Jeep Cargo Weight

[Deleted member 48574]

Hi Jeepers,

I just recently traded my beloved 2 door Sport for a 4 door Rubicon, and I love it.

On my sport, I had a homemade roof rack as well as a rear bumper, and something that really struck me when I took all that stuff off for the trade in was how low she was sitting in the back end due to the weight. On one road trip, loaded down with gear, we were definitely getting headlights flashed at us by other drivers thinking our brights were on, and over a few bumps we hit the bump stops! (Hence why I wanted the Rubicon for the suspension)

So, before outfitting my Rubicon with new bumpers (I already have a Gobi on the way for an RTT) I wanted to ask around a bit about weight management.

It appears that the Rubicon has a gross payload capacity of 895 pounds, which isn't a lot.

Lets say you add on the rack and RTT -- which is about 175 lbs, all told -- you now have a payload of 720 lbs.

Tack on me, at 220 lbs, my dog at 65, and my wife at 120 lbs, we are down to 315 lbs.

Throw in another couple we often camp with at about 200 and 150 lbs, and we are now officially over the carrying capacity of the jeep -- and thats without any camping gear beyond the tent! But, lets say we kick them out and they can find their own way to the bush. Teryn and I -- between food, packs, etc. probably bring in about 160 lbs of gear. That only leaves 155 lbs for any additional aftermarket work. Bull bar? There's 100 lbs right there. Add a winch, and you've only got 20 lbs, and we haven't even gotten to the rear tire carrier, or extra water or fuel.


My question is: How do people manage to tack on the bumpers, racks, etc. without sacrificing too much of their payload? Is there suspension upgrades required? How close do you stick to that 895 number, or is it something that you pay attention to?

Regards
Craig

 

[pilosopo]

In my experience, you don't.

Your vehicle ends up overweight, no way around it. With steel bumpers, sliders, gobi, and winch I'm probably already at 350lb before adding anything.

Recovery gear is probably another 100+

My featherlight RTT is about 80

Put me and a passenger in and technically we can't bring anything.

I ended up upgrading to synergy 1" lift springs and rancho 7000 dampers. With this setup, my Rubicon doesn't exhibit many of the negative it did stock when loaded down

 

[Chi-Town]

You could also try a small trailer to fit the tent on and supplies in?

 

[Deleted member 48574]

Pilosopo,

Good to know about the upgraded suspension -- this rig is also a DD so I want to keep it a stock as possible, though, at least until the warranty expires. Here's another question -- what is your sense in the validity of that 895 lbs number? For instance, is 895 what it'll take before riding bumpstops? Or before the Pocket Protector types expect you to notice some small difference in handling characteristics?

Chi-Town -- I'd love a trailer and that's the long term plan but my living situation means I can't really store a trailer anywhere. That is a good idea though!

Regards
Craig

 

[AndrewDM]

Craig,

You have hit the Achilles' Heel of the Jeep Unlimited. It is a light duty vehicle. Load it up with 900 lbs and you will be hitting the bump stops. I have a 2013 Rubicon Unlimited and use a trailer for hauling the majority of camping gear, reserving the cargo area for sleeping bags, backpacks and a cooler. You can add the Poly Performance 1" springs and regain suspension travel when loaded, but technically and realistically it is not increasing the payload capacity.

-Andy

 

[Deleted member 48574]

Thanks, Andrew.

That basically answers the path for my build in terms of bumpers, armour and such -- Aluminum, Aluminum, and more aluminum. And if I can take out a few pounds of carpet or other nonsense accessories, I will!

My above math wasn't totally honest -- for instance if you add a 150 lbs front bumper, you are really only adding 115 pounds of weight or so as you'd obviously be removing the stock one. But, my goal for the bumper isn't to be too heavy duty; I basically just want something that might help prevent a deer from entering my engine bay should I hit one, so a medium-duty aluminum bumper, properly engineered, should do the trick.

To keep the discussion going -- besides trailers, what are some other weight-saving tricks people have used in their Jeeps?

Regards
Craig

 

[Deleted member 48574]

And here's another fun question that I'd like to hear thoughts on:

My main concern is animal strikes. is there any advantage is sticking with the stock bumper and adding a bull bar like this:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12101_400X_PG.htm

Or am I better off with this:

Option 2:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12001_020X_PG.htm

Or Option 3:

Stop fussing over 50 damn pounds and put the ARB on it


I like 2: because of the winch compatibility and according to the rep at Quadratec it weighs in at 50 lbs, but maybe I'm being crazy for a small amount of weight.

Cheers
Craig

 

[pilosopo]

Pilosopo,

Good to know about the upgraded suspension -- this rig is also a DD so I want to keep it a stock as possible, though, at least until the warranty expires. Here's another question -- what is your sense in the validity of that 895 lbs number? For instance, is 895 what it'll take before riding bumpstops? Or before the Pocket Protector types expect you to notice some small difference in handling characteristics?

Chi-Town -- I'd love a trailer and that's the long term plan but my living situation means I can't really store a trailer anywhere. That is a good idea though!

