First time towing and impressed .

[ShadowsPapa]

It's a Swiss Army Knife. IT does a lot of things very very well, and it does a lot of things.
But as most know - it's also not the tool to do an engine overhaul, or fix a broken motorcycle chain, or fix a flat tire.
These are fantastic for what they do.
Know the limits of the JT going in - don't let emotion and "cool, gotta have one" win out over "yeah, but then there's this big camper I really want, too".
Properly equipped, it does very well.

I drive a F-250 for work and haul generators around four states as we need them

I don't know what size units you haul - but I had a large, whole farm, whole house PTO drive generator on a trailer and it wasn't light at all - and it had no engine. Then my neighbor has a Kohler generator run by a Ford 4 cylinder Pinto type engine - damn, that thing is HEAVY. I helped him place it on a slab using my winch and lawn tractor. My lawn tractor, 4 wheel drive, 4 wheel steer, hydraulic drive, got stuck in his yard!

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[JeepNightHawk]

I love mine but know it’s limits , I drive a F-250 for work and haul generators around four states as we need them . A gas engine F-250 rated at 12,500 knows it when getting up to its max. Over the years there have been a lot of guys here towing big trailers some huge with Gladys, most were Max Tow for 7600 pound and almost all if not all moved up to full size trucks. They were doing stuff like towing with one person in truck and family following in a car. If you really look into your door plate and owners manual you might come to the realization that I have that I drive an awesome extended Wrangler that does so many things better then a Wrangler!

I just got rid of a 2013 F150 with an 8 foot bed. It was just too big of a truck for me. Plus , the rear reverse opening doors are terrible with small kids. I have a small family (2 kids , 2 and 4 years old). All the smaller campers for smaller campers for small families that I'm looking at are 4200 lbs or less. Maybe when the family gets bigger , I'll move back into a full size truck. However, ill lose the fun factor that the Gladiator has. When I had my F150 , i wasn't concerned about how my radio sounded , if it was clean, etc. I'm having more fun with the Gladiator , but can tow 4lbs less than compared to my F150. A compromise that I'm willing to accept.

 

[PBCounty]

If anyone is interested in what they can so to increase towing performance, or how to protect their vehicles while towing, I have found of all things ChatGBT an outstanding source. I highly recommend it!

I'd be wary of using AI info for anything of consequence. Many times, I've seen it totally contradict itself on the same question simply by adding a small change to the wording of the inquiry.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'd be wary of using AI info for anything of consequence. Many times, I've seen it totally contradict itself on the same question simply by adding a small change to the wording of the inquiry.

all it does is read forums, posts, articles, and digest and puke the information out in digest form.

A week or so ago I was asking a question about Gladiators - can't recall what it was, but was trying to either prove myself wrong, or gather new information or whatever -
The results?
It came back quoting things I had posted in these forums. That was the answer.

 

[Jaxmax]

all it does is read forums, posts, articles, and digest and puke the information out in digest form.

A week or so ago I was asking a question about Gladiators - can't recall what it was, but was trying to either prove myself wrong, or gather new information or whatever -
The results?
It came back quoting things I had posted in these forums. That was the answer.

Bill, that explains why AI is so screwed up it is using your posts!

Sorry Bill , I love ya and read every post , but had to beat the others to it!....Jack

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bill, that explains why AI is so screwed up it is using your posts!

Sorry Bill , I love ya and read every post , but had to beat the others to it!....Jack

Frankly, I'd have probably said that myself! HA (or my wife definitely would have said that!)

All good - you are on the friends list and friends can sort of slap each other now and then.

 

[Aaron67]

I just pulled a 22 ft deck boat around 4000lbs from Houston to Dallas. It did rev alittle high,but did fine. Temps stay even and average mpg of around 10. Little low but my duramax only gets that towing too.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

I didnt see any mention of a trailer brake controller. Hopefully, you installed one.

 

[Aaron67]

I didnt see any mention of a trailer brake controller. Hopefully, you installed one.

Trailer had surge brakes that worked fine.

 

[Shelstead]

I tow a GEO PRO 20fks and my max tow Glad does fine have Redarc brake control and a set of sumo springs they replace they replace the factory bump stops camper weights 3950 lbs dry loaded 4500 lbs only use the manual shift mode while pulling

 

[ShadowsPapa]

only use the manual shift mode while pulling

Why?

 

[Shelstead]

Why?

It tows better that way you can control the shift points to match the terrain and highway better then in auto mode

 

[Lost1wing]

I didnt see any mention of a trailer brake controller. Hopefully, you installed one.

What year Duramax? My LML gets 15mpg towing 6-7k lbs. I still get over 20mpg on the highway when not towing. I used to get 23 but I'm guessing my intake is a bit clogged at 170k.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It tows better that way you can control the shift points to match the terrain and highway better then in auto mode

That's what I was afraid you were going to say.
You know this has tow mode, right? And it goes into that mode when you connect trailer lights and it detects a load - higher torque requirements from the engine, and it self-adjusts.



For those towing the first time with an automatic, especially these Jeeps - let 'er rip.
It's made to wind up, higher RPM. Even a Chevy guy told me the same thing with the LS in a Silverado - LET IT.
The only time you "need" manual mode is if it's hunting, shifting up and down too frequently - which generates heat. Otherwise, the higher RPM is needed for power. Holding low RPM is harmful.

I've towed with all sorts of trucks for a long time, V8s and I6s, old and new, light loads to 10,000 or so. It's only harmful with an automatic if it "hunts" or tries to stay in a higher gear with low RPM.
These are made to wind up, let them.
It's extremely hilly here - so I do hit manual mode (exactly like the book - ya know, that owners manual? says - if the transmission shifts too frequently.
RPM in the 3000s or 4000s is not harmful, but trying to keep it in the 2000s can be.
The oil pump volume is lower below 3,000 RPM and the PCM may find it necessary to kick into high lift valve mode more often at lower RPM to generate some power.

 

[EddyArnold]

We just upgraded from a pop-up to a 2024 Range Lite Air 19MBH, 4400lbs with a 21 JTRD on 35s... weight distro, brake controller, and probably airbags soon.

Flat roads it tows perfectly, in the hills (Ky/IN so nothing too bad) I have to slow down a bit in the diesel but it hasn’t de-rated yet. I'm starting to look into cooling options I think there's some threads to research.

I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but I'm open for advice!

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