Have You Ever Weighed Your Jeep?

Been meaning to run across the local certified digital farm scales which they leave on 24/7, and finally did so on the way home from an excursion today.

I was more than surprised to see that my CJ comes in at 3600 lbs. with around 7 gallons of fuel onboard. I was hoping it was well under 3000 because my van is rated to tow 3500 lbs., and my trailer has a single 3500 lb. axle. I've had a 4900 lb. dump load on that trailer, however. I may have to just flat tow the CJ instead.

How about you guys?

That was with this Jeep, with a new 35" spare tire on back. I also have Toyota axles, which may be heavier?

No fuel in the red can.

 

Haven’t gone thru a weight scale yet, but I’m curious now

 

Mine was 3200# before I added my tire carrier and tire, but with a full tank of fuel and all my tools and spare parts on board.

 

70 CJ5 V6, mostly stock configuration. 3 speed, stock axles. Roll bar (no cage) all 3 seats, winch. Under seat toolbox crammed full of tools.
3175 lbs on a certified scale.

 

I hauled a couple of junk engine blocks to the scrap yard in my CJ5. On the scales coming out, with me in the Jeep, it weighed just under 3100 lbs, subtracting my weight of 220 lbs puts just the Jeep at 2880, which is slightly more than the listed curb weight. This was with about half a tank of gas, and the Jeep has stock 15" wheels with 6.50 tires, no rear seat and no extra gear or attachments.

 

59 with F-head back seat bottle jack and full tank of gas 2480#

 

Sounds about right. The weight can add up quick on a modified.

 

Two stout men could pick up up the rear on that.

 

I wouldn't flat tow i'ld use a tow dolly with brakes.

The issue is the jeep still wants to steer and wander then it doesn't want to stop.

Lived and learnt and bought an AWD Expedition with 6600lbs towing.

I weighed mine about 15years ago 3200 bare 3600 with hardtop and all. If you can't get it slimmed down i'ld just drive it where you need to go. If your afraid to drive it than really it only makes sense to be taking it someplace for that to be fixed.

 

I rented one of those U-Haul tow dollies to get it home and had no issues. Towed great. I wouldn't want to try to lighten it up, was just curious about the actual weight. May indeed end up buying a beefier rig just for towing heavier loads.

But a lot of guys flat-tow their Jeeps to their destinations, seemingly without issue. I did read that you should unload it and drive it a bit every 175 miles or so in order to lube the rear section of the tranny. The trip home on the dolly when I bought it was around 250 and all went well.

I really just don't want to put the miles and wear/tear on the drive train itself. That's why I'd prefer to trailer it, though that wasn't my original plan.

I bolted my 16' bass boat behind the CJ a few weeks ago and it did fine. Didn't run it up the highway though, just wanted to see how it'd pull.

 

I just weighed mine and was very surprised at how much weight I have added over the years with my mods. 3500lbs full gas.

 

The last time I had the 3B on a scale it was 3150 with all the trail tools, winch, and 33" tires. It did have a glass tub/fenders and an aluminum hood. Tire weight makes a pretty huge difference. I don't think 3600 would be unusual.

 

3500 is a low tow weight.
What are you towing with?
I would be thinking of upgrading the tow rig to a 1/2 ton or larger vehicle or something above the 5K mark. Without tow brakes, emergency stops and the like can cause the "trailer" to push the rear of the tow rig. At highway speeds this can be a tad dangerous with lighter vehicles.

Don't forget not to exceed your gross weight as well. Packing all your stuff into the back of the tow rig so the Jeep meets the rated weight is just as bad as exceeding the tow weight itself.

 

Back in the day, my Tux used to come in at 1980 lbs on a DOT certified scale. This was without me in the seat. Factor in that I ran a 215 aluminum V8 and no roll bar, spare tire, winch, etc. I built it for the beach, keeping weight to a minimum. My 10” wagon wheels were the heaviest addition over stock parts. A heavy vehicle plows through deep sand, lighter stays up on the top surface hardly leaving tracks. My Baja Bugs were built as light as I could for the same reason.
-Donny

 

I’d be willing to bet that your modifications, just the ones I can see in the pictures, add somewhere north of 800 lbs….bumper, winch, rock sliders, large tires, roll cage, half doors, etc.