towing

[Southpaw]

On 11/29/2022 at 10:33 AM, Pete M said:

you're referring to the rear height sensing prop valve (which isn't serviceable and no longer available for replacement) and won't likely need anything done to it. 

 

people tend to not like it because they don't understand it and view it as just more work for them.  the bleeding procedure for MJs is unique because of that valve, so you'll want to print it up for the shop if you're keeping it.  it'll be in the link in my signature.

 

I highly recommend a weight distribution hitch and sway control. 

thanks i will check that out 

[Southpaw]

On 11/29/2022 at 11:50 AM, howeitsdone said:

 

The only place you'll find a receiver hitch is used or new from @krustyballer16  and I'm not sure he's working on any at the moment. You might get lucky and find an old Reece somewhere, but can be very hard to do.

Your other alternative is an aftermarket bumper like Dirtbound, JCR, ARES, etc... with a receiver option or build one.

 

I remember there being a universal Reece that should work too with a couple holes drilled into the universal mounts. Don't remember the P/N at the moment though.

thanks i will start looking 

[Southpaw]

On 11/29/2022 at 12:05 PM, ghetdjc320 said:

I have an original oem receiver hitch I might be letting go. Not positive though yet. The most solidly built setup though imo is to have the receiver directly in the aftermarket bumper. Dirt bound does not do that, theirs in an add on that hangs onto the bumper mounts. JCR used to make them but have since stopped. Hansens will make them but you have to call them to request it. Every once in a while krusty makes a batch. You may find one on Facebook also. 

thanks 

[Southpaw]

On 11/29/2022 at 4:21 PM, Airborne Janitor said:

I purchased the hitch plates from @krustyballer16 and pulled a hitch from a Ford Expedition. Cut off the old mounting brackets and welded on the new ones. Obviously there's some fabrication involved but not a super difficult project and pretty cheap if you can weld (or know someone who can).

 

 

 

thanks for the info

[Southpaw]

thanks for all the responses i will post a pics when it comes back from the shop 

[Southpaw]

On 11/29/2022 at 12:05 PM, ghetdjc320 said:

I have an original oem receiver hitch I might be letting go. Not positive though yet. The most solidly built setup though imo is to have the receiver directly in the aftermarket bumper. Dirt bound does not do that, theirs in an add on that hangs onto the bumper mounts. JCR used to make them but have since stopped. Hansens will make them but you have to call them to request it. Every once in a while krusty makes a batch. You may find one on Facebook also. 

i will check into that  and facebook  thanks 

[jpnjake]

Picked up this trailer today, 14’x8’ enclosed trailer, 1950lb dry weight, 10,000gvwr on it. It towed fantastic with just a standard ball setup, and no trailer brakes. I have an aluminum radiator with no auxiliary fan, with metric ton springs and a 4.0 automatic. Didn’t even get to operating temp on the 30 minute drive home. 

[jpnjake]

Also the body can definitely take it, here’s the comparison both same setup as before, one is 1 ton in the bed on flat ground, the other is about a 5000lb trailer on the truck with a hill not in its favor. And the 1 ton is way more squatted, it’s all about the brakes and sway. 

 

also insert towing boat and cut up xj that pulled no problem 

 

[yungupgrade]

19 hours ago, jpnjake said:

Also the body can definitely take it, here’s the comparison both same setup as before, one is 1 ton in the bed on flat ground, the other is about a 5000lb trailer on the truck with a hill not in its favor. And the 1 ton is way more squatted, it’s all about the brakes and sway. 

 

 Do you have the automatic transmission? I have the 5 speed Peugeot so I wouldn't try towing 5k but would upgrading to an AX-15 work?

[jpnjake]

7 minutes ago, yungupgrade said:

 Do you have the automatic transmission? I have the 5 speed Peugeot so I wouldn't try towing 5k but would upgrading to an AX-15 work?

I have the automatic, you may be able to tow 5k with an ax-15 I’d just be worried about burning out the clutch or stalling when starting, the torque converter gives you a big advantage at starting and you can still downshift manually to slow down. You just have to watch the automatic trans temp especially accelerating up a hill 

[89 MJ]

I would tow 5,000 pounds with my AX-15 truck. I have 4.10 gears though. For me to tow that much on the road for an extended period of time, it would have to have trailer brakes and I probably wouldn’t exceed 60 mph. 

[jpnjake]

30 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

I would tow 5,000 pounds with my AX-15 truck. I have 4.10 gears though. For me to tow that much on the road for an extended period of time, it would have to have trailer brakes and I probably wouldn’t exceed 60 mph. 

