Yet Another Tow Question

[Cattywumpuss]

Ok, sorry for another dumb towing question but I’m a tad confused. Why does my 2026 Sport S JT come with a class IV receiver hitch . . . . if it can’t tow near that capacity?

My vehicle manual says a class III hitch maxes out at 6000 lbs and a class IV maxes out at 10,000 lbs.

The Jeep website says the 2026 JT Sport S can tow 4500 lbs. So that’s below the class III max capacity of 6000 lbs.

Just curious why the higher rated hitch if I can’t tow near that anyway?

(I do not have the Max Tow package as far as I know.)

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[Bandit’s Lair]

No idea why they do that, but I’m glad they do. It makes a good strong recovery point that’s beefier than the “proper” class tow hitch would. I purposefully upgrade tow hitches on my vehicles I intend to tow with well over the tow rating for the beefier components. Case in point, my Ford Transit has a tow rating of around 5500#. I have a 15k# rated tow bar installed. I have no worries of damaging the tow bar and I know the bolts holding it into the frame can take some stress. Way more than I’d ever tow with it. Don’t know if that helps but there ya go.

 

[ALT2870]

Why have different hitches? Makes perfect sense to have one that can cover everything.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

No idea why they do that, but I’m glad they do. It makes a good strong recovery point that’s beefier than the “proper” class tow hitch would. I purposefully upgrade tow hitches on my vehicles I intend to tow with well over the tow rating for the beefier components. Case in point, my Ford Transit has a tow rating of around 5500#. I have a 15k# rated tow bar installed. I have no worries of damaging the tow bar and I know the bolts holding it into the frame can take some stress. Way more than I’d ever tow with it. Don’t know if that helps but there ya go.

Thank you, that does make sense when you look at it that way.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

Why have different hitches? Makes perfect sense to have one that can cover everything.

Ok, ok. Good point, makes sense with that perspective.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Ok, sorry for another dumb towing question but I’m a tad confused. Why does my 2026 Sport S JT come with a class IV receiver hitch . . . . if it can’t tow near that capacity?

My vehicle manual says a class III hitch maxes out at 6000 lbs and a class IV maxes out at 10,000 lbs.

The Jeep website says the 2026 JT Sport S can tow 4500 lbs. So that’s below the class III max capacity of 6000 lbs.

Just curious why the higher rated hitch if I can’t tow near that anyway?

(I do not have the Max Tow package as far as I know.)

Check your window sticker. If you have a factory installed receiver, you should have a factory Tow Package, which gives you a 6k pound towing capacity with an automatic transmission.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

Check your window sticker. If you have a factory installed receiver, you should have a factory Tow Package, which gives you a 6k pound towing capacity with an automatic transmission.

Just looked at my build sheet and it seems I have the factory Tow Package, so that bumps my tow rate up a bit. Not that I want to get anywhere near that limit though. LOL

 

[ChrisNLA]

Engineering emailed me about this the other day. Something about 23K wheels on a 24K axle. Bro. Both of these weights are several thousand pounds above the projected max front axle weight of the truck. Its fine if the wheels are rated slightly lower. Something is going to be the weakest link.

In this case, the Gladiator is the weakest link, not the hitch

 

[Cattywumpuss]

Engineering emailed me about this the other day. Something about 23K wheels on a 24K axle. Bro. Both of these weights are several thousand pounds above the projected max front axle weight of the truck. Its fine if the wheels are rated slightly lower. Something is going to be the weakest link.

In this case, the Gladiator is the weakest link, not the hitch

Aww, but so true!

Mines currently stuck in a map update cycle. So annoying.

 

[WilldWilly]

If your jeep was equipped with the base factory tow package, it can tow 6k, if you have to install a tow package after the fact, it is 4500lbs. I am not sure why jeep has to play games. Just make it simple to understand. Max tow 7700, reg tow 6000, no tow (installed after purchase) 4500.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

If your jeep was equipped with the base factory tow package, it can tow 6k, if you have to install a tow package after the fact, it is 4500lbs. I am not sure why jeep has to play games. Just make it simple to understand. Max tow 7700, reg tow 6000, no tow (installed after purchase) 4500.

Thank you!

 

[Janster]

Because it’s probably easier & cheaper to buy the same Class IV hitch and put it on all of them with tow packages regardless.

If you had two different hitches…. guaranteed, inventory would get all mixed up in the warehouses, people wouldn’t know (or care) to tell the difference. Next thing you know…there’s a batch of Max Tow JT with the Class III hitch on it. Would a consumer notice?? It’d be 5 years later before issuing a recall to replace them.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

Because it’s probably easier & cheaper to buy the same Class IV hitch and put it on all of them with tow packages regardless.

If you had two different hitches…. guaranteed, inventory would get all mixed up in the warehouses, people wouldn’t know (or care) to tell the difference. Next thing you know…there’s a batch of Max Tow JT with the Class III hitch on it. Would a consumer notice?? It’d be 5 years later before issuing a recall to replace them.

Good point, good point!

 

[Gladiatorguy]

Because it’s probably easier & cheaper to buy the same Class IV hitch and put it on all of them with tow packages regardless.

If you had two different hitches…. guaranteed, inventory would get all mixed up in the warehouses, people wouldn’t know (or care) to tell the difference. Next thing you know…there’s a batch of Max Tow JT with the Class III hitch on it. Would a consumer notice?? It’d be 5 years later before issuing a recall to replace them.

Exactly. At the assembly plant, that’s one less bin on the line. Chances of a mixup in the assembly plant are slim, as each VIN is bar-coded with a specific part selection at assembly. I’m not saying it wouldn’t happen, because I’ve seen it (like different trim on the left and right sides of a vehicle), but it happens less often with modern assembly lines. The mixup is more likely at the supplier. It’s also easier and cheaper for the supplier to design, build, stock material for and test just one product. The difference between a class III and IV is likely a few cents for a little extra material. Construction method is the same.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Because it’s probably easier & cheaper to buy the same Class IV hitch and put it on all of them with tow packages regardless.

If you had two different hitches…. guaranteed, inventory would get all mixed up in the warehouses, people wouldn’t know (or care) to tell the difference. Next thing you know…there’s a batch of Max Tow JT with the Class III hitch on it. Would a consumer notice?? It’d be 5 years later before issuing a recall to replace them.

Look what happens with all the fender variations.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/check-your-fenders-match-factory-mistake.24176/

This one is great:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/can-you-spot-the-mistake.72553/

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