[paule01]

I am thinking of buying a camper that weighs about 3200 pounds with a tongue weight of 250 pounds.I know i will need a class 3 hitch but will i need to do anything else to pull this camper? Maybe transmission cooler?I know it states it will tow up to 5000 pounds but i want to make sure it will handle it ok.Thanks Paul

[xj2k1]

What you need to do is not be in a hurry to get anywhere. I have an '01 XJ myself. And I tow a Polaris Sportsman 500 on a 5x8 trailer. The whole rig weighs about 1200-1300 pounds. It's a dog on the hills. In Az., we have some hills on the freeway that are as much as a 9-10% grade. I'm lucky to do 45 mph on those hills. I'm running 30 x 9.50's with stock gearing. If you're towing on level ground, no problem. If not, you may want to re-gear your axles.

[cruiser54]

xj2k1, You couldn't be talking about Copper Canyon and Sunset Point area, could you?

[N2Fix]

I can't say how much I STRONGLY recommend that the trailer also have brakes. I tow a 21' cuddy cabin on a tandem axle trailer with my 1998 XJ and it tows just fine on the flats, takes its own sweet time going up hills and goes like a scalded dog on the downslope. But where the mechanics of the XJ shine when getting this thing up to speed, they absolutely are terrible getting it to stop, especially if needed in an emergency. Don't be a danger to yourself or others on the road - make sure you have proper brakes on the trailer.
(Tranny cooler, that goes without saying...get one. Simple install and cheap insurance!)

[Apostle]

""

brakes. tried to flat tow an xj with an xj, every turn it wanted to fishtail. 3450# give or take.

there are plenty of cheap kits out there (cheap is a relative word) that you can add to the trailer if it doesnt have them

[xj2k1]

I'm talking about going from Camp Verde to Flag. Or around Sunflower on SR87. In general, we have some pretty steep grades here.

[XJH-007]

X2 xj2k said.

The XJ will do it....but it's not going to like it...and don't push it too hard. Road Conditions are your #1- enemy (grade).

I use to pull 2 snowmobiles all over the Colorado Mtns until I got the WJ. So don't be in a rush, tranny cooler is a must, and watch your engine temp.

[Kevin108]

DEFINITELY a transmission cooler! Maybe even a new trans filter and fluid top off just to make sure the ATF voodoo juice is still clean and in good shape.

If you can, tow the trailer before you buy it. The most I've towed was right at 2,000 lbs and I got some sway at highway speeds. I had 3 ATVs on a snowmobile trailer in that instance. It might have just been too much tail weight but you definitely don't want to get something you can't move.