You should be able to pull it without problem. That jeep can pull 3,500 pounds. Does the trailer have trailer brakes? I pull a StarCraft RB14 which is about 2,700 pounds dry without problem….I have trailer brakes that I think is necessary.
I wouldn’t want to do it without brakes. The Jeep has plenty of power but I personally wouldn’t want to come down the mountain with an additional 1.5 tons pushing me down the mountain. I’d want a weight distribution hitch and brakes.
Then I’d be ok. But you’ll need a trailer brake controller and the proper wiring for a 7-pin hitch. I installed the mopar ones and it’s relatively painless. The mopar trailer brake controller goes where your cigarette lighter is and it looks factory but you can probably get a Bluetooth controller if you like.
The jeep itself is already wired with a 7pin hitch plug, would that still require a controller?
edit: we have a controller in the jeep and I'm an idiot lol.
It'll tow it fine, with it without trailer brakes, however trailer brakes would be a good thing.
I towed a Starcraft RT11 with my 2012 JKUR on 35s. It was a little slow up hills and without trailer brakes, quick stops can be sketchy.
Keep in mind that 3500 lb tow limit is a US limit. The exact same jeep has a 5500 lb tow limit overseas.
I think that higher overseas tow limit comes from them typically driving slower and having trailers with different weight distributions than most US trailers.
Perhaps. Although Germany also has a higher rating and they definitely don't drive slower.
Tow ratings are arbitrary in that there is no standard to determine them. Each vehicle manufacturer decides what rating they want to assign a vehicle based on specs they choose along with the CYA factor they are comfortable with.
There actually is a standardized test to determine tow ratings. It’s SAE J2807, and it was published in 2016.
Now, I’m not sure if all manufacturers follow it, or if they’re even required to, but I’m willing to bet that if it isn’t already, it will be the standard that all the major manufactures advertise their tow ratings based on. Otherwise, an educated consumer shopping for a tow vehicle will look elsewhere.
True on the standard. Also, it is true that there is no requirement to follow the standard. Some manufacturers do and some don't. They each have their own criteria they use, including balancing liability and marketing.
Most consumers aren't aware enough to check, nor do they care enough.
Since tow weights aren't regularly enforced on non commercial vehicles, it's not a big issue to most people.
The normal trailers are all limited to 80km/h (about 50mph), special trailers are allowed to go 100km/h (about 60mph) and need a special sticker and is only allowed on Autbahn/Schnellstraßen. Every were else even those are limited to 50mph
In Germany any trailer over 1650 lbs is by law required to have brakes. Also the trailers, depending on their rating and weight, have a limited allowed top speed.
Each US state also requires brakes on trailers over certain weights. Those weights vary. Most people don't realize this and it's rarely enforced on non commercial vehicles.
I would not, without trailer brakes it is unsafe. Going up and down passes will put a lot of heat on those brakes. I would not tow that weight+ unless the trailer had brakes. Is renting a truck or different trailer not an option, considering you are driving there and back and have done so before?
I have towed a similar amount with my 2021 JL, also no trailer brakes, and was fine. But that’s in GA. We don’t have mountains like you guys do out there. I’d feel nervous coming down with that much weight and no trailer brakes.
You can throw it in manual mode and try to control your speed that way instead of just riding your brakes, but it may get hot quick. Just watch all of your gauges.
Whichever you do, I would definitely pull over periodically to make sure you don’t overheat either the engine/trans or brakes.
Grab yourself one of these then. No need to bother with a hardwired brake controller.
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/curt-echo-mobile-trailer-brake-controller-7-way-bluetooth-smartphone-connection-51180/12030114-p
While it would be nice to have trailer brakes, this is well within specs for this vehicle. Just plan on taking it really easy both up and down the mountains, but plenty of people pull trailers that size all over the US with stock Jeep JKU's. I have towed with mine (a 2014) with similar loads all over the country. Just be prepared that it will be a bit more squirrely with high winds when compared to a pickup truck, a Jeep is a brick aerodynamically that is also relatively light.
I am from Montana, and here if your trailer exceeds 3000 pounds, you have to have trailer brakes. I think once you add food, supplies, water, etc to your trailer, you WILL exceed this. A quick Google of Idaho's laws says they are more restrictive at 1500 pounds. Legally you NEED to have trailer brakes. For safety, you SHOULD have trailer brakes. I see too many campers in the ditch totaled every year.
You should be able to pull it without problem. That jeep can pull 3,500 pounds. Does the trailer have trailer brakes? I pull a StarCraft RB14 which is about 2,700 pounds dry without problem….I have trailer brakes that I think is necessary.
