[bdjeep75]

I used to tow a small boat (about 1800 lbs trailer weight) with a 4 cylinder TJ. It wasn't the best tow vehicle, but it did the job. Even the 4 cylinder got it moving, but you could feel the trailer throwing the TJ around under hard braking. My older pickup truck towed the boat much better. As long as you're under the 2000 pound limit, you should be OK, but I'd use the pickup truck if it were me.

[5artist5]

Any of you guys put boats on your roof racks?
I don't mean kayaks. But Zodiacs or other outboard powered boats?

[chutta]

How about throwing in 8" higher vehicle?

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by 5artist5

Any of you guys put boats on your roof racks?
I don't mean kayaks. But Zodiacs or other outboard powered boats?

I used to own a small Zodiak inflatable dingy and it was heavy enough that I wouldn't want one on the roof of my TJ. I wouldn't even want to have to lift it up onto the roof if it was big enough to have a stern meant for an outboard.

[TJgreg]

Originally Posted by PFMCDM

I have a 2000 TJ with the 6 cyl engine and manual transmission and D44. It did not come with a tow hitch assembly. I am going to install one. I have a 14 ft. jon boat for fishing with a small 10HP outboard motor. Instead of towing it with my pickup - I am thinking of towing the boat with the Wrangler and taking the TJ fishing.

Is there anyting I should be careful of?
Does the TJ 5 speed tow an aluminum metal lightweight boat OK?
Can it tow and drive it in 5th gear OK or do I need to stay in 4th??

Thank you for any advice and tips...

I tow my 11ft jon without any trouble.

[Ludedude]

Originally Posted by SecondTJ

Most of the integrated bumper-hitches are not rated/recommended for towing.

But some people do it anyway, i think there is something additional that needs to be attached to the bumper/hitch so it can tow

Ignoring the legal/liability aspects, what's usually missing is a place to hook the mandatory safety chains. Some bumpers do include those safety chain loops, so there should be no issue towing with those.

[happymudder10]

My pickup broke down last year right before the start of lobster mini-season, with no time to fix, I bought a $100 hitch for my TJ and towed my 21' center console with a 200 hp motor and a full tank of gas in the boat (68 gallons), 6 scuba tanks, coolers, ice, etc.., and two buddies. The TJ handled like a champ. Granted, I was doing 45-50 mph on the right lane and I NEVER popped it into 5th. Towing it out of the water was easy as hell in 4-hi. Good luck, and a 14' aluminum is nothing for your jeep.

[ASUsax]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

I used to own a small Zodiak inflatable dingy and it was heavy enough that I wouldn't want one on the roof of my TJ. I wouldn't even want to have to lift it up onto the roof if it was big enough to have a stern meant for an outboard.

I put my 12' Porta-bote up there. But it folds up, doesn't weigh anything (50lbs) and I put the motor in the back of the Jeep. I wouldn't want to do it with a 'real' boat, though, I'd think it would be too heavy.

[Unlimited04]

Like most have already said...you can down 2k lbs. Towing with a SWB vehicle, no matter how much horsepower you have is a bad idea, the trailer will want to try to pass you. If you've ever seen a boat try passing the tow vehicle, its not a calming sight. I've been in a 1 ton LWB van towing a 5,000lbs boat as it tried to go sideways at 60mph, not fun.

[rdhclark]

Okay, so the 2000 pound limit is dictated by the swb, and as I understand the problem, the swb makes it difficult to control the trailer if the trailer starts to steer itself. Now, I also know that when I tow a horse trailer with my truck, I can use the trailer's brakes to correct oversteering from the trailer. If you added brakes to the trailer, could a TJ conceivably, safely, tow more than 2000 pounds?

[BlueFlame]

No worries.
1500lbs here, 23 foot boat.
(and this is a Warn bumper - it's a heck of a lot beefier built and mounted than any aftermarket hitch.)

[mdm]

Originally Posted by rdhclark

... If you added brakes to the trailer, could a TJ conceivably, safely, tow more than 2000 pounds?

It would make it better but I'll still say you are setting yourself up. Under ideal conditions a TJ can pull more than 2000 lbs but think about how many times you have less than ideal conditions when driving. How often do you have to take evasive actions to avoid other vehicles, objects in the road, kids,... There are too many ways that the conditions can be right for the trailer to take over the show and you are in deep trouble.

You will hear people talk about towing a 1/2 ton PU on a car hauler from Seattle to Miami and had no problems. Maybe they did but do you really want to set yourself up for failure? The TJ is not designed to be a primary tow vehicle. Using it for light loads such as an ATV, motorcycle, jet ski, ... is fine but for towing heavy loads do it right. Buy, rent, or borrow an appropiate tow vehicle and leave "stupid" for the other guy and hope that you don't run into him on the road.

[The Mean Fish]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

The TJ's brakes are perfectly fine, it's only the SWB that gives it the reduced 2,000 lb. towing limit. The TJ has the exact same brakes the LWB Cherokee has that has a 5,000 lb. tow capacity.

PFMCDM, just make sure your trailer's tongue weight is somewhere between 10% and 15% of the boat and trailer's total loaded weight. Less than 10% and the trailer will sway.

What? Didn't you just spend a ton of cash upgrading to the Vanco brakes system? I know you have upgraded tires but come on, the stock brakes leave a lot to be desired even when you're not towing anything.

Here you go... and again, I know you are running larger than stock tires but still, the stock brakes aren't great and when towing they create even more worry.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/1-5-weeks-bigger-better-brakes-installed-review-up-297960/?highlight=vanco

Oh and don't PM me a warning, I'm not personally attacking you about anything... just pointing out what I believe to be a fact.

[The Mean Fish]

Originally Posted by rdhclark

Okay, so the 2000 pound limit is dictated by the swb, and as I understand the problem, the swb makes it difficult to control the trailer if the trailer starts to steer itself. Now, I also know that when I tow a horse trailer with my truck, I can use the trailer's brakes to correct oversteering from the trailer. If you added brakes to the trailer, could a TJ conceivably, safely, tow more than 2000 pounds?

Brakes and the wheel base length or lack of combined are why towing a lot of weight isn't a good idea. A 1500lb boat wouldn't worry me but I would never try to tow another vehicle on a trailer or anything like that with a TJ. I've seen people towing small travel trailers with their and it's pretty scary even for a stock Jeep. Trailer brakes are always a good idea if you can run them.

[dbell54]

On some aftermarket bumpers e.g. Warn the receiver pocket is too shallow to accept a drawbar shank. This may be intentional to keep one from installing a hitch.