Borderline weight issues with Jeep

[Artum_Snowbird]

I am considering a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara with 3.21 gears to use as my towing vehicle for a 16.5 Double Eagle Fiberglass boat. Boat on trailer loaded for fishing is around 2000 pounds. Jeep is rated for 2000 pounds as well.

This is the four door jeep with stock wheels and tires, basically a town and country car and not used in the rough ever.

Any and all comments appreciated. If I get the 3.73 rear end the tow rating jumps to 3500 pounds. Also Jeep becomes more capable if larger tires are installed.

thanks, mike

[Artum_Snowbird]

Larry-D wrote:
We're towing an Rpod 172 with a 2014 JKU Sahara stock setup. No problems with gear searching, does drop the mileage to about 1/2. I'm guessing the Ppod comes in at about 3,200lbs loaded up.

What's your gear ratio? That is the critical thing. They either came with 3.21 for 2000 pound capacity or 3.73 for 3500 pound capacity.

[Larry-D]

We're towing an Rpod 172 with a 2014 JKU Sahara stock setup. No problems with gear searching, does drop the mileage to about 1/2. I'm guessing the Ppod comes in at about 3,200lbs loaded up.

[Grit_dog]

It'll tow fine. No issues. Especially for your use.

[rightlaneonly]

I had a 2009 wrangler JK sport. 5 speed manual, V6, and 3:21 gears. Wanted to tow my Aliner but Jeep was rated at 1000lbs set up like that. Changed both differentials to 4:10s at a cost of $1800.00 about three years ago. Raised the tow rate to 3500 lbs and increased the RPMs by about 200 at any given speed. Not much change in the mileage altho it did lower it some.

[ulvik]

If you do decide to get a Jeep Unlimited if you buy one new you can get the 3.73 option a lot cheaper than you will ever get it installed for. Take care and good luck.

[Artum_Snowbird]

Good information, thanks ulvik and others. Decided to let that one go to someone else.

[ulvik]

First off you should be fine on stock tires but the transmission will search quite a lot on hills.
Second if you decide on a gear ratio change you have to do the front and back at the same time due to it being a 4x4.
Third if you do decide to put in 3.73's and larger tires you are back to where you started with a searching transmission.
Forth if you go lower, or higher which ever the way you want to look at it, than 3.73's you will also have to buy a rear carrier to support the lower gears.
But with all that just for short trips on flat land with factory tires you will be fine with the 3.21's. Plus I used to as a hobby work at a custom jeep shop and gear changes are quite expensive. Good luck!

[Artum_Snowbird]

I reckon the longest pull towing the boat might be only 40 miles or so, but nothing in high elevation.

No plans for bigger tires. The true reason we want to have the Jeep is to tow behind the motorhome. It will likely not be used for any serious 4 by 4 usage.

I guess I am concerned about ownership as well. Perhaps the 3.21 gear ratio becomes an undesirable feature when I go to resell it too.

[1995brave]

If you are borderline on power, don't go with bigger tires. Bigger tires will require more power to move them. Check out some of the 4x4 websites.

[wowens79]

I think from a safety stand point you will be ok, but I think pulling it will be a strain, and you will have bad acceleration. Maybe throw an extra trans cooler on it to protect the tranny.

Also what kind of distances and terrain will you be towing over?

[romore]

You will hate towing with the 3.21's, the transmission will be constantly shifting which causes overheating. Mileage will suffer too and at the current price of gas that will hurt.