Is rated towing capacity increased with trailer brakes?

[Tinkerer]

 

[w squared]

The nice thing about the Rubi is that you've got 4.10 gears already, and the long wheelbase. That'll definitely help.

The downside is that you're running that 3.8, and through an auto transmission if I recall correctly. I'm hoping that you've got a tranny cooler fitted - otherwise you may run into issues if you're in BC.

In general, trailer brakes will simply make it safer to tow up to and including the rated towing capacity for the vehicle. Even with trailer brakes, your engine and transmission still need to do a lot of work. I think that the rated towing capacity for an Unlimited is 3500 pounds...I personally would not want to go beyond that unless I'd installed an upgraded transmission and a Hemi.

I haven't tried it, but I'd say that a JK with a full family on board and 3500 pounds of trailer would be a bit of a handful going across the continental divide.

[w squared]

The easy answer is two-fold.

#1. Most pick-ups are actually larger and heavier than even an unlimited. You're looking at something the size of a Ford Ranger if you want something that's equivalent.

#2. Trucks are meant for moving dirt. Jeeps are meant for moving across dirt 

[cLAY]

The rated capacity assumes that you have properly working brakes on the trailer.

Brake controlers come in various styles and price ranges. The "True" progressive brake controlers either tap into your brake line or have a potentiometer attached to your brake pedal to measure how much braking you are doing. Both are tricky to install and expensive.

The regular electric ones work quite well. The basic Tekonsha Voyager sells for around $50-$80 if I remember right and will work for most people most of of the time and would be fine for what you are doing.

The Prodigy is a higher end unit and allows more fine tuning but is about twice the price. Goggle them both for the differences.

You should be able to buy a pigtail with the controller that will plug right into a connector under the dash. This will make the install plug and play. If you cann't get the pigtail with the controller then go get one from the dealer and mate it to the harness that came with the controller. DO NOT hack into the wiring under the dash to install it. The computers on new vehicles don't like that.

If you bought the vehicle new with a factory tow prep package you may have recieved the harness with the vehicle from the factory. My sister's '01 Dodge Ram 1500 came with one in the dash. Sat in there for ten years till she wanted to install a brake controller and needed it.

[hps4evr]

all sorts of neat things affect the towing capacity. on trucks having 4wd or not is a big difference. as well the rear end gear ratio and which rear end it has. dodge dakotas with a 9.25 rear end have a higher capacity then the ones with the 8.25. pretty much think of the 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks. the 1 ton trucks can carry and tow more because they use a bigger rear end with different ratio, different rear leaf packs as well. and then add the dual rear wheel set-ups. different engine cooling and transmission cooling. dont forget the rating on your hitch.

[bae146]

I saw various threads that touched on towing capacities for the different model Jeeps, but was curious whether having proper electric trailer brakes was included in the rated towing capacity, or would effectively increase it.

I don't want to create a dangerous situation and/or get stopped in BC and have the holiday stopped cold due to exceeding ratings.

Thanks!

PS: We would be using Michie's 2008 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited for towing, and likely would add an electric brake controller. (I have a basic one in the garage, but I'd love proportional braking... not sure how that would work or how expensive it would be.)

I am not sure of the weight of the trailer you are trying to tow, but I think you will have to regear.  Even with 4.10's in the rubi, with the automatic it has to downshift at the slightest grade or headwind.  I would like a trailer, and if I do get one I will put in the tranny cooler and regear the diffs. 

[cLAY]

Thats not quite true but the theory is sound.

On the Dodge diesels a 4.10 axle ratio will give a higher rating than one with 3.73s. However the drivetrain, including the rear axles and brakes is exactly the same between a 2500 and a SRW 3500. The only difference between the two trucks is the rear leaf spring pack and the decal on the door. Add a set of airbags to a 2500 and you now have the same capacity as a SRW 3500.

There are also two different numbers to look at for towing capacity, this applies mainly to the heavy stuff, not so much SUVs.

