Are WJs good enough for light overland towing?

[Luckie1999]

I am in the market for a hunting/camping/light overlanding truck/trailer setup (i.e. BLM land/forestry roads and only enough extra bumps to get to the final campsite spot or through a tough spot in the road).

I want to get a 6x10 cargo trailer, which will be about 2000 lbs wet once loaded up and built (dry weight is ~1200 lbs pre-build).

What I hope to get some advice on is whether a V8 WJ has enough get up and go and slow down and stop to handle the 2000 lbs on the freeway going 65 as well as pulling uphill on forest road stretches ( I live in the Pacific Northwest so mountain forest roads are pretty common).

I like how WJs are more capable than a suburban or truck once the trailer is parked at the base camp (and cheaper to buy), but worried its not enough vehicle to do it without stressing out the systems (especially worried about overheating, since I have read a lot about what happens to the V8s when they do...)

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[billiebob]

yes, no problem

watch the temperatures but that goes for anything towing, you might want to add a transmission temp gauge but with 2000# you should have no issues. I tow a 2000# 5x10 cargo trailer daily for work with a 4.0L TJR in the mountains. I've got over 50K miles towing with it.

I've driven Edmonton, AB to Denver, CO empty going, loaded return, 80mph all day long on the Interstate. 1000 miles a day.

 

[ReconH3]

My WJ V8 has 250,000+ on the odometer. 180,000 were done towing this 3 ton trailer all over Europe to competitions. If it could handle all that, you will be more than fine. The WJ is ones of the best made Jeeps out there.

 

[ZMagic97]

I would feel fine towing that with 04 I6 WJ. I assume the 4.7 would do even better.

With 2 adults, 2 kids, and the cargo area full to the roof, I was going uphill at 85MPH with power to spare. I drove it home from Tri Cities, WA to Phoenix with no problems.

I'll also mention my ~168,000 mile driven trans works great. No rebuilds on it to my knowledge.

And yes, they are great trail rigs for the price.

 

[billiebob]

I want to get a 6x10 cargo trailer

Absolutely the best size behind a WJ. I picked 5x10 cuz the TJ is 5' wide. It is almost invisible behind the TJ and the factory mirrors work great. For that reason I'd bet a 6x10 would tuck right in behind the WJ and the mirrors might work too. You might want to buy some cheap clipon mirrors if the WJ is less than 6' wide.

 

[billiebob]

My WJ V8 has 250,000+ on the odometer. 180,000 were done towing this 3 ton trailer all over Europe to competitions. If it could handle all that, you will be more than fine. The WJ is ones of the best made Jeeps out there.

I want more pics of the TJ. Looks near perfect.

 

[ReconH3]

I want more pics of the TJ. Looks near perfect.

That TJ went all around the world competing in adventure/survival challenges.

Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia

Croatia Trophy in Croatia

Outback Challenge in Australia

Many more countries and competitions but I can’t find those pics. A lot was pre digital cameras era.

 

[Luckie1999]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I honestly thought it would have been more negative...I'll definitely have to look more into WJs in the area.

As a follow-up, for those of you that do tow with your WJ, have you done any mod that you found have helped make life easier (aside from mirrors)?

 

[nitro_rat]

To the OP, sounds like you have a solid game-plan. I prefer a full-size but I understand the desire to be smaller on the trail. The V8 WJ has a full-size drivetrain for the most part though!

That TJ went all around the world competing in adventure/survival challenges.

Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia

Croatia Trophy in Croatia

Outback Challenge in Australia

Many more countries and competitions but I can’t find those pics. A lot was pre digital cameras era.

#jealous...

 

[MOguy]

I had an 01 with the I6. Mine was stock but took it here and there. There is no doubt it can be made into a very capable off road vehicle. The issue I had with it was towing. I have a 17 foot camper trailer that weighed close to 3K empty. If I went much over 60 it would sway. I could have gotten a better hitch set up but I got a 4Runner instead. The 4Runner was a better tow vehicle but for off roading the Grand had much more potential.

 

[ej1096]

04 WJ, has been all over the country from east to west. Did awesome. It has the v8 with enough power for a trailer in the Rockies and Appalachians

 

[nitro_rat]

04 WJ, has been all over the country from east to west. Did awesome. It has the v8 with enough power for a trailer in the Rockies and Appalachians View attachment 562677

Nice Rig!

 

[ZMagic97]

Nice Rig!

I agree! I'd love to see how the LEDs on the hood are mounted.

 

[Outdoorsben]

I had an 04 with the v8 and it was awesome. Also got amazing gas mileage for what it was (19 hand calculated). I would go v8. Mine wasn’t the HO but still had plenty of power.

 

[Grassland]

Pretty key thing to consider is if the V8 WJ has factory tow package.

IIRC the transmission cooler was the big deal. Neither the 4 speed in the I6 or the 5 speed in the V8 were stellar. I think tow rating is officially like 2000# if no tow package from factory, and 5000-5600# if V8 equipped appropriately

I never towed heavy loads with my WJ, just around 2000# and it was fine on highway, but sucked the fuel down. Was on 245/75R16 and the Kolak lift, which was Bilstein shocks and OME springs if I remember correctly.