wow had no idea! Next month I have plans to rent small trailer for camping. I guess I will be picking it up with the Liberty instead of the Wrangler

 

im pretty sure its a suspension issue here, the four door sahara can tow 3500lbs because its got the heavy duty suspension package on it, the four door x only tows 2000lbs just like a two door, just the impression the manual gave me , hope it helps!!

 

The towing capacity considers springs, gears like others have stated. I think one of the main things about the 2 doors is the size of the vehicle itself. It is like with the TJ and LJ. TJ can only do 2k while an LJ is can tow 3500. The longer wheelbase allows for more trailer control and more stopping power due to the size.

I would never tow past the limit mostly because of liability. Only rule I'll break is getting a buddy with a truck pick up my u haul trailer for me

 

I don't know how the manual gave you that impression.

Mine says 4dr X can tow 1000 lbs with 3.21
and
3500 lbs with 3.73 (and in '07, 3500 lbs with 4.10)

 

The wheelbase, weight and the gearing are all key factors.

Regardless of what my book says my X came with rubicon suspension but only 3.73 gears. I got the towing pkg and I was told 2k max for my 2dr.

another thing I noticed was the 2dr is only rated for 700lbs Passengers and cargo I can easily meet that with tools and camping gear

if you ar looking for a small trailer meet the 2k I saw this in 4wheel drive mag
h ttp://www.golittleguy.com/teardrops/models/rough-rider/

 

there was a thread about a some dude towing an xterra with a two door look for it, my advise is if your going where there are no hills go for it

 

Waiting for someone to bring up the tow limits on European JK's...

 

It has been brought up many times before. Nobody knows a reason for the difference.

 

Euro laws? The CDR and the added torque? I don't know

I've towed a 1200 boat behind my 2 door with 3.21's, not the most pleasant drive. Stopping was fine, control was ok, but acceleration was poor. The 2 door is at a loss due to the shorter wheelbase. Even with a rear sway bar things get flighty at speed.

 

I have a 2010 2 door JK with 3.73 gears. I pull a pop-up camper that is supposed to be 1861#. The tongue weight is 196#. I added a sway control bar to the hitch and have pulled the camper to Colorado and back on the interstate with speeds up to 80 mph without and issue. Let me add that I have trailer brakes as well. My wife has even driven with it without it giving her any kind of problem.

Now it does make climbing mountain passes a little tough, but that is what low gear is for and I have followed too many trucks pulling big trailers up passes at 25 mph to know it is a normal thing to slow down at these climbs. I have the extra trans cooler and the auto tranny as well. I turned off the O/D during my towing and still got between 13 and 16.8 mpg on the trip depending on my speed and gear.

I have weighed the trailer at a truck stop and found that is is actually 2180#, but the tag says 1861#. It is my opinion that in the event of an accident, that tag is what you would go by as far as weight of the trailer goes.

With the trailer brakes and sway control bar installed I don't even know the trailer is back there other than when I take off from a stop or climb a large hill. Stopping and handling even on wet roads has never seemed to be an issue.

It is a decision you will have to make for yourself and what you will feel comfortable with. All I can say is I am well pleased with how my rig does.

Oh and I have 32" tires on mine as well.