GVWR-gross vehicle weight rating, how much the truck can carry. This is the max amount the truck can weigh with people/fuel, cargo in the box and hitch weight. Trailer weight does not come into play other than what the hitch weigh adds to the trucks weight. Subtract the vehicle's curb weight from the GVWR and this is roughly how much the truck can carry. This is where a DRW(dually) has the advantage as its dual rear wheels allows for a much higher weight carrying capacity.

GCWR- gross combined weight rating. This has to do with how heavy a trailer you can tow. A Dodge 3500,SRW or DRW have a GCWR of 23,000#, so the truck, all its gear, cargo, fuel,people and trailer together must weigh less than 23,000#.  So take the weight of the truck, cargo in box, people,fuel etc, subtract that from the GCWR and that leaves how heavy of a trailer you can tow. Here's the interesting thing, because a DRW truck weighs more than a SRW truck the SRW has more left over for the trailer. Technically a SRW truck can haul a bigger trailer than a DRW. Same goes for 2wd/4wd, a 2wd regular cab truck will weigh less than a 4wd crew cab leaving more left over for the trailer.

Realistically though a trailer THAT heavy is going to require either a 5th wheel hitch or gooseneck hitch and will transfer so much hitch weight to the truck that you would exceed a SRW truck's GVWR or overload the rear axle rating meaning that a trailer that big/heavy would require a DRW to handle the hitch weight.

Here is an excellent site for figuring out the tow ratings on almost any 2002+ Dodge vehicle. Sorry no Jeeps in it.


http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/vehicle_to_weight.jsp

[cLAY]

Or you do this to avoid tripling....




or this if you REALLY want to get crazy....

[jpthing]

Actually it is now legal to tow two trailers in bc...if your gross combined vehicle weight is over 11,000 kg.
I was hoping to get the chance sometime this summer.

[cLAY]

Hmm interesting, Are they asking for a special license for that? Do you have any links?

When you say must have a GCWR over 11,000kg does that mean you must be towing with a truck that is rated for 11,000kg GCWR or does it mean you must actually be driving a rig thats over 11,000kg GCWR?

[cLAY]

Thats kinda what I thought, 11,000kg is 24,000# and over the GCWR for any one ton truck that I know of. You would need to step upto a Ford 450 or Dodge 4500 which puts you into the commercial category.

I know there are car trailers that big for hauling race cars and such that have living quarters in them but I think they are forcing those guys to register as commercial.

[cLAY]

Yes I've heard stories about a guy that got nailed while hauling his daughter's horse to a horse jumping event. Pretty stupid if you ask me.

[jpthing]

Hmm interesting, Are they asking for a special license for that? Do you have any links?

When you say must have a GCWR over 11,000kg does that mean you must be towing with a truck that is rated for 11,000kg GCWR or does it mean you must actually be driving a rig thats over 11,000kg GCWR?

I believe the truck/trailer combination in total must be over 11,000 kg. I saw several road signs on my last trip out to the coast, last october. I seem to recall the signs stating it was a pilot project. It gave me a chuckle at the time since I was driving a 24,000 pound vehicle flat towing a 4000 pound jeep....I get some funny looks with my rig already, but I'm sure I'd get more with a trailer behind the jeep behind the motorhome...just the rv and the jeep are 60 feet long!

[Zombie]

how many vehicles do you own boone?

I know of at least 2 jeeps, likely another vehicle for the misses, and a motorhome now, plus some dirt bikes I think too.

steve

[jpthing]

I guess it depends how you count...but too many that's for sure. 2 jeeps that run, 2 jeeps that need to be combined to make one runner and one scrapper, 4 trailers, do trailers count? my work truck, rv, wife's car...
All of my vehicles combined are probably worth less than one nice new car though. my xj cost $100 and my rv was free!

no dirt bikes of my own, but my little guy has a 50cc.