I should have 4.10 gears with the auto and my brake controller before I even think about towing long distance, but me too. I absolutely would say these trucks can take it and even a little more 

[yungupgrade]

1 hour ago, jpnjake said:

I should have 4.10 gears with the auto and my brake controller before I even think about towing long distance, but me too. I absolutely would say these trucks can take it and even a little more 

Good thing I just bought a D44, perfect upgrade when I rebuild it

[gogmorgo]

Just a reminder again that just because you can get away with doing something doesn’t make it safe or legal.

 

If you get pulled by the DOT and they bust out the scales and decide you’re overweight, the ticket is going to be significantly more than the cost of renting a truck legally capable of the weight. If $#!& goes south and someone gets hurt or worse, you’ll be defending your actions in court, and could be up for criminal charges and possibly jail time. The people determining your truck’s towing capacity aren’t going to be looking at what you’ve done to the truck, or what someone on the internet told you, they’ll be talking to the manufacturer about how it was equipped when it left the factory, and what rating they gave it then. Stellantis won’t have your back even a little bit. If they come back with your truck only being rated at 2000lbs and you were found to have exceeded that by more than double, you’re getting the book thrown at you. Your insurance may not cover any liability you incur, either.

 

Most vehicles are physically capable of vastly exceeding their rated capacities, because they’re built far stronger than that with large safety factors built into the design. Yeah, there are people out there hauling space shuttles with half-tons and 747s with medium sized SUVs... under massive supervision and away from the public. The ratings of the components and assemblies exist for a reason. Personally I’ve hauled loads far bigger than my vehicle was intended for twice, and twice I’ve had to do major repairs shortly thereafter. I now own a 3/4 ton, because I don’t need a repeat. 

[majastee508]

On 12/4/2022 at 7:57 PM, gogmorgo said:

Just a reminder again that just because you can get away with doing something doesn’t make it safe or legal.

 

If you get pulled by the DOT and they bust out the scales and decide you’re overweight, the ticket is going to be significantly more than the cost of renting a truck legally capable of the weight. If $#!& goes south and someone gets hurt or worse, you’ll be defending your actions in court, and could be up for criminal charges and possibly jail time. The people determining your truck’s towing capacity aren’t going to be looking at what you’ve done to the truck, or what someone on the internet told you, they’ll be talking to the manufacturer about how it was equipped when it left the factory, and what rating they gave it then. Stellantis won’t have your back even a little bit. If they come back with your truck only being rated at 2000lbs and you were found to have exceeded that by more than double, you’re getting the book thrown at you. Your insurance may not cover any liability you incur, either.

 

Most vehicles are physically capable of vastly exceeding their rated capacities, because they’re built far stronger than that with large safety factors built into the design. Yeah, there are people out there hauling space shuttles with half-tons and 747s with medium sized SUVs... under massive supervision and away from the public. The ratings of the components and assemblies exist for a reason. Personally I’ve hauled loads far bigger than my vehicle was intended for twice, and twice I’ve had to do major repairs shortly thereafter. I now own a 3/4 ton, because I don’t need a repeat. 

i agree pushing the limits or exceeding the limits of the truck can be dangerous but even in the event of having the right vehicle and something still going wrong your likely getting screwed by insurance companies and the law. not advocating for either way but ive towed with multiple vehichles and just because they are rated for x amount more then an mj doesn't mean they will fair any better in a bad spot. driver awareness will always play a large role in safety

[pizzaman09]

On 12/4/2022 at 2:53 PM, yungupgrade said:

 Do you have the automatic transmission? I have the 5 speed Peugeot so I wouldn't try towing 5k but would upgrading to an AX-15 work?

As seen on the first page of this post, I have towed a lot of weight with my AX-15 truck really without any fanfare.  I do have a Dana 44 thought it has 3.08 gears which means you are usually using the lower gears.  I am running the stock diameter tire.  Really I have had zero issues towing with the setup, even getting going first gear is short enough that one doesn't need to slip the clutch much.

 

What I find it comes down to is just being smooth and giving lots of space.  Nothing good comes of racing around when towing trailers.

[gogmorgo]

21 hours ago, majastee508 said:

i agree pushing the limits or exceeding the limits of the truck can be dangerous but even in the event of having the right vehicle and something still going wrong your likely getting screwed by insurance companies and the law. not advocating for either way but ive towed with multiple vehichles and just because they are rated for x amount more then an mj doesn't mean they will fair any better in a bad spot. driver awareness will always play a large role in safety

If everything is above board you at least have a chance of fighting your case. But if you’re overweight it’ll be your fault every time because you couldn’t stop in time, whether or not that’s really the case.