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Can a Jeep Wrangler Tow a Camper (All You Need to Know)

Andrea Barbuti

March 20, 2023

Without a doubt, the Jeep Wrangler is one of the most popular automobiles on the road today. It is a favourite among drivers of all ages because of its distinctive design and off-road skills.

The Jeep Wrangler is a strong vehicle that is often used for off-roading excursions. Don’t overload the jeep’s towing capacity; it can pull a lot, but it has its limits.

Jeep Wranglers can typically tow between 2,000 and 3,500 pounds. It can tow a wide variety of trailers, including pop-ups, hybrids, Airstreams, and even teardrops.

However, a common question is, “Can a Jeep Wrangler tow a camper?” True Your Jeep Wrangler can easily tow a camper with the proper setup.

It’s important to remember, first and foremost, that four-door Wranglers are far superior to two-door models when it comes to towing. In addition, previous Jeep Wrangler generations are not as capable as the current models in towing a camper.

A 2005 two-door Jeep Wrangler, for example, can pull 2,000 pounds, but a 2019 four-door beast can carry 3,500 pounds with ease. There is no need to second-guess the Jeep’s towing capacity as long as the load doesn’t exceed 2,500 or 3,000 pounds.

While Jeep Wranglers are known for their durability, there is a limit to how much weight they can carry. If you want to learn more about this, keep reading!

Camper Towing Capacity of a Jeep

The truth is that you should never tow more than 3,500 pounds with your four-door Jeep Wrangler. A two-door Jeep Wrangler can only pull 2,000 pounds. We recommend that you never tow more than 80% of the maximum towing capacity of your tow vehicle. Because a Jeep’s maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds, we recommend that you not tow more than 2,800 pounds.

This means you should look for a camper that weighs less than 2,000 pounds, so that after you add all of your gear and supplies, the maximum weight is no more than 2,800 pounds.

When the towing capability is exceeded, what occurs? Not a single positive thing! Excessive weight places undue strain on the SUV’s mechanical components, such as the drivetrain, suspension, and tyres. Pulling a camper well beyond the Jeep’s capabilities will cause it to break down at some point, resulting in costly repairs if you do it frequently. You wouldn’t want the engine to die in the middle of nowhere, after all.

In other words, how can you improve the Wrangler’s towing capacity? Could that even be accomplished? There are indeed some methods that have been shown to be effective over time. The trailer hitch is something that has to be updated in addition to the obvious stuff like a more powerful engine. The potential benefits of doing this are substantial. It is possible to increase the SUV’s power by upgrading its exhaust and air intake systems.

Dry vs. Gross Vehicle Weight

Many producers just give the “dry” weight. The “wet” weight, however, is almost always far more. This includes things like gasoline, water, and food for you and the other people on board. It’s likely that an aftermarket motor will be heavier than the factory unit. That’s why it’s crucial to verify the stated GVW with the camper’s actual GVW (gross vehicle weight).

However, most trailers will tell you how much gas, water, or supplies they can haul. You can then use that data to calculate the total mass. From what I’ve seen, you can add about 1500 pounds to the dry weight of the trailer and have it cover everything. Take your trailer to a scale without any of its extras (batteries, tanks, etc.) to get an accurate reading of its dry weight.

Do the same thing, but this time be sure your car can handle the weight of the camper. Oh, and don’t forget to acquire the whole weight of the Wrangler!

Improving the Jeep Wrangler’s Capacity to Tow

What happens when you exceed the towing capacity?

The worst! Too much weight puts undue stress on your SUV’s powertrain, suspension, and tyres. Pulling a camper that is significantly heavier than your Jeep can handle will cause it to break down at some point, resulting in costly repairs. Not that you want to be stranded because the engine suddenly quit in the midst of the highway.

How can you improve the Wrangler’s pulling capacity? Can that even be done? There are, indeed, some methods that have been shown to be effective over time.

My advice is to upgrade the trailer hitch in addition to the more obvious measures, such as getting a more powerful engine. The potential benefits of this measure are substantial. In consequence, upgrading the SUV’s exhaust and air intake systems will increase its power.

There are other options out there to consider unless you’re the biggest Wrangler fan ever and plan to stick with them no matter what. Jeep offers more than only the Wrangler in its lineup of sport utility vehicles; it also offers a truck with far higher towing capacity.

The maximum weight that the Cherokee can tow is 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles). In comparison, the Grand Cherokee is significantly more robust and can tow up to 6.2 tonnes.

Conclusion

Is it possible for a Jeep Wrangler to pull a camper? In short, the answer is “yes.” On the other hand, if you truly care about your Jeep, you must be willing to maintain the vehicle’s adequate towing capacity.

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