ZJ pulling an XJ?

[XJRN]

I just bought a 97 ZJ to DD, excellent shape but has 195,xxx on the odo. It is the 4.0 Auto. Think it could pull my XJ up to 3.5 hours each way?

 

[MoparManiac]

Nope.

 

[Begster]

Wouldn't even try.

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

Sounds fun!

 

[XJRN]

Figured that would be the response I would get.

After I posted this I searched a bit (wrong order I know...begin the flogging) and figured that would be the general consensus. I did see some have done so without issue, but by far the popular choice.

 

[XJ longhouse]

if it has a tranny cooler, and trailer has brakes, limited hills

 

[Stukboy]

Found this for you:

with a weight distributing hitch, Class 3 reciever, factory tow package, and electric trailer brakes on the I6 4.0L is 5000lbs max. According to the owner's manual (in the area of pages 140-150)

It's 6000# with a 5.2 and tow package.

Stukboy

 

[XJRN]

So a really light trailer with brakes and a tranny cooler should get the job done. I am thinking to get me to Winterfest just from Southern Indiana...very flat. If my Jeep weighs about 4000, I'd need a 1000lb or less trailer. Or I could do a dolly or flat tow, but there goes my brakes. Any other way of engaging brakes on a dolly or flat tow?

 

[scottmcneal]

Flat towing with a BRAKE BUDDY in the XJ. RVers use this all the time to flat tow behind them, some states it is a law to have these when flat towing.

 

[Jeepman401]

This was monday night
96 zj towing a 18' camp trailer, trailer was fairly empty and has a gvw of 5100

Your decision

 

[bghurc]

Take into account the load you're carrying in the zj. If I'm not mistaking, that is included in the tox capacity. If you have some fat friends, leave them at home

Tranny cooler is money also, they're usually relatively cheap and pretty easy to install.

 

[3fifty]

I flat towed my old xj with my old 5.9l zj through town. Mac speed limit is 25 mph. I stayed around 15 mph. I made it about 4 miles getting pushed through turns before the tow bar broke. Instead of fixing it I called a friend and drove it the remaining two miles. I'd never try that again. Getting it moving wasn't the issue. Stopping and turning even at 10 mph was the issue. If you decide to try this do a tri run around your area at low speeds first.

Rent a uhaul and trailer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[REDXJ4FUN]

Zjs don't handle worth a damn to begin with let along towing that much behind it

xoom xoom xoom

 

[Root Moose]

If you are going to tow with a light vehicle you have to set the tow vehicle and trailer up properly.

Weight distruting hitch, anti-sway, trailer brakes, beefed up tow vehicle brakes, etc.

This coming summer I am planning to tow my S2000 race car on a lightweight trailer (~4000 lbs loaded before extra wheels and tires and tools) using my built XJ (~4200 lbs empty) with the above stuff in place. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Vanimal]

i flat towed my xj behind my 5000lb 3/4 ton chevy van with an old 350, and it pushed the rear of the van quite a bit through tight turns. stoping definitely required a little planning. it was less than fun, but doable and i'd do it again. i would not do it using a lighter truck like the zj as a tow vehicle. My van was about as light as i'd like. With that said, i think i got better mileage towing the xj behind my van than if i actually just drove the xj by itself. pretty funny.

 

[davidson99XJ]

Don't do it.....HORRIBLE idea. I once had the smart idea to let a friend(at the time) try to tow my buddies truck(2wd F 150 prolly close to same weight....) for him....well there was a slight jog in the road and the trailer caught a pot hole and yanked us into the ditch....hitting a light pole breaking it into 3 pieces and getting us life lined from the scene. My buddy who's truck we were towing had to have over $800,000 in reconstructing surgery....don't like telling alot of people I was dumb enough to do this because the shit I get from it but maybe it will keep more dumbasses like me from doing it

The truck we were pulling is on the left. It flew off the trailer and landed on its side. Still get chills looking at these and it happened over 2 years ago

 

[hadfield4wd]

I towed my xj behind a wj several times. 4.0. Kept it out of od. Sway bar, wd hitch, tranny cooler. 3 hours was the longest trip. As long as you drive with some sense it's possible. All that to say I was on my toes the whole time. I really don't think I would do it again.

 

[shortxjdoug]

I towed my xj behind a wj several times. 4.0. Kept it out of od. Sway bar, wd hitch, tranny cooler. 3 hours was the longest trip. As long as you drive with some sense it's possible. All that to say I was on my toes the whole time. I really don't think I would do it again.

ive also towed my junk with a wj (4.7v8, awd, tranny cooler, kept it out of OD) and it was a nerve racking experience. Jeep did fine pulling but if you dont have your weight perfect on the trailer it will push around under the right conditions. Its not a matter of power, its a matter of stability and the GC really doesnt have the ass to keep a full body rig on a trailer stable.


step up to a 1/2 ton pickup and youll be in better shape, theres a lot of older 1/2 tons that will pull a cherokee without issue. even suburbans and tahoes feel safer than a GC and theyre a dime-a-dozen

 

[xjsnake]

I'm with everyone else for the most part.

10-15 mins across town? Eh fine.

Any farther? Not smart.

Borrow a buddies truck