max safe towing weight?

[yamahadrummer]

I have a 2001 XJ 4x4, aw4, np231, with 103k miles. runs great, no problems ever! I also have a 3" or 4" rough country lift (I know they suck, but it gets the job done) and 31" Goodyear Wrangler MT/R's. The gears are stock 3.55's, but I have 4.10's and a Trac-loc sitting in the boxes ready to go in, just dont have the money for installation quite yet...

my question is this: I have a band that is starting to gig outside of my home town (Lincoln, NE) and we desperatly need a trailer to haul my drumset (I have a 7 piece tama superstar, if there are any drummers here) and amps, guitars, and such. The trailer doesn't have to be huge, just like Uhaul size. My band also has 5 members. so to make everything easy we would all squeeze into my jeep, and haul the trailer with our equipment to the surrounding cities to gig for that night and come back after the gig. Would it be ok to haul all five people and equipment on those stock gears? I know I will probably have to leave it in 3rd the whole time on the high way( I already do this because the tranny constally downshifting gets annoying as hell :/).

What are your guy's thoughts? I have a drop hitch and everything ready. Still need a trailer.

on a side note, anyone have a small trailer they're trying to get rid of?

Thanks in advance guys!

-Andy

 

[ChiXJeff]

If you don't have a transmission cooler, get one before you hook up.

Secondly, with that much weight, I'd definitely suggest trailer brakes. I prefer electric, but surge brakes (like you've find on a U-Haul rental trailer) would be highly preferable to none. Along those lines, rent from anybody but U-Haul (and that's a different subject.)

I towed a 1 ton pop-up camper from Chicago to Moab behind my 94 (5spd, 4.10 and 4.56 gears) with a 3", then a 4.5" lift on 31x10.50 and 33x12.50 MT/Rs for 3 separate trips. No issues.

You'll be a whole lot happier once you get those gears put in.

 

[Sherman_thetank]

It depends on the how far of distance are we talking? Like over here to omaha, or somewhere out of state? Long distance could be not a good time.
AS for your trailer...craigs list
granted some of those look pretty "special", but you should be able to find one pretty easy

http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcy/1411374768.html
http://omaha.craigslist.org/grd/1410774890.html
http://omaha.craigslist.org/grd/1410502917.html

 

[yamahadrummer]

It depends on the how far of distance are we talking? Like over here to omaha, or somewhere out of state? Long distance could be not a good time.
AS for your trailer...craigs list
granted some of those look pretty "special", but you should be able to find one pretty easy

http://omaha.craigslist.org/mcy/1411374768.html
http://omaha.craigslist.org/grd/1410774890.html
http://omaha.craigslist.org/grd/1410502917.html

we need an enclosed trailer, in case it rains because instruments and amps are not quite water friendly, lol.
and yea, it would be a trip to Kearney on the 16th, and subsequent trips to omaha and grand island maybe even kansas city eventually.

If you don't have a transmission cooler, get one before you hook up.

Secondly, with that much weight, I'd definitely suggest trailer brakes. I prefer electric, but surge brakes (like you've find on a U-Haul rental trailer) would be highly preferable to none. Along those lines, rent from anybody but U-Haul (and that's a different subject.)

I towed a 1 ton pop-up camper from Chicago to Moab behind my 94 (5spd, 4.10 and 4.56 gears) with a 3", then a 4.5" lift on 31x10.50 and 33x12.50 MT/Rs for 3 separate trips. No issues.

You'll be a whole lot happier once you get those gears put in.

I am not sure if there is a tranny cooler on my XJ, as i've never looked before. do they come stock on some? I will look tomorrow. also how much do they cost and how hard is it to install? also why not rent from u haul? or what are the alternatives to renting from u haul?
Heh, i know i will like the new gears a lot better, but sadly I am in sort of a financial crisis at the moment, but I just got a new job and hopefully gear installation will be the first purchaes I make! Will I most likely run into transmission temperature issues on a mostly flat drive in third gear, going about 55mph-60mph?

thanks for the helpful advice guys!

 

[robert2008]

A tranny cooler only comes stock on Cherokees with the factory trailer tow package. Also consider a transmission temperature gauge. It's an easy installation. For me too, for anything over 3,500 pounds you should have some sort of sway control such as a weight distributing hitch. Agree about the trailer brakes for that much trailer.

 

[yamahadrummer]

A tranny cooler only comes stock on Cherokees with the factory trailer tow package. Also consider a transmission temperature gauge. It's an easy installation. For me too, for anything over 3,500 pounds you should have some sort of sway control such as a weight distributing hitch. Agree about the trailer brakes for that much trailer.

how do I know if i have a tow package?

the trailer is not going to be 3500lbs...just a drum set and some amps. what are some good tranny coolers/tranny temp gauge sets?

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Did you XJ come stock with a hitch and wiring? A small trailer should be perfectly fine.

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

the towing capacity on a Uni-body Jeep is 5000lbs. weather it be a 2.5 4cyl XJ, or a 5.9 v8 ZJ

 

[Blue 97 XJ]

A tranny cooler only comes stock on Cherokees with the factory trailer tow package. Also consider a transmission temperature gauge. It's an easy installation. For me too, for anything over 3,500 pounds you should have some sort of sway control such as a weight distributing hitch. Agree about the trailer brakes for that much trailer.

