Towing capacity

**jatepper** · 04-15-2008, 01:15 PM

Well, I may be in the market for a used boat and I was wondering how much you think the CJ-7 can tow. I have a heavy duty ugly a** bumper that came with the jeep that is welded on to the frame, which I plan on replacing with a BSERK bumper sooner or later...but I guess that is aside from my question.

Will the CJ tow a decent size boat (16-20ft) ? I would need it towed about 30 miles to/from the river.

What do you think??

sabu · 04-15-2008, 01:31 PM

I tow a 1200 pound popup up to the local mountains with very little trouble. Takes a couple of hours.

You should have no problem on a short, flat trip to the river, providing the boat and trailer are under 2000 pounds.

1986cj · 04-15-2008, 01:39 PM

I have towed a tent trailer (1000lbs) plus gear, wife, dog, two kids with a bronco II what a pita but the same thing with my CJ and keep looking back if it was still atached night and day diff.

sevenlitre2002 · 04-15-2008, 03:40 PM

Successful towing means more than a big honkin bumper.
Don't forget about brakes, and most importantly wheel base of the towing vehicle.
If it was me, I'd keep the towed load under 1,000 pounds to be on the safe side.

**jatepper** · 04-15-2008, 03:53 PM

Do you think it will tow this???

The reason being is because I do not have an SUV or truck and this is the only vehicle I have that will tow. I plan on buying a SUV within 6 months...shortly after my second kid is born.

LSUtiger · 04-15-2008, 04:14 PM

I don't think that I would tow that with a jeep. I tow my 15' aluminum boat witha 25 horse on the back. If the ramp is steep and wet it looks like it would pull you in!

**jatepper** · 04-15-2008, 04:25 PM

Hmm, more opinions?

**Slawth** · 04-15-2008, 04:35 PM

I would not tow that boat with a CJ. That is an accident waiting to happen. Your rig probably has plenty of power but the physics do not work, safely anyway, and your brakes will surely be inadequate in an emergency stopping situation. My .02

bjf498 · 04-15-2008, 04:58 PM

What about a Brake setup on the trailer?

jeepdaddy2000 · 04-15-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHCJ5

I would not tow that boat with a CJ. That is an accident waiting to happen. Your rig probably has plenty of power but the physics do not work, safely anyway, and your brakes will surely be inadequate in an emergency stopping situation. My .02

I agree, trailer brakes aside, the Jeep simply isn't big enough to handle the load. Such things as high wind or a trailer flat at highway speeds will be too much for a light, short wheelbase vehicle. If you want to tow your boat to the lake, then do it right and plan for at a minimum a 1/2 ton or larger pickup or full sized SUV such as a Blazer, Scout, Wagoneer, suburban, Bronco etc.... These rigs will have a bit more mass to hold the road and the longer wheelbase will make for a more stable towing platform.

**jatepper** · 04-15-2008, 05:34 PM

OK...case closed. I guess I will just have to wait to buy a boat after I get an SUV. Thanks guys!

**Pacfanweb** · 04-15-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jatepper

Do you think it will tow this???

The reason being is because I do not have an SUV or truck and this is the only vehicle I have that will tow. I plan on buying a SUV within 6 months...shortly after my second kid is born.

HELL no. IF you made it to the lake towing that with any small Jeep, you'd leave it there and ask a friend with a truck to tow it back home for you.

SuB8HaVeN · 04-15-2008, 07:12 PM

I have a 16' aluminum bass boat with a 40hp that I use to fish the saltwater flats with (it's currently for sale) and towing that was about all that I would want to tow with my CJ. Does it have the power and capability to tow it? Absolutely. Does it have the braking and stability to be able to stop it safely? Not really. Even with a 16' aluminum, if you have to stop abruptly it will start pushing your *** end around so you really have to be careful. The CJ is a short wheelbase vehicle, so it's a lot easier to jackknife if you have to stop fast, and it overall is a lot less stabile than a longer wheelbase vehicle.

rlaa · 04-15-2008, 08:46 PM

After trying to move my 16 ft flatbed trailer a few feet in the back yard with 4 flat tires and a few hundred pounds of scrap steel and pipe on it, the rear drive shaft looks like a piece of twisted taffy. I wasn’t expecting it to be the weak link…

ReconRabbit · 04-15-2008, 08:53 PM

I'm going to say yes. If my wife's Jeep Liberty could pull our Seadoo speedster than I think the Jeep would be fine. I've pulled an empty 18' car trailer with mine and had no problems. My father in law pulls his 2500# camper to Colorado and back. What's the big deal? Make sure the Jeep's up to par and definitely make sure your e-brake works for those boat ramps and have fun.