Well, I guess that I hadn't ought to say too much - I once pulled a D2 bulldozer on an equipment trailer over Monarch Pass with a K-10 Chevy !!!!


Still, I think the 5K lbs tow rating on the XJ is pretty optimistic. It's not so much the pulling power as the braking and stability of a narrow track short wheelbase vehicle. I'm thinking about needing to pull a small U-Haul weighing maybe up to 2K lbs and that's about it. Still wondering if the XJ cooling system will handle it ???


IIRC, the K-10 was only tow rated for something like 4500 lbs, but that one load must have been about 15K (plus the pickup so GCVW about 20K!), so that fact that I am even still alive illustrates that you can push the limits on a pickup a lot farther than a jeep. Still, for a while there I had it clear down to granny low and was standing on the brakes for all I was worth just trying to keep the engine from over-revving! Funny thing it all went up the hill just fine, about 30mph as I recall.


So having done stuff like that, I'm pretty adamant about having enough tow vehicle anymore.

 

Everybody has, I carried about 2k worth of marble chips on a pallet in the bed of my 90 GMC 1/2T ECSB. It's bagged so I had ~ 100 psi per side to keep it level but still it was like stopping a freakin freight train. I'm glad Lowes is only a couple of miles from the house, but I'll never do that again.

 

Oh - I've only told you one of my stories!

 

$$$ difference between alum and steel trailer would almost by a truck. Just size difference alone would be worth it, IMHO.

When the tail wags the dog, it's not a good day.

 

I've thought about this some more, and I think that yes you should just trade in the XJ for an older full size American made 4x4 pickup


That way you have the best of both worlds: something to go off road to some extent and something with which to pull your race car.


Something like a 1973-1987 Chevy/GMC (solid axles / leaf springs) is pretty darn capable and is really as good or better than the jeep except in really tight trail conditions.

 

Based on everyones responses, NO it is not ideal, is it possible, yes. Which I kind of figured from the beginning. Was mainly asking for some first hand experience and second opinions. I appreciate all the input.

To touch on the cost of racing subject. This isn't some fully build drag car... it's a less then 2000 pount 91 civic with performance brakes, tires, and a cage. Its a road race car. Being that it is an older civic, parts are cheap, even quality parts (In relation to many other vehicles). Each event costs around $450, parts and engine/transmissions for the car are dirt cheap (100-200 dollars). Granted racing is and can be an expensive hobby, but i'm definitely on the low end of the price range for racing.

Again, i was asking for second opinions and first hand expereince with towing around 3000 lbs (trailer included). I also understand that the current mods done to my XJ actually hinder my towing ability and I'm not opposed to going back to a stock suspension/tire setup. And as I stated in the original post, I WILL have trailer brakes, a properly maintained jeep with cooling upgrades AND gearing more suitable to towing.

I got what I needed out of this thread, and again, I appreciate all the input from everyone. Thank you.

 

Here's some first hand experience for ya. I used CobraMarty's Jeep and our new trailer to tow a buddy's Subaru. Trailer + Subaru was about 4500lbs. Jeep weighs about 4600lbs.

Jeep has 62mm TB, TB spacer, K&N CAI, flow master cat back, 33s, 4.56 gears, 5.5" lift, TruTrac LSD rear diff (and front), factory tow package with factory aux trans cooler, ZJ rear disc brake conversion, drilled and slotted rotors front and rear.

Never went over 45mph because was on non-freeway type roads. Tow was about 30 miles. Jeep couldn't care less about what was hitched to it. No trailer sway or tail wagging dog whatsoever. Acceleration was slower (obviously) but never needed to go above half throttle and never felt like I was holding up traffic. Coolant temp gauged stayed right at 210 the entire time with a/c on. Even uphill. Jeep handled loaded how it did unloaded for the most part. Electric trailer brakes on both axles are AMAZING. Gain was at about 40-50%. Any higher on the gain and the trailer would start dragging the Jeep to a very quick stop. Airbags would've been nice to level rear, but I doubt they would've made any noticeable difference other than leveling rear. Couldn't move Subaru any further back. Darn things are nose heavy.

Pic makes it look more a$$ low than it actually was.

 

Thank you, this was very helpful.

 

No problemo. For longer distance tows at higher speeds, I'd strongly recommend air bags in rear, larger trans cooler, and a supercharger. Then pretty much call it a day at that point.

 

Wait, your XJ weighs 4,500 lbs? That does't sound right, unless I'm missing something. Mine is right around 3,300 lbs and change.

 

4570lbs to be exact. Full tank of fuel, trail bag with some tools and spare parts, and not a whole lot else.

 

Cherokee WEIGHTS


2700 pounds 96 2dr 2wd ax15 4.6l, stripped interior(still has door panels), Addco rear sway bar removed, a/c and radio delete
2940 with me in it(185#) jack and torque wrench no spare, a couple misc items, a gallon of gas
3760 empty D30 D44 4.0L AW4 NP231 35s Warn M8000 with steel cable, full cage, body mods
3800 31's moab rims short arms f/r bumpers tire carrier sliders and frame stiffeners
3850 pounds 33x10.5s 15x7 factory alloys, f/r bumpers, sliders, me, almost 0 gas, some basic tools
3940 pounds 1/4 tank of gas 99 xj 2wd 4.0 ax-15 6.5" lift front winch bumper and winch rear tomken bumper tire carrier 33" 1/4" rear qtr armor w/boxes bunch of stuff inside
4000 5" 35s 30/8.8 steel all over, winch, etc...
4025 MJ 33s, winch, bumpers, sliders, steel everywhere, spares...
4060 pounds loaded and ready, with nobody in it
4300 with me 1/2 tank of gas
4373 pounds 3/4 tank 99 4x4 sport 4.0 np231 trussed hp30 rugged ridge steering 32s on MT alloys bds longarm significant mid and gas tank skids rigid bumpers f/r winch w/ synth line full size spare on carrier rocker tubes trunk storage compartment recovery gear high lift full interior
4600 pounds MyXJ, 33 steel rims, F+R bumpers winch stiffners long arms trail gear etc full tank
4,700 pounds with me, trail gear, 1/2 tank of fuel JCR Offfoad bumpers sliders and armor, 33's on steelies, with a spare on the rear bumper
4810 w/ driver, fully loaded steelies 32s rails rack & rear bumper/carrier
5100 lb with me (240lb) and trail trim, steel
5200 pounds 400 lbs people, camping gear trail tools tire carrier winch sliders 35s on alloys, 44/9 axles 6.5" longarm 3/4 tank of gas,17-19 highway 13-14 city manual trans and 3.55 gears
5945 with 250lb driver
6400 lb with 1 tons

 

Well, let us know how it works out


I hope you win your first race - that is, I hope you arrive at the race track in your jeep before the trailer/race car