15 years (so far) with this TJ!
- Thread starter Beentheredoingthat
- Start date
billiebob
Well-known member
Am I too heavy ??
I drove truck for a living so I am very conscious of being legal. My overlanding choice, an '05 Jeep Rubicon is rated for 2200# on the front axle, 2700# on the rear axle but overall my Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 4600#. If I ever weigh more than 4600# I am over weight and if I get into a fatal accident I could be fined and liable for the results. A lot of guys say, you can be 10%? over. Or if you change to a heavier tire you are OK...... Flat out NO !! The GVWR is the weight the engineers design everything around. Spring mounts, brakes, steering components, even the frame design is all designed for safe travels at the GVWR.
Factory Curb Weight for my Rubicon was 3723#. Less my GVWR of 4600# gives me a theoretical payload of 877#.
Curb weight is with an empty gas tank so add 19 gallons of gas 115#, me 225#, my wife 120#, my dog 80#, I'm at 540 and have room for 337# of stuff. But I also have a winch 80# plus some steel to mount it 20#, plus a bag of accessories 15# and now I can pack 222#. Less my bag of tools 50#.... so 172# left over for water, coffee, snacks.
On the tools, clothing, food, cameras, books, axe, stove, cooler, tent?, RTT with rack, I can only load 172#. So I use a trailer for all of this. My TJR Trailer Weight Rating is 2000#. All up ready to go, food, clothes, toys, books it weighs 1500#. Keeping me legal and sparing me breakage on the trail. You are almost guaranteed a Wrangler with an RTT on the roof is overweight.
Anything less than a 3/4 full size truck is pretty much the same. A Tacoma has a 1500# Payload. A Tundra 1640#. A Colorado 2000#. A Sierra 2700#. It is real easy to go over weight on anything smaller than full size. But even then the additional volume seems to attract more stuff. If you like to go glamping with a toilet, hot water, BBQ plus the kitchen sink, you really need a 3/4 ton ot bigger. And if you pack tools, spare parts, winches, jack alls, chains, extra gas.... you should be in a 1 ton.
The Power Wagon, one of the most capable off roaders is like my Rubicon. Thanks to all its flexability it has the worst payload capacity of any pickup at 1440# but it is massive and so easy to grossly over load it. Like my TJR overlanding in a Power Wagon should include a trailer for all the extras. It can tow 9790#.
Ultimately if you ever drive past a "self weigh scale" on the highway, pull in, scale yer rig. Compare that to the sticker in the drivers door jamb. That is exactly what DOT will do if they ever decide to check your weight. But don't do it at a Manned Commercial Vehicle Inspection Station unless you KNOW you are legal.
I drove truck for a living so I am very conscious of being legal. My overlanding choice, an '05 Jeep Rubicon is rated for 2200# on the front axle, 2700# on the rear axle but overall my Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 4600#. If I ever weigh more than 4600# I am over weight and if I get into a fatal accident I could be fined and liable for the results. A lot of guys say, you can be 10%? over. Or if you change to a heavier tire you are OK...... Flat out NO !! The GVWR is the weight the engineers design everything around. Spring mounts, brakes, steering components, even the frame design is all designed for safe travels at the GVWR.
Factory Curb Weight for my Rubicon was 3723#. Less my GVWR of 4600# gives me a theoretical payload of 877#.
Curb weight is with an empty gas tank so add 19 gallons of gas 115#, me 225#, my wife 120#, my dog 80#, I'm at 540 and have room for 337# of stuff. But I also have a winch 80# plus some steel to mount it 20#, plus a bag of accessories 15# and now I can pack 222#. Less my bag of tools 50#.... so 172# left over for water, coffee, snacks.
On the tools, clothing, food, cameras, books, axe, stove, cooler, tent?, RTT with rack, I can only load 172#. So I use a trailer for all of this. My TJR Trailer Weight Rating is 2000#. All up ready to go, food, clothes, toys, books it weighs 1500#. Keeping me legal and sparing me breakage on the trail. You are almost guaranteed a Wrangler with an RTT on the roof is overweight.
Anything less than a 3/4 full size truck is pretty much the same. A Tacoma has a 1500# Payload. A Tundra 1640#. A Colorado 2000#. A Sierra 2700#. It is real easy to go over weight on anything smaller than full size. But even then the additional volume seems to attract more stuff. If you like to go glamping with a toilet, hot water, BBQ plus the kitchen sink, you really need a 3/4 ton ot bigger. And if you pack tools, spare parts, winches, jack alls, chains, extra gas.... you should be in a 1 ton.
The Power Wagon, one of the most capable off roaders is like my Rubicon. Thanks to all its flexability it has the worst payload capacity of any pickup at 1440# but it is massive and so easy to grossly over load it. Like my TJR overlanding in a Power Wagon should include a trailer for all the extras. It can tow 9790#.
Ultimately if you ever drive past a "self weigh scale" on the highway, pull in, scale yer rig. Compare that to the sticker in the drivers door jamb. That is exactly what DOT will do if they ever decide to check your weight. But don't do it at a Manned Commercial Vehicle Inspection Station unless you KNOW you are legal.
Beentheredoingthat
Member
Ounces equals pounds and pounds equals pain! They don’t leave you much for wiggle room on a TJ!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
MOguy
Explorer
And then throw it up on top and strap it down in your rack so you have more room in the Jeep. Not only are you over weight you are dangerously top heavy.
Last edited:
pittsburgh
tacocat
@Beentheredoingthat what kind of MPG's are you getting? Buy LJ actually got close to 20MPG's with 30's.
I am thinking a re-gear and a hub kit might help me get that with 31's or 32's?
I am thinking a re-gear and a hub kit might help me get that with 31's or 32's?
Beentheredoingthat
Member
Over the last year I have had as high as 19 mpg and low of 10 mpg and an overall average of 14.5 fully loaded. And has averaged 14.5 mpg over the last 70,000 miles that I’ve been keeping track. I keep it between 55-60 on highways if I have to drive on them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
