Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

[Neodoxa]

Hello everyone,

So I am looking into buying a boat to use on Lake Erie. Does anyone have experience towing boats with Jeep Wranglers? Mine is a 1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0 V6, rated at (I believe) 2000lbs towing. I think it has the tow package as well.

Would it be safe to tow a 16 ft fiberglass boat, such as the one pictured below? It is a 1968 16' Renken tri hull. Does anyone know how much this boat would weigh (based on a dry weight)?

Thanks for any help!
Neodoxa

 

[ewenm]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

i think your wrangler is a STRAIGHT 6 and you should easily tow a small bowrider as long as you dont exceed the tow rate of the vehicle

go easy till you get the hang of it and make sure your trailer brakes are working.

i have towed a 5000lb boat with my '94 cherokee limited, with tow package, and will be regularly towing an 18 foot bowrider in the future

 

[Neodoxa]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

i think your wrangler is a STRAIGHT 6 and you should easily tow a small bowrider as long as you dont exceed the tow rate of the vehicle

go easy till you get the hang of it and make sure your trailer brakes are working.

i have towed a 5000lb boat with my '94 cherokee limited, with tow package, and will be regularly towing an 18 foot bowrider in the future

Haha, yes. Inline 6. Don't know why I put V. Sorry!

I guess I was concerned because of how small a wrangler is. Really short wheelbase and such. Thanks for the fast reply.

 

[SilverSS07]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

+1 You should be fine with a small boat like that. Not sure on the weight but it's well under 2000 lbs. Just be careful with the short wheelbase- not as stable as something longer and wider.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

I would be more concerned with using a boat like that on Lake Erie.
Jeep should be fine with it though.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

I have a Wrangler with the 4.0 and it will pull that boat. You are right to be concerned about the short wheebase as they can be a hand full when you get close to that 2000# load limit. I don’t even know my 12’ aluminum boat is behind me but hook up my 11” utility trailer with a couple of riding mowers and few other tools I find it short on power. You will find out that being a little bit under powered and even more under braked if you don’t have trailer brakes is not for the faint of heart. It is a fulltime job since you are right on the edge. It helps to have a buddy along to tune the radio and open your can of Skoal as driving will be your full time responsibility.

 

[Neodoxa]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

I would be more concerned with using a boat like that on Lake Erie.
Jeep should be fine with it though.

Yes, it will just be for the bays.

Is this boat really not suitable for the inner part of Lake Erie? I'm new to boating... So...

 

[Neodoxa]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

What is this boat worth with an 85hp outboard that runs, trailer, and decent hull?

 

[Neodoxa]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

It helps to have a buddy along to tune the radio and open your can of Skoal as driving will be your full time responsibility.

Haha, yeah. I'm pretty worried about it. The gearing sucks in my Jeep, and it's a standard, too.

 

[TJDave]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

A little tip is to put the Jeep in 4lo if backing down a steep, wet ramp. It will make your front and rear brakes work together. Otherwise, if you hit the brakes on the way down the ramp in 2hi, the front wheels may lock up, and the boat will drag you down the ramp. This happened to me.....ONCE!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

Motorwise you should be OK - just realize that short wheelbase along with coil springs in the rear can cause some excitement if you hit a bump wrong or if your trailer likes to sway. TJ's suffer from rear steer due to the way the suspension is built, so any side to side loading will make it really squirrelly.

 

[Neodoxa]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

A little tip is to put the Jeep in 4lo if backing down a steep, wet ramp. It will make your front and rear brakes work together. Otherwise, if you hit the brakes on the way down the ramp in 2hi, the front wheels may lock up, and the boat will drag you down the ramp. This happened to me.....ONCE!

Oh man! That sounds like a pretty scary story. I'm guessing that you got it to stop somehow in time? Haha.

Also, what do you tow with your Wrangler? I've been looking at 15-16ft tri hulls, and was wondering if I could pull one pretty safely?

Thanks!

 

[rparde]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

Back in high school I used to tow the family 19' Bayliner with my 4 cylinder wrangler. Never had a problem. Those things are geared so low it could easily pull it out of the water. After that I would just take it easy.

 

[444]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

I've got a 88 Jeep YJ Wrangler and I towed my boat just fine. At the time it was a 4.2 carbed straight 6 and a manual trans, YJ's have leaf springs on all 4 corners. Super easy positioning the trailer with that short wheelbase. I live on the flat lands so it's really not a big deal where I go. In the process of swapping in a fuel injected 5.2 magnum and a better manual trans. Should be fun and have more towing power. My boat/motor/trailer probably weigh somewhere in the 2000-2500lb range.

 

[Neodoxa]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

Back in high school I used to tow the family 19' Bayliner with my 4 cylinder wrangler. Never had a problem. Those things are geared so low it could easily pull it out of the water. After that I would just take it easy.

Yeah... I'm guessing my crappy 3.07 gears are going to stink for towing a boat around. Thing has no torque. Wish I'd have known better when I was looking for Jeeps... Would have gotten one with 4.10 or something.

 

[444]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

I didn't have a problem and I have the same gears. I just put it into 4-lo on the ramp.

 

[Neodoxa]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

I didn't have a problem and I have the same gears. I just put it into 4-lo on the ramp.

Thanks for the reply. Thanks for all of the replies. I'm going to look at my first boat and maybe bring one home tomorrow!

 

[TJDave]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

Oh man! That sounds like a pretty scary story. I'm guessing that you got it to stop somehow in time? Haha.
Also, what do you tow with your Wrangler? I've been looking at 15-16ft tri hulls, and was wondering if I could pull one pretty safely?
Thanks!

Both of the boats I have owned are too much for a short wheelbase Wrangler to handle on the freeway. My previous 18' boat was "ok" for short trips to the launch on back roads under 35mph. The 20' open bow is too much for even that, but I have done it when my pickup was down for a couple days. I just use the Jeep to get the boat around the side of the house and into the backyard. Much easier than the truck.

The 15-16 foot tri hulls you are looking for might be ok.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

As noted you need to be careful towing with one of these. I've towed my '88 Four Winns a lot with my old '98 grand Cherokee. The main differences between it and the Wrangler is the longer wheelbase, and rear disc brakes instead of drums. What helped mine a lot weed the following mods:
LT 235/75-15 tires
Blisten mono tube high pressure gas shocks
Air Lift air bags in the rear coils
Better aftermarket discs and pads (Wagner)

These mods and good trailer brakes made a huge difference in towing, no bounding motion from the tongue weight and no rear squatting.

 

[Neodoxa]

Re: Towing with a Jeep Wrangler (What boats can I tow safely?)

Well guys... I bought a boat... Little tri hull. Handled just fine with my 4.0 Wrangler after 60 miles. 3.07 gears no less.

Thanks to everyone for the replies.