Couple questions about JT towing.

[Casique]

All JT's come with Dana 44s, either regular or wide models.

Sponsored

 

[Bbannongmu]

^This.

Almost anything can pull a sizeable trailer (just depends on the second criteria- speed). The problem is stopping.

The JT can pull more than what it's rated for, but the issue is stopping, followed closely by cooling.

From what I've read hear and heard elsewhere, the JT manual is weak (imo).

Minor correction the JT manual CLUTCH is weak. Not sure if OP has a manual trans or not but the clutch and hydraulics seem to be the weak points.

Not recommending anyone exceed factory ratings but I pulled 6,000lbs with my Centerforce Dual friction clutch/heavier flywheel, 5.13 gears, trailer brakes in my Rubicon with no drama. YMMV

 

[Labswine]

That seems like to long trailer to just be 5,100 lbs loaded. I'll have to check the Sonic trailers out. What is the GVWR, and have you ever weighed it on a scale?

Never had it on a scale.

The website (look up Venture Sonic SN220VRB) says it's 4,740 UVW (average Unloaded Vehicle Weight) as equipped from the factory and, mine is pretty much equipped as the diagram shows so no real extra options, with a 430 lb dry hitch weight (so I'm well within the Gladiator hitch weight specs). The heaviest things we've added to the trailer when we go camping is a foam mattress (about 30 lbs) and a 6'x18' roll of the cheapest AstroTurf (Home Depot) carpet we put down at our camp site also around 40 lbs. The rest is food, clothing, eating utensils, and other miscellaneous items. I am guesstimating total around 350 lbs max? The onboard tanks (fresh, gray, and black water) are always empty when we're going. The wife and I are a combined weigh about 350 lbs in the truck. We really don't travel heavy.

So, yeah, I think I'm pretty close in guesstimating around 5,100 lbs for this trailer.

 

[RJinPV]

Never had it on a scale.

The website (look up Venture Sonic SN220VRB) says it's 4,740 UVW (average Unloaded Vehicle Weight) as equipped from the factory and, mine is pretty much equipped as the diagram shows so no real extra options, with a 430 lb dry hitch weight (so I'm well within the Gladiator hitch weight specs). The heaviest things we've added to the trailer when we go camping is a foam mattress (about 30 lbs) and a 6'x18' roll of the cheapest AstroTurf (Home Depot) carpet we put down at our camp site also around 40 lbs. The rest is food, clothing, eating utensils, and other miscellaneous items. I am guesstimating total around 350 lbs max? The onboard tanks (fresh, gray, and black water) are always empty when we're going. The wife and I are a combined weigh about 350 lbs in the truck. We really don't travel heavy.

So, yeah, I think I'm pretty close in guesstimating around 5,100 lbs for this trailer.

I like the floorpan. It's similar to the Lance 1985 that I own with a little more room. I finally got around to weighing it on a Cat scale and it came in at 5,820 lbs. 5,020 lbs on the axles and 800 lb of tongue weight I measured afterwords with a tongue weight scale. It was outfitted with linens, cooking utensils, chairs, etc for 2 people. 1 of 3 propane tanks was empty and about 20 gallons of freshwater was in the tanks. The only thing missing was food and clothing for a trip.

I was surprised at how heavy it was actually. I was more surprised at the tongue weight. I estimated that tongue weight should be 150 lbs lighter than it was. My trailer is 24 feet long and it's listed UVW is about 5,000 lbs. So even without the food, drinks and clothing we already added 800 lbs. Take away 200 lbs of water and we added 600 lbs of stuff. 100 feet of water hoses and fittings, 2 stage water filter, 100 feet of 30 amp hookup cables, voltage hookup monitor, very small grill, Anderson levelers, air compressor, etc. It all added up. The CAT scale was easy and only cost $13. You might give it a try. It gave me the information I needed to actually know what my trailer weighs.

 

[Gren71]

and........nobody mentioned frontal area. This makes a huge difference in these 'lack of torque' monsters.

There are tons of threads about towing with a Gladiator. I tow a 16 ft SunLite and love it. 2480 lbs. dry. I feel the drag is worse than the weight, especially at highway speeds. Have towed this set up for ~8,000 miles and up to 95°F just being easy on the skinny pedal and listening to the truck.
You name it, I have towed it. Everything from a boat to an airplane, tankers, mobile home etc.. From a Toyota Hi-Lux to a long nosed Pete to double bin wagons.
This JT is my exception, normally I prefer a lot of truck. I don't like to get pushed around, whether by weight or wind. Longer wheelbases definitely help. Just because somebody else is towing heavy and getting away with it, doesn't mean that you should.
Towing a couple of times a month IS a lot. You can tow heavy 99% of the time, it is that 1% that will kill somebody. I will never forget the time I was hauling a 70% loaded tank and an RV failed to stop at a light and came out in front of me. At 40 mph I slammed on the brakes and my front tires turned to mush, then the surge came in from the tank. Thank god, my rig was mechanically sound; we all survived that day because of it.
You have one OH SHIT moment like that with your wife and kids in the truck and you will be lucky if your wife doesn't hang a for sale sign on the trailer and truck when you get home.

The frontal area is a very under discussed consideration. With my current Tt im just a little shy of the max frontal area. It makes a difference for sure.

Sponsored