Towing With a CJ7

[Outrage 19]

Will I be able to tow my boat, a 19’ Boston Whaler with a 150 hp Mercury outboard, I believe boat motor and trailer will go around 3500 lbs, with a Jeep CJ 7?

 

[wayne h]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

thats a few short wheel base i would be scared of towing with that.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

I would not do it. I worked a crash the other day with a 17footer behind a cj7 and it jackknifed on him even with trailer brakes it slid the rear end around on him

 

[DJ]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

I wouldn't do it. There are several things working against you.<br /><br />1. Short wheelbase.<br /><br />2. Short rear wheel to back bumber dimension.<br /><br />3. High center of gravity.<br /><br />All of these add up to an unstable tow rig.

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

Thanks for all of the replies. Really I’m looking for a fun vehicle to drive that can be driven on the beach, have the option of taking the top off and two by boat. Any suggestions?

 

[wayne h]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

get an older k-5 blazer (full size)i had a 71 blazer that the top comes off at the windsheild if not that old the newer 1ns anything to 85 i think come off right behind the driver.parts are very east to find.they are great tow vehicles and lots of fun.a 350 will tow anything you want and there are alot of hop ups for them also.the tops are fiberglass and a little heavy put on and off but you can get soft tops for them also (not very nice looking).i am a chevy man so thats my 2 cents.

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

Thanks Wayne, I forgot about those vehicles. No hard feelings but I’m a Ford or Dodge man. Anyone know how the 70’s Broncos for this kind of fun?

 

[wayne h]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

Outrage 19 you mean the small broncos ? i dont think they made a fullsize bronco till the late 70s early 80s i am not a ford man so i am not sure but if you mean the smaller bronco i would not trust them eather(i would never trust any fords hahaa)but they are short wheelbased also

 

[DJ]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

Outrage,<br /><br />ALL of the Bronco tops were removable (regardless of year) and canvas tops were available for most.<br /><br />The Bronco was built through the '96' model year.<br /><br />The Bronco would handle your load well. Also, I believe the Dodge Ramchargers had removable tops. They weren't built as long so they're a little more rare.

 

[Ranger354]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

Is your cj7 for sale? Go with the full size Bronco. I am a chevy man also and I only move trailers around the lease and yard with my jeep. It is dangerous as heck to pull anything down the highway with a jeep.

 

[QuadDriver]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

actually....#2 is better for towing, the shorter the distance from the hitch to rear axle, the better a towing vehicle - less of a lever arm

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

Thanks djohns a long time ago I had a friend with an old Bronco, I think it was ether a 71 or 73, I couldn’t remember if it had a removable top or not. <br /><br />Wayne34609 I think you can find good and bad in just about all cars. You know what they say, on a quiet day you can hear a Chevy rust, and a Dodge will pass everything but a gas pump. I like Ford and Dodge because I have relatives in Michigan who work for those companies.<br /><br />Ranger, sorry I got a little inheritance and was looking for advise on a fun vehicle that would be big enough to tow with I don’t have a CJ 7.<br /><br />Ed, do you mean the Ram Charger is a better vehicle for towing?<br /><br />Thanks again everyone once again this forum shows it’s the best on the internet.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

I used a 4 door Suzuki Sidekick to tow a 17 footer for awhile with no problems but then got a heavier boat, which equaled wanted a better vehicle, which ended up being a 95 Ford F150 extended cab 4x4 with 351. Now I have no towing issues. I also have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that does just fine, but a CJ7 may be asking for trouble. I had a 1970 International Scout for awhile that was small enough to be fun, roof was removeable, and could tow a mountain if need be. I have to go with the others, get a 90s full size Bronco, the roof comes off, and it is plenty stable enough as a tow rig.

 

[Patster501]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

I have a CJ5 with a Ford 302 under the hood. Plenty of power but not enough wheelbase to tow my Jet boat. Tried it, got scared at the first turn a couple blocks away and went back. Felt VERY unstable! I stick to my Grand Cherokee now.

 

[philtheskipper]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

If you have money to blow go for a hummer. Problem solved.

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Towing With a CJ7

JasonJ, One of my uncle’s had a 76 Scout, with the Bicentennial package, Red, White, and Blue paint job, He took me fishing to places I don’t think any other vehicles could go. I’ll add it to my list of vehicles to look for.<br /><br />Philtheskipper, I thought about a Hummer but the only ones I could afford are the surplus ones, and I’m not looking for a project just something fun that can tow the boat.<br /><br />Patster, thanks for the info it’s good to here from someone with first hand experience.<br /><br />Over the weekend I was visiting my Dad in Kentucky and saw a nice, I’m guessing about early 50’s, Willys 4X4 Truck. It had been retro fitted with a Chevy V8 and automatic trans. Does anyone have an idea how this would do as a tow vehicle?