TJ towing capacity

Hi,
Although already discussed on this forum, i'm a bite sceptical when i read
various literature about the wrangler towing capacity.
According to the owner's manual max towing is 2000 lbs.
According to my car registration licence and the french caracteristics
leaflet given by Chrysler Jeep, max towing is 2000 kg ( 4400 lbs ).
Quite a difference !
Yesterday i towed, with my brand ne 4.0 wrangler, for over 100 miles at
about 60 mph a horse trailer weighting about 1200 kg ( 2640 lbs ) without a
single problem. Everything went just smooth and it seemed that the car could
tow much more.
Was i crazy ? Should i limit the tow ? Is it just a matter of local
regulation between US and Europe ?
Thanks for your answers.
Best regards,
Patrick

I believe the difference is in the detail.

The US spec says 2000lb as you say.
The UK spec says 2000kg ( seems to have dropped to 1920kg on new models)
but specifies that this is with a *BRAKED* trailer.

My trailer http://milne.info/wagoneer/trailer.jpg is a 2.7 ton GWV twin axle
job
with overrun brakes on both axles; the difference in stability with this
type and
the single axle type is significant.

I bet your horse trailer has more than one axle and proper brakes.

The bottom line is that there is no problem with the drivetrain that
couldn't allow you
to tow more except that the wheelbase is so short that you risk unstability.

Here are some figures for Jeeps main (and better ?) rival, the LandRover
Defender which
I think proves my point ( Defender has a 90" wheel base, TJ has a 93" wheel
base)

Unbraked Trailer (On or Off Road): 1650lb (750 kg)
Trailer with Brakes:
Off-Road: 2200lb (1000 kg)
On-Road (low range): 7700lb (3500 kg)
On-Road (high range): 5000lb (2275 kg)

If anything, it looks like Jeep are being less conservative than LandRover !

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"Patrick" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
> Although already discussed on this forum, i'm a bite sceptical when i read
> various literature about the wrangler towing capacity.
> According to the owner's manual max towing is 2000 lbs.
> According to my car registration licence and the french caracteristics
> leaflet given by Chrysler Jeep, max towing is 2000 kg ( 4400 lbs ).
> Quite a difference !
> Yesterday i towed, with my brand ne 4.0 wrangler, for over 100 miles at
> about 60 mph a horse trailer weighting about 1200 kg ( 2640 lbs ) without
a
> single problem. Everything went just smooth and it seemed that the car
could
> tow much more.
> Was i crazy ? Should i limit the tow ? Is it just a matter of local
> regulation between US and Europe ?
> Thanks for your answers.
> Best regards,
> Patrick
>
>
>

Right, my horse trailer is braked and has two axles, the center of gravity
is very low.
"Dave Milne" > a écrit dans le message de news:
...
>I believe the difference is in the detail.
>
> The US spec says 2000lb as you say.
> The UK spec says 2000kg ( seems to have dropped to 1920kg on new models)
> but specifies that this is with a *BRAKED* trailer.
>
> My trailer http://milne.info/wagoneer/trailer.jpg is a 2.7 ton GWV twin
> axle
> job
> with overrun brakes on both axles; the difference in stability with this
> type and
> the single axle type is significant.
>
> I bet your horse trailer has more than one axle and proper brakes.
>
> The bottom line is that there is no problem with the drivetrain that
> couldn't allow you
> to tow more except that the wheelbase is so short that you risk
> unstability.
>
> Here are some figures for Jeeps main (and better ?) rival, the LandRover
> Defender which
> I think proves my point ( Defender has a 90" wheel base, TJ has a 93"
> wheel
> base)
>
> Unbraked Trailer (On or Off Road): 1650lb (750 kg)
> Trailer with Brakes:
> Off-Road: 2200lb (1000 kg)
> On-Road (low range): 7700lb (3500 kg)
> On-Road (high range): 5000lb (2275 kg)
>
> If anything, it looks like Jeep are being less conservative than LandRover
> !
>
> Dave Milne, Scotland
> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
>
> "Patrick" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi,
>> Although already discussed on this forum, i'm a bite sceptical when i
>> read
>> various literature about the wrangler towing capacity.
>> According to the owner's manual max towing is 2000 lbs.
>> According to my car registration licence and the french caracteristics
>> leaflet given by Chrysler Jeep, max towing is 2000 kg ( 4400 lbs ).
>> Quite a difference !
>> Yesterday i towed, with my brand ne 4.0 wrangler, for over 100 miles at
>> about 60 mph a horse trailer weighting about 1200 kg ( 2640 lbs ) without
> a
>> single problem. Everything went just smooth and it seemed that the car
> could
>> tow much more.
>> Was i crazy ? Should i limit the tow ? Is it just a matter of local
>> regulation between US and Europe ?
>> Thanks for your answers.
>> Best regards,
>> Patrick
>>
>>
>>
>
>

