Community Forums

IMD · 03-24-2023, 07:31 AM

I tow a 2006 Jeep LJ behind my 2020 Kountry Star. My Jeep is used primarily for Off-Road trailing. Recently it was suggested to trailer my Jeep to minimize tire, axle and differential wear. In thinking this, I come up with no difference from any other vehicle tow. Any thoughts about towing a “specialized” vehicle versus a street vehicle? And second, the pros and cons to trailering versus towing. Thx …

Dillon_fwa · 03-24-2023, 07:35 AM

Personally, I think towing 4-down is the way to go. Hassling with a trailer in already tight spaces would be problematic.
I can see the reduced wear on tires and such, but in the grand scheme of things, it is what it is..
I did see a nice setup last week though. It was a Jeep wrangler on a double axle trailer, and the front of the trailer was a little "shed" with a roll up door. Nice little garage area I am sure. But it was being pulled by a very nice tag axle diesel pusher, so money was probably not an issue.. I was driving and wasnt able to get the details on any make of the trailer or coach.

BayRunner · 03-24-2023, 07:49 AM

While towing 4 down is the quickest to hook up, it’s not a one size fits all solution. I trailer my 4WD Truck on a dual axle aluminum car hauler trailer and it works out quite well. Provides the flexibility to not put additional wear on the drive train and tires and also gives me the flexibility to bring other family vehicles as well. Sure, it’s take a little longer to setup but I have that process down and can do it relatively quick. When towing, I have not yet run into an issue with CG space. When making reservations a Cg cannot accommodate the size, I simply move on the oth next one that will.

yeloduster · 03-24-2023, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMD

I tow a 2006 Jeep LJ behind my 2020 Kountry Star. My Jeep is used primarily for Off-Road trailing. Recently it was suggested to trailer my Jeep to minimize tire, axle and differential wear. In thinking this, I come up with no difference from any other vehicle tow. Any thoughts about towing a “specialized” vehicle versus a street vehicle? And second, the pros and cons to trailering versus towing. Thx …

I also tow a Jeep 4 down. Mine is a 1998 XJ. The odometer says it has 200K miles but that does not reflect the 55-60K miles I have towed it behind a motorhome. So the drivetrain has ≈255K miles.

I have changed the drivelines U-joints once for all those miles, I just yesterday finished changing the front axle u-joints. The diffs seem to be in really great condition. When being towed these components are not under very much stress and last a long time.

It does wear tires! I think miles towed = miles driven for tires. But then if you trailer tow you have to replace trailer tires. Trailer tires are cheaper than Jeep tires but trailer tires don't last as long. Might be a wash.

I have towed the Jeep on a trailer. I like trailer towing. It tows better and you can back anywhere the space and your skill allows. If I can find a trailer for the right price I might buy it. It would be great to tow the Jeep or my Muscle Car. If the trailer is long enough I might be able to haul an ATV as well as the Jeep.

BayRunner · 03-24-2023, 08:35 AM

Just for reference, here a pic of trailering the wife’s car. Also holds my full size 4wd with large Mickey Thompson tires.

theroc · 03-24-2023, 02:47 PM

Well, I don't think you've given enough information as to how much and what type of modification you've done to your LJ. There may be some argument as to trailer towing it if you've spent thousands of dollars in investing very expensive suspension, tire, and drivetrain modifications for specialized use.

It seems like most responses are kind of assuming the typical debate of flat towing versus trailer towing we've seen discussed here over the years. Jeeps are the quintessential toad meant to be flat towed but if you have a lot invested in specialized upgrades and modifications for off-road competitions or other specific focused uses, then maybe trailering it would be worth it.

But I'd think the pros and cons of flat towing would be the same ones that have been discussed for ages in the RV universe if you have a stock or lightly modified Jeep. But I say, trailering a vehicle that can easily be flat towed is not really a debate ...flat towing is the way to go.

Crasher · 03-24-2023, 05:57 PM

It depends on what type of off-roading you do. If you run the mild 3-4 rated trails then towing 4 down is what most people do.. However, if you are running the more serious tails, I would use a trailer. If you trailer it, you can run the sticky compound tires that provide the best traction under all conditions. Also, the more challenging trails can cause damage and it's much nicer to bring it home on a trailer. FWIW, I can unload my stretched TJ on 40" stickies and be ready to go in less time it takes others to air down for the trail. The same applies to airing up to drive home.

IMD · 03-25-2023, 04:35 AM

Thx … I’ve towed w/o trailer. It’s definitely convenient not to think about parking the trailer.

IMD · 03-25-2023, 04:43 AM

Thx … the cost to replace u-joints both driveline and axle are less than the cost and maintenance of a trailer. One factor I think of when comparing towed versus trailering.

IMD · 03-25-2023, 04:51 AM

Thx … while I do have a few upgrades, my vehicle primarily for trail use is not for competitive use, or serious rock climbing. I’m conservative typically on Badge of Honor trails 3-7. 3” short arm lift with all the Rubicon Unlimited features.

George Schweikle · 03-25-2023, 05:56 AM

After examining all of the pros & cons, I think the issue just comes down to what a person wants to do.

While we don't have a Jeep, we have used different trailers and motorhomes since 1977 for sports cars driven in autocross events. Total motorhome + trailer length has always been at or under 52 ft. and I have had to disconnect the trailer to fit a campsite fewer than half a dozen times.

Crasher · 03-25-2023, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMD

Thx … while I do have a few upgrades, my vehicle primarily for trail use is not for competitive use, or serious rock climbing. I’m conservative typically on Badge of Honor trails 3-7. 3” short arm lift with all the Rubicon Unlimited features.

The 3-7 trails on a scale of 10, is similar to our 1.5-3.5 trails on a scale of 5. What you describe is a street Jeep on steroids. By all means, towing is your most logical method.

petrel · 03-25-2023, 09:05 AM

We’ve done both. When going somewhere that has trailer storage, or sites big enough for the trailer and the MH, I really prefer the trailer for maneuverability and being able to haul the Jeep if damaged. However, we most often tow 4-down for convenience. Honestly, I never considered the wear and tear on the Jeep vs the trailer.

MemByTheMile · 03-27-2023, 01:54 PM

We don’t have a vehicle that is 4 down capable, so we trailer.
Trailering can be a hassle. Trailers require more space, trailers have wear and tear - but trailers allow us to bring a vehicle we like and don’t need to be concerned with wearing out the expensive tires on that vehicle and instead wear out much cheaper trailer tires.

Also consider what you are towing with - overall length becomes an issue, especially in a few notable states. Due to our rig being a 45’ unit we were declined even getting a permit for being over 65’. But if the rig was only 40’ they wouldn’t have cared if our overall length was 90’ and they would have granted the permit. This is one time that having a flat tow would have been great.