SpinningBull

I'm looking to upgrade my rig to make it more capable for rock-crawling and towing. We love to go camping, and we want to be able to pull a travel trailer behind the JK on the way to the sites. I know the factory rating maxes out at 3500#, but our travel trailer is right up to that limit. With a bunch of gear we can easily go over that. So...

In addition to the brake controller and a class III hitch, what other mods would you make to feel more comfortable?

We already have a black diamond 3" lift, HD springs, and upgraded pitman arms, etc.. on the suspension. I also have an AFI CAI. I'm adding 35" tires at the same time. What else?

Here's what I was thinking...

Gibson or MagnaFlow Cat Back exhaust
Hypertech Power Programmer
5.13 gears

I know I may get flamed for trying to push the limits, but isn't that what we jeepers do?

So, let me know your ideas.

bahadden

does your trailer have brakes? yes gears would help, less flex in side walls of your tires will help with handling the trailer but then you lose some of the benifits offroad. youll need a higher sring rate in the rear or a bag system to control the sag. whats your jeep auto or manual? how does the trailer pull now?

leros

According to his sig, the Jeep is a 6 speed. I'd probably try the hypertech programmer 1st and take it from there.

Ronson

I toe with the same setup about 4000 lbs. But low profile pop up witch I'm sure is easier. Then i added a equalizer hitch it made the biggest difference of any other mods I did.

JK_Tex

Which equalizer hitch did you go with?

I've added a B&M trans cooler and I'm planning to add a coil-rite bag kit and weight distributing hitch (probably with sway control to).

Eracer76

If your going to pull anything with 35's, you definitely need the gears before anything else power wise.
Then you can add the muffler and Hypertec to get a little extra power if you want it.

You'll also definitely need trailer brakes if your pulling anything over 2000 LBS or so.
Being able to get it stopped is very important, and trailer brakes also help keep the Jeep under control while stopping.

I have an auto with 35's, 5.13's, Magnaflow, AirRaid intake and the Hypertec programmer....
And I pull our inboard ski boat that tips the scales around 3500-4000 LBS loaded with the trailer and it pulls it pretty good.
I can even hold 65 MPH on the highway on level ground with the OD on getting 12-14 MPG.
It still down shifts going up hills though, especially if there is a head wind.
My trailer also has surge brakes and it stops like its not even back there.

Being your going to pull a camper though, which is not very aerodynamic compared to a boat,
you'll at least want everything I listed above and maybe even more, like a load leveler hitch and sway control

SpinningBull

The trailer has electric brakes, and I've added a weight distributing hitch and brake controller (going in this week).

It's good to hear others are doing similar things.

I'm convinced the gears are critical with the 35's and the extra weight, so that's a no-brainer.

The tranny cooler seems like something I should look at. What options are there for a manual?

AZJeeper

Here's the kicker - it's not just the weight limit you need to worry about. You are limited by the frontal area of the trailer. Most full campers exceed this limit by quite a bit. From the 2008 owner's manual:




Having said that, I also push the limits - 3500# Hi-Lo trailer with frontal area just a shade over 32 sq ft. Here's my list of mods to cope with towing. This is on an automatic Rubi.

• B&M Transmission Cooler (a must for autos)
• Magnaflow exhaust. Used the space in back to tuck up the 7-pin.
• K&N Filter
• Hypertech programmer
• Brake controller

Still running 32s and performance is iffy. Planning to go to 35s once the 513's are installed (shortly, I hope).

Outdoors

You have the manual I'd go with 4.88's, you can always drop down a gear, which you will no matter what gears you are running on hills pulling that load. With the manual tranny I've never heard of a tranny cooler for these units. Also do not lift it any higher..
And consider for towing an all terrain tire if possible.....
BFG,Toyo M55..
Towing when it rains or even dry is more stable with a less aggresive tread.

whatroads

If you really want to tow in excess of listed towing capacity you will want to chuck the rear coil springs and install leaf springs. I would start by looking into leaf springs from a Cherokee lift kit to match your current lift
Next, you will want to mount a real tow hitch and not the stock JK hitch. It will take some moding / welding to do