Towing capacity guesstimator after lift and 37" tires?

[Deleted member 52902]

Sorry if this info is findable via search but I had no luck there...

2021 3.6L gas, automatic, stock it had max tow option and 7,650 lbs towing capacity. But now it has 4.88 gears, 3.5" Metalcloak Gamechanger lift and 37" tires.

I know my towing capacity decreased but is there an estimator to know what I can tow now?

Edit: I should have mentioned this will be about 650 mile trip.

Thanks.

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[Deleted member 52902]

Borrow or rent a full size truck with standard tires and no lift. You'll be much safer. Those 37's could be squirrelly in a fast maneuver. Probably not nearly as good at pavement stopping distance. Much heavier than the originally, likely 245 tire street/modest off road tires. Especially in any potential downpour on the pavement but it does depend on the tire make up. The lift can change a lot of on-road handling. Again, it depends. Rear hitch height and ball height likely need to be corrected so that Gladiator and trailer with car on it are balanced well. Nothing scarier than front end sitting high with less front tire contact and the trailer load not balanced on the trailer axles.... and you get the tail wagging the dog suddenly and violently swaying back and forth. Slow down as much as possible without jamming on the brakes in that case, or you can really make the situation worse.

Towed weight and hitch weight matters a lot. Tires on the JEEP also have different sidewall ratings that can matter. Especially but not exclusively on hot days.

I would use a full size frame pickup that is in decent mechanical condition. And load range E tires with also decent pavement tread. Preferably a 3/4 ton with a V8. Some metal mass in the engine block to dissipate heat. Some torque, never mind a small Turbo'd 4 cylinder that may have higher torque than some V8's. Sustained heat is not the friend to the turbo'd 4 cal's.

Yes, put a light grease on the hitch ball. No, it's not your electrical ground path to depend on; the wiring of truck and trailer handles that.

My 2 cents. Ooops, my hundreds of cents. Sorry for being lengthy. I get nervous around towed stuff that collectively might not be the best choice. Especially at highway speeds, curves, climbs and downgrades. 650 miles might provide a fair amount of different situations. And animals around dusk or. dawn in particular but even scarier when you see one at oh-dark-thirty.

 

[Josh00333]

Plus 4 adults. That’s prob 650 lbs. Tongue weight about 800. 1450 lbs.

I’ll be close or over payload.

Ok now we got more info. NO I would not do it. You are going to be very overloaded, over hitch weight and over payload.

I would bet you have less than a 1000 in avalable payload as the truck sits now. Remmeber EVER mod you do takes away payload. Big tires, less pay load, heavy lift, less pay load.

Google CAT scale and go scale your truck, I bet you'll be supprosed at your stitting in the drive way weight.

 

[Zachanadandy]

8,200lb trailer, on 37s, with a Mojave that was only rated at 6k. No problem maintaining 65mph the entire 600 miles even up a grade that gains ~4k feet in 20 miles. Over heating is the real concern as the grade test to get certified in the US must be completed in 90⁰+ weather. Not the way I'd use the truck on a regular basis, but sometimes you need to get the job done. Weigh the truck and subtract the weight from the GCWR would be the technical way to figure out your tow rating after mods.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

While I have sold our travel trailers we had for the past 10 years, I have never towed with a Gladiator. However my last two truck we 2016 Colorado ext cab Z71,4x4, V6, I used to effortlessly tow a 4,000 lbs Wolf Pup at 22’, without the need of a Weight Distribution Hitch all up and down the East Coast from Bar Harbor to Key West, as far west as Corpus Christi, TX, over to Pigeon Forge all over The Smokey Mountains with ease. Then we both retired and wanted a Gladiator, but were over $15,000 more than the 2019 Colorado Crew Cab 4x4, V6 we ended up with every option available on a WT. But also traded the small 16FQ trailer in for a Grey Wolf 24 JS, at 5,600 lbs and 26’. With a WDH, but still all over the East Coast with ease. But getting older we were forced to sell the travel trailer, then traded the Colorado in on a 2024 Gladiator Sport S, with three very nice safety, convenient, plus hardtop and automatic. That’s nicer and more comfortable than the Colorado, but not as nimble and tight handling , with the tight rack and pinion steering like the Colorado. Mileage is very similar between the two, so is power. We ended up getting the Gladiator mostly due to a local dealer offering a $15,000 markdown on the Gladiator we found. Plus the new Chevy dropping the 3.6 V6, for a high pressure turbo 4. I would love to see Jeep add the new Hurricane straight six in the Gladiator next or Hemi. Please, that would end up being a nice final vehicle for me.

 

[WILDHOBO]

This will be Denver to OKC.

All down hill, right??

Plus 4 adults. That’s prob 650 lbs. Tongue weight about 800. 1450 lbs.

I’ll be close or over payload.

