Tow with Wrangler

[JWhitcomb]

I am curious, how bad is it to tow a 3000# boat with a Wrangler. Not real long distance, say three hours max. My guess is the short wheel base can make for a rough ride.

 

[C Schomer]

I don't know what your tow rating is(don't exceed it) but you need a good hitch (equalizer and maybe antisway) with those little suvs. I've seen some real hairy wrecks with little Jeeps and old mini-broncos when the wind gets them. Craig

 

[merryman]

I have not done it myself, but have talked to several who have towed with a short wheel base rigs and they all say it is unstable. My son towed a fairly heavy flatbed with a full size Blazer and said that compared to his 1 ton pick up, it had him all over the road.



Vaughn

 

[wcjp]

The Wrangler YJ's (87-95) were only rated to tow 2000pds. This was regardless of transmission. The Cherokee's with 5spd was also 2000pds while the Cherokee's with the automatic were rated upto 5000pds.

 

[RAMalama]

TRAILER WEIGHT...

I wouldn't worry about ride!! I'd worry about dynamic stabilty! (the faster you go, the more dynamic instability is generated) Look at it this way; Parked your rig would be stable. Rolling at 3mph it'd still be stable and hard to deflect from it's intended path and could react to emergencies. Now, at 70mph try an emergency deer-dodging-manuver or something like that! Impossible! You'd be all over the road! You end up upsidedown looking at your soda in your cup holder spill all over your roof! Ouch!



HOWEVER !



If your boat is anywhere close to 3k-lbs I hope it has brakes!



If it does, I'd tow it with the 'ol YJ. I've seen over the years the old CJ-7s and 5s both wide and narrow, towing all kinds of crazy stuff. Sometimes safely, sometimes not.



To do it, I'd set it up with a weight distributing hitch and load the boat to ensure the tongue weight is at least 20% of trailer weight. Yep, I mean 600lbs! Make sure both rigs tow level or make them tow level with add-a-leafs or whatever. Then, I'd never tailgate and watch my speed!



I bet your YJ is willing. It's just that there is a wrong way, or a really really wrong way to tow with those rigs. I'm sure you'll be exceeding some kind of manufacturer rating somewhere. Probably more than one too. 3k-lbs is close to what your lil YJ weighs it's self!!!!! So legally, I say DON'T DO IT!!! But personally, I would! -But that doesn't mean you should! It's up to you of course.



And I know it's not an SUV. It's a JEEP!!!! Nice little rig. Does yours have that wonderful HO straight six in it? No offense if it's a four banger. I've seen many, many, XJ's (Cherokees) with the straight six (both HO and not) with over 200k-miles on them. With proper maintenance, that 'ol six will go for ever. - Just watch for over heating as the miles get on... !



R/ Ian of Hertford, NC

 

[RichB59]

Years ago

I owned a boat in partnership with a friend. A 19' inboard had a old chrysler 6cyl flathead in it. We sold the boat and (then friend) volunteered to tow it to the new owners house. The tow vehicle was a CJ can't remember which one. He jack knifed the boat on the highway and it came off the trailer he had to push it off the road and went right thru the hull. You really have a vehicle thats to short to safely tow that boat. The new owner wanted his money back. Needless to say he didn't get my half . Short wheel based vehicles are not for towing. I managed a Dodge and Jeep parts dept. for many years and heard alot of horror stories. J. M. O



LOL Rich