Baystate Jeepers

Chrysler doesn't make the Acadia, they make the Aspen. GMC makes the Acadia.

Frank wrote:Dude : How fat is that Jeep ? My raiting is 5300lbs. I gotta be pullin about 35 - 3800 ??? FjR68

Most single car trailers go 1500-2000lbs, a TJ with winch and skids goes approx 3600lbs.

You are correct Doug, i meant to say Aspen, I really wasn't too interested in the Aspen aside from the greater towing capacity. I thought Id read a loaded TJ with skids winch plate full tank of gas clocks in just under 5K lbs and a trailer was around the range you mention unless its one of those gold plated aluminum deals... I figure I need/want something that can pull at least 7K. A V8 commander (non hemi) can pull around 6400lbs. Might that work? Im sure the higher the capacity the better, so Commander hemi and GC hemi is7400 the Aspen is even higher at 8X00 with a longer wheelbase.... As much as i have impulse control issues with Jeep related purchases there is no real rush on my end... repeat, lather rinse... I guess I should find a scale somewhere and get an actual reading which is something Im curious about any way...

Jeff -

A typical car trailer size is going to be ~7k GTW... The trailer will weigh 1500-2000 lbs which leaves 4500-5000 lbs for payload -- your rig + gear. I would plan to size your tow vehicle for that weight, and more overhead is better. Leaf springs tend to be more stable than coils with a heavy load, but coils tend to give a better ride, so that is what you're likely to get with a modern SUV. I don't think coils carry a heavy trailer as well... I'd plan to add a weight-distributing hitch system to anything you buy -- it will make the vehicle ride a lot better / safely with a heavy trailer. I found it made a big difference with the WK.

A key issue with towing is cooling (I know I said this before) -- so make sure the tranny has a separate cooler or find out what the dealer options are (usually if there is a tow package they include a separate tranny cooler). If there isn't a separate tranny cooler plan to add one. On the trips I've taken with the WK towing the XJ I had to worry about overheating the engine before I had to worry about running out of gas pedal.

I think it is also worth considering a diags box you can plug into the OBD-II port which can monitor various parameters (e.g. engine coolant temp, oil temp, tranny temp, gear, etc...). The standard gauges don't really tell you how hard the engine is working...

With a trailer over 3500 lbs you need trailer brakes. Older trailers have surge brakes (a hydraulic piston in the hitch mechanism) but newer ones use electric brakes. You'll probably have to add an aftermarket brake controller module (they aren't huge $) but have to be wired into the 7-pin trailer wiring harness. Pickups may come with an electric brake controller from the factory, but most SUVs don't. Find out if there is an accessory wire already available for the brakes in the trailer harness from the factory... My WK had a wire in the factory harness which ran from the trailer connector to the driver's footwell for this purpose, but wasn't connected, which made installing the brake controller a lot easier.

JW

Voodoo Chile wrote:

Chrysler doesn't make the Acadia, they make the Aspen. GMC makes the Acadia.

Frank wrote:Dude : How fat is that Jeep ? My raiting is 5300lbs. I gotta be pullin about 35 - 3800 ??? FjR68

Most single car trailers go 1500-2000lbs, a TJ with winch and skids goes approx 3600lbs.

You are correct Doug, i meant to say Aspen, I really wasn't too interested in the Aspen aside from the greater towing capacity. I thought Id read a loaded TJ with skids winch plate full tank of gas clocks in just under 5K lbs and a trailer was around the range you mention unless its one of those gold plated aluminum deals... I figure I need/want something that can pull at least 7K. A V8 commander (non hemi) can pull around 6400lbs. Might that work? Im sure the higher the capacity the better, so Commander hemi and GC hemi is7400 the Aspen is even higher at 8X00 with a longer wheelbase.... As much as i have impulse control issues with Jeep related purchases there is no real rush on my end... repeat, lather rinse... I guess I should find a scale somewhere and get an actual reading which is something Im curious about any way...

The scales on rte93 (NB or SB)in NH are always on, even when they are not manned. I've pulled in there on numerous occasions when they are not open and got the weight of what ever I was driving at the time.
Kellys Rubi came in at 3600 and change. My truck, RIP, came in at 7K lbs

Stop screwing around with all these wimpy sport utes!

http://www.4x4bodies.com/

Here we were just a year ago,...

get one of these:

Thats it . Im going to the scales. FjR68