To be honest, the tongue weight is the issue for a one time trip like that. If it was 350 tongue weight, you could do it knowing you’re not going over many big inclines. But 800 is so heavy for a gladiator.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Reading all the posts, if the cargo car is drivable, I’d just drive both.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

8,200lb trailer, on 37s, with a Mojave that was only rated at 6k. No problem maintaining 65mph the entire 600 miles even up a grade that gains ~4k feet in 20 miles. Over heating is the real concern as the grade test to get certified in the US must be completed in 90⁰+ weather. Not the way I'd use the truck on a regular basis, but sometimes you need to get the job done. Weigh the truck and subtract the weight from the GCWR would be the technical way to figure out your tow rating after mods.

Lifts reduce the technical tow rating. It's not just the weight, it's center of gravity, braking, steering, and more. Yes, you are doing it - but to suggest that "it's ok in a pinch" can get someone into big trouble.
I still need to find that video put out by a 4x4 truck outfit that explains exactly why your towing and payload are both reduced with lifts (and larger tires) and it had nothing to do with the weight of the rig.
They got into the meat of it.
All it takes is one of the millions of idiots out there on the road to force you into a situation and you are rolling - and not in the correct direction.

Those "towing fail videos" are fun stuff - as long as it wasn't you in them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

500 pounds of tongue weight dropped my JT dramatically. I can't imagine tossing more on the thing.

Some sort of WDH would be absolutely mandatory with weight like that - but it's a moot point since it's way over the capacity of the JT anyway.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Lifts reduce the technical tow rating. It's not just the weight, it's center of gravity, braking, steering, and more. Yes, you are doing it - but to suggest that "it's ok in a pinch" can get someone into big trouble.
I still need to find that video put out by a 4x4 truck outfit that explains exactly why your towing and payload are both reduced with lifts (and larger tires) and it had nothing to do with the weight of the rig.
They got into the meat of it.
All it takes is one of the millions of idiots out there on the road to force you into a situation and you are rolling - and not in the correct direction.

Those "towing fail videos" are fun stuff - as long as it wasn't you in them.

True, but like everything else in the world there's also a ton of safety margin built into ratings in the 1st place. Will the commercial 325lb ladder fail at 326lbs? Of course not. I've personally hung thousands of 100+ pound light fixture and ceiling fans off ladders over the years. I'm 275lbs. Plus tools. That 325lb ladder doesn't fail at 400+ lbs. It's far harder to roll a gladiator than people think. I drift this thing on 37s at freeway speeds in the dirt regularly. I'm not telling anyone to do what I do but I'm not afraid to push the limits in life. Is the cog higher? Of course. Is it going to tip over in an emergency maneuver? Not in my experience. I get the argument, if you accept the initial rating was 100% at the limit of what the truck can do. Meanwhile our 01 grand cherokee was rated at 5500lbs and a far worse tow rig than the mojave on stock form. Less power, much shorter wheelbase, aluminum center section axles that are far weaker than those under the JT, worse brakes, worse gearing, far inferior transmission, and so on. Can you increase the tire rating officially? Not really. If you swap 1 ton axles with deeper gears and you upgrade the cooling system you technically lost towing capacity as the axles are much heavier. Guess which rig I'd rather tow at or above the rating in? Safer as it's got a lower cog as the added weight is low and unsprung, the brakes are bigger, etc. Better for towing a heavy trailer with the deeper gearing. Better cooling so you don't have to worry about overheating. Be safe, properly load your trailer, increase following distances, and do what you are comfortable with.

 

[tom.mary.glad]

Lifts reduce the technical tow rating. It's not just the weight, it's center of gravity, braking, steering, and more. Yes, you are doing it - but to suggest that "it's ok in a pinch" can get someone into big trouble.
I still need to find that video put out by a 4x4 truck outfit that explains exactly why your towing and payload are both reduced with lifts (and larger tires) and it had nothing to do with the weight of the rig.
They got into the meat of it.
All it takes is one of the millions of idiots out there on the road to force you into a situation and you are rolling - and not in the correct direction.

Those "towing fail videos" are fun stuff - as long as it wasn't you in them.

Thanks for all the replies. I've decided not to do this tow.

@ShadowsPapa - I would like to see that video if you can find it.

 

[brsnow2585]

Uhaul trailers usually have surge brakes, they'll beat you you up hard on the back door unless you're pulling it with something about 3/4 of the weight your pulling

 

[Zachanadandy]

Uhaul trailers usually have surge brakes, they'll beat you you up hard on the back door unless you're pulling it with something about 3/4 of the weight your pulling

Good thing the gladiator is pushing 6k pounds, the surge brakes worked fine for me. Of course 570 of the 60 miles were freeway and you could count on 1 hand how many times I hit the brakes there. Off ramps to get gas was probably the extent of it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Good thing the gladiator is pushing 6k pounds, the surge brakes worked fine for me. Of course 570 of the 60 miles were freeway and you could count on 1 hand how many times I hit the brakes there. Off ramps to get gas was probably the extent of it.

Wish it was that way here.............


After my experiences with u-haul car haulers - NEVER AGAIN.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Wish it was that way here.............


After my experiences with u-haul car haulers - NEVER AGAIN.

The desert has is advantages for sure. 75mph died limits where the highway patrol doesn't bat an eye if you've got the cruise control set at 85. Public lands, dirt roads, and trails as far as the eye can see, affordable remote property.

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