Towing a 17 ft boat.....

Phish0742 · 04-23-2005, 09:14 AM

I just bought a 17.5 foot starcraft speedboat with an I/O motor. I dont know how much it weighs but im guessing with the trailer weight, boat/motor weight, and gas and gear it will be probably 3000 or so, (maybe more maybe less I have no clue). Im assuming this is not possible to tow with my 02 sport. I noticed that they have hitches in my 4wheeldrive magazing that are for TJs and support a weight of 4000lbs. Is it true that the TJ itself can only handle 2000lbs?? Thanks
Brett

Wheelman · 04-23-2005, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phish0742

I just bought a 17.5 foot starcraft speedboat with an I/O motor. I dont know how much it weighs but im guessing with the trailer weight, boat/motor weight, and gas and gear it will be probably 3000 or so, (maybe more maybe less I have no clue). Im assuming this is not possible to tow with my 02 sport. I noticed that they have hitches in my 4wheeldrive magazing that are for TJs and support a weight of 4000lbs. Is it true that the TJ itself can only handle 2000lbs?? Thanks
Brett

Due to the short wheelbase mostly, They limit six cyl tjs to 2000lbs, and 4cyl to 1000lbs i believe. I am pretty sure an unlimited can pull around 3500lbs. Problem is not that it can't pull the weight, but the heavy trailer has the tendency to "push" your jeep around making it dangerous on a curve or during moderate to hard braking

xxxflhrci · 04-23-2005, 09:28 AM

This has been beat do death. A TJ will easily pull more than 2k. However, braking and turning can be the problem. Some guys pull more than 2k with no problems. You have to assess whether pulling more than 2k is worth the risk of endangering you, everyone else on the road and your property.

Your boat trailer doesn't have brakes, does it? I doubt it. If not, then the rig likely weighs under 3k. Go to the Starcraft website and look for the weight of your boat, then guesstimate the weight of your trailer, gear, and gas.

taxpayer · 04-23-2005, 09:51 AM

I think using comon cents, while pulling a boat is a good practice, I pull a 23' deck-boat with 200 Hp outboard with mine but only about 1 mile to the ramp, so I just leave it in 4 low, but if you where going down a hiway at 55 I would be very carefull, for sure no freeway driving.

**Jerry Bransford** · 04-23-2005, 10:01 AM

I've been towing boats since 1972 and I wouldn't tow that boat behind a Wrangler on the highway. Maybe a mile or two but that's definitely it. As mentioned, the Wrangler's short wheelbase is why. An emergency or hard braking maneuver would very quickly let you know all about the tail wagging the dog effect.

bikerman0 · 04-30-2005, 11:32 AM

I have an 02 se. I use it to to a 20ft 115hp just a little over 2000 pounds in and out of the water about 1 mile and it does fine in 4 high.

dwilliams35 · 04-30-2005, 11:44 AM

It probably doesn't weigh 3000. Take it to a truck stop and weigh it. Beyond that, there's no way I'd tow it without at least doing absolutely everything I can to control it: as in having some electric brakes put on it, rigging the jeep to run said brakes, etc.: then I'd only do it in emergencies.

JohnnyCobra · 04-30-2005, 11:55 AM

Unless you live REAL close and can drive slow. It probably doesn't weight that much, but I towed a Chevy Shortbed 2WD stepside behind a 4WD Grand Cherokee with a top speed of 50 MPH, and it was not pleasant. The tail was wagging the dog so to speak. I don't think the weight is your problem, the length of what you are towing and your short wheelbase are.

Maybe it'll work, I wouldn't consider it more than a couple of times per year even if I did do it.

red99tj · 04-30-2005, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taxpayer

I think using comon cents, while pulling a boat is a good practice, I pull a 23' deck-boat with 200 Hp outboard with mine but only about 1 mile to the ramp, so I just leave it in 4 low, but if you where going down a hiway at 55 I would be very carefull, for sure no freeway driving.

common sense?

airduds · 04-30-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taxpayer

I think using comon cents, while pulling a boat is a good practice, I pull a 23' deck-boat with 200 Hp outboard with mine but only about 1 mile to the ramp, so I just leave it in 4 low, but if you where going down a hiway at 55 I would be very carefull, for sure no freeway driving.

I too occasionally tow a 23 foot deckboat (150 hp outboard). I have no issues at all. I limit my top speed to about 50 and allow a lot of extra room between the vehicle in front and me. But then again, I'm the kind of person that flat tows my Jeep with no brakes...

I've been towing since the mid - seventies. I've never had an accident towing but came close once. I got MONSTER sway towing a medium sized farm tractor with harrow behind a Toyota pickup. The tractor/harrow combi was so heavy I loaded it onto the rear of the trailer to keep the tongue weight down. Big mistake.

I safely towed more than (if memory is correct) 12K lbs of pulp wood and trailer behind the same Toyota. The difference? I kept speeds to about 20 mph.

When towing, think safety, speed, and weight - you can have any two.

04-30-2005, 11:32 AM	#6
bikerman0 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Daytona Beach Posts: 36 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	towing I have an 02 se. I use it to to a 20ft 115hp just a little over 2000 pounds in and out of the water about 1 mile and it does fine in 4 high.

04-23-2005, 09:28 AM	#3
xxxflhrci Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South Posts: 3,643 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	This has been beat do death. A TJ will easily pull more than 2k. However, braking and turning can be the problem. Some guys pull more than 2k with no problems. You have to assess whether pulling more than 2k is worth the risk of endangering you, everyone else on the road and your property. Your boat trailer doesn't have brakes, does it? I doubt it. If not, then the rig likely weighs under 3k. Go to the Starcraft website and look for the weight of your boat, then guesstimate the weight of your trailer, gear, and gas.