Community Forums

woodruff13 · 01-02-2019, 05:47 PM

I have a Forester Sprinter chassis, and am looking for a TOAD that has 4WD. I have a Jeep JK Unlimited Sahara hardtop, probably 4500 pounds, that is too heavy. Looking for a 4WD that is light. Need a manual, or a transfer case w/ a neutral.

Any suggestions? Not much out there that fits the bill

Bill

Winterbagoal · 01-02-2019, 06:41 PM

I tow a Wrangler Sahara Unlimited hardtop no problem. What makes you think you'd be overweight? If you know your actual loaded, ready to roll, GVW, and you subtract it from the 15250 GCWR, you might be surprised. If you're simply subtracting the 11030 lb GVWR from the 15250 GCWR, then you're assuming you'll have the tow vehicle loaded to the GVWR. Most people are far enough below that, that they can tow over the 4220 lb difference.

If you've done the homework, and eliminated your Wrangler, then the only options I know of might be some older Ford Ranger 4X4 pickups, and the Suzuki Sidekick 4X4 and it's many clones. Perhaps there are some AWD options out there. Check the Motorhome Magazine's annual list of 4 down towables for a more accurate list.

woodruff13 · 01-03-2019, 01:22 PM

I've not weighted my RV or the jeep..

But looking at https://www.automobile-catalog.com/, curb weight is 4178. Hardtop adds 140 lbs. So 4300 w/ nothing in it. Being an Unlimited 4 door, Sahara model, makes it heavier. Probably 4500 pounds before putting stuff in it.

Looking at the Mini Clubman and Jeep Compass (pre '17) now. Still would like lighter. But my Jeep seems over the weight limit.

Bill

Winterbagoal · 01-03-2019, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodruff13

I've not weighted my RV or the jeep..

But looking at https://www.automobile-catalog.com/, curb weight is 4178. Hardtop adds 140 lbs. So 4300 w/ nothing in it. Being an Unlimited 4 door, Sahara model, makes it heavier. Probably 4500 pounds before putting stuff in it.

Looking at the Mini Clubman and Jeep Compass (pre '17) now. Still would like lighter. But my Jeep seems over the weight limit.

Bill

You're a Wrangler guy, I can tell.

"I've not weighed my RV or the jeep.."

Start with that. There must be an DOT inspection station near you that will weigh them for you for free?

"But looking at https://www.automobile-catalog.com/, curb weight is 4178. Hardtop adds 140 lbs. So 4300 w/ nothing in it. Being an Unlimited 4 door, Sahara model, makes it heavier. Probably 4500 pounds before putting stuff in it."

Plan on towing it with a 1/4 tank of gas, and a minimum of cargo extras inside. I'll sometimes be carrying 2 X 5 gallon cans of fuel, gas and diesel, in mine, depending on the destination or area traveled. That's all you need to carry in it. Towing a Wrangler with a Sprinter will make you a minimalist very quickly. Mine weighs around 4500 lbs with that configuration. Remember, anything you can leave behind in either the Sprinter RV or the Jeep, helps keep you under the 15250 GCWR.

"Looking at the Mini Clubman and Jeep Compass (pre '17) now. Still would like lighter. But my Jeep seems over the weight limit. "

Mini Clubman?

Jeep Compass?

(it's not a Jeep, no matter what the badge says). If you want lighter, then you'll have to drive something like one of the units you've mentioned.
You won't know, until you weigh everything loaded to go. Weigh the RV separately first to establish how much room you'll have under the GCWR for the weight of the Wrangler.

My Wrangler Sahara Unlimited 4-door weighs about 4500, and my Navion loaded for travel w/full fuel, DEF, propane, 1/2 fresh water, empty holding tanks, life/camping supplies, and 2 people, weighs around 10600 lbs. Doing the math, my total weight when towing is 15100 lbs, which is still 150 lbs under the allowable maximum GCWR. Flat towing, the tongue weight is negligible.

Sorry for the persistence, but I really hate to see a Wrangler guy leave it at home, if you don't have to.

I'll leave it up to you now to decide. No more posts from me, unless you have a question/concern. It can be done.

tinseast · 01-03-2019, 08:14 PM

I tow a 2014 4 dr JK Rubicon. Front steel bumper adds about 70lbs. but the blue ox hitch attaches directly to it without any mounting plates. During the camping season, I remove my winch, and all the rigging involved. One thing I do to reduce weight is removed the factory doors and replace them with two piece canvas doors. That reduces my weight by 200 lbs. I have talked to a few that have removed the spare to reduce weight but I'm not crazy about that idea. I have towed mine around now for about 2 years without a problem other than what seems accelerated tire wear on the Jeep, aggressive tread pattern may be a factor in that. I'm towing with a 2018 Dynamx Isata 3 FW on a Mercedes chassis.

