How Much Can a Jeep Wrangler Tow?

How Much Can a Jeep Wrangler Tow?Jeep Wranglers have always been a popular choice among drivers because of their convenient features. One of these features happens to be its towing ability, which leads people to ask how much can these vehicles tow? We found an answer that'll provide insight into whether buying one is the right move for you.

A Jeep Wrangler has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. People looking to reach this max amount need to know what each trim level (Sport, Sport S, Sport Altitude, Black & Tan, Freedom, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, Sahara Altitude) can tow.

Here's some info to keep in mind when picking your Jeep Wrangler trim:

  • Any 2-door Jeep Wrangler can tow up to 2,000 pounds.
  • 4-door options are capable of towing up to the max 3,500 pounds.
  • Most trim levels will either be available in both 2-door and 4-door configurations. Three trim levels are only available as 4-door models, the Sport Altitude, Sahara, and Sahara Altitude. As a result, these models will always be capable of towing 3,500 pounds without issue.

But knowing your Jeep's towing capacity is only half the battle. Towing with one of these vehicles isn't the most straightforward task in the world. Our following sections will make sure you'll be capable of using this useful feature safely.

What's Required for Towing With a Wrangler?

Jeep Wranglers are well-known for their ability to travel up steep hills and rough terrain. But towing with these vehicles happens to be a little tricky. This process will require these four elements to get the job done safely:

1. Wiring Harness

A wiring harness will run from your Jeep to the trailer's connector, which will power its lights. This part is crucial to anyone looking to do night-time towing. If you don't have one, the situation could turn dangerous rather fast.

2. Trailer Hitch Ball

A hitch ball will sit on the ball mount and offers a connection point for your trailer or camper. These pieces of equipment come in three sizes for Jeeps, 1 7/8", 2", and 2 5/16". These measurements happen to be the ball's diameter dimensions and should match your trailer's coupler. If you're confused, the trailer's coupler will have a stamp indicating what size ball it needs.

3. Trailer Hitch Receiver

If you intend on towing with a Jeep Wrangler, two types of hitches are capable of being mounted on its rear: receiver hitches or bumper hitches.

Receiver Hitch

  • This piece of equipment will sit under the bumper and has a 2" or 1 1/4" hitch opening.
  • Bolts into place using pre-existing holes.
  • Mounts onto the frame (any Wrangler model before 2007) or on the vehicle's rear-most crossbar (JK models).

Bumper Hitch

  • A bumper hitch will replace your vehicle's factory bumper and has a 2" hitch opening.
  • It can also provide a few more inches of clearance beneath your Jeep than you'd get with a receiver hitch.
  • You could purchase the High Rock 4 x 4 series from Bestop, which comes with connection points for departure rollers, D rings, and recovery equipment.

Click here to find this on Amazon.

4. Ball Mount and Pin and Clip

A ball mount or drawbar will fit into your hitch's opening and offer a place where the ball can be mounted. Figuring out the correct ball mount for your Jeep Wrangler is simple task consisting of these three steps:

  1. Measure the top of your receiver hitch's opening to the ground.
  2. Level your trailer and measure from your trailer coupler's bottom to the ground.
  3. The difference in these two measurements will determine whether your Jeep requires a ball mount with a drop or rise. In most situations, it will need a drop rather than a rise.

As for the pin and clip, these parts are valuable because they hold the ball mount in the trailer hitch receiver securely. You'll have to choose your clip and pin based on your trailer hitch receiver's size. It would also be a wise idea to invest in a coupler lock and hitch lock to stop any thieves from stealing your trailer. 

Can You Pull a Trailer With a Jeep Wrangler?

As you've gathered from our earlier sections, it's possible to pull a trailer with a Jeep Wrangler. But the low towing capacity offered by this vehicle limits what types of travel trailers it can tow. After all, you aren't going to be pulling 5th wheel trailers with one. For more information, check out our post on Travel Trailers with Twin Beds.

