Last Monday I helped my Dad set up at a local CG for the week. While we were setting up we saw a Grand Cherokee pulling about a 28' fiberglass camper. The whole thing just looked awful as it was WAY too much weight to put on that SUV. I went out there again for the weekend and saw a very similar setup. Again it was a Grand Cherokee pulling a large TT. If there were any speedbumps along the way then I don't think the back of the Jeep would have made it over. Scary scenarios.This got me thinking though. What are the laws for towing? Could these rigs get ticketed for being way over their capacity?

Private vehicles are not required to be weighed in most jurisdictions but an LOE could pull over a suspicious looking set up and a fine could result. Things could get nasty with the insurance company in the event of an accident.The worst one I have seen was a dual axle tt being towed by a CJ-7 on oversize tires. No sway bars either. I can only hope he never got into a situation where he needed to stop or manoevre in a hurry. Talk about the tail wagging the dog.:R

cm11599ps wrote:Last Monday I helped my Dad set up at a local CG for the week. While we were setting up we saw a Grand Cherokee pulling about a 28' fiberglass camper. The whole thing just looked awful as it was WAY too much weight to put on that SUV. I went out there again for the weekend and saw a very similar setup. Again it was a Grand Cherokee pulling a large TT. If there were any speedbumps along the way then I don't think the back of the Jeep would have made it over. Scary scenarios.This got me thinking though. What are the laws for towing? Could these rigs get ticketed for being way over their capacity?What makes you think it was way too much weight? 1996 Grands could tow up to 6500 lbs depending on engine. We towed a 26foot Aerolite all over with a 6 cyl. 96 Grand with weight distributing hitch and electric brakes on trailer. 2000 Grands had same capability. 2005 and newer JeepsNow if the back end was low, then it wasn't hooked up correctly.

Romer1 wrote:cm11599ps wrote:Last Monday I helped my Dad set up at a local CG for the week. While we were setting up we saw a Grand Cherokee pulling about a 28' fiberglass camper. The whole thing just looked awful as it was WAY too much weight to put on that SUV. I went out there again for the weekend and saw a very similar setup. Again it was a Grand Cherokee pulling a large TT. If there were any speedbumps along the way then I don't think the back of the Jeep would have made it over. Scary scenarios.This got me thinking though. What are the laws for towing? Could these rigs get ticketed for being way over their capacity?What makes you think it was way too much weight? 1996 Grands could tow up to 6500 lbs depending on engine. We towed a 26foot Aerolite all over with a 6 cyl. 96 Grand with weight distributing hitch and electric brakes on trailer. 2000 Grands had same capability. 2005 and newer JeepsNow if the back end was low, then it wasn't hooked up correctly.Because it pretty much resembled this picture, although I couldn't see the tops of the tires because the rear was so low.

Exactly Romer.We pulled our previous rig, Nomad 26 TT at 5700#, with our Jeep Grand Cheokee rated with the Hemi engine to pull 7700#. Non issue with the proper hitch and WD.So it depends on what power the Grand Cherokee has.

Another Pontification thread.A 28' fiberglass MAY NOT HAVE BEEN too much for the Jeep GC.

Scary Towing Sights This Week... | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

wbwood
Explorer
May 06, 2013
Question: was the Aerolite and Nomad fiberglass sided?
fla-gypsy
Explorer
May 06, 2013
Then again he may have been totally correct especially from his observation that something did not look right. If it looks wrong it probably was
CKNSLS
Explorer
May 06, 2013
Another Pontification thread.

A 28' fiberglass MAY NOT HAVE BEEN too much for the Jeep GC.
Us_out_West
Explorer
May 06, 2013
Exactly Romer.

We pulled our previous rig, Nomad 26 TT at 5700#, with our Jeep Grand Cheokee rated with the Hemi engine to pull 7700#.

Non issue with the proper hitch and WD.

So it depends on what power the Grand Cherokee has.
longislandcampe
Explorer
May 06, 2013
Romer1 wrote:
cm11599ps wrote:
Last Monday I helped my Dad set up at a local CG for the week. While we were setting up we saw a Grand Cherokee pulling about a 28' fiberglass camper. The whole thing just looked awful as it was WAY too much weight to put on that SUV.

I went out there again for the weekend and saw a very similar setup. Again it was a Grand Cherokee pulling a large TT. If there were any speedbumps along the way then I don't think the back of the Jeep would have made it over. Scary scenarios.

This got me thinking though. What are the laws for towing? Could these rigs get ticketed for being way over their capacity?

What makes you think it was way too much weight? 1996 Grands could tow up to 6500 lbs depending on engine. We towed a 26foot Aerolite all over with a 6 cyl. 96 Grand with weight distributing hitch and electric brakes on trailer. 2000 Grands had same capability.
2005 and newer Jeeps

Now if the back end was low, then it wasn't hooked up correctly.

Because it pretty much resembled this picture, although I couldn't see the tops of the tires because the rear was so low.
Romer1
Explorer
May 06, 2013
cm11599ps wrote:
Last Monday I helped my Dad set up at a local CG for the week. While we were setting up we saw a Grand Cherokee pulling about a 28' fiberglass camper. The whole thing just looked awful as it was WAY too much weight to put on that SUV.

I went out there again for the weekend and saw a very similar setup. Again it was a Grand Cherokee pulling a large TT. If there were any speedbumps along the way then I don't think the back of the Jeep would have made it over. Scary scenarios.

This got me thinking though. What are the laws for towing? Could these rigs get ticketed for being way over their capacity?

What makes you think it was way too much weight? 1996 Grands could tow up to 6500 lbs depending on engine. We towed a 26foot Aerolite all over with a 6 cyl. 96 Grand with weight distributing hitch and electric brakes on trailer. 2000 Grands had same capability.
2005 and newer Jeeps

Now if the back end was low, then it wasn't hooked up correctly.
romore
Explorer II
May 06, 2013
Private vehicles are not required to be weighed in most jurisdictions but an LOE could pull over a suspicious looking set up and a fine could result. Things could get nasty with the insurance company in the event of an accident.
The worst one I have seen was a dual axle tt being towed by a CJ-7 on oversize tires. No sway bars either. I can only hope he never got into a situation where he needed to stop or manoevre in a hurry. Talk about the tail wagging the dog.:R

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Scary Towing Sights This Week...

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