Towing Popup Camper with 42RLE

[BrentTurner348]

I have seen alot of forums about pop up campers and towing them but I haven't seen the specific answers I want. I have 2005 TJ. 4.0 with 42RLE. I have been looking at small new pop up campers. I would like one and maybe once a month or so go on 5 hour trips one way. Is anyone doing that with the 42RLE? If so I'm assuming with overdrive off? I'm thinking it would work but I would need to drive around 50 to keep rpms down enough to get any kind of fuel mileage. What yall say?

 

[AMS417]

You’ll need to smallest model they make to stay under the load cap with gear. @Jerry Bransford used to tow one. Think it’s an 8 footer.

 

[exjeep]

Probably not saying anything new here.
We have pulled a couple tent trailers (aka pop ups) with our Jeeps. (JK, TJ and WJ) We stayed within both the hitch weight and the trailer weight requirements. One of my coworkers pulled a Forest River 1640LTD with his TJ. Specs show a hitch weight of 162 and UVW of 1465. He loved the trailer and had the unit with the extra height for going off road on some "easy" trails. For "myself" those are about the max weights I would go because they are dry weights and do not include gear, propane, water or a battery. All putting you closer to the Jeeps recommended tow ratings. We pulled an old tent trailer a number of times with a JK 2 door. I had trouble eliminating the sway even though I felt I had the weight positioned correctly in the trailer and the tongue weight at about 12-14% of the trailer weight. We ended up with a new, slightly heavier trailer where I felt the mfg. was not even close to being correct on the tongue weight. They listed 190lbs on the tongue but when I weighed the tongue with the propane tanks and a battery, it was actually 320lbs and way over what I could handle with our JK 2 door. Ended up with a new tow vehicle. Like AMS417 says, look for a 8 foot box (usually a 12" tent trailer). Somewhere around 1000 to 1400lbs and then do an accurate tongue weight check to make sure your are under 200lbs.

Sorry, guess you asked more about the transmission. While our TJ has the 42RLE our WJ had the 42RE. I agree with you. - Overdrive off and not overworking the TJ on the hills and you should be fine. Just staying within the TJ specs and taking it easy.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

You’ll need to smallest model they make to stay under the load cap with gear. @Jerry Bransford used to tow one. Think it’s an 8 footer.

This was mine, a Fleetwood Taos, it towed really nicely. I barely knew it was back there, I kept looking in my mirror to make sure it was still there when on the highway.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Jerry - is it worth installing an auxiliary trans cooler to tow a pop-up?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Jerry - is it worth installing an auxiliary trans cooler to tow a pop-up?

Probably for most of us, though it depends on where it's towed. I had to regularly tow mine up and over my local mountains which would be a strain for any transmission. If it was always towed on mostly flat terrain maybe not needed.

 

[suicideking]

I used to tow one with my JKU. Never tried it with the TJ. The only time you will know it's there is if you have to stop too fast, or if driving up to the mountains. Just get one of the smaller ones and it will be fine. Drive slow, stop early.