Regards
Craig

You wont be on the bumpstops, but you will have a noticeable dog dragging its butt stance.

The handling is crap though.

The thing with our Jeeps is, unladen, they have something near 50/50 F/R weight distribution. With all that stuff in the back, I found the jeep to have an unnerving lightness to its steering and responses.

Believe it or not, adding a heavy front bumper and winch, with the springs, made the handling better when laden. The problem is, adding the bumper and winch without the new springs reveals how soft the front springs are and how inadequate they are for when there's weight added.

You wont be on the bumpstops in the back when laden, but you'll be really close on the front.

Changing the springs does not, as Andy stated, increase payload, but it makes the Jeep much more effective when at its limit.

 

[pilosopo]

And here's another fun question that I'd like to hear thoughts on:

My main concern is animal strikes. is there any advantage is sticking with the stock bumper and adding a bull bar like this:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12101_400X_PG.htm

Or am I better off with this:

Option 2:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12001_020X_PG.htm

Or Option 3:

Stop fussing over 50 damn pounds and put the ARB on it


I like 2: because of the winch compatibility and according to the rep at Quadratec it weighs in at 50 lbs, but maybe I'm being crazy for a small amount of weight.

Cheers
Craig

Stop messing with it and add the heavy bumper. It makes the vehicle more balanced IMO when there's a load in the back.

See my previous response.

I'm biased though, as I have an ARB

 

[Deleted member 48574]

I was typing those questions just as you were answering them, pilosopo!

I had never thought about the bumper acting as a load distribution tool. That's a very good point, especially when I don't really think I'll be adding a heavy rear bumper or tire carrier (With the intended use of the vehicle and the Gobi, I can tack on a Rotopax up top as opposed to off the back, if I'm desperate for a fuel reserve, which I don't think I will be very often).

Thanks for the info! Also that is a great looking rig!

 

[ventura911]

With plenty of upgrades to my '07 Unlmtd. Rubicon (see http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...ver-JK-build-(Pic-heavy)?highlight=ventura911), I used heavy-duty Old Man Emu springs (rears rated to 660 lbs.) to help handle the weight. At a loaded-to-the-gills weight of 6400 lbs., it's no sports car, but I stay within its on-road capabilities and don't feel unsafe. The only time I find myself hitting the rear bumpstops is when I've got the rear auxiliary fuel tank (20 gallons, or approx. 120 lbs.) and water tank (13.2 gallons, or approx. 110 lbs.) full for a trip. I run the rear tank first to shed the weight behind the rear axle.

 

[pilosopo]

I was typing those questions just as you were answering them, pilosopo!

I had never thought about the bumper acting as a load distribution tool. That's a very good point, especially when I don't really think I'll be adding a heavy rear bumper or tire carrier (With the intended use of the vehicle and the Gobi, I can tack on a Rotopax up top as opposed to off the back, if I'm desperate for a fuel reserve, which I don't think I will be very often).

Thanks for the info! Also that is a great looking rig!

Thanks.

It's a horrible means for load distribution if you think about it, but since we aren't driving sports cars I think the trade off is worthwhile.

More protection, place for winch, better ride and balance.

Only downside is weight.

And in the case of adding my ARB, it reduced the wind noise coming from my Gobi and my MPGs have gone up about .5 - 1 mpg per tank. Proof that aerodynamics are a weird thing.

My rear bumper is about 60lb. Stock is about 20 at most. The gobi though, is heavy and it really only affects the rear. If your jeep has a rake from the factory, I promise it'll be level after you add the rack.

I don't have a rear tire swing either, but when I carry rotopax I carry them on the front of the rack for weight distribution.

If you search for my other posts, you can see some measurement to showcase that, and then the changes after adding the springs.

 

[Deleted member 48574]

Ventura,

That is a NICE jeep. Just perused the whole thread. As my stock suspension wears out, I'll be replacing with OME parts. I also really like what you've done with the rack/tent cot combo. Thanks for chiming in with parts/model numbers for the springs!

Pil,

Aerodynamics are a strange thing indeed -- my old 2 door actually had better economy with the rack and RTT then it did with just my rack. Good to know a similar result can happen from the ARB bumper. My old JK Rack was a home built thing, but it used another home-built rear bumper that easily weighed 90 lbs. Too much for the rear end of a JK. I will for sure scan other posts of yours to see your set up a bit more closely.




Anyone have any other weight saving tips, just for reference in case others have this kind of query in the future?



Regards
Craig

 

[brianjwilson]

Get a better suspension. I have had my JKRU loaded up with four people, cargo to the roof and a hitch rack with a big cooler and it still handled great. Bumpers and more are coming soon.
I'm running an AEV 3.5" suspension lift which comes with progressive springs and bilstein tuned shocks.
Factory suspension really isn't designed to carry a bunch of weight well.

 

[Deleted member 48574]

Brian, Just for reference, is this the one you are referring to:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/16502_4001_07.htm

Looks like a pretty sweet setup!

Regards
Craig