Jeep Wrangler V-6 for towing

[Hillbiehle]

Thinking of purchasing a Jeep Wrangler. My question to anyone that owns one, how does it perform towing a 18' aluminum boat (similar to a fishhawk or lund rebel) w/ 90 hp?

Also, if I buy a used one that has lift kit installed, will this hamper the towing capacity? Should I stay clear of any lift kit or is this not a concern?

[Macgyver55]

Looks cool.... but mixing a short wheel base with a high center of gravity is a recipe for poor handling.

Add a long trailer to the mix and you wont want to be making any long drives on a busy weekend.

[highlife4me]

Just look around and count how many Jeeps you see towing a trailer. I will save you the effort. Not very many. That should tell you how well they tow. Heck most of the ones I see don't even have a hitch. That does not mean it can't be done. But I wouldn't buy a Jeep as my only tow vehicle. The four door models might be a little more stable, worth checking out.

[tonkapat]

If I remember correctly they can't be outfitted with a reasonable hitch because the gas tank is in the way. Definately a death trap in the winter with poor mileage to boot. I wouldn't want to tow anything with one for any long distance. Grand cherokees with a V8 aren't to bad.

[CAMAN]

Wranglers are rated for 2000lbs and the Unlimited's (longer wheelbase) are rated for 3500lbs.

My Dad has towed my heavy 16ft Lund a few times with his ('97, with lift-kit and 36" tires) Wrangler and it worked decent, but I wouldn't do it on a regular basis, or go much bigger.

[Hillbiehle]

Thanks for the replys. Looks like I'll be looking for something more practical like a truck or newer expedition.

[SkunkedAgain]

My dad wanted to tow my old 16' boat with his new Jeep Wrangler but I wouldn't let him. There is no contest in stability between a jeep and even a small pickup. The wheel base makes a huge difference. Don't do it unless you're talking about a couple of miles along a city street.

[Hillbiehle]

I won't do it, and after reading the replys I feel almost embarrased that I even considered the possibilty of trying. I saw a 4 door jeep pulling a heavy runabout over the summer and started to consider. I take several trip a year up north so it just isn't practical or safe. Thanks to all the replys.

[SkunkedAgain]

ZERO reason to be embarrassed. I think that everyone on this forum would say that they are happy that you asked, versus being the guy towing a runabout because he saw someone else doing it!