JEEPPIE

What MPGs are you guys getting when towing the campers?

rob_engineer

I've towed a box shaped toy hauler in the 4000-5000 pound range with my 2012 Jku. I track MPG of every single tank of gas for 7.5 years and 107,000 miles. My average towing that 4000-5000 pound toy hauler was around 10 or 11. For comparison, my mpg without towing is 17.5. Top speed was limited to about 65mph. 6th gear in my 2012 manual trans with 3.73 rear was just about useless. I now tow the trailer with a Toyota Tundra. Gas mileage is actually worse at 9-10 mpg, however I can fly at 75 mph and it doesn't even feel like I'm towing anything.

harley97

I average 12-15 mpg when towing. I normally get 15-17 mpg. Max tow is 3500 on a 2012 JKU, I'd be careful towing more than that. Braking gets more sketchy and run the risk of the trailer overpowering the vehicle.

rob_engineer

When I was towing my 4-5k toy hauler, I took the necessary precautions: hitch was rated for 5k, had weight dist hitch, friction sway control, and dual axle trailer brakes. I always felt like I had comfortable control, even in hard braking situations. However, with the tundra, I feel like I own the trailer and can manhandle it. Very different towing experience.

harley97

All precautions except grossly exceeded the vehicles recommended tow rating. Im glad you were able to tow it well. My comment was more to point out to someone looking on this forum for towing advise, that may read your comment and think they can tow that much weight. While someone experienced may tow it fine, a person with little to no experience with towing may have a problem.

JEEPPIE

Is not the same towing on a trail or on the road. Some big rigs, like Boxed Trucks can throw the vehicle on a nasty sway from hell. Even jocking for position like a NASCAR Super Speedway.

rob_engineer

No argument there from me. You are correct. However, I did some research before buying my Jku because I knew I wanted to tow with it. Tow ratings in other countries with the same vehicle were as high as 4400 pounds (Australia and Germany if my memory is correct). The rating on the Jku is artificially low in the US. Many believe it is because it is actually classified as a convertible and the top and doors are not designed to protect in a crash. I went into it with eyes wide open and took all the safety precautions and towed at a safe speed. I put about 6000 combined miles towing that trailer with the Jeep and never had a white knuckle experience, though I did have some uphill experience where I had to turn my flashers on due to low speed.

JEEPPIE

Looks like is an USA red tape deal. In Australia, the 2 Door is rated to 1,600 Kg (3,500 lbs) and the 4 Doors as 2,300 Kg (5,000 Lbs). Both have the same powertrain, the difference is the wheel base.

https://www.carsguide.com.au/jeep/wr...-capacity/2015

I have a Pontiac G8 that is in reality a Holden Commodore VE Series 2. That vehicle in Australia is rated to 4,620 Lbs (2,100 Kg), in the USA 1,000 Lbs. The Holden Commodore VF Series 2 (Chevy SS) has the same towing capacity but in the USA is 0 Lbs.

It has to be some sort of legal red tape on the towing numbers.

karls10jk

Legal red tape not so much, it's the SAE towing test. You can do some reading up on it. There's a particular set of rules that everybody in the States has to follow so the consumer can get fairly honest numbers to compare.

JEEPPIE

"Rules" sounds like Red Tape to me.

I towed my 3680 Lbs camper with my G8, it does better than my 16 Chevy Colorado. When I researched the towing capacity on my car, I was told by some people from Holden, the car was tested at 150% (7000 lbs) of the recomended towing weight. As a safety margin, they dropped 2,340 Lbs. Seems like this vehicle might be on a different category and that is what set the towing limits. Someone need to revise the rule book, I bet is outdated. You never know with all the bureaucrats.