Jeep Rubicon Towing Capacity

[Tagdog]

We have a 2015 Rubicon JK 6 speed manual with 410 rear end. I am getting close to starting a trailer build. We want something a little bigger than a M 416. But not too big, Its hard to calculate weight. But I believe it will be 1500 - 1800 pounds. That should be a good safe weight. I would love to hear from people that have towed 2000 pound and heavier trailers with a Jeep. I have to balance getting what I want out of the trailer and it's size and weight.

 

[(none)]

I towed significantly more than 2k lbs a few times with my '12 JKR 6-speed, stock 4.10s (later 4.88s) on 35s. It did fine, just take your time. The short wheelbase it what kills you. The motor has plenty of power and the brakes are acceptable but not fantastic.

 

[petesjkwrangler]

I've towed more than I'd like to admit this past summer with my JK 2 dr. It wasn't a rubicon, so it has less than 4.10 gears, but i'll speak to my experience towing with a 2DR JK. Mine was an enclosed trailer, so wind resistance was much more a factor than weight was. Ideally, the lower the better. I also found that the 5' width on mine towed really nicely behind the jeep since it almost slip streams behind, and didn't require for tow mirrors since the OE mirrors worked perfect with that width.

 

[kennedyma]

IMHO trailer brakes are a must for any size trailer on a Wrangler. I have an 1,800 pound pop and am swapping the axle on it this month for one with electric brakes.
I towed it last year without brakes and it wasn’t super fun, doable but not fun.

 

[kennedyma]

Here is the quick brake controller install thread I wrote up a few weeks ago.

Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Install JKUR

Hey all, I finally got around to installing the Redarc Two-Pro Elite in my JKUR today. After watching the install videos from eTrailer, I had a pretty good grasp on what needed to be done. The only issue was that they put the remote dial right where the goodies are on the Rubicon. So I grabbed...

www.expeditionportal.com

 

[MOguy]

I have a 2001 TJ 4:56 gears 5spd on 35' and I pulled a trailer over 3,000 lb from Tennessee to California. It had no problems doing that other than the steering felt a little lite. it was a 6 foot by 12 foot covered cargo trailer that stuck up higher than my Jeep. I'm not recommending anybody ever do this, I far exceeded my jeeps tow rating but it done did it. I've tow cargo trailers with maybe a thousand pounds on it many many times with no issues. I also had a 2001 Grand Cherokee rated a 5000 lb and my TJ towed far far better than my Grand Cherokee did.


Your Jeep is far more capable at towing than my jeep ever will be. You should have no issue towing 1500 to 1800 lb on Road. If you take it off road there's more things to consider and just the weight.

Even on road how you pack your trailer can have more of an effect on how your vehicle drives than the weight of the trailer.

 

[jadmt]

If it is a 2 door (I had a 2016 2 door with auto and 4.10) I towed 1600lbs with no isses and no trailer brakes. I towed it from Montana to UT and Colorado and back never drove under the speed limit. No issues whatsoever. I would not worry about another 400lbs. I also towed a 3500lb trailer with my 2014 4 door rubicon with 4.10's and auto. definitely needed trailer brakes for that. For me I think on a 2 door 2000lb would be the limit with or without trailer brakes. On a 4 door same anything above about 2000lbs to the max of 3500lb I would want trailer brakes. both my jeeps were lifted with 3.5" lifts and running 35's.

 

[tatanka48]

according to factory specs the 2-door JK still has the towing cap of my older YJ's & TJ which is 2000#

the specs are bumped up to 3500# for the 4-door JK's

i have towed my old Ural(about 1000#) on a heavy duty flat bed which bumped me up near the 2000# limit and i could really feel the weight going down the road AND even more pronounced was the weight when stopping

the 2-door Jeeps are so short coupled that stopping 2000# creates some very interesting(alarming) behavior which could be disastrous in questionable weather or terrain situations

YES there are folks who do tow up to and over the factory spec and get away with it

if you think your rig will approach the cap BRAKES woud certainly be in your best interest

when ordering your suspension you can spec axles w/ BRAKE FLANGES at little cost difference

then if you do find yourself approaching your personal discomfort level you can add the brakes at a later time for about what it would cost you to have done it in the beginning

if your JK is a 4-door model i would enjoy hearing how it does w/ a trailer

T

 

[jadmt]

according to factory specs the 2-door JK still has the towing cap of my older YJ's & TJ which is 2000#

the specs are bumped up to 3500# for the 4-door JK's

i have towed my old Ural(about 1000#) on a heavy duty flat bed which bumped me up near the 2000# limit and i could really feel the weight going down the road AND even more pronounced was the weight when stopping

the 2-door Jeeps are so short coupled that stopping 2000# creates some very interesting(alarming) behavior which could be disastrous in questionable weather or terrain situations

YES there are folks who do tow up to and over the factory spec and get away with it

if you think your rig will approach the cap BRAKES woud certainly be in your best interest

when ordering your suspension you can spec axles w/ BRAKE FLANGES at little cost difference

then if you do find yourself approaching your personal discomfort level you can add the brakes at a later time for about what it would cost you to have done it in the beginning

if your JK is a 4-door model i would enjoy hearing how it does w/ a trailer

T

as crazy as it seems in 2015 jeep raised the tow capacity on the 2 door to 3500 as long as 3.73/4.10 gearing. my 2016 owners manual and 2018 owner manual shows the higher ratings for the 2 doors. I called jeep because nothing changed on 2012-2014 compared to 2015 on up as far as mechanical things that should increase tow rating and jeep did confirm that my 2016 two door with 4.10 gearing was indeed rated at 3500lbs.

 

[jadmt]

what is just as crazy 2 door is limited to 25 sq ft frontal area but 4 door 32 sq ft regardless of gearing. european models have like 5000 lb capacity none of it makes sense.

 

[Bobzdar]

We have a 2015 Rubicon JK 6 speed manual with 410 rear end. I am getting close to starting a trailer build. We want something a little bigger than a M 416. But not too big, Its hard to calculate weight. But I believe it will be 1500 - 1800 pounds. That should be a good safe weight. I would love to hear from people that have towed 2000 pound and heavier trailers with a Jeep. I have to balance getting what I want out of the trailer and it's size and weight.

I've towed well over that with my JLUR, but use a weight distributing hitch and sway control, trailer also has brakes. It has no issues but if you're going to push the 3500lb limit be sure you get a good hitch and set it up properly. I do not have a lift and do not plan one as I don't want to affect on-road manners or towing.

 

[Tagdog]

For some reason I was thinking that the recommended towing on all Jeeps was 2000.00 pounds. We will absolutely be putting brakes on the trailer. With what I have in mind I do not think I will be much over 1500 pounds dry weight. But, Now I feel better in case I miss the mark by 30%.