Using the MJ to flat tow a TJ

[J33ps]

My MJ is bone stock but it has the inline 6 with an AW4 tranny + 4x4.  No added features and the gearing is kinda lame (it's slow lol).  It's also sitting on the D35.  I've used this truck to haul all sorts of stuff in the bed, loaded it with about 1400lb payload which is max and it did just fine other than my saggy leafs :D.

 

Anywho, it doesn't have a hitch yet but I'll get that eventually.  I'm playing with the idea of towing my TJ.  I don't feel comfortable with a big trailer in the back.  This little truck is so light I thought that would be a bad idea.  But I'm curious if it could safely flat tow the jeep.  The TJ sits on 35 inch tires and has metal all around so it's heavier than stock.  But I thought...maybe if I get a break assist system it would work fine?  My thought was to simply two with all 4 wheels down...but maybe a tow dolly would be safer?

 

I'm simply considering this cause I like the idea of taking the TJ places but it's kind of rough after like an hour of driving.  This winter I plan to get my truck cab nice and comfy and get A/C installed for next summer.  Could be a cool rig to get us out camping with the benefit of the TJ to do some exploring. 

 

Dream trip would be 30 hour drive to Colorado and hit the trails for a few weeks with the TJ.  But more likely I'd stay local with 4-6 hour highway trips for long weekend visits.

[89 MJ]

You probably could do it, but I don't think it would be fun. I don't even love towing 2,000 pounds with my MJ, but my truck does have a little bit of lift and 31s and I think it needs shocks. And I also haven't flat towed with it, I've only towed trailers. In my opinion, I think the wheelbase of the MJ is too short and the rear end is a little on the light side to feel comfortable towing much weight at speed. I think that the TJ would probably weight more than the MJ and try to drag it all over the road, which a braking assist system wouldn't really help with other than when you're braking. And with the MJ being so light in the rear, I think it would be pretty bad on a 4-6 hour drive. If it were a 1 hour drive on backroads, it would probably be fine, but I don't think it would be very good on the highway. 

[75sv1]

Auto or Manual? I think the Auto is rated for 5K the Manual 3.5K. I have hauled some Sabb Sonnets with my '98 XJ stock. But they are like 1800 lbs. That far and the mountains, well : No. Also, from where? If from the South, then there's Raton pass. From the South its OK. Going back South, well. Its like the climb of a Roller Coaster. Going North might challenge your brakes. A '71 Caddy gets past 80 mpg real fast free wheeling. 

[J33ps]

Lol it's an auto so it's beefier on the tow rating but I suspected as much with the weight being an issue.  Just a bummer these new trucks are flat out stupid for how much they cost.  Oh well, it shall remain a little project around town kinda truck.

[89 MJ]

I don't think the tow rating changed based on transmission, but I could be wrong. The metric ton trucks are rated at 5,000lb towing capacity with trailer brakes, if I recall correctly. With the regular towing package, they were all rated for 3500, if I'm not mistaken.

[Pete M]

I've flat towed my MJ a time or 2 back in the day.  I'm never ever doing that again.  there's 0 tongue weight on the rear bumper and that makes driving... tricky.  both for braking and for turning.  there's nothing helping plant the rear tires and 3k pounds back there trying to push the back end sideways or even pick it up in the air during heavy braking. 

[ThatJeepGuy]

My opinion is similar to most here, ive flat towed MJs with an XJ or two but these were only from one county to the next (maybe 30 mins of drive time) and these were only because my access to truck/trailer were denied. Soo to sum it up - in a pinch if need be Sure id do it but not far and definitely not an out of state trip

[75sv1]

The braking issue is of concern. The mountains in CO are steep.  I've had my WJ breaks fade on me in WV. No towing involved. Add in traffic. ????

[pizzaman09]

I'v towed some heavy trailers with my manual MJ, 4.0L, AX-15 with stock 3.08 rear gears on 29 inch tires.  It works, but it's no tower of power, aerodynamics of the towed item matter a lot at highway speeds.  4000lbs is easy, 5000lbs is doable, 6000 lbs is straight up sketchy in my experience.