mister k

I will be pulling a 6'x12' long Uhaul trailer and am concerned abut swayback. Has anyone ever pulled one and if so did they have any problems with it swaying from side to side when towing it?

here's the trailer

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...QEwBg&dur=1259

Bob98Classic

It comes down to how much total weight you are towing,

and how much tongue weight you have.

mister k

I am unsure what the trailer weighs empty but I will have about 800-1000 lbs in the trailer and I have a ball hitch rated at 6000 lbs. (6000 is what Uhaul wants on the ball hitch).

Bustedback

Load the heavy stuff at the front of the trailer ahead of the axle.

Domaas

trailer hitch,and ball rating mean almost . many are rated higher than what a 1/2 ton truck can pull. it all comes down to the tow rating on your jeep. keep the heavy heaviest stuff over the axles on the trailer. keep the total weight witn the capacity of your jeep. if you want it stable..keep your tounge weight under 400 lbs..any more and it will sway like a banshee.

mister k

Keeping the weight on the trailer axles makes good sense..although I am unsure how to exactly measure tongue weight..... I guess it will be just a trial and error type of thing and I'll find out once I hit the road. I am trekking from CO to AZ, climbing hills and then through the open desert in high winds. It's a 15 hour ride ..so I guess I'll take it slow.

I was concerned because of the short wheelbase of the Cherokees. I once pulled a short trailer with a Bronco II and had a beech of a time fighting swayback.

My other slight problem is finding a 2 inch ball with a 3/4' diameter shank rated for 6000 lbs. This is what U-haul wants before I can rent the 6x12 trailer.

The only bad feature about Jeeps is why in the heck they installed those smaller hitch receivers with the 3/4" mounting hole for the ball hitch on all Cherokees. Rinky-tink bigtime.

redjeep1983

I used to work for Uhaul for 7 years. If your towing with an xj Uhaul will not hook up a 6x12 to it. Curb weight to low. If a grand cherokee is towing you'll be fine. If you go to the web site it'll tell you what trailers you can pull with your vehicle.

It's been 4 years since I work there so they may have changes some policies.

redjeep1983

I stand corrected just visited the site and xj's are allowed to tow the 6x12 with up to 2080 lbs of cargo. That's changed since I've been there.

redjeep1983

Advice time. Load the weight of you cargo as close to 60% of total weight towards the front of Trailer axles, and 40 to the rear This will limit swaying.

Keep speed down. Max speed of Uhaul trailers is "55" mph. Well that's more of a guide line, I wouldn't go more than 65. The xj gonna hate the weight any way.

Also Uhaul trailers are the happiest when the center of the ball is between 18 inches to 22 inches off the ground. This is when the trailer is best balanced over its fulcrum when considering the load dispersal of 60/40% of weight.

And as for the 6000 lbs. that's hoopla. The website calls for 3500lbs or more.

mister k

thanks for everyones help.

The gal (with beautful ***** BTW) at the Uhaul place told me I needed a 6000 ball hitch but I too went to the UHaul website and they indicate 3500 is fine for the 6x12 trailer...and yes the XJ is aok to haul that size trailer.

I have Gabriel airshocks on my Cherokee so I can easily set the hitch height at 18-22'.

And yes my biggest concern is pulling it up and thought the Rockies and esp in the dead of summer with the heat. I may think about renting a 4x8 instead. My Cherr' has 250k on her and although she boogies nice she really gets a big bogged down when I am pulling something. I don't want to push my luck.

Thanks all and I will let y'all know how I made out.

salad

I've pulled one of those on my saggy leafs. Loaded it as described on the sticker inside, it pulled fine. Just sucked the gas back. Probably stuck 1000-1500 lbs in there. (moved my brother off to school, incl furniture)