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12:42 pm
Club Member
July 14, 2016
Offline
I have been considering getting a used JLU Rubicon (or possibly a JKU). I would like to be able to tow my Geo Pro 19FDS trailer on occasion with it, like when I go to Sierra Trek, so that I don't have to use my F150 for the trailer and have a second driver for the Jeep or have to shuffle two vehicle. The loaded weight of the trailer is about 4500 pounds. On some of the Geo Pro forums some people say they do tow with a JKU or JLU. I would like to get some opinions on whether the loaded trailer weights too much for a JLU to tow. I know that the Gladiator has a greater towing capacity, so that's an option but for wheeling I would prefer a JLU. Thoughts on this?
Jeff and Kathy Root
8:11 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline
Kris will know more, but the JLU/JKU can tow it. If you lift it significantly the tow rating reduces I believe.
Personally I’d feel more confident towing with the newer model, JLU.
Kathleen and Brad
8:56 am
Club Member
May 12, 2023
Offline
Cant speak to the JKU, but the JLU only has a 3500lb rating. Putting your trailer about 1000lb over. I tow with my JL 2 door, it has a rating of 2000lbs and have had that much behind it since I have done my lift and tires. I have not yet regeared, so it struggles more than it should. Assuming you can lighten your trailer by 1000lbs (not sure how, just using it as an example), you will notice the front end of the JKU/JLU being really light and steering will not be very responsive (weight distribution hitch does help, but only so much).
Dale Mogg - WRZG209
2:00 pm
Club Member
July 14, 2016
Offline
What I found:
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- Capacity: 3,500 lbs (4-door/JKU).
- Required Equipment: Proper towing package/hitch, suitable gear ratio (3.73 or 4.10).
- Tongue Weight:
Generally 350 lbs maximum
Limitations: Without the max tow package, capacity may be limited to 2,000 lbs.
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- Capacity: 3,500 lbs (2018-2023); up to 5,000 lbs (2024+ select 4-door models).
- Required Equipment:
To achieve the maximum rating, the JLU must be equipped with the Trailer Tow and Heavy-Duty Electrical Group
Payload & Tongue Weight: The maximum tongue weight is 350 lbs (for 3,500 lbs capacity), with a total payload capacity of approximately 1,381 lbs.
- Limitations: Upgrading to 35-inch or larger tires, or installing lift kits, can significantly reduce the effective towing capacity.
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Jeff and Kathy Root
6:35 am
Club Member
August 17, 2014
Offline
Jeff_R said
What I found:
Key JKU Towing Details:Capacity: 3,500 lbs (4-door/JKU).
Required Equipment: Proper towing package/hitch, suitable gear ratio (3.73 or 4.10).
Tongue Weight:
Generally 350 lbs maximum
Limitations: Without the max tow package, capacity may be limited to 2,000 lbs.Key JLU Towing Details:
Capacity: 3,500 lbs (2018-2023); up to 5,000 lbs (2024+ select 4-door models).
Required Equipment:
To achieve the maximum rating, the JLU must be equipped with the Trailer Tow and Heavy-Duty Electrical Group
Payload & Tongue Weight: The maximum tongue weight is 350 lbs (for 3,500 lbs capacity), with a total payload capacity of approximately 1,381 lbs.
Limitations: Upgrading to 35-inch or larger tires, or installing lift kits, can significantly reduce the effective towing capacity.
Jeff, when I had a Gladiator, I towed my 2-door Jk around once, which was the last time I tried it. I had a 1.5" lift, 6-spd manual, 35's, HD, 6,000lbs tow bar & a gas V6. The Gladiator by itself was super stable, but when towing, it wandered around the road, which slowed freeway progress to 55mph. I switched to using my Ram 3/4TN pickup, which you hardly could tell it was towing anything. I think the Gladiator is too light for HD towing. Maybe a different combination of equipment would change the outcome.
6:40 am
Club Member
August 17, 2014
Offline
Guy and Lynda said
Jeff_R said
What I found:
Key JKU Towing Details:
Capacity: 3,500 lbs (4-door/JKU).
