Forum Discussion

JIer's avatar
JIer
Explorer
Apr 15, 2013

Newbies Towing a TT with a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - WDS?

Hi All,

I apologize as this will likely be long!

We have just purchased a travel trailer for our move across the country. We have a 2011 Jeep Wrangler 4 Door Unlimited with a towing capacity of 3500lb and a tongue weight of 350 lb. We bought the smallest TT we could find, which has a dry weight (with options included but empty tanks) of just over 2700lb and a tongue weight of 291. Max loaded weight for the trailer is 3400 (which we will not load to, based on below). We will be shipping our belongings separately, packing light, and keeping tanks empty as feasible. We are not set on our route yet.

I cannot find a GVWR anywhere in our manual or online. I do see that the GCWR is 8090 and calculated as:
GCWR = vehicle weight + max tow weight + 150 lb driver.

With that, I am guessing vehicle weight by:
8090 = vehicle weight + 3500 + 150 --> vehicle weight = 4440lb

Passenger weight in the Jeep will be me, my husband, daughter, and our pets: 135 + 115 + 16 + 14 + 50 + 30 = 360lb (and this is a generous assumption).

To keep under GCWR, I am adding our passenger weight up, and subtracting to see the max tow weight left:
8090 - 4440 - 360 = 3290lb.

With that figured out, we are going to do our best to stay as far out from that capacity as possible.

We installed a 7 pin harness and a brake controller. My main question is about weight distribution systems. I am trying to understand the way the tongue weight rating works. Is the value of 291 when the trailer is loaded at the max? So if we don't load it to the max, will the tongue weight be lower? It seems logical.

If we were to do a WDS, we were looking at the Reese 350 Mini-Lite Weight Distribution System w Sway Control for Light-Duty, A-Frame Trailers: http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66024.html.

Would this be the appropriate system? Would we see a benefit to using this?

Thank you for any advice!
  • Drum's avatar
    Drum
    Explorer
    May 22, 2013
    JIer wrote:
    So... After all of this, we went yesterday and traded our Wrangler for a v8 Grand Cherokee. With a 7400lb rating, we feel much safer.


    Nice... It'll not only feel safer, but you'll have a lot more fun driving to your destination. BTW, is that James Island near Charleston and Folly Beach, SC? If so, that area is one of my favorite places.
  • JIer's avatar
    JIer
    Explorer
    May 22, 2013
    So... After all of this, we went yesterday and traded our Wrangler for a v8 Grand Cherokee. With a 7400lb rating, we feel much safer.
  • HamsHog's avatar
    HamsHog
    Explorer
    Apr 16, 2013
    Hey Jler,

    Load it up with a full tank of gas and 10 gals of water in the fresh tank and a couple gals. in the black tank and get it weighed at the scales. You can adjust the tongue weight when you know what it is.

    I use an Equalizer hitch on our Wrangler/TT setup and it works great! No sway at all. Not with wind, or big rigs passing, either direction.

    Setup your tongue weight, get a good hitch, and have a fun, safe trip!!

    Regards, Hamshog
  • camp-n-family's avatar
    camp-n-family
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2013
    We installed a 7 pin harness and a brake controller. My main question is about weight distribution systems. I am trying to understand the way the tongue weight rating works. Is the value of 291 when the trailer is loaded at the max? So if we don't load it to the max, will the tongue weight be lower? It seems logical.


    The 291lbs is the tongue weight of your "dry" trailer, no options or anything in the trailer. It will be the minimum you would see. You could potentially double that once it's loaded. Newer TTs tend to show the delivered or wet weight will include options added such as propane tanks and the battery but nothing else in the trailer. If yours is truly the dry weight you can add at least 100lbs just for a propane tanks and battery if they're located on the tongue. Anything else added into the TT will also increase the tongue weight if it's located ahead of the axles.

    If your dry weight is 2700lbs, figure another 2-300lbs for options and that would only leave you around 500lbs for "stuff" in the TT. For a family moving xcountry I would guess you will be at max GVWR for the TT. The average recommended tongue weight should be around 13% of loaded TT weight which would put you around 450lbs. A 500/5000lbs WD hitch would suit your needs.
  • skipnchar's avatar
    skipnchar
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2013
    GVWR would come from the door post on the mandatory DOT safety plate. GCVWR and maximum trialer weight are both warranty issues not safety issues. Safety numbers are GVWR and GAWR (both axles) and all available on the DOT plate that is required by law.
    Good luck / Skip
  • boosTT's avatar
    boosTT
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2013
    I'm amazed you found a TT light enough for a wrangler. I think you'll be ok with a good hitch.
  • Force13's avatar
    Force13
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2013
    You may want to call ahead to be sure, but, my understanding is you can weigh at any CAT scale, or any sand/gravel/quarry scale, for a nominal fee ($<5)

    Your welcome for the spreadsheet. Hope others find it useful too. :)
  • JIer's avatar
    JIer
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2013
    Wow, thanks for the spreadsheet! Do you weigh at any truck scale? It looks like there is one about 20 min from our house.
  • Force13's avatar
    Force13
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2013
    Your GCWR info should be listed via a sticker on your Jeep. On my F150 it's on the drivers said door. GCWR is the total weight of your Jeep, your trailer, and ALL gear, cargo, tanks, fluids, dogs, cats, etc. It's not just the driver.

    Given how close you are to capacity limits, I would not estimate anything. Find a local quarry or CAT scale and get your vehicle weighed properly.

    As for the tongue weight, on my F150 I have two #'s. One TW is for a ball receiver on the bumper (500#), and the owner's manual prints a second number if you have a weight distribution hitch (WDH). In my case that is 900#. Tongue weight rating is just that...the weight of the tongue at the time you hook it up (with a fully loaded trailer, typically)

    IMHO, WDH w/sway control are invaluable, particularly for a short wheelbase vehicle such as a Jeep with such a low TW rating.

    I put a spreadsheet together that helps you figure out your weights, assuming you have access to a scale. I have a sand & gravel quarry down the road that's pretty convenient.

    See here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6jzj9jm0572dcrv/jNKKP1P_4M/Vehicle%20Weight%20Calculator.xlsx

About Travel Trailer Group

44,029 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 28, 2025