SUV vs. Pick-up

[Dmace]

Think about this: could your tow setup handle an emergency maneuver on a downhill curve????

Ken

I know mine can, I can stop faster with a trailer than without. With proper brakes and brake controller, a good trailer could stop a truck with no brakes at all.

Also, those looking for a pickup with more interior storage: DODGE RAM MEGA CAB!

 

[Ken45101]

You people are funny!
Towing 7k lbs with a vehicle rated at 7,200lbs will kill it?
Your obviously driving the wrong vehicle. These vehicles already have a large safety factor in the towing capacity. You really think they are gonna recommend using a vehicle to it's absolute limit?

Of course they will, it's marketing!

Of course, it's one thing to tow the max limit at 35 mph on flat roads for a few miles once or twice a year. It's a totally different situation to tow the "max' at 60 mph over hilly, curvy roads.

I don't recommend it but I've towed more than rated on many vehicles and all handled pretty well, you just need to know how to drive.
The most I towed with an SUV was two sleds in an enclosed trailer with an 04 Grand Cherokee V8, only about 3200lbs but no sweat. I have no doubt a newer GC will tow 7k easily and control it.

What magic (besides marketing), do you think occurred between 2004 and 2006?

I certainly won't risk my life and the lives of others on the road with such a combination. The Jeep GC handles 3000# just fine. But I certainly would double that!

YMMV, but let me know when you do it so I can stay off the roads.

Ken

 

[Ken45101]

I know mine can, I can stop faster with a trailer than without. With proper brakes and brake controller, a good trailer could stop a truck with no brakes at all.

I'm not talking about straight line stopping. I agree with you there, the trailer brakes should handle the majority of the load. What I'm talking about is stability on curves, especially if you come around a curve and a deer jumps out in front of you, or a car pulls out unexpectedly. Or my gosh, you have a wreck and lose control.... then what happens?

Ken

 

[Diamondpilot]

You guys have flawed logic. The manufacture rates the vehicles at what is safe. How is towing at max rating with a SUV any different the with a 1/2 Dodge Ram a 1 ton F350? They rate them at what they can do and warranty. You don't need a 3/4 ton ram to pull a log splitter or even a little 7K dump.

I towed Corvettes many many miles behind my wifes V8 2004 Mountaineer and my 5600# tractor. All this on my 18' car hauler. It was plenty capable and safe. The shortest trip was 120 miles and the longest maybe 250. Yes, I had the big PowerStroke F350 but many times we had kids, dog, and belongings to take with.

As for what changed in the early 2000's start with disc brakes, more gears in the trannys, larger cooling systems and oil sumps, ect.

Chris

 

[JDgreen227]

I read an article in Trailer Life magazine maybe 15 years ago, that said if you are involved in an accident with a trailer being towed behind your vehicle, and should be accident appear to be the fault of another driver:

If the other driver's insurance company would have your truck and trailer weighed, and the weight was over the GCWR the maker of your truck recommended, you could be held partially at fault for the accident because you were negligent. At the time I read that article, I was towing a 6400 lb. loaded travel trailer, with a 5000 lb. pickup. My truck was rated at 5000 lbs. towing capacity with the 4.9 six and the 3.08 gears, with a total GCWR of 10,000 pounds. So I was 1.400 lbs. over the factory GCWR. Did it worry me...yes, a little. The same model F 150 with the 351 V8 and a 3.55 axle had the same suspension and brakes my six-cylinder model did, yet the tow rating was 7,900 pounds with a GCWR of 12,500 lbs. Sure, it could pull the 6400 pounds better, but stop and turn better? Nope.

I think back to that article sometimes and wonder if the author was just trying to worry readers needlessly.

 

[cdaigle430]

Nice trailer, but what does it weigh? If your Jeep can tow 7200 pounds I hope you are not planning to put 7000 pounds of cargo in the trailer...hmmm...trailer weight alone would be about 2400 pounds? Just guessing. And if you say you need a brake control and hitch, does your Jeep already have a factory receiver?

1900 lbs so I can haul up to 5,000 lbs-probably will never go above 4,000 and my tractor is 2700 lbs.

 

[cdaigle430]

We have the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's fine hauling a couple of 4 wheelers or the Kubota RTV900 (1800#) on a light trailer. No way would I put a 2000# trailer with a #5000 tractor on it behind the GC. But then we didn't buy it as a hauler, that's what we have the dually pickup for. We just need 4wd to get up our driveway.

I would think the classic type Jeeps would be even worse tow vehicles.

Ken

My tractor ways 2700lbs, and any load that comes close to 4000lbs would be local only. I have towed 2 pallets of pellets before with no problem. I dont want a monster truck sitting in my yard-doesnt make sense to have one for the amount of time I need to tow heavy loads.

The trailer will mostly be used for landscaping and home improvement only.

Later I will be buying a 24' to 27' camper for towing as well. The Jeep is capable-it has a longer wheel base than the prior model but I know I will have to be carefull and maybe make a few mods.

The great thing about buying a trailer like this is it's not tied down to any one vehicle. If I get rid of my Jeep tomorrow-I still have the trailer for the new vehicle.

 

[cdaigle430]

I'm not talking about straight line stopping. I agree with you there, the trailer brakes should handle the majority of the load. What I'm talking about is stability on curves, especially if you come around a curve and a deer jumps out in front of you, or a car pulls out unexpectedly. Or my gosh, you have a wreck and lose control.... then what happens?

Ken

But-this can and will be a problem in any vehicle thats towing.

 

[slowzuki]

I wouldn't get too scared by the old tow ratings, a lot of it was for warrantee purpose. Your max axle weight ratings do however matter a lot!

I can't remember the exact numbers but my F350 crew cab, longbox is only rated to tow something like 5000 lbs because it only has the 5.4. Same axles, brakes, tires etc but change to the V10 or diesel and the tow rating jumps to 16,000 lbs or so, which is what I use it for. We don't have big hills. Works fine.

To those panning the SUV tow ratings, you do know you HAVE to use a weigh distributing hitch to get those tow numbers and you're likely told to use sway control in the owners manual. Straight bumper pull its likely only 3000 lbs or so vs the 7200 lbs.

 

[Ken45101]

How is towing at max rating with a SUV any different the with a 1/2 Dodge Ram a 1 ton F350?

An SUV (except Suburban or Ford equivalent) has a shorter wheel base and a softer suspension. That will make it more squirrely if things go wrong.

It's the classic "tail wagging the dog" syndrome.

Ken