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Biggest Tow loads

Old 01-24-2015, 01:58 PM
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Default Biggest Tow loads

What's the average load do you pull with your xj and what's the biggest you have safely hauled? I'm intending to use my 94 to haul my 1942 Cadillac to car shows.
Old 01-24-2015, 11:15 PM
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A xj can legally tow 5k your caddy alone is 4500 lbs and a car trailer is 2k,I wouldn't tow that car with anything smaller then a 1/2 ton pickup.
Old 01-24-2015, 11:40 PM
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^^^^X2^^^^


This has "bad idea" written all over it. Although technically acceptable, I would still be uncomfortable towing even 5000 lbs. with an XJ. I've towed my 6.5x10 utility trailer and 14ft boat trailer with mine, and that is about the max I'm comfortable with. Anything bigger and it gets towed with the truck.

Last edited by LAF1269; 01-24-2015 at 11:46 PM.
Old 01-25-2015, 12:32 AM
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I pulled a uhaul trailer with a little over 5000lb of stuff from Louisiana to Montana when I got out of the army. I dont know what the uhaul trailer weighs but they cant be all that light.

It was not a fun trip. Averaged about 60 mph. Jeep held up fine but across Wyoming in December is always bad.... the winds were so bad that semis were blowing over onto their side and it was covered in ice. Its no fun driving a box, pulling anything on windy/icy roads but when your load weighs more than you, its terrifying. I probably averaged 30mph across Wyoming and a pack of smokes and hour lol. Not something I will ever do again.


That being said, ive pulled a variety of boats/rafts/wood/atvs (including some big pontoon boats) with no problem. Just keep in mind the brakes on the XJ are crappy when its just the XJ. They are horrendous with a load. (I even have disks all the way around)

You also get yanked a bit when cars pass you lol.(and they will)
Old 01-25-2015, 12:46 AM
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I'm only using a small tow dolly for the shows close to me. anything farther and I use my buddies 3500
Old 01-25-2015, 12:47 AM
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It's not the pulling that's the problem...it's the stopping, quickly....
Old 01-25-2015, 12:50 AM
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Originally Posted by drhoward1988
It's not the pulling that's the problem...it's the stopping, quickly....
Yeah. I'm going to convert to all disc with oversized calipers
Old 01-25-2015, 01:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Nightshade

Yeah. I'm going to convert to all disc with oversized calipers
Still not really the issue. Weight of the tow vehicle plays a role in braking stability on heavy loads
Old 01-25-2015, 01:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Nightshade
I'm only using a small tow dolly for the shows close to me. anything farther and I use my buddies 3500
If you're already using a dolly to pull the Caddy, why not just drive it to the show? Is it a non-runner?
Old 01-25-2015, 02:28 AM
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A tow dolly weighs between 450 to 750 lbs and the heavy one has a max weight of 3500 lbs.As much as your caddy weighs i wouldnt trust it on a tow dolly at all.Even with a tow dolly your still 250lbs plus over weight,If you get caught its a fine so much pre pound your over and they make you come back with a bigger truck.
Old 01-25-2015, 04:57 AM
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I tow my boat alot which is 3500 lbs.
I still have my stock axles with stock gearing but it tows fine.
Old 01-25-2015, 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by LAF1269
If you're already using a dolly to pull the Caddy, why not just drive it to the show? Is it a non-runner?
It runs but there is a few that are 2-3 days including the premier show at The Henry Ford Museum. I'd rather tow it and drop it off rather than drive it back and forth all weekend(the caddie gets 8-10mpg)
Old 01-25-2015, 01:53 PM
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Originally Posted by andrewmp6
A tow dolly weighs between 450 to 750 lbs and the heavy one has a max weight of 3500 lbs.As much as your caddy weighs i wouldnt trust it on a tow dolly at all.Even with a tow dolly your still 250lbs plus over weight,If you get caught its a fine so much pre pound your over and they make you come back with a bigger truck.
Only half the weight is on the dolly though. We went cross-country in a 40ft RV and dollied our Buick Enclave which is rated at about 5,000lbs with no issues. The biggest issue we had was the RV being powered by a Ford V10 and hills.
Old 01-26-2015, 12:41 AM
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If the D.O.T. cops pull you over and pull out the scales good luck.
Old 01-26-2015, 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Nightshade
It runs but there is a few that are 2-3 days including the premier show at The Henry Ford Museum. I'd rather tow it and drop it off rather than drive it back and forth all weekend(the caddie gets 8-10mpg)
What's the mpg of a XJ pulling 5k+ pounds? 5 or 6 lol.

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