You can pull smaller types like a pop-up camper, though, which could be an excellent option for Jeep Wrangler owners. These towable trailers are a handy choice due to their collapse abilities that make them easy to tow and store.

These pop-up campers come in numerous different options and floor plans. This amount of variation should make it easy to find one capable of fitting your needs. If you're curious about what these trailers look like, here are three top tier examples:

1. Coachmen 860QS Clipper LS

Coachmen's 860QS Clipper LS packs a lot of great features into a small, lightweight trailer. One of these features has to be the queen size bunk. You shouldn't have any issues getting some sleep inside this rig with a queen size bunk at your disposal.

This rig also comes with an additional seating area, a sink, a stove, and numerous storage cabinets. It offers everything a person could be looking for in a pop-up camper.

Click here to see more of the Coachmen 860QS Clipper LS.

2. Forest River T21DMHW Flagstaff

The Forest River T21DMHW Flagstaff offers a bit more room than our previous option. This extra space makes it possible to fit in amenities like a functioning bathroom. It's a nice addition to have as you can freshen up inside the rig rather than going somewhere else.

Other useful inclusions come with this extra space, too, like a fridge, 60" x 80" flip-up bed, and a dinette. Each of these features will make this trailer feel more comfortable than your standard pop-up camper.

Click here to see more of the Forest River T21DMHW Flagstaff

3. Jayco 12UD Jay Sport

Our third pop-up camper is the most spacious, with it providing enough room for two beds. You get a queen-sized bed on one side and a full-sized bed on the other. This feature makes it possible to entertain a guest or two inside the rig without any problems.

Aside from the sleeping areas, this rig has a sink, multiple storage cabinets, and various seating areas. Jayco made sure to make the most of how much room was available in this pop-up camper.

Click here to see more of the Jayco 12UD Jay Sport.

Which Jeep Has the Best Towing Capacity?

If you're looking for a bit more towing capacity than a Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep Gladiator would be a good option. This model offers the most towing capacity of any Jeep model. It can tow up to 7,650 pounds, which means it can pull a lot more than just pop-up campers.

How Do You Increase Towing Capacity?

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

People who don't want to get a Gladiator should look into upgrading their Wranglers to increase towing capacity. There happen to be many upgrades capable of increase this area. Here are three options available to anyone looking to getting a little more towing capacity.

 1. Invest in a Vehicle Programmer

One avenue to look into would be investing in a vehicle programmer. These devices change your vehicle's computer settings to increase torque and horsepower. It accomplishes this by adjusting the air-to-fuel ratio, staging your transmission's shifting, and a few other settings. In simpler terms, it reprograms your vehicle to gain horsepower at the dispense of fuel efficiency.

2.  Upgrade Your Suspension System

The towing process causes your trailer's weight to push down the tow vehicle's back end. Due to this, the vehicle's suspension ends up taking most of the load. This issue makes upgrading your suspension system a logical step for anyone who wants more towing capacity.

An upgraded suspension will distribute the trailer's weight more evenly among all your vehicle's axles. It won't just be the rear axles taking on most of the load. Drivers who do invest in heavy-duty suspension parts often experience better steering control and smoother rides.

These benefits come from the more weight being put on your vehicle's front end. It allows the suspension to do a better job taking the bumps when you're driving.

One of the more common options is getting an air suspension system. This system's air bladders offer a driver better control by taking the weight and absorbing the shock from a bumpy road. Replacing your standard springs with heavy-duty ones would be another option.

3. Purchase Heavy-Duty Axles

Overloading your vehicle's axles can be very dangerous. You'll want to avoid this issue at all costs. An excellent way to achieve this is by replacing your factory axles with heavy-duty ones. This action will increase towing capacity and relieve the pressure put on your axles. If you do change out your axles, make sure also to replace the differential with heavy-duty parts.

Our article should have provided a better sense of what a Jeep Wrangler offers in the towing area. If you still have questions about this topic, let us know in our comment section.

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