Isaac-1 · 01-03-2019, 10:58 PM

How about a Jeep Cherokee (not Grand Cherokee) with Active Drive II 4x4? The 2017 4 cylinder TrailHawk had a curb weight of just over 4,000 pounds , and the 6 cylinder weighed in at about 4,100. Some of the obscure variants like the Latitude with optional active drive II may be even less as they don't have Trailhawk's skid plates, or the 6 cylinder 4046 pound Overland's luxury items.

woodruff13 · 01-04-2019, 09:56 AM

Thanks for the comments.. I found my local trash transfer station will weight the jeep and RV, I'll report back with the weights and thoughts.

Bill

woodruff13 · 01-05-2019, 11:45 AM

Pleasanton Garbage was nice and gave me tare weights for free ;-)

On the Jeep, I get two weights. Empty and nominal. Empty (no gas) is 4316 lbs. It is a 2009 Unlimited Sahara, w/ baseplate already installed. A full tank of gas would weigh 26 gal * 6.3lbs = 164 lbs. So plan on a nominal weight of a half tank of gas, about 4400 lbs.

On the 2401W, I filled the propane and dumped waste water. Fresh water was at one bar. Empty would be 10220 lbs, no people, no gas, no clothes or food or toys.

GCWR is 15250 lbs. 4400+10220=14620.

Now, add about 150 lbs for fuel (both vehicles) and 150 lbs for water (combined three tanks), 400 lbs for me & my wife, and we're already overweight, before we add any stuff we load into the RV for our trip.

Not sure what we'll do. If we don't do the Jeep, we'd need a TOAD that is not just a little lighter, but close to 3000 lbs or less. So maybe no TOAD?

Bill

AudiDudi · 01-05-2019, 11:57 AM

What's the OCCC of the 240W?

As I recall from a conversation with a factory rep, any weight above 4200# towed must be subtracted from the OCCC.

The 2401W is pretty heavy as compared to our Coachmen Prism 24G. It weighs empty at about 9370#

Winterbagoal · 01-05-2019, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiDudi

What's the OCCC of the 240W?

As I recall from a conversation with a factory rep, any weight above 4200# towed must be subtracted from the OCCC.

The 2401W is pretty heavy as compared to our Coachmen Prism 24G. It weighs empty at about 9370#

I've seen a couple of threads that suggest the Isatas are on the heavy side, if you option them out with all the goodies (hydraulic leveling?), and the full wall slides almost push up the weight.

Bill, at least you got everything weighed, and can make better decisions on what to do going forward.
So, it's looking like you were right about a much lighter towed. Or, a couple of E-bikes, maybe? Or, rent something when you get to your destination, as required?
Nice year/model of Wrangler, btw. Such a shame to leave it behind. They're a lot of fun and very useful, too.
Good luck with it.

HighDesert · 01-08-2019, 04:29 PM

FWIW - we have a 2017 Forest River Sunseeker 2400R (MBS) and tow a 2008 Jeep JK Sahara 2 door, fully fueled with zero issues. I don't think you have anything to really worry about al long as you watch your total weight limits.

DariusB · 01-18-2019, 07:38 AM

I have been researching Toads myself to tow behind my 19Navion D. The 2019 Cherokee Latitude model has a curb weight of 3655 lbs. I have read a letter from FCA posted on either this site or the WB site that says you don't need that wire harness to flat tow!. Perhaps this is an option for you. It surprises me that a 2019 Wrangler 2 door Sport has a heavier curb wt at 3955.
These are figures from the Jeep web site for these vehicles. I have not actually weighed them.
The Navion has a posted "cargo" allowable weight of 1128lbs so if I watch my wife close....we should be able to stay within limits with either of these Toads.

SeeTheUSA · 01-18-2019, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DariusB

I have been researching Toads myself to tow behind my 19Navion D. The 2019 Cherokee Latitude model has a curb weight of 3655 lbs. I have read a letter from FCA posted on either this site or the WB site that says you don't need that wire harness to flat tow!. Perhaps this is an option for you. It surprises me that a 2019 Wrangler 2 door Sport has a heavier curb wt at 3955.
These are figures from the Jeep web site for these vehicles. I have not actually weighed them.
The Navion has a posted "cargo" allowable weight of 1128lbs so if I watch my wife close....we should be able to stay within limits with either of these Toads.

To be clear, the Latitude comes in three flavors. The least optioned is not a 4x4 and curb weight is 3,655 lbs. The fancier two models are both 4x4 and weigh more ... the Plus model weighs 3,953 lbs. and the Limited model weighs 4,046 lbs.

If you want a 4x4 like the OP is asking about, then the price of curb weight admission for a Latitude is 3,953 lbs.

DariusB · 01-18-2019, 08:15 AM

Like I said, I only looked at the "build and price" section on the Jeep web site. They all (models and variations) start at the same wt on that site. Still, your version of the OPs desire is several hundred pounds under the 4400+or- lbs he can tow even if coach is maxed out at 11030.