Required Equipment: Proper towing package/hitch, suitable gear ratio (3.73 or 4.10).
Tongue Weight:
Generally 350 lbs maximum
Limitations: Without the max tow package, capacity may be limited to 2,000 lbs.
Key JLU Towing Details:
Capacity: 3,500 lbs (2018-2023); up to 5,000 lbs (2024+ select 4-door models).
Required Equipment:
To achieve the maximum rating, the JLU must be equipped with the Trailer Tow and Heavy-Duty Electrical Group
Payload & Tongue Weight: The maximum tongue weight is 350 lbs (for 3,500 lbs capacity), with a total payload capacity of approximately 1,381 lbs.
Limitations: Upgrading to 35-inch or larger tires, or installing lift kits, can significantly reduce the effective towing capacity.
Jeff, when I had a Gladiator, I towed my 2-door Jk around once, which was the last time I tried it. I had a 1.5" lift, 6-spd manual, 35's, HD, 6,000lbs tow bar & a gas V6. The Gladiator by itself was super stable, but when towing, it wandered around the road, which slowed freeway progress to 55mph. I switched to using my Ram 3/4TN pickup, which you hardly could tell it was towing anything. I think the Gladiator is too light for HD towing. Maybe a different combination of equipment would change the outcome.
I tried flat towing...not a trailer!
8:55 am
August 5, 2017
Offline
I purposely bought my my JKU with the lower factory gearing (3.73) when I bought it because I knew I was going to tow a small trailer and the interwebs told me it would drive fine on 35's. Then put it on 35's with a 2.5 inch lift, and even without towing it drove like crap so ended up putting 4:56's in it. I installed a 7 pin wiring harness (electric brakes) to tow my first 14 foot travel trailer (17 with tongue) which I estimate was 3000 lbs. when loaded.
It towed ok. The JKU is very sensitive on temperature so I was always driving by RPMs, grades like the grapevine was 35 MPH to keep the temp down in the engine and transmission (auto). Had to be careful with the tongue weight. This was all manageable but not relaxing and freaked out Damaris to see all the work I was doing in the cab to manage it. The logistics of packing became the limiting factor, between limited space and limited additional weight capacity we bought the GMC Canyon for towing (bonus I got to go more modified on the jeep 
).
Even if you plan to keep stock, I would shy away from the JKU for this purpose, flexibility will not be there. I think you would be better off if you could go to at least the JLU with the max trailer tow options. I suspect the main thing is gearing, the electrical is probably exactly what I did after the fact on mine with the 7 pin for electric brakes, eTrailer.com sells a full kit. You also need a trailer brake controller, I would recommend a very good one because towing down grades I had to bump up the gain and always had my finger on the emergency braking slide. I used the Tekonsha P3 and loved it, but they probably have a newer one.
Happy to talk more about it at next weeks meeting.
Jamie & Damaris 
6:19 pm
Club Member
July 14, 2016
Offline
Thanks for the input Jamie. I installed the Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller in my old F150 before I bought my 2024 F150 Platinum. I was really happy with the Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller. The towing features and technology in my F150 are amazing when I put it in trailer mode with all the data previously entered for my trailer. The ten speed transmission gears down automatically to help slow the vehicle when you take your foot off the accelerator on a downhill grade. I think in trailer mode it's limited to eight speed. I'm not totally opposed to buying a new Jeep but I just don't use it enough to justify getting a brand new Jeep. I only have a little over 80,000 on my 04 TJ. I told my son that I would give him my TJ but he still tried to talk me out of getting a newer Jeep. This from a kid with an 85 Toyota pickup with dual cases.
Jeff and Kathy Root
9:02 am
Club Trailmaster
March 13, 2015
Offline
At 4,500 you are at about the comfortable limit of a gladiator. If you have a fully built JKU/JLU on deeply geared UD60s and stiffer springs to handle all the armor then it would handle the trailer fine in terms of weight and stopping but will always be wallowing in the turns. But the gladiator is the same wheelbase as a ford excursion so suffers significantly on tight jeep trails.
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