Jeep towing discussion from Intro > Pics thread
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Topic: Jeep towing discussion from Intro > Pics thread
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Subject: Jeep towing discussion from Intro > Pics thread
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2014 at 2:18pm
I'm dragging our 178 behind a 06 unlimited Rubicon. Its a Jeep thing. The rest don't understand... 
Edit from Techntrek: I moved this discussion from the Intro Yourself > Pics of tow vehicles thread ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Replies:
Posted By: Chukar
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 5:29pm
| hello. I have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara automatic with the 3.6 pentestar engine. We just purchased an I Pod 182G but have not towed it yet. How does your Jeep handle the I Pod? |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 10:04pm
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Chukar, My 2 door Unlimited with the Rubicon package works very well at handling the Rpod. We use a Blue Ox WDH with sway control built into it. The only thing we need is the extra 100 horsepower that your Pentastar has.... ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: THEDragonTJH
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 11:47pm
I have a 2013 JKU Sport and I tow my 178 pretty comfortably. I know the 2 doors have a smaller tow rating so if you have one you might want to look into it. ------------- JeepeR-Pod '14 R-Pod 172 Jared & Jenny Teagan, Ruby (Kids), Ozzie, Louie and Stella (Dogs) |
Posted By: Chukar
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 1:32pm
| I think your rating is 2,000 lbs? I just confirmed with the dealer that mine is 2,000 lbs as well. I was extremely dissaponted to say the least. I told him I would tow my R Pod anyway and asked him what the issues might be and he if you take it easy it will be fine. I hope so... |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 2:26pm
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Yeah, I don't understand that. My '06 with slightly shorter wheelbase, 100 less horsepower & slightly lighter in weight has a 3500 lb tow rating. The '14 Wrangler Unlimited, supposedly has a 2000 lb tow rating. Huh. ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 8:11pm
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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 Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Chukar
Date 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. |
Posted By: Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo
Date 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. ------------- Old Dingo and/or Mrs. Dingo 181G 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo
Date Posted: 25 Apr 2014 at 9:00pm
After I got "older and smarter", we tow our 'Pod with a hemi powered Grand Cherokee.  ------------- Old Dingo and/or Mrs. Dingo 181G 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: headcold
Date 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. |
Posted By: Chukar
Date 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? |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date 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.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2014 at 4:09pm
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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. |
Posted By: Chukar
Date 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. |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2014 at 11:16pm
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 |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2014 at 7:38am
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Go to www.rubiconownersforum.com. Lots of good info there. My Wrangler Unlimited has the Rubicon package. Which gives me 4.10-1 axle ratios. With the larger tires that I put on the Jeep, I kinda wish that it had 4.56-1 ratios. That said, in '06 all 2 door Unlimited Wranglers had 3500 lb. tow rating. ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2014 at 7:43am
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The reason that I tow our Pod with a Wrangler Unlimited? You ever try to go off road trail riding in a Sienna minivan? We enjoy a different lifestyle than the "normal" camping enthusiast. Even a pickup truck isn't going to be comfortable on the trails that we travel on. The Pod doesn't go on anything beyond graded gravel roads.
If this wouldn't work out, the next step would be a motorhome to tow the Wrangler.... ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: THEDragonTJH
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2014 at 12:03pm
This is me too, the purchase of the Pod was a direct result of getting the Jeep and getting involved in wheeling. Without my Jeep I wouldn't have need for the Pod. I am pretty comfortable towing mine with my Jeep, I haven't taken on any mountain passes yet, but that might come this year. Take it a little slower than normal and you're fine. I also tend to do Highway driving rather than interstate,added bonus is it makes for a more interesting trip too. ------------- JeepeR-Pod '14 R-Pod 172 Jared & Jenny Teagan, Ruby (Kids), Ozzie, Louie and Stella (Dogs) |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2014 at 12:52pm
|
We are going to test the towing ability(not capacity) of our Jeep this summer. We are headed to Colorado for 2 weeks. I don't feel the need to be the first one to the summit of Monarch Pass. Or Wolf Creek Pass. Or any of the other passes that we will cross. Though my buddy with his '82 Jeep Scrambler towing a '74 Scotty camper & I are gonna "dragrace" to the top of Monarch. Its gonna be a slow race. ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: Chukar
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2014 at 2:08pm
| Looks awesome!! We plan to do most of our trips with our Dodge Durango but once in a while I would like to take our Jeep. My biggest dissapointmant was when the dealer confirmed that our model (2012 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara) has a towing capacity of a measly 2,000 lbs. vs other exact same vehicle with a different axle ratio. The service manager did confirm that as long as I "take it easy" I should not have any problems at all. The other dissapointment is that when we bought our jeep back in 2012 the salesman assured us the Sahara model towing limit was 3,500 lbs. Oh well. The positive is we are picking up our 182g in2 weeks!! And guess what, it's a 2015 model. Whatever that means, it was still built in 2014. Will post some pictures when we adventure out in southern British Columbia!! |
Posted By: outermostpod
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2014 at 4:35pm
|
are you SURE your Unlimited Sahara has a 3.21 axle? I thought all Saharas had the 3.73 which mine also has (2009 JKU Sahara). Do you have a manual or auto? I'm pretty sure all JKU Sahara autos have 3.73. The Jeep is adequate for towing the rpod but not spectacular. We didn't sell our Jeep because I couldn't part with it - so now it's a fun car. You might want to run your VIN through a VIN-checker website or have Jeep send you your build sheet to confirm that you have 3.21. I would recommend against towing the rpod if you have 3.21 - your tranny will get really hot and you also will have zero pulling power off the line. Not to mention that if you get in an accident your insurance will not cover you since you were pulling way over your limit - despite what your service manager told you.
|
Posted By: Chukar
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2014 at 5:39pm
| Mine is automatic. This is the ironic part. My manual states 3.73 and 3,500 lbs for my particular model. The service manager told me this was a typo from Jeep and that they received a letter from Chrysler stating this. The manual should have said 3.21 and 2,000 lbs. I am thinking of going back to the dealer I bought it from and demand a replacement or my money back. This should be an interesting topic if it ever reached the media and there are thousands of jeep owners with the same issue. |
Posted By: Kermit
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2014 at 9:25pm
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On the topic of gear ratios. Starting with 2012 models, the rubicon package does not guarantee the 4.10 axle ratio. Have re-geared several at work with 3.21 gears. A lot of people don't realize this and question why the jeeps feel so underpowered with the addition of only one to two size larger tires over stock. ------------- '14 182g Towed by various Jeeps |
Posted By: m6805
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2014 at 9:31pm
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Your Jeep tow capacity is directly related to you rear differential gears.
If you have a 3.73 or 4.10 rear end your tow capacity is usually 3500 lbs If you have 3.23/3.21 rear end your tow capacity is usually limited to 2000 ibs, or less. |
Posted By: outermostpod
Date Posted: 29 Apr 2014 at 8:42am
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I didn't trust the dealer's knowledge so before I bought I ran the VIN through this website : http://www.compnine.com/vid.php It's not free, but it will give you a very detailed build sheet for your exact Jeep. If you don't have 3.73 gears as the manual states you should, I would ask to see a copy of that letter that you mentioned, and then, ask for a refund.
You bought the Jeep with the intent to tow 3,500 lbs and were told that your purchase could do that. |