My XJ didn't come with a tow package but it dose have a factory tranny cooler, i know i had to fix the leaking quick connects

 

[robert2008]

the towing capacity on a Uni-body Jeep is 5000lbs. weather it be a 2.5 4cyl XJ, or a 5.9 v8 ZJ

Um, wrong. An XJ with a 2.5 liter towing capacity was 2,000 pounds, and it struggles with that. I'd like to see someone towing 5,000 pounds with it though. It'd be a hoot. I towed a boat with our '92 2 door 5-speed XJ with the 2.5 liter and it was all she could do to get up the hills. The 4.0 liter HO XJs were rated for 5,000 pounds with the factory towing packages. Our '94 Grand with the 5.2 liter V-8 was rated for 6,500 pounds, and I believe the 5.9 was the same.

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

Um, wrong. An XJ with a 2.5 liter towing capacity was 2,000 pounds, and it struggles with that. I'd like to see someone towing 5,000 pounds with it though. It'd be a hoot. I towed a boat with our '92 2 door 5-speed XJ with the 2.5 liter and it was all she could do to get up the hills. The 4.0 liter HO XJs were rated for 5,000 pounds with the factory towing packages. Our '94 Grand with the 5.2 liter V-8 was rated for 6,500 pounds, and I believe the 5.9 was the same.

Okay, well your post is the first time i have seen anybody rate the v8 zj for more then 5000lbs. I own one of these and the factory manual clearly states 5k lbs max!

and i would not tow 5k lbs with a 2.5l either, but the Uni-body IS rated to handle 5k lbs. what i was getting at is ALL uni-bodys from jeep are rated at that.

The motor powering the vehicle is the deciding factor of how easy it is to tow that much.

 

[robert2008]

Okay, well your post is the first time i have seen anybody rate the v8 zj for more then 5000lbs. I own one of these and the factory manual clearly states 5k lbs max!

and i would not tow 5k lbs with a 2.5l either, but the Uni-body IS rated to handle 5k lbs. what i was getting at is ALL uni-bodys from jeep are rated at that.

The motor powering the vehicle is the deciding factor of how easy it is to tow that much.

Our '94 that we bought brand new said 6,500 pound towing capacity on the window sticker. For the Google challanged among us, here's a reference:

http://www.automotive.com/1994/12/jeep/grand-cherokee/reviews/index.html

"Stomp on the gas in a V8-powered Grand Cherokee Limited and you get forceful motion (285 pound-feet of torque at 3600 rpm) and a satisfying growl from under the hood. With the V8, you also get a trailer towing prep package and towing capacity of up to 6500 pounds."

 

[yamahadrummer]

I went ahead and ordered a B&M in line trans temp gauge. Will be here in like 2-3 days. I'm not going to hook up a trans cooler just yet. Its hovering around freezing here and it's all flat to kearney, so I really don't think it will be a problem, especially going 55-60. I bought the gauge because I will eventually put the trans cooler in and so I can actually monitor the temp.

 

[badron]

With the weight AND tires a cooler is must in my book. ANY cooler will do just fine, The tiny stock cooler has proven itself to be more then up to the job many times over.
Installing the gears will pay off in many ways so I would move that high on your to do list.
I read any trailer over 2k must have brakes. But call some trailer place and ask about that first.
I just pulled 12,000 pounds of trailer for some 30 miles with very little problems.
Pulled 7.3 K for 200 miles no problem.
4280 LB for more miles then I can remember.
Take your time at first. Use your head to keep you out of trouble and not your brakes to get you out of trouble. Your XJ is a fine machine.
Good luck with the gig.

 

[srmitchell]

You are a drummer eh?
You can say I know a thing or two about (newer) superstars. Rock on man!

 

[Turfzilla]

.........................
I just pulled 12,000 pounds of trailer for some 30 miles with very little problems.
.......................... Your XJ is a fine machine.
Good luck with the gig.

With an xj?

 

[badron]

With an xj?
=================
Ok, Yes but I am max out for towing. Sorry
My best speed when towing that trailer was 30 MPH. I spented a lot of time going slower.
O1 XJ with the good E fan.
3 row rad
NV 4500 tranny with the 6. something something first gear.
5 leaf rear springs and air shock (about 2 lift) rides like a logging wagon.
D44 with 10 inch drums (NOT DISK) gearing is 4.10 but also use a 8.25 with 3.55 with front difs to match.
tires are 31 or 235/75 LT the 235 are used when towing heavy.
In 4LOW it WILL pull a train from a dead stop no problem.
I would like a 2LOW but you got to be kidding me with that price.

 

[Turfzilla]

You know that is what most 3/4 tons trucks are rated for. You gotta do what you gotta do, but that seems to be a bit careless to me. You catch one yellow/red light.........its all over for you!

I have the highest rated 1/2 ton truck on the market, I would never consider towing that much. I have pulled 14K+ with my old 3/4 ton, that was a load for that size of a truck!

Good thing is: Xj's are some tough mofo's. = )

 

[yamahadrummer]

You are a drummer eh?
You can say I know a thing or two about (newer) superstars. Rock on man!

sorry I don't have many clear pictures of me and my set. This is at an outdoor concert we did for free back in may.
Our myspace is www.myspace.com/theescapeclause if you'd like to take a listen!

anyway, back to towing...

........................
I just pulled 12,000 pounds of trailer for some 30 miles with very little problems.
.......................... Your XJ is a fine machine.
Good luck with the gig.

holy crap! that's how much my parents camper weighs, and they use a 2002 silverado 2500hd duramax diesel to pull that! lol.

 

[badron]

My biggest concern was of twisting the body when backing it into it's new spot. I had to back over a ditch at an angle. We filled in the ditch with short cuts of wood for the trailer wheels but the XJ didn't line up so I just twisted the hell out of her. But the hatch and doors all work fine and she tracks good to.