LD tow capacity October 22, 2023, 01:59:54 pm Hi everyone.I apologize in advance if this has come up before but I need to ask. I’m looking at my book supplied for my 2001 27 MB and according to them the trailer hitch is only rated to tow four thousand pounds. My 2011 Jeep Wrangler Sahara weight is about 5,500. What are the risks here?And I’m pretty sure others are towing Jeep Wranglers. Thanks for you help and advice.- Chris
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #1 – October 23, 2023, 12:28:28 am We towed our 2001 Jeep Cherokee (4000 lbs) for around 100,000 miles and our 2020 Jeep Rubicon (4600 lbs) for over 10,000 miles.Our LD's hardware on the bumper and hitch have been upgraded in response to having the Factory hardware fail and almost losing the rear bumper and the Jeep several years ago. The Factory-supplied hitches in the 2000s had inadequate mounting bolts that were known to break when towing heavy vehicles, they were upgraded in later years.I made the following improvements to our LD to prevent future issues.Bumper reinforcementRear bumper mounting repair | FlickrHitch reinforcementHitch receiver upgrade | FlickrYou should consider having a shop that specializes in hitches upgrade the bumper and hitch mounting, your Jeep is at the upper weight limit of what is towable.5500 lbs is a lot of weight to pull and will be slow to tow uphill and potentially dangerous on steep downgrades if the proper use of the gears and brakes are not practiced.. A good toad brake is essential and the LD's brakes need to be in perfect operating condition, the brakes on pre-2008 E450s are smaller than later models E450s .Plan on having the Jeep driven separately on long up and downgrades if a driver is available. We do this regularly on steep grades.Transmission overheating is a serious problem when towing very heavy vehicles, a larger transmission cooler is highly recommended as well as a transmission temperature gauge. You will need both.Larger transmission cooler E450 | FlickrPulling a heavy Jeep is a serious matter and can lead to disaster if you are not carefull. The gross combined weight limit for your rig is 20,000 lbs and with a 5500 lb Jeep, you are near the rated weight limit for towing at sea level, high altitudes reduces the rating. Larry 2 Likes
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #2 – October 23, 2023, 04:57:50 am We, also tow more than 4000lbs. We took it to a welding/towing shop. They removed any attachment to the bumper and upgraded the receiver. Bottom line is be safe and upgrade the hitch.
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #3 – October 23, 2023, 08:35:54 am Thanks for the responses. I guess it's time to get things weighed for exact specs. Then I’ll do some upgrades. Appreciate the help.
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #4 – October 23, 2023, 10:19:08 am I go along with what Larry said, except enhancing the hitch anchors to the frame. At least for 2007 model years forward. Prior years may also be fine. I don't know.We towed our Jeep over 100,000 miles and there was never any evidence of stress on the hitch. Such as wavy lines or cracked paint.I don't know how a 2011 Wrangler could be 5,500. Our 2014 2D is 4,250. Suggest paying $5 at a scale and finding out. With a full tank of gas.As always, The Companion has more information. I sure people would use it. 1 Likes
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #5 – October 23, 2023, 05:00:43 pm Quote from: Don Malpas - October 23, 2023, 10:19:08 amI go along with what Larry said, except enhancing the hitch anchors to the frame. At least for 2007 model years forward. Prior years may also be fine. I don't know.We towed our Jeep over 100,000 miles and there was never any evidence of stress on the hitch. Such as wavy lines or cracked paint.I don't know how a 2011 Wrangler could be 5,500. Our 2014 2D is 4,250. Suggest paying $5 at a scale and finding out. With a full tank of gas.Maybe Art "Older Fossil" will chime in. He towed a Wrangler TJ for over 100,000 miles and DID suffer a badly damaged rear bumper and hitch on an East Coast trip. The bumper broke apart and required extensive repairs before they could continue. As for a 5500 lb Wrangler JK, I have seen ( and you have too) many extremely overloaded Jeeps. On the Jeep Wrangler forum I belong to, many members report having 6000 lb Jeeps, we have no idea how the OP's Jeep is equipped.Larry
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #6 – October 23, 2023, 05:54:18 pm I’d like to suggest the OP take a look at the bottom of this file originally from Lazy Daze. While it’s not for a 2001, I believe the specifications are the same. A 5,500# tow vehicle will severely cut into the Cargo Carrying Capacity and might actually cause the RV to be overweight. Hope this helps the OP’s decision making.
