Jeep Too Wimpy To Tow

[Hilldweller]

I'm loving the Conqueror for camping. It's so nice to have everything I need, handy, ready, and neat.
The tent opens easily, it's roomy. Plenty of water, propane, battery power.
And you hardly know it's back there on the trails (as long as you go downhill slowly and carefully).

But, on the highway, it's very frustrating. I have a 2008 JK Wrangler and it's rated to tow 2000 pounds. I can barely get up hills. It's got an automatic trans and is downshifting at the slightest elevation change. Painful-sounding downshifts too.
My fuel economy is about 21 on rural highways usually; it's 13 with the trailer.

I checked with dealerships and they tell me that any regearing will void my lifetime powertrain warranty. Supercharging is also frowned upon.

I'm bummed. I don't feel like trying to drive cross-country like this. I don't mind bad fuel economy if I have power... And I don't mind low power if I have great fuel economy...

 

[JIMBO]

:archaeolo Yea, I got a new JK also and I haven't had a chance to tow my trailer yet either, but

I've cut back on the LOADING and it shouldn't weigh more than 800 lbs with my camping gear

I'll give it a try after my JK gets at least a 1000 miles on it

info/pics later

:safari-rig: :safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[TheGillz]

It sounds like you didn't get the tow package w/ the 3.73 gears, so what you have is 3.21 gearing and that isn't fit to tow 500 lbs, much less 2k.

Sorry to put it to you straight like this, but short of regearing and/or selling to get a properly geared one you won't fix it.

BTW, the warranty mumbo jumbo is BS, a dealer could put the factory 3.73 gears in themselves and that should be covered, but aftermarket ones...well depends on the dealer, but with Chrystler in the crapper, i'm sure they are being told "VOID, VOID, VOID!!!"

 

[Hilldweller]

I have 3:73 gears; I asked the dealer about 4:10's --- and they said it would void the tranny warranty, even if it was done at the dealership with genuine Jeep gears....
I should've gotten the FJ Cruiser; my wife didn't like it for some reason. It has 3 times more towing capacity.

 

[lowenbrau]

I'm surprised to hear this. I hauled three big round bales on a car hauler last weekend behind a 08 four door JK and was impressed with how it handled it. Probably 8000 lbs with the trailer. It was a Rubicon (4:11s) edition and an manual tranny so maybe that made the difference.

 

[Mayne]

This will void any warranty, but RIPP mods has a 50 state legal supercharger kit for the JK's. And as far as voiding the warrenty for the transmission, They would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the transmission failure was a direct result of regearing. The Rubicon comes stock w/4.10 gears. I think they are blowing smoke.


Mayne

 

[gpwpat]

I have a rubicon with the factory 4:10 gearing. I tow a Bantam packed to the top with an EEZI awn on the top. trailer is probably 2K lbs loaded. I can't even tell it is there. You should really look into changing the gearing. in early 2007 when you ordered the tow package it changed the gearing to 4:10 on all models. now they don't change the gearing. and people are reporting sluggishness while towing even the smallest trailers. I think that was a bad decision on Jeeps part.

 

[Martyn]

Have you weighed the trailer over the scales?

This is a generalization I know but South African and Australian trailers are heavier than their advertised weight.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if you are in the 1600-1800 lb weight range with nothing in the trailer. Add water, fuel, a fridge, camping gear, fire wood, food, and clothing and you may well be over your 2000 lb tow rating.

 

[Hilldweller]

Have you weighed the trailer over the scales?

This is a generalization I know but South African and Australian trailers are heavier than their advertised weight.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if you are in the 1600-1800 lb weight range with nothing in the trailer. Add water, fuel, a fridge, camping gear, fire wood, food, and clothing and you may well be over your 2000 lb tow rating.

I haven't put it on a scale yet but my guess was 1700, based on tongue weight and my years of experience at lifting heavy things for fun.

4:10's would certainly go a long way in correcting the problem. An 800 pound diet would go further.
I'd really like a D110... :sombrero: :safari-rig:

 

[IH8RDS]

That’s odd. I went through a similar situation with my Suburban, but the dealership said it would not void my warranty. My max tow capacity with 3.73 is 7,400 lbs. If I add 4.10 it bumps it up to 8,400 lbs. I opted to keep the 3.73 gears and buy a lighter trailer. The trailer I ended up purchasing weighs in around 6,100 lbs. The one I was initially looking at was 7,100 lbs.

 

[Root Moose]

Screw the warranty. Regear.

 

[Cruiser]

regear,, they cannot void the warranty if you stay with a gear ratio that is available from the factory.. I'd go with 4.10's,, If you can swing it,, just get the new 44's from DC with the 4.10s,, bolt in swap and they would have to prove that the regear is what caused the fail.. Lots of info on the jeep boards, all manufacturers try to get out of paying warranty.. do a search on jk forum and you will find the legal explanation of warranties.. The worst they could do is not cover your axles..

You must have 3.21? I have 3.73's in my 2dr x and I have towed 2500# up some very steep inclines without issue..

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

I haven't put it on a scale yet but my guess was 1700, based on tongue weight and my years of experience at lifting heavy things for fun.

4:10's would certainly go a long way in correcting the problem. An 800 pound diet would go further.
I'd really like a D110... :sombrero: :safari-rig:

Now is a good time to pick one up!
However, note that I have a pretty beastly time pulling hills with my rig as well and I have an upgraded 4.7 that is tweaked for performance. I just slide over into the lane with the truckers when pulling mountains, pop on the flashers and mosey along.

I try to remember an episode of the Andy Griffith show when a guest preacher spoke about "slow down ... take it easy, ... what's your hurry!"

Just live life.

Hey, what about T-giving camping? Cades Cove?

Dendy

 

[Rockcrawler]

I can't tell from the pictures as I don't know JKs all that well, but do you have stock tires still or have you gone larger? That would also have an effect on your power. The auto is probably a big difference vs. the manual transmission as others have said. Is there perhaps a problem with the transmission? Is it downshifting when it shouldn't be?

 

[highlandercj-7]

You need a different dealer. The folks up here could care less if it is regeared. I'm sure they will not do warranty work on the gears, unless they did the regear job, but they won't ding you for it on other items. It's no secret that the Jk has a candy ***** engine. If you want power send it to AEV for a Hemi swap. IMHO they should have been offered from the factory with a minimum of a 4.7L V-8. Oh yeah that auto is killing your already whimpy engine, even more.