Tow rating

Anyone know the tow rating for an early cj5? One of my long-term plans/dreams for the jeep is to tow our 13 Whaler. We live in Florida so it's very flat and the ramp is only a few miles away. thanks.

 

How heavy is the boat and trailer?

 

Best guess is under 1500 pounds.

 

Here's a pic.

 

If you have the 9" brakes most people would suggest upgrading those. Nice boat BTW, just what I would like to have.

 

Well, your jeep weighs around 2500#. Be sure to upgrade to at least the 10" brakes before you tow anything. In my mind, 1500# is pushing the limit. Others may tell you different, though.

 

That's what I figured. I usually tow with my '86 3/4 ton, 4x4 diesel Suburban, both boats...the one in the background also. It's made for it but a smaller open-air tow vehicle for short distances would be nice. Also a short wheel base tow vehicle and a longer boat trailer is pretty nice for backing in tight areas.

Thanks mb82! 13 whaler is a great boat. Perfect for taking the dogs to the sand bar and backwater fishing. My wifes pride and joy.

 

I tow my 19' wellcraft with dual axle trailor to the ramp about 3 miles away with no problem. I wouldnt try hiway speeds but little slow trips are fine. With your 13 whaler you should have no problem I would definatly think about 11" brakes. Good idea towing or not.

 

That 13' whaler should be fine, the dry hull doesn't even weigh 500lbs, Whalers are very light boats for there size. Yours with a motor and trailer would probably not weigh more than a 1000lbs.
I would love to have your Whaler but have never found a good used one I could afford up here and a new one is outta the question.
For those of you that have never seen or heard of a Whaler you are looking at a boat that started a revolution almost 40 years ago by being the 1st unsinkable boat ever built and one of the few boats that is rated in swamped capacity, in other words what they'll carry and stay afloat after there totally full of water. A 13' Dauntless Whaler would carry more than 500lbs completley full of water and still float even with the engine on it.

 

Yep Mike there is the reason I want one. Actually after this weekend I am thinking 16ft only because then I can go striper fishing out on the baybridge tunnel with it. My prob is 1. lack of money 2. cost of a whaler + motor( sorry I don't get why outboards are so freeking expensive)

 

My dad used to tow a custom 26' pontoon with mine (with a 150 motor, couches ice chests, etc.)

 

When the tail wags the dog, you're in deep doo. Most JEEPS will pull a lot of stuff. It's stopping in a straight line that gets hairy. BTDT. So, I learned and didn't kill anybody. I don't do that anymore.

 

Back in the old days (early 70's) we used to tow our sprint car and trailer all over Ms and La with my friends 73 cj5.. Given it had a 304 and bigger brakes but close to the same.. No problem..
Keith

 

This is taken directly from the '71 FSM:

"For continuous agricultural work, the maximum draw bar pull should be limited to 1200 pounds (544kg). The Jeep Universal is capable of much higher draw bar pulls than the 1200 pounds approved for continuous service, which may be used for starting loads or towing loads for short periods on good ground in which case a draw bar pull as high as 1800 pounds (817Kg) may be safely used."

Keep in mind that this FSM is from 1971, which would have the larger brakes.

Jim

 

If the trailer has brakes capable of stopping the tow vehicle, no prob. No brakes at all? It won't matter one whit how good the JEEP brakes are, if the load wants to pass the JEEP, it will. Short narrow wheelbase will spin like a top in a panic stop. I've pulled an orchard drag and had no problem there, once I got moving. Sure never got rear ended by it though! Notice the FSM doesn't suggest pulling heavy loads on the open road at highway speeds? I see it all the time, but I still don't think it is sensible or safe.

 

Seems like I remember someone saying that about the Titanic...

R) R) R)

 

Yea but the Titanic couldn't do this;

or this:


Notice the 1st picture, so long as when the boats cut in half you have the engine half your goin home, when I said unsinkable I meant it.

 

Just dont try that with your 20 foot Moppie and you will be fine.I pulled my 15 whaler all the time with my 3A with stock brakes and never scared myself.
Donnie

 

If you DO tow a substantial load, it will always be a matter of driving with that in mind. Guaranteed, if you manage to stop the JEEP quickly, you will have wished you could stop that big-arsed load behind you sooner. If you haven't been there yet, and continue to "pull" your luck, it will bite you in the butt, big time!