Towing a camper with a SWB jeep.

[BigAl]

I 've towed a lot of different things with a full size truck, but never with a SWB jeep. I'm looking at a 15' pull behind camper (not a popup). Could this be towed reasonably safely with a YJ? The jeep is on 35s with heavy axles and low gears. i know there is enough power but i'm not sure how it will handle. no plans for hi speed highway travel, but i will be on some steep twisty mountain roads. i would really only be 30 miles from home otherwise i'll use my truck. what do you guys think?

 

[Robert Bills]

BTDT, many years ago with a CJ-5. It too, was a short distance, but I've never forgotten it.

I wouldn't do it again.

 

[Root Moose]

IIRC a YJ is class I so 1500lbs... or is it 2000 lbs?

I wouldn't want to pull anything much heavier. You don't have the wheelbase or the weight to control a larger load if something were to get out of hand.

 

[Martyn]

Jeeps generally do better when towing trailers that have electric brakes. Jeeps that have larger than stock tires need electric brakes to avoid a wild toad ride.

 

[Ford Prefect]

I agree with all of the above.

I believe that Jeep actually recommended no more than 1400 LBS for the YJ and the TJ, so take that into consideration. That thing can jack knife faster than you can believe. The brakes on the trailer makes a huge difference, but still keep it a small trailer.
A 15' non-pop up is a very big camper for a jeep to pull. Sure it can 'pull it' but stopping it is the concern you have, and I do not think it would like doing that much at all. Mostly you need to think 'worst case' not 'optimal case' given that you never know when something is going to happen, say your jeep brakes go out because of over heating, or you have a cow trot out in front of you.

Lastly, do not get over confident.

 

[BigAl]

Thanks for the help, the deal I was looking at fell through

 

[JackW]

I had a 13" Boler (older version of the small Scamp) that I towed behind my short wheelbase Land Rover Defender. It weighed around 900 pounds and towed like a dream - I wouldn't go a whole lot bigger than that but the 13' fiberglass trailers should be OK - just make sure you have enough tongue weight as they are very sensitive to how you load them.

 

[lbarcher]

I know there are lots of experts around here but I'll share my experiences.

I used to own a Samurai (3 over the years actually). It was rated at 1k lbs if I remember. A small utility trailer with a total weight of 500lbs was lots when it came to real world handling.

My Tacoma will pull 3500lbs and not notice a 1400lb camper.

My JK unlimited with the same trailer gets pushed around some but not enough to be concerned. I believe it may have to do with the difference between the Taco's rear leaf set up and the JK's coils.

Take it slow.