[Hilldweller]

I'm loving the Conqueror for camping. It's so nice to have everything I need, handy, ready, and neat.
The tent opens easily, it's roomy. Plenty of water, propane, battery power.
And you hardly know it's back there on the trails (as long as you go downhill slowly and carefully).

But, on the highway, it's very frustrating. I have a 2008 JK Wrangler and it can barely get up hills. It's got an automatic trans and is downshifting at the slightest elevation change. Painful-sounding downshifts too.
My fuel economy is about 21 on rural highways usually; it's 13 with the trailer.

I checked with dealerships and they tell me that any regearing will void my lifetime powertrain warranty. Supercharging is also frowned upon.
Will an AEV air snorkel, headers, hi-flo cat, + cat-back make enough difference?

I'm bummed. I don't feel like trying to drive cross-country like this. I don't mind bad fuel economy if I have power... And I don't mind low power if I have great fuel economy...

[2005X]

what would you estimate the weight of the trailer and all your gear?

[JC KJ]

ReGear it does not VOID your powertrain warranty! The only thing it does is your GEARS! And if they put the Grears In there should not be a problem at all.

[hoohaa310]

you should have just gone with the factory V8 from the start!

[cerbomark]

would nt be my first choice if I towed alot.

[kubwa_jim]

I hope you are not towing in overdrive. With the JK's powerband, you could cook a transmission in short order trying to tow that way. A cold air intake, chip, exhaust, etc, will add a little power, but not enough that you would notice a difference in towing. Reagearing is your best bet. You will never get a definative answer on the warranty voiding issue. It depends on the dealership, the repair technician, how the stars are aligned, and what your dog ate for breakfast. No, it should not void it, but if the dealership wants to play that game, you won't win unless you are willing to spend a stupid amount of money in legal fees.

I pulled a 5x8 trailer loaded with furniture from Florida to Texas in October. (My 4dr has 4.10 gears, 2in lift, and 33's) I kept the overdrive turned off and it pulled fine. On really steep hills, it dropped into third. I kept my speed around 75mph and averaged 9mpg. Mileage did suck, but the power was fine.

[N2rock]

as mentioned above- turn the Overdrive off. This makes it somewhat more bearable. But even still when you get on long or steep inclines, you'll hear it downshift and damn near redline as it attempts to hold speed.

[Jeeper-Chris]

Yeah, the auto is weak. Even without a load, mine likes to downshift frequently. Not sure on the manual.

I doubt the mods you listed will make a big difference. On a six-cyl, the headers and full exhaust work "might" get you 15 hp. But not worth it for the money, imo. Most of what you'd add at the engine would be lost through the drivetrain too.

I don't know what to suggest myself. Hopefully someone with more towing experience can chime in.

What is yout total load with trailer? 4750?

Gears should not void your warranty, but they would have to right to void any warranty associated with the rear end and the gears install. But, that will vary dealer to dealer. Its usually worth calling a couyple of Service Mgrs to get their opinon. One will say no, the next may say yes. It varies.

[Prot]

I don't really care about warranty because I know it's more hassle than it is worth due to numerous exclusions on fine print. I decided I am going to enjoy the vehicle I paid for because I bought it, not leased it. The aftermarket parts that are on my jeep are warranteed by their respective manufacturers. If my top starts leaking for example then that has nothing to do with my tires or differentials.

[jodpel]

I pulled our competition garden tractors on a 14 ft utility trailer without much problem. I hauled 115 very large show broilers (chickens) 60 miles to a farm for processing. The trailer was a little unstable on the way there, but great on the way home without the "live" load. It was a 16 ft cattle trailer.

I thought everything would be great with the OD turned off. I took off for the coast with my 21 ft pontoon boat this weekend to hunt red fish. That boat is right around the 3500 lb limit. Pulling it sucked. I could only go 65 mph because every hill caused it to shift into second and run a bunch of RPMs. I had to stop for gas after about 175 miles. I don't think I'll do that again. It's very disappointing. I concur that it pulls badly with anything like 3500 lbs hooked up behind it.

I too have heard that regearing voids the warranty. The forums here indicate that exhaust and intake air upgrades do very little to improve performance. I think regearing would help everything with this vehicle. The jeep will hunt gears on hills when in overdrive without a load. I think going from 3.73 to 4.10 would fix this, but you give up your warranty. I'm still debating this myself. Right now I'm thinking that eventually I'm just going to say to heck with the warranty and put big tires, lift, and gears in it. If the motor peters out on me, I'm going with something that will actually pull. The body and frame handle the trailers fine. It's the horsepower that's missing.

[odwaud]

My dad's 2door JK towed my broken TJ on a dolly to the shop. I wouldn't want to do it again, but it got it there.

[Prot]

Forgot to mention I tow a 6' x 13' enclosed trailer with my 730 pound Harley in it just fine. I don't even turn off overdrive. Don't fear the gear. Jeep blew it when it came to gear ratios. Stock ratios seem better suited to the 4.0l than 3.8l

[Hilldweller]

Originally Posted by 2005X

what would you estimate the weight of the trailer and all your gear?

About 1700 pounds but it's hilly around here. O.D. is off unless I'm on a flat interstate and plodding away at 65.

I'm trying to talk my wife into trading our other Mini for a better tow rig.

The dealer wanted $3K to regear and said it would void any trans warranty. From what I understand, the JK autotranny will fail eventually (and often...).

[BigJerm]

man we got several shops around GA that will do a regear for cheaper than $3k! That and you could probably find someone with used 4.10 gears for much cheaper than what Jeep wants new for them. Just post up on GATR for some local shops and idea on prices.

Only thing that sucks about getting a tow vehicle is you have that nice adventure trailer and whats an adventure without the Wrangler to go explore all those remote forest roads?

[USAntigoon]

I towed trailers for the last 30 years...(not with a jeep though..) and like to share this...Towing requires lower speeds.. Going 65 mph towing with a Wrangler seems fast.. I tow a 8,000 lbs travel trailer with my F150 - 5.4L and will never go faster then 60/62 mph..I never use O/D.. and let the transmission do its work. Keep in mind the V6 - 3.8L will downshift faster as the torque curve is quite different. (Of course a 4.10 will help)..

Hilldweller: I love your Conqueror camper...