Just got home on yesterday morning from a 1200 mile trip to Montana towing my 24' sailboat. The boat, trailer and the rest of the gear comes in around 3300-3400 lbs. Plus another maybe 150-200 lbs in the Jeep and 2 of us. The Jeep actually did pretty well hauling that much weight around, especially figuring there were a hand-full of mountain passes each way. According to my record/math, I averaged about 13.5 mpg keeping my speed right around 60 mph. I think that's about what my buddy is getting in his '07 F-150 without anything behind it...

How have other people done with towing trips in their JKs?

 

I'd love to help but I havent yet. hopefully soon. all I know is the 4-door jk is capable of towing 3500lb and 2000lb for the 2-door. I dont know why there is a difference even though they both have the same engine

 

Burlington, NY to Hollywood, FL with a trailer tent (2300 lbs)

 

I haven't done much towing with mine, but my experience so far has been good.

Unlimited, 4.88, 6spd, 35"

1) Medium U-Haul probably weighed about 3500-4000 loaded. Towed for 250 miles, barely felt it. Mileage same as normal driving.

2) Flat tow my buddy's CJ7. Get some sway above 60 mph. Otherwise no issues. Better mileage than normal, probably due to more careful and slower driving.

 

That is a simple answer since the four door, although heavier, is longer. Therefore the weight that is pushed down at the hitch has different force that acts on the front axle in comparison to the two door. If you would to take that same weight on a two door you run the extreme risk of having flighty steering. Another way to think of it is as leverage. The rear wheel as the fulcrum and the weight of the engine as your downward force. The farther from the fulcrum you are the less weight it would take to balance out. Hence the four doors better towing capabilities.

 

I've only towed a couple of times and each time no more than a couple thousand lbs, but I found it tows well.

 

I tow 24' Coachman Catalina up and down the Oregon coast a lot with my Rubicon 4dr. Trailer is about ~4500lbs GVWR with a hitch weight of about 600lbs and pulls great. I also have a weight distribution hitch and trailer brakes which I'd recommend if your pulling this much around. The nicest thing I like towing with the Jeep is the turn radius makes parking so much easier then my F250 I used to have. I get about 10-13 MPG depending on the terrain. The stability control system works really well if the trailer gets squirrely on you and keeps the trailer from getting out of hand.

 

I pulled a 20' boat for about 8 hrs each way; total weight ~3450lbs - light tongue weight of ~150 lbs. Lot's of other gear in the jeep and 2 people. With the trailer tires at too low pressure on the way up, we got ~ 13MPG, on the way home, new trailer tires and properly inflated (man what a difference!) we averaged 14MPG. Many hills on the trip.

 

I have been pulling 2 jetski's with my 2010 2 door. It pulls really well. I find that I have to turn off OD if it is really hilly. It pulls great on flats. I figure my ski's are about 1000lbs each plus the trailer is around 2500 lbs. Anyone pulling around 3500lbs with a 2 door? I have been thinking of buying a boat.

 

Ouch. Just ouch. What does your insurance company have to say about it? Guessing it'll be a big ole 'claim denied', and then bankruptcy and jail due to the lawsuit brought on by the relatives of whoever you wipe out.


Yes, I may be exaggerating it. I know that the JK can tow more than the limits set. But I would certainly be worried about the consequences of doing so...