rob_engineer

WOW. I've been towing a heavy toyhauler for about 2 yrs. I just installed a smittybilt xrc rear bumper. My towing experience is now light years better. I think the reason is that the weight distribution hitch is now effective. The stick receiver doesn't have the torsional strength for effective use of the weight dist setup. The trip I am on now was about 350 miles in PA and VA. Te weight I am towing is close to 5000 pounds. See pics. The primary improvement is in ride handling, particularly over bumps like expansion joints in the road.

Jade_Monkey07

Poor jeep

Stay muddy my friends

Desert Fox

What is your hitch weight and what class hitch do you now have?

rob_engineer

I don't know my trailers tongue weight. The smittybilt receiver is class 3 with 500 pound tongue weight and 5000 pound tow capacity. Of course they don't recommend towing more than what the jeep is rated for. I can tell you that towing this trailer with a weight distribution hitch, dual axle trailer brakes, friction sway control, is not a problem. I've done nearly 6000 miles of towing. This bumper really makes it better.

rob_engineer

Why poor jeep? It told me it loves to be part of our vacation adventures. Anyway, is it really that much more abuse compared to serious wheeling off road?

SabrToothSqrl

Isn't the limit on the 4 door 3500 lbs?

If you are in an accident, this will surely come up.

Baddkarmaracing

I haven't looked at the weight limits but surely it can pull more than that? I will have to look into it. I figured the 2 door was around 3500-4000 and 4 door more than that


edit: just looked and 4 door is 3500lbs. and 2 door is 2000lbs. holy crap that is nothing.

rob_engineer

This topic is beat to death. 4 door wranglers are artificially low in the USA. Other countries rate them as high as 4400 pounds. I successfully tow nearly 5000 pound. Does fine. 2012 max tow package. And, my trailer is like a big square brick.

jk_sea

I'm trying to understand how a new bumper makes for a better towing experience. Isn't the hitch mounted to the frame? I know when I replaced my bumper, the hitch that I put on there stayed in the same place.

Edit: I guess I see in the pic that the receiver is part of the bumper. Mine remain as two separate pieces.

rob_engineer

Yep, you got it exactly. This bumper has the receiver welded directly to the bumper, which therefore ties the receiver into the frame in addition to the crossmember.