1987 / 2wd / 4.0 Comanche Towing 3000Lbs

[FLETCH14519]

I have a 1987 2wd 4.0 automatic sportruck. (Only modificationsare 15" Aluminum wheels,235/75R15 tires, hellwig 1000lbs helper springs, and custom made hitch from "Krustyballer" , AW4 tranny (from the looks of it), Dana 35 rear

 

The shortest trip I would have to pull the boat is 5miles, furthest would be 30Miles. Looking at purchasing a boat, and max weight with trailer, boat (with full tank of gas), engine weight, and tackle weight is spot on at 3000 lbs. I have a 2004 Grand Cherokee 4.7L that will pull the boat with no issues. Just was wondering about the MJ.

[Eagle]

Tongue weight?

 

3,000 pounds is getting close to the curb weight of an unloaded MJ. 5 miles on local roads should be no problem. 30 miles, especially if on highways, less recommended.

[FLETCH14519]

Tongue weight?

 

3,000 pounds is getting close to the curb weight of an unloaded MJ. 5 miles on local roads should be no problem. 30 miles, especially if on highways, less recommended.

Not sure on the tongue weight, after using a tongue weight calculator, may be between 167lbs to 300 max......that's a wide range guess. It's a 18ft fiberglass cuddy cabin boat

[Marine1Texas]

I put a tongue weight of 415 lbs with a tow weight of 7200 pounds on 87 4.0 4wd longbed metric ton with updated 5 speed, 4.10's on 31's. I pull it 13 miles to town 3 times a week at 60 mph. The brakes needed upgraded, factory will not last long with the weight we pull. The truck is not made for this much weight even with the ton package. However with mods you can make it work. Our MJ that we use as a farm work truck has been modded on many area's to handle what we throw at it. A few things think, make sure your auto is got a good cooling system, you can over heat it quick, as well as your engine cooling system will need to be at peak cooling. The tires 235 are great for normal driving, if your going to stay with the 3.55's I would say 235/70's would give you a little better power, as well as your brakes will work better. You would loose a half of inch or 1 inch of rotation, but every bit helps when you have a heavy load.  

 

I think that pulling 3000 lbs on d35 can be done, but life span can get short quick. a d44 would be better and with a 4.10 in it. I say pull it around the block and have room to do a straight power brake and then a nice, but not fast take off to 45 mph. See how you like the feel of it. This will give you some idea's.

[Jeep Driver]

I put a tongue weight of 415 lbs with a tow weight of 7200 pounds on 87 4.0 4wd longbed metric ton with updated 5 speed, 4.10's on 31's. I pull it 13 miles to town 3 times a week at 60 mph. The brakes needed upgraded, factory will not last long with the weight we pull. The truck is not made for this much weight even with the ton package. However with mods you can make it work. Our MJ that we use as a farm work truck has been modded on many area's to handle what we throw at it. A few things think, make sure your auto is got a good cooling system, you can over heat it quick, as well as your engine cooling system will need to be at peak cooling. The tires 235 are great for normal driving, if your going to stay with the 3.55's I would say 235/70's would give you a little better power, as well as your brakes will work better. You would loose a half of inch or 1 inch of rotation, but every bit helps when you have a heavy load.  

 

I think that pulling 3000 lbs on d35 can be done, but life span can get short quick. a d44 would be better and with a 4.10 in it. I say pull it around the block and have room to do a straight power brake and then a nice, but not fast take off to 45 mph. See how you like the feel of it. This will give you some idea's.

You are pulling 7200?

[Marine1Texas]

yes.  I have 4.10 with the 5 speed NVG3550 and with a modded 241 that I can drive in low 2wd. When I pull on roads I never go over 4th gear and never over 60 mph ( I have never had to use 2wd low on the roads, since the renix puts out good low end power also with the 4.01 1st gear . 90% of the time I stay offroad in 2wd low. We have put better shafts in the rear 44 and the front 60 when went to 4.10's. I never drove or had the aw4 with 3.55's so I am not sure how it handles the extra weight. The engine it self is good enough for pulling the trailer, just getting the power to the ground, and braking the trailer. You could always use a electric brake for the trailer that would help out with braking.

[Jeep Driver]

There's no doubt you can.

 

I pulled 4K with a clapped-out 2.5 daily for nearly a year. 

 

 

Never a concern for suspension nor axles. 

 

Brakes. There is no way stock Jeep brakes are going to panic stop 10K gross. 

 

 

P3s on both my trucks. 

[Eagle]

I pulled that much weight behind a shortbed MJ -- that's why I don't recommend it. The biggest issue IMHO (beyond the brakes, but I assume a trailer for that kind of weight will have trailer brakes) is that the MJ is much lighter in the back than an XJ, so there's much more likelihood of the tail wagging the dog.

[johnj92131]

3000 lbs will stress your cooling system if it is not in good condition.  My advice is to make sure your cooling system is working like new, stock from the factory.

 

Last Summer, I towed an 86 MJ from Victoria, B.C. to northern Michigan with my 91 Comanche.  I had cooling problems early on in the trip.  Once they were properly fixed, the trip went smoothly the rest of the way.  Just watch your stopping distances!  The brakes on the MJ also need to be in excellent condition.

 

My 91 has the full factory HD trailer package, right from the factory.  3.55 Dana 44, AW4, HD cooling, Metric Ton suspension.  Factory tow rating is 5000 lbs. with an equalizing hitch.