You forgot to tell Patrick, your TJs came with Dana 44s.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Dave Milne wrote:
>
> I believe the difference is in the detail.
>
> The US spec says 2000lb as you say.
> The UK spec says 2000kg ( seems to have dropped to 1920kg on new models)
> but specifies that this is with a *BRAKED* trailer.
>
> My trailer http://milne.info/wagoneer/trailer.jpg is a 2.7 ton GWV twin axle
> job
> with overrun brakes on both axles; the difference in stability with this
> type and
> the single axle type is significant.
>
> I bet your horse trailer has more than one axle and proper brakes.
>
> The bottom line is that there is no problem with the drivetrain that
> couldn't allow you
> to tow more except that the wheelbase is so short that you risk unstability.
>
> Here are some figures for Jeeps main (and better ?) rival, the LandRover
> Defender which
> I think proves my point ( Defender has a 90" wheel base, TJ has a 93" wheel
> base)
>
> Unbraked Trailer (On or Off Road): 1650lb (750 kg)
> Trailer with Brakes:
> Off-Road: 2200lb (1000 kg)
> On-Road (low range): 7700lb (3500 kg)
> On-Road (high range): 5000lb (2275 kg)
>
> If anything, it looks like Jeep are being less conservative than LandRover !
>
> Dave Milne, Scotland
> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

I didn't mention that bit as I'm thought all export TJs have the Dana 44 ?
Having said that, the XJ with the Dana 35c can tow more than the TJ
implying that Jeep don't consider the axles an issue. Like you, I'm
unconvinced.

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
"L.W. (ßill) Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> You forgot to tell Patrick, your TJs came with Dana 44s.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> http://www.billhughes.com/
>
> Dave Milne wrote:
> >
> > I believe the difference is in the detail.
> >
> > The US spec says 2000lb as you say.
> > The UK spec says 2000kg ( seems to have dropped to 1920kg on new models)
> > but specifies that this is with a *BRAKED* trailer.
> >
> > My trailer http://milne.info/wagoneer/trailer.jpg is a 2.7 ton GWV twin
axle
> > job
> > with overrun brakes on both axles; the difference in stability with
this
> > type and
> > the single axle type is significant.
> >
> > I bet your horse trailer has more than one axle and proper brakes.
> >
> > The bottom line is that there is no problem with the drivetrain that
> > couldn't allow you
> > to tow more except that the wheelbase is so short that you risk
unstability.
> >
> > Here are some figures for Jeeps main (and better ?) rival, the LandRover
> > Defender which
> > I think proves my point ( Defender has a 90" wheel base, TJ has a 93"
wheel
> > base)
> >
> > Unbraked Trailer (On or Off Road): 1650lb (750 kg)
> > Trailer with Brakes:
> > Off-Road: 2200lb (1000 kg)
> > On-Road (low range): 7700lb (3500 kg)
> > On-Road (high range): 5000lb (2275 kg)
> >
> > If anything, it looks like Jeep are being less conservative than
LandRover !
> >
> > Dave Milne, Scotland
> > '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

True: http://www.geocities.com/jeepaccident/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Dave Milne wrote:
>
> I didn't mention that bit as I'm thought all export TJs have the Dana 44 ?
> Having said that, the XJ with the Dana 35c can tow more than the TJ
> implying that Jeep don't consider the axles an issue. Like you, I'm
> unconvinced.
>
> Dave Milne, Scotland
> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

Apparently, the Liberty has the same towing capacity as the Grand Wagoneer..
ha ha.
which leads consumerguide.com to quote "Liberty's 5000-lb towing capacity is
tops among compact SUVs."
I bet it is ...

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"L.W. (ßill) Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> True: http://www.geocities.com/jeepaccident/
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> http://www.billhughes.com/
>
> Dave Milne wrote:
> >
> > I didn't mention that bit as I'm thought all export TJs have the Dana 44
?
> > Having said that, the XJ with the Dana 35c can tow more than the TJ
> > implying that Jeep don't consider the axles an issue. Like you, I'm
> > unconvinced.
> >
> > Dave Milne, Scotland
> > '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

Thank you for the link, it was an interesting read. I have the 35c's
and tow a 14' Aluminum boat so I guess I"m safe.

