Community Forums

Unicorn Driver · 02-23-2019, 05:22 AM

Hi,

My gas coach has a 5000lb tow rating and a GCWR of 30,000lbs, last weigh in with 100 gallons of gas and 92 gallons of water was 23,000lbs.

The weigh in did not include passengers, food/supplies/clothes and the holding tanks were empty. I am guessing another 1000lbs of weight would be added when heading out for a week long trip (I will weigh it next time when fully loaded). So let's says 24,000lbs fully loaded. If dry camping camping and coming back with full tanks the weight would be about the same.

The toad would have to carry 2 Kayaks at about 90lbs, a roof rack at about 30lbs and the weight of the tow gear.

I know I would be able to tow a 2 door Wrangler but not sure if a 4 door would be doable.

Would it be possible to find a 10 year old 4 door that would be within my tow limit? It will not be used for rock crawling but will be used on pot holed dirt roads so a Sport model will do.

If a 4 door is not doable I could remove the back seats of a 2 door as its just my wife and I and our 60lb dog.

Thanks,

Full.Monte · 02-23-2019, 06:03 AM

I think it would be OK. I tow a 2012 4 door Jeep Liberty behind my gas powered rig. Have had no problems doing so....I just can't back up. The Wrangler might be a bit heavier, but not by much. You have to satisfy the spec requirements....GCVWR, GVWR, and use a brake assist unit to apply the Jeep's brakes when you apply the MH brakes.

Unicorn Driver · 02-23-2019, 07:38 AM

Thanks Monte,

I will definitely be using a braking system, it will more than likely be a ready brute elite surge brake.

u04601 · 02-23-2019, 08:07 AM

I tow a 2015 JKUR that weighed in at exactly 5000 pounds with a full tank of gas. It is heavy due to the off road bumpers, swing out spare tire carrier, rock rails, winch and five 35" tall 12" wide tires. Also has a hard top.
So if you get a stock jeep, I would expect the weight to be 300-400 pounds less. So you should be fine.

Unicorn Driver · 02-23-2019, 08:14 AM

Thanks Kevin,

If I could get one for 4700ish I would be happy.

Unicorn Driver · 02-23-2019, 01:17 PM

I test drove a 2015 2 door and a 2012 4 door sport S. The 2 door with the rear seats out will be fine as it's only the 2 of us and the dog.

Also this will not be my daily driver as already have a full sized SUV.

FIRE UP · 02-23-2019, 08:13 PM

Unicorndriver,
There's pretty much no difference between an '07 JKU and a '17 JKU. The '18s were fitted with aluminum door panels and I think hood and some other area to help lighten the load. But, I don't know how much you know about the Jeep JK and its engines but, the '07 through '11 had the 3.8L V-6 that has quite a bit less horsepower than the '12 and up. The '12 and up have a completely re-designed V-6 called the Pentastar and it's 3.6L but, is close to 100 HP higher than the 3.8L. That's one main reason the '12s and later are more costly.

Now, we've been Jeeping for oh, over 35 years and have owned, modified and towed, 9 different Jeeps in that time and, up until 7.5 years ago, we'd been using gas coaches. We'd towed from San Diego to Moab UT for the Easter Jeep Safari for over 14 years and had absolutely ZERO issues with two different Ford Gas coaches. One was the 460 and the other was the V-10 275HP. Both did just fine. You aren't gonna win any road races but, pretty sure that's not what it's all about.

We'd been using smaller Jeeps like the CJ YJ and TJ and, to think about going to a 4-door Jeep was well, not in the cards. But, we thought, let's just take one or two for a test drive and keep an open mind. Well, it took only one test drive and, after crowding all the normal stuff we keep in the Jeep for off roading etc. and seeing the TONS OF ROOM the 4-door has to offer, not to mention the ease at which extra passengers can fit, and enter and leave the back seat, SOLD!!!!!!!!!!

While there's always the ounce gods out there that will worry about every ounce that they load and tow, you'll be just fine with a 4-door. And, you'll be sooooooo happy you did for not only the dog but, the additional room behind the back seat. As for setup, I'd look at the many, many off road bumpers out there that allow "recovery tabs" to also be used for flat towing and tow bar attachment points. Our Smittybilt XRC Mod front bumper is only 10 more lbs. than the stock one, I know 'cause I weighed them both.

Hooking up lights is about as easy as it gets. Get the Hopkins unit and it's a plug-and-play unit and it's been working flawlessly for over 2 years so far. Good luck and have fun.
Scott

Unicorn Driver · 02-24-2019, 06:07 AM

Thanks Scott for the in depth reply.

I would not even contemplate a 2 door if this was my daily driver but we already have a full sized SUV and a Sedan as our daily drivers, also the 2 doors are far cheaper than the 4 doors.

That's great you bring aftermarket flat tow bumpers, I had looked at LOD and Rockhard but not Smitty Built, must check them out. Will also check out the Hopkins unit.

If I go with a 4 door I will need to get it on a scale.

Thanks,

Unicorn Driver · 02-24-2019, 04:07 PM

I see plenty of 2 door Sport 2012's for about 15kish, that would be doable.

Unicorn Driver · 02-24-2019, 08:12 PM

I see the Jeep JL is 200lbs lighter also there is an option for a powered roof.

If I could get a decent trade for my Sequia and waited a few years I could afford a 3 year old one.

BMGM37 · 02-25-2019, 12:34 AM

Before we got our Jayco Seneca Super C we towed our 2015 JKU Rubicon with our Winnebago 26P and didn’t really even know it was back there. We use the Ready-Brute tow bar with the built in brake system and mounting it with a Currie Enterprises low profile/skid/tow plate. The newer JK Jeep are so easy to hook up and be on the road, they don’t have a steering wheel lock so no need to tow with a key on, pop the transfer case into neutral and with our towbar setup I can be hooked up and ready to roll in about 5-8 minutes. Our Jeep weighs about 4800lbs.