JK Unlimited... Towing a Tent Trailer?

OregonVette · 06-16-2008, 11:57 PM

Hey gang,

me: 2008 JK Unlimited Sahara w/ Towing pkg. MAX TOWING CAPACITY 3500.

Q: Does anyone have a "tent-trailer" or a "pop-up" tent trailer that they have been pulling w/ their JK?

I am a total rough-it & sleep in the dirt type of angler/camper but... wife & kids ehh... not so much. The wife is an admitted indoor cat & kids are 3 & 6. She has given the green-light to a purchase.

1. So.... Has anybody successfully pulled a 16 to 22' tent-trailer with their 4 door JK?
2. I have the factory tow-pkg, what's your experience towing a 1800 to 2800lb trailer?

If so, let's hear it and/or see those action pictures

vwjarhead · 06-17-2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OregonVette

Hey gang,

me: 2008 JK Unlimited Sahara w/ Towing pkg.

Q: Does anyone have a "tent-trailer" or a "pop-up" tent trailer that they have been pulling w/ their JK?

I am a total rough-it & sleep in the dirt type of angler/camper but... wife & kids ehh... not so much. The wife is an admitted indoor cat & kids are 3 & 6. She has given the green-light to a purchase.

1. So.... Has anybody successfully pulled a 16 to 22' tent-trailer with their 4 door JK?
2. I have the factory tow-pkg, can it handle towing a 1800 to 2300lb trailer?

If so, let's hear it and/or see those action pictures

Max tow capacity is stated as 3500 with the 3.73 gears. I will assume you have them if you have the tow package. The important thing is the tongue weight not exceeding 500 lbs. Either way your MPG are going to suck.... Let us know the result though, Ive been thinking of borrowing a friend and Ive got the same Jeep

**ge2** · 06-17-2008, 12:55 AM

Aloha Oregon. I am a dirt camper too, but with 4 & 6 year old daughters and having rented rv's for the last 3 years, dirt camping is OUT!
We bought a pop up last week. My wife's commander (5.7) will be the main tow pig, but I am having my JK regeared to 5.13 to make it PUP friendly. It won't be ideal, but it'll work.

If you're stock height with stock wheels/tires, depending on your factory gearing, you should be fine.

Scooter_Trash · 06-17-2008, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwjarhead

Let us know the result though, Ive been thinking of borrowing a friend and Ive got the same Jeep

You can borrow some of my friends, but I'm not responsible for anything they break.

**LHS-Cowboy** · 06-17-2008, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooter_Trash

You can borrow some of my friends, but I'm not responsible for anything they break.

Classic.

mrsig · 06-17-2008, 06:44 AM

I tow a pop up and my Bass boat with (not at the same time)out any problems.

**yoda13** · 06-17-2008, 04:56 PM

My brother rented a pop-up last summer with his unlimited and is doing it again this year for a 1600 mile round trip camping trip to and through the mountains....Unlimited pulled it like a champ and the mileage only dropped to slightly below 14 mpg...so not too bad...

pro3dguy · 06-17-2008, 05:26 PM

I own a 2008 JK Sahara and a 2007 Fleetwood Bayside. While the Bayside is a rather large trailer for a popup, I pull it just fine. I do slow down some on steep grades but for the most part, I can maintain highway speeds with a minimum of fuss. My gas mileage seems to drop to about 16 mpg in regular driving - in mountain driving I have seen it drop as low as 13.5 mpg. I seem to see a larger mileage drop from turning on the a/c then from towing the trailer under regular conditions.

Martin

vwjarhead · 06-17-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooter_Trash

You can borrow some of my friends, but I'm not responsible for anything they break.

OK, Thats a good one. spelchek anywun?

**waterboarder** · 06-17-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoda13

My brother rented a pop-up last summer with his unlimited and is doing it again this year for a 1600 mile round trip camping trip to and through the mountains....Unlimited pulled it like a champ and the mileage only dropped to slightly below 14 mpg...so not too bad...

Just out of curiosity, how long (days) is this trip, and what does it cost to rent the popup for that time period?

DMG · 06-18-2008, 03:12 PM

Is it a MUST to tow with the OD off on a Auto trans ?

Warlord2 · 06-18-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMG

Is it a MUST to tow with the OD off on a Auto trans ?

They will tell you to turn it off when towing anything in the handbook. Now do you have to turn it off? I suppose not, if its like 1500lbs or something and going on a flat surface. Leaving it on will put more of a strain on the trany and engine, I would always turn it off..if I had a auto.

**yoda13** · 06-18-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasdog

Just out of curiosity, how long (days) is this trip, and what does it cost to rent the popup for that time period?

A little over a week or so, maybe ten days....I think he paid around 575 bux last year and got a better deal this year...

Joec · 06-19-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMG

Is it a MUST to tow with the OD off on a Auto trans ?

With my Fleetwood Evolution E3 I tow with OD off. My single axle utility trailer, I tow with OD on.

The E3 is 2900lbs dry and I figure I am pushing the 3500lb limit when it is loaded up (I don't put bed toys on the cargo deck).

My single axle utility is over a 1000lbs empty and I have loaded that up with an apartment's worth of furniture and it towed fine with OD on.

The E3 worries me a bit being at the max weight. So I am having a transmission cooler and temperature gauge installed while the jeep is at the dealer being serviced.

Jk did fine pulling the E3. But then again, I have a supercharger (purchased for this very reason). I held 65 without much struggling, although it did downshift a bit in the hills. (3rd to 2nd)

Still, all in all, I'd much preferred that jeep had put even the small V8 or diesel in this thing.

fman74 · 06-19-2008, 07:24 PM

I home it will pull my small trailer and John Deere Gator from NJ to OBX with no problems.