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #7 – October 23, 2023, 06:26:28 pm Quote from: Larry W - October 23, 2023, 05:00:43 pmMaybe Art "Older Fossil" will chime in. He towed a Wrangler TJ for over 100,000 miles and DID suffer a badly damaged rear bumper and hitch on an East Coast trip. The bumper broke apart and required extensive repairs before they could continue. It wasn't quite that dramatic, but was quite a learning experience. By that time, the Jeep had been built up for more serious offroading and had a 4" suspension lift, some heavier duty suspension parts and larger tires. I think the biggest issue was the inverted 4" drop receiver to keep our Blue Ox tow bar close to level. On our 2002 MB, the hitch receiver was bolted to the bottom of a welded steel metal "box" that was part of the bumper. With the hardtop on, the Jeep was at or slightly over 4,000 lbs and the drop receiver turned the push/pull forces from the weight of the Jeep into a rotational torque (i.e. a lever). Over time this levering force at the receiver caused the bottom plate of the mounting box holding the receiver to cave upwards and the axis of the receiver started pointing downward, throwing the tow bar way off level. The angle of the tow bar is what first indicated something was wrong. We were visiting a friend that knew a welder who was able to straighten out the dished steel receiver box and re-enforce the receiver mount with some steel angle bars. We then drove that setup several thousand more miles without seeing any more problems.I agree with the recommendations to weigh your Jeep (as loaded for travel) and then go to an experienced towing fabrication shop.Art 1 Likes
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #8 – October 25, 2023, 07:57:39 am Everyone’s responses are greatly appreciated - really this forum is amazing. I bought this Jeep used in May with the intent of towing. It does have a 2” lift and (maybe?) some suspension upgrades. Still it's a two door, manual, so maybe I’m overstating the weight. I’ll get it weighed and then maybe continue this conversation with more knowledge.@art - I get the inverted receiver issue. My Jeep is maybe 2” higher than the LD receiver. I wasn’t sure how to tackle that issue or if I even was going to. I’m very close to tolerance off level here. By the way, I was planning on getting the Ready Brute to tow. I’ve already installed a blue box plate on the Jeep.
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #9 – October 26, 2023, 11:13:20 am Quote from: Remicks - October 25, 2023, 07:57:39 amI bought this Jeep used in May with the intent of towing. It does have a 2” lift and (maybe?) some suspension upgrades. Still it's a two door, manual, so maybe I’m overstating the weight. I’ll get it weighed and then maybe continue this conversation with more knowledge.@art - I get the inverted receiver issue. My Jeep is maybe 2” higher than the LD receiver. I wasn’t sure how to tackle that issue or if I even was going to. I’m very close to tolerance off level here. .A Wranglr JK 2-door does not weigjht 5500 lbs, it is more likely to be in the 4500 lbs range. The same suggestions on upgrading the hitfch and bumper still apply.Tow bars should be level with up to 4" of rise being acceptable, if the difference is only 2", you should be fine.Our Jeep uses a Roadmaster baseplate and Sterling towbar. It is eqiupped with Demco/SMI tow brake with an added dash-mounted button used to test the brakes, a dash-mounted light illuminates when the tow brake is operating.Larry 1 Likes
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #10 – October 26, 2023, 11:41:43 am There really is no need to "beef up the hitch", such welding gussets to frame. It will not hurt, but adds nothing. Sure you can increase the capacity of the hitch and be able to tow a vehicle that puts you over the GVWR.The bumper is another kettle of fish. I had a similar deal as Older Fossil. 4 inch lift on the hitch. Not paying attention and went too fast through a tank trap that passes as a water trough on a residential street. Like popping a whip.You should put your different opinion on The Companion.
Re: LD tow capacity Reply #11 – October 26, 2023, 01:56:44 pm Quote from: Don Malpas - October 26, 2023, 11:41:43 amThere really is no need to "beef up the hitch", such welding gussets to frame. It will not hurt, but adds nothing. The bumper is another kettle of fish Ten years ago, we were camped at Mammoth Lakes in the Sierras. A man came up and told me he worked for the fabrication company that built LD's hitch plates and other fabrications. He said that the hitch plate bolts were found to be too small and they had seen several cases where the bolts broke. Arriving home, I removed the hitch plate and found shinney spots on the back of the plate indicating that it had been moving while towing. The Factory grade 5 bolts had been torqued to specs and were not adequate to hold the plate in place. I increased the size of the four bolts, replacing them with grade-8 bolts, lock nuts, and hardened washers. A few short welds were added to the plates, to make sure nothing moves. So far, so good.Hitch receiver upgrade | FlickrThe factory bumper attachment hardware failed due to poor machining of the frame extensions adjustment slots, we almost lost the rear bumper and Jeep when the bolts loosened, some falling out. The oversized adjustment slots allowed the washers to collapse and the nuts to loosen. Installing sandwich plates and grade-8 hardware on the bumper's extensions secured the bumper more securely.Hitch receiver upgrade | FlickrThe 1/4" bolts that run across the bumper and attach it to the LD's rear wall were the only thing that prevented the bumper from leaving. The horizontal bumper bolts prevent the bumper from moving sideways are are an important part of the bumper's mounting hardware. The 1/4" bolts were upgraded with 5/16" bolts and large washers.Overkill? maybe. Nothing has loosened since. The hardware is checked annually for proper torque.Larry 6 Likes
Follow-ups Fuel prices Re: LD tow capacity Reply #12 – October 27, 2023, 05:17:54 pm I took your advise and went to grade 8 bolts and washers many years ago. As I recall a few of original bolts were loose and the thread worn. But no welding was done.
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