Towing hybrid trailers with JK - feedback needed!
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Towing hybrid trailers with JK - feedback needed!
IS anyone here tow a hybrid trailer with his JK?
I have a 2008 pop-up trailer, usually camping with my nephews and nieces (5,7,10 and 13 years old),
setting up/tearing down the pop-up all by myself + keeping an eye on 4 kids is a PITA!
last trip I had to tear it down in pouring rain on top of that, NOT FUN... and now I wonder if it be wise to upgrade to a hybrid trailer (sleep 6) and still use my JK a the main towing vehicle.
Don't need big hybrid trailer, just something light, like (for example) the Spree Escape E16RBT that has a Dry Weight of 2400lb...
If you have/own a hybrid trailer (or any small travel trailer), can you please share your experience!
Additional information: my JK is 2010 4dr Rubicon (stock with Air lift)
Thanks.
Spree Escape E16RBT pics:
I have a 2008 pop-up trailer, usually camping with my nephews and nieces (5,7,10 and 13 years old),
setting up/tearing down the pop-up all by myself + keeping an eye on 4 kids is a PITA!
last trip I had to tear it down in pouring rain on top of that, NOT FUN... and now I wonder if it be wise to upgrade to a hybrid trailer (sleep 6) and still use my JK a the main towing vehicle.
Don't need big hybrid trailer, just something light, like (for example) the Spree Escape E16RBT that has a Dry Weight of 2400lb...
If you have/own a hybrid trailer (or any small travel trailer), can you please share your experience!
Additional information: my JK is 2010 4dr Rubicon (stock with Air lift)
Thanks.
Spree Escape E16RBT pics:
Last edited by Dream Girl; 08-28-2014 at 09:32 AM.
#2
JK Enthusiast
My wife and I have looked at this many times, especially after getting the Jeep. As long as the weight is not over the towing max, I would think you would be fine.
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Towing Hybrid with JKU
My comments are not going to be popular with some in this forum, but I would proceed with caution in the scenario you describe. My towing experience with my 2010 JKU automatic, stock with towing package is very limited. But my one trip into the Rockies towing my friends small fiberglass camping trailer ( 13 foot Boler from the 1960's ) that he claimed weighed less than 2000 lbs convinced me that if I were going to buy a trailer to pull with my jeep I would want to keep its weight to as close to 1000 lbs as possible. We were absolutely crawling up the steeper passes, and the trip convinced me that the JKU just doesn't make a good tow vehicle.
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#8
JK Super Freak
I tow all kinds of stuff, including campers. I beat the crap out of my JKU. You'll be fine as long as you be smart and drive slowly. Mine gets hot when towing as it is an 08 and didn't come with a trans cooler, and I don't want to install one in fear of voiding my lifetime warranty. If it gets hot towing up hill just pull over and let it cool. You'll be fine just make sure your hookups are connected properly and drive slowly. It's all about driving below the speed limit no matter what rig you have. If it says 65 go 55. This goes for anyone towing anything.
#9
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I towed up to 3500 lb with 08 jkur auto
I have towed an Rpod 18' trailer all over the west with an 08 JKURubi auto. First you need 410 gears, 2nd take trans out of overdrive unless you are a manual tranny. You can pull about 3000lb fairly easy. You will drop gears on hills and slow going in mountains. If you stay around 60mph it will work. Mirror extenders a must. Go rent a uhaul box trailer and weigh it down to about 3000lb and take it to a scale to confirm then tow it around and see. Add or drop weight to find your limits. Anything over 3000 you need aux tranny cooler. If you are a 2dr you can't tow as much. Check the tow posting that several have posted on over last year. Do a search for "tow" in threads.
#10
JK Junkie
I have commented on many towing topics on here. I just got back from towing a box shaped toyhauler that weighed around 5000 pounds. I have a manual trans 2012 JKU with 3.73 rear. I use a weight distribution hitch. My trailer has dual axle brakes and I have a prodigy 2 brake controller in the jeep. I have towed this trailer around 6000 miles over the past 2.5 yrs. I recently upgraded the rear bumper to the Smittybilt XRC which rates the bumper to 5000 pounds. I can't believe how much this bumper improved my tow and I posted about this in the stock part of this forum. I can't comment on the 3.8, but my 3.6 handled the tow from NJ through PA and into western Virginia without problem. Would I tow in the Rockies? Probably not, but I have been all over Nj, PA, VA, and NC without problems.
Last edited by rob_engineer; 08-31-2014 at 03:25 PM.