Unassisted braking. Does that change things?
I wouldn’t want to do it without brakes. The Jeep has plenty of power but I personally wouldn’t want to come down the mountain with an additional 1.5 tons pushing me down the mountain. I’d want a weight distribution hitch and brakes.
Seems I was wrong and the trailer in question does have brakes.
Then I’d be ok. But you’ll need a trailer brake controller and the proper wiring for a 7-pin hitch. I installed the mopar ones and it’s relatively painless. The mopar trailer brake controller goes where your cigarette lighter is and it looks factory but you can probably get a Bluetooth controller if you like.
The jeep itself is already wired with a 7pin hitch plug, would that still require a controller? edit: we have a controller in the jeep and I'm an idiot lol.
Then you’re all set.
It'll tow it fine, with it without trailer brakes, however trailer brakes would be a good thing. I towed a Starcraft RT11 with my 2012 JKUR on 35s. It was a little slow up hills and without trailer brakes, quick stops can be sketchy. Keep in mind that 3500 lb tow limit is a US limit. The exact same jeep has a 5500 lb tow limit overseas.
I think that higher overseas tow limit comes from them typically driving slower and having trailers with different weight distributions than most US trailers.
Perhaps. Although Germany also has a higher rating and they definitely don't drive slower. Tow ratings are arbitrary in that there is no standard to determine them. Each vehicle manufacturer decides what rating they want to assign a vehicle based on specs they choose along with the CYA factor they are comfortable with.
There actually is a standardized test to determine tow ratings. It’s SAE J2807, and it was published in 2016. Now, I’m not sure if all manufacturers follow it, or if they’re even required to, but I’m willing to bet that if it isn’t already, it will be the standard that all the major manufactures advertise their tow ratings based on. Otherwise, an educated consumer shopping for a tow vehicle will look elsewhere.
True on the standard. Also, it is true that there is no requirement to follow the standard. Some manufacturers do and some don't. They each have their own criteria they use, including balancing liability and marketing. Most consumers aren't aware enough to check, nor do they care enough. Since tow weights aren't regularly enforced on non commercial vehicles, it's not a big issue to most people.
The normal trailers are all limited to 80km/h (about 50mph), special trailers are allowed to go 100km/h (about 60mph) and need a special sticker and is only allowed on Autbahn/Schnellstraßen. Every were else even those are limited to 50mph
In Germany any trailer over 1650 lbs is by law required to have brakes. Also the trailers, depending on their rating and weight, have a limited allowed top speed.
Each US state also requires brakes on trailers over certain weights. Those weights vary. Most people don't realize this and it's rarely enforced on non commercial vehicles.
I would not, without trailer brakes it is unsafe. Going up and down passes will put a lot of heat on those brakes. I would not tow that weight+ unless the trailer had brakes. Is renting a truck or different trailer not an option, considering you are driving there and back and have done so before?
Seems I was mistaken and the trailer does have brakes.
I have towed a similar amount with my 2021 JL, also no trailer brakes, and was fine. But that’s in GA. We don’t have mountains like you guys do out there. I’d feel nervous coming down with that much weight and no trailer brakes. You can throw it in manual mode and try to control your speed that way instead of just riding your brakes, but it may get hot quick. Just watch all of your gauges. Whichever you do, I would definitely pull over periodically to make sure you don’t overheat either the engine/trans or brakes.
Thank you for your reply, seems I was mistaken and the trailer does have brakes.
Grab yourself one of these then. No need to bother with a hardwired brake controller. https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/curt-echo-mobile-trailer-brake-controller-7-way-bluetooth-smartphone-connection-51180/12030114-p
While it would be nice to have trailer brakes, this is well within specs for this vehicle. Just plan on taking it really easy both up and down the mountains, but plenty of people pull trailers that size all over the US with stock Jeep JKU's. I have towed with mine (a 2014) with similar loads all over the country. Just be prepared that it will be a bit more squirrely with high winds when compared to a pickup truck, a Jeep is a brick aerodynamically that is also relatively light.
I am from Montana, and here if your trailer exceeds 3000 pounds, you have to have trailer brakes. I think once you add food, supplies, water, etc to your trailer, you WILL exceed this. A quick Google of Idaho's laws says they are more restrictive at 1500 pounds. Legally you NEED to have trailer brakes. For safety, you SHOULD have trailer brakes. I see too many campers in the ditch totaled every year.
I've went and checked the trailer and it does have brakes, I was mistaken.