every state that a towed vehicle over a certain weight be equipped with supplemental braking. All jeeps are over that weight limit.
Bottom line:
No matter how you slice or dice it, and knowing what I've learned through the years about flat towing jeeps, which began almost 60 years ago at the age of 10 or so when parents actually let their kids ride in the jeeps being flat towed at 60 mph, and having owned a Grand Cherokee, I would not risk my life or the lives of people I care about flat towing a TJ with a Grand Cherokee and I certainly wouldn't want to risk my TJ.
And that's all I have to say about that.
YMMV
I think you are right about the dolly - Seems that I have heard that before. Regardless, I think most agree that brakes of some sort are the way to go.
Like you, I have towed my TJ many thousands of miles (behind an RV). Once Installed I have found my Demco Stay n Play Duo to be absolutely invisible until needed. I hook up the tow bar, light cable, and flip a switch and drive away. Granted, it is not cheap but I have wasted much more on much less in my life.
For anyone interested, here is a link to a video of one being installed/operating on a JK
T A
TJ Enthusiast
IF you have the supplemental braking in the TJ, you should have no problem flat towing it behind the GC. Follow the instructions in the TJ manual and do a short test drive to make sure there are no issues before you get on the road.
DO NOT tow it 2 wheels off the ground without further conversation on exactly what is required for that.
DO NOT tow it 2 wheels off the ground without further conversation on exactly what is required for that.
I would not use a dolly, as some have suggested. It's an additional complication, and I don't believe Jeep approves dolly towing. Jeeps as designed are perfect for flat towing. With a supplemental brake system, you have 4 wheel braking, not just the 2 wheels you'd have with a dolly. If indeed your GC has a tow capacity of 7200#, I'd give it a shot.
TJ2
TJ Expert
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