I'm unexperienced on that matter but what's the difference between a Dana
44s and others Dana's and does that mean i can tow my daughter's horse
trailer without worry ?
"L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > a écrit dans le message de
news: ...
> You forgot to tell Patrick, your TJs came with Dana 44s.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> http://www.billhughes.com/
>
> Dave Milne wrote:
>>
>> I believe the difference is in the detail.
>>
>> The US spec says 2000lb as you say.
>> The UK spec says 2000kg ( seems to have dropped to 1920kg on new models)
>> but specifies that this is with a *BRAKED* trailer.
>>
>> My trailer http://milne.info/wagoneer/trailer.jpg is a 2.7 ton GWV twin
>> axle
>> job
>> with overrun brakes on both axles; the difference in stability with this
>> type and
>> the single axle type is significant.
>>
>> I bet your horse trailer has more than one axle and proper brakes.
>>
>> The bottom line is that there is no problem with the drivetrain that
>> couldn't allow you
>> to tow more except that the wheelbase is so short that you risk
>> unstability.
>>
>> Here are some figures for Jeeps main (and better ?) rival, the LandRover
>> Defender which
>> I think proves my point ( Defender has a 90" wheel base, TJ has a 93"
>> wheel
>> base)
>>
>> Unbraked Trailer (On or Off Road): 1650lb (750 kg)
>> Trailer with Brakes:
>> Off-Road: 2200lb (1000 kg)
>> On-Road (low range): 7700lb (3500 kg)
>> On-Road (high range): 5000lb (2275 kg)
>>
>> If anything, it looks like Jeep are being less conservative than
>> LandRover !
>>
>> Dave Milne, Scotland
>> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

Absolutely 'no' difference for all practical purposes.

Folks go and put low gears, lockers and monster tires on, then cry when
something explodes. The fact that 99.9% of Jeeps out there run the same
differential (only one that comes with most of them) really skews the
numbers so folks can say things like the Dana 35 is weak, well it is the
only one they put on, so what 'other' kinds could be weak, none right.

Some Jeeps come with a so called stronger rear end, the Dana 44 but the
boys with the big toys still destroy them and call them weak, so go out
and put Dana 60's in..... and on and on.

Something like a hard drive, no matter how big it is, you have it filled
in 6 months.

These failures don't happen on the highway usually, but at slow high
torque situations. See my engine mount post....

If your trailer is like the one described, you shouldn't have any
issues. I would try it in an empty lot or somewhere to see how it
handles when hard braking before taking it on the road though.

I don't know where you live, but around here 55 mph is the max for
towing speed anyway. That extra 10 or 15 mph really makes a difference
in how things work too.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Patrick wrote:
>
> I'm unexperienced on that matter but what's the difference between a Dana
> 44s and others Dana's and does that mean i can tow my daughter's horse
> trailer without worry ?
> "L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > a écrit dans le message de
> news: ...
> > You forgot to tell Patrick, your TJs came with Dana 44s.
> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > http://www.billhughes.com/
> >
> > Dave Milne wrote:
> >>
> >> I believe the difference is in the detail.
> >>
> >> The US spec says 2000lb as you say.
> >> The UK spec says 2000kg ( seems to have dropped to 1920kg on new models)
> >> but specifies that this is with a *BRAKED* trailer.
> >>
> >> My trailer http://milne.info/wagoneer/trailer.jpg is a 2.7 ton GWV twin
> >> axle
> >> job
> >> with overrun brakes on both axles; the difference in stability with this
> >> type and
> >> the single axle type is significant.
> >>
> >> I bet your horse trailer has more than one axle and proper brakes.
> >>
> >> The bottom line is that there is no problem with the drivetrain that
> >> couldn't allow you
> >> to tow more except that the wheelbase is so short that you risk
> >> unstability.
> >>
> >> Here are some figures for Jeeps main (and better ?) rival, the LandRover
> >> Defender which
> >> I think proves my point ( Defender has a 90" wheel base, TJ has a 93"
> >> wheel
> >> base)
> >>
> >> Unbraked Trailer (On or Off Road): 1650lb (750 kg)
> >> Trailer with Brakes:
> >> Off-Road: 2200lb (1000 kg)
> >> On-Road (low range): 7700lb (3500 kg)
> >> On-Road (high range): 5000lb (2275 kg)
> >>
> >> If anything, it looks like Jeep are being less conservative than
> >> LandRover !
> >>
> >> Dave Milne, Scotland
> >> '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