towing a jeep tj

Jim & Betty wrote:

another rookie wrote:
I have a jeep tj that recently had a 3" lift installed. With the new lift the jeep has what they call body roll. Wondering now, how will the jeep react when being towed by my motor home? Anyone here tow a lifted jeep?

I have a small lift and it did not affect the body roll but there is one thing that does if the anti-sway bar is disconnected you will experience a very unstable ride. Just for grins check the anti-sway bar to see how it is hooked up.
My stock anti-sway bar was used after the lift using the sway bar disconnect kit from a well know vendor whom I can not rember (CRS kicking in).

JimR 1999 Jeep TJ behind a 40 foot DP

JimR,
You make some good points and, validate what I stated earlier. There are lots of variables. And that includes a whole plethora of aftermarket parts which, include sway bars too. I have what's called the Curry Anti-rock sway bar. Talk about JUNK! It's no where near as strong as the stock sway bar. But, it was Curries attempt at a "do-all" sway bar. That is, if it's installed correctly and, connected to the supplied links, they (Currie) try to establish a fact that there's no need for disconnecting their sway bar due to the fact that there's enough flex in it that it won't inhibit off roading.

But, they also claim that there's enough strength in it that, it will suffice for good body control during road operations. HOGWASH!!!!!! The designers at Jeep/Chrysler, worked pretty hard on setting up the original Jeeps suspension to make it as safe and road worthy as possible. And so, the design, thickness and strength of the factory sway bar is quite stout.

So, if the OPs Jeep has an altered sway bar, or one like mine, I can surely see where his concerns are generated from.
Scott

another rookie wrote:
I have a jeep tj that recently had a 3" lift installed. With the new lift the jeep has what they call body roll. Wondering now, how will the jeep react when being towed by my motor home? Anyone here tow a lifted jeep?

I have a small lift and it did not affect the body roll but there is one thing that does if the anti-sway bar is disconnected you will experience a very unstable ride. Just for grins check the anti-sway bar to see how it is hooked up.
My stock anti-sway bar was used after the lift using the sway bar disconnect kit from a well know vendor whom I can not rember (CRS kicking in).

JimR 1999 Jeep TJ behind a 40 foot DP

Well,
First off, earlier Jeeps SUCKED in quality of ride in the first place. CJs were as close to CAVEMAN operations as possible. Any lifting and alterations, REALLY made them worse. YJ models, were only marginally better as, they too still had leaf spring suspension which, is a poor suspension operation anyways.

Then the "TJ" came along. That was a LIGHT YEAR advance for the Jeeping planet. It sports a coil spring suspension which, is phenomenally better than leaf springs. But, being that it's STILL A JEEP, and, even with that kind of suspension, it's still rides marginally better than a rock.

I say that because, as many of you already know, there's only a few ZILLION cars/trucks/anything, that rides much better and more civilized than a Jeep out there. But, based on the numbers you see on a day to day drive in America, zillions of people use them as daily drivers. And, when modifications take place, most of the time, the somewhat average ride of bone stock jeep, goes down hill from there.

So, if the OP is Jeep-wise, he will realize that, while not as stable and "agile" as bone stock can supply, a lifted one will work and, get him down the road, with moderate changes in quality.

I personally have never even sat in a "JK" Jeep. I've been told that they ride even better than the TJ. Someday, we'll take one out for ride and see for ourselves, if, any improvement is realized over all other Jeeps we've owned.


Now, if you're not used to Jeeps and, the operational characteristics, and, you purchase one that is BONE STOCK, and get accustomed to it's ride then, MODIFY IT BY LIFTING IT, even moderately like 3" lift, you may think you're sitting on the moon and, are riding dangerously sloppy.
Scott

I've towed a TJ with a 4" lift for 10' of thousands of miles and always have to use the camera to make sure its still behind me. Body roll? Guess I have it too but never noticed it much.

We've towed our TJ since 2004. It has a 4.5" lift and 36" tires. Never a problem as it still corners better than the DP. Just make sure your tow bar is parallel to the road.

another rookie wrote:
Thanks for your guys answer, my jeep looks just like yours Scott. Scott, does your jeep have the " body roll" when going around corners? I have never driven another lifted jeep other than my own.

Frank

Frank,
It's a GIVEN that, when you raise the "CG" or, Center of Gravity of any automobile/truck/Jeep/ etc., you change it's operational characteristics. The designers and engineers that created the Jeep products, did and continually do, make them considerably safer and more efficiently operating machines. But we, in the Jeeping REAL world, continue to "Undo" those engineers work by lifting them, putting larger tires on them, and installing a whole bunch of aftermarket parts.

Well, after owning and operating 8 different Jeeps with a zillion types of parts, lifts, tires, and anything else, no one's died yet.

So, to answer your question, "body roll", after a lift is almost a given. Just how much roll you get, in both daily driving and, off road, all depends on how the Jeep was setup for both operating conditions. If done correctly, (and the term "CORRECTLY" is subjective in the Jeep world) and if the shop or person that did the lift has experience and knowledge of what's needed to be done to preserve good ROAD MANNORS, but, yet allow for quality off roading too, then body roll will be kept to a minimum.

The primary component that protects against body roll in both stock operating and modified vehicles is the SWAY BAR. If, that sway bar has been changed and or modified of it's original operating geometry, there is a high possibility that you will experience your "body roll".
The stock one can be, and often is, used again, even with many forms of lifts.

So, hope this helps some. Good luck.
Scott

Had a 4" lift with 35's. Now at 3" with 33's. I beat the **** out of this jeep. Been thru death wobble couple times as parts wear out or break. Have to keep up on maintence for it to tow nice. As far as side roll doubt that wil be a issue towing. You can always upgrade front sway bars if needed. I think the biggest concern is dw. Your parts need to be in great working order and you must have the front end properly aligned by someone that knows how to align lifted jeeps.

Off topic, but your Rubicon looks good!

AR - if you have not, check out the Jeep Wrangler Forum for questions / answers on all Jeeps. Tons of info over there!

BTW....do you have what's needed ( tow system) to tow your jeep?

Circus Circus...been in that spot :)

Thanks for your guys answer, my jeep looks just like yours Scott. Scott, does your jeep have the " body roll" when going around corners? I have never driven another lifted jeep other than my own.

Frank