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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Jeep towing discussion from Intro > Pics thread
    Posted: 26 Apr 2014 at 11:16pm
Originally posted by Chukar

Thanks very much Toolmanjohn. This is where it gets confusing for me. I have a 2012 4 door Jeep Sahara Unlimited with a Pentestar 285 horse engine. My Jeeps weight and size is the same as the same Jeep that can tow 3,500 lbs but because of the axle ratio difference mine is only rated to tow 2,000 lbs. Why would my jeep be unsafe to drive vs the other Jeep. And also both jeeps have the same tongue weight capacity.


If the axle ratio is different , that may be enough of a mechanical stress that Chrysler decided not to risk warranty work. Sounds like you should talk to a knowledgeable service person (not a sales person, they almost always know the least about a vehicles tow capability). But if it is in your owners manual, I would trust what it says. Maybe a Jeep forum might be of some help in finding the exact reason for the tow difference between the two.

I found this link on a Jeep forum . It's the pdf specifications for the 2012 model years. They ALL have a 2000 pound tow limit. I don't know why the 2014 has a higher tow rating.. Is it the engine, transmission, or axle ratios??

http://www.jeeppr.com/jeep/pdf/2012_JP_Wrangler_Specs.pdf
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Chukar View Drop Down
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Posts: 11 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Apr 2014 at 4:33pm
Thanks very much Toolmanjohn. This is where it gets confusing for me. I have a 2012 4 door Jeep Sahara Unlimited with a Pentestar 285 horse engine. My Jeeps weight and size is the same as the same Jeep that can tow 3,500 lbs but because of the axle ratio difference mine is only rated to tow 2,000 lbs. Why would my jeep be unsafe to drive vs the other Jeep. And also both jeeps have the same tongue weight capacity.
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Apr 2014 at 4:09pm
Chukar , the weight of the vehicle, it's overall wheelbase, it's receiver overhang (distance from rear axle to tow ball), and mass, are very important for safe towing.

Manufacturers are really only taking their best guess for safe towing. Personally, I don't think I would be comfortable towing max tow weight with my vehicle, or any vehicle. It's not just about the mechanical strength of the engine, tranny, and drivetrain (think about how strong the rear suspension and frame/unit body construction must be when adding tongue weight).

A nice safe estimate is not to tow more than half the tow vehicle max rating. BUT, that doesn't mean it isn't safe to tow up to it, it really depends on trailer dynamics, including trailer brake setup, gross weight, tongue weight and axle weight distribution.

If someone tows way more than their recommended tow limit, then it doesn't take much to make it unstable even at lower speeds.

But, in Europe, they ignore all that I think. I have seen pictures of some small economy cars with HUGE campers being pulled it's hilarious and scary.
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Apr 2014 at 3:40pm
Short and light tow vehicles get out of shape quickly.  A cross wind or even a truck going in the other direction can get you swerving and over.  Drive train is only a part of the reason for ratings.  
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Chukar View Drop Down
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Posts: 11 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Apr 2014 at 2:52pm
Thanks for all the great advise. One thing I do not understand is why is it unsafe to tow with a lower rated vehicle. If it has a brake controller and you drive in a safe manner wouldn't the unsafe part be only related to causing damage to the engine or transmission?
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headcold View Drop Down
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Posts: 125 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Apr 2014 at 1:30pm
I'm finding that towing the 177 with my new used 2011 Tundra 4.7 L engine with the tow package is a night and day improvement over towing with my old 2002 4-Runner with a 3.4 L and a tow package.  I can cruise at 65 in wind without breaking 2000 rpms.  Gas mileage is the same or better with the Tundra.
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Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo View Drop Down
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Posts: 138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 9:00pm
After I got "older and smarter", we tow our 'Pod with a hemi powered Grand Cherokee.
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Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo View Drop Down
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Posts: 138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 8:56pm
The towing capacity of a Jeep Wrangler, according to Chrysler Corp., is up to 2000# for a JK (2 door Wrangler), and 3500# for a JKU. (4 door wrangler) The words "up to" means Chrysler requires a "towing package" to tow the maximum rating, without voiding the warranty.

When I was "young and dumb" I towed some heavy stuff behind Jeeps, over loaded utility trailers, and a 15' Scotty behind a 1972 CJ, and my 181G home with my 2002 Wrangler 2 door. (I had no other way to get it home, and I remembered the CJ doing the job) The 'Pod behind the TJ wasn't fun, I would never do it again, 80 miles of "white knuckle" driving in the rain. The biggest problem was stopping. With it's soft coil springs, the TJ was more "squirrely" than the leaf sprung CJ. The V8 in the CJ could always "jerk" the Scotty straight, the 4.0 just didn't have the torque to do the same with the 'Pod.

The new JKs weigh 500# more than the old TJs, and have better brakes, as well as the aforementioned 285 hp. The "older and smarter" version of me wouldn't venture out on the road with my 2013 JK towing the 'Pod.
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Chukar View Drop Down
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Posts: 11 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 8:19pm
Thanks for the advise. Our other vehicle is a 2013 Durango rated at 6,200 lb towing. I think I will forget about the Jeep and use the Durango.
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 8:11pm
To tow with that much difference between rated capacity of the TV and the trailer weight you are risking you and your passengers safety as well as any others that may be involved in the likely accident that is in your future.  Should you survive you will surely be the subject of a lawsuit.  I recommend you consider another vehicle.
Keith-N-Dar
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