ShadowsPapa
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Bill
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2019
- Threads
- 180
- Messages
- 29,526
- Reaction score
- 35,128
- Location
- Runnells, Iowa
- Vehicle(s)
- '22 JTO, '23 JLU, '82 SX4, '73 P. Cardin Javelin
- Occupation
- Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
- Vehicle Showcase
- 3
- Thread starter
- #46
Definitely a huge factor on these as far as speed vs. frontage vs. mpg. I noted it varying speeds just little bits at a time. These do GREAT at 55. In fact on fairly level ground at 55 or so I can hit mid-20s without much trouble but the same sort of roads and ground at 65 it drops 2 or 3 mpg.Well we had an interesting 400 mile trip with two points of note for this thread. Going there 11.7 MPG, back 14.7 mpg. Weird. We did take a slightly less highway route back so I suspect the lower speeds helped the mpg. More evidence that frontal area and wind are much bigger enemies of Gladiator towing than weight.
Also had a slightly scary glitch where the brake controller would conk out every time the lights went on (like auto headlights on through a tunnel). Cleaned the contacts and cycled everything a few times and seemed to go back to normal.
Probably brought back 50 lbs of mud!
These shine mpg-wise in rural driving, backroads and such. Interstate at speed limit or above - not so great, but still beats my Silverado and the WJ I had.
I still love the images of a modern Jeep pulling a classic Jeep on trailer.
All-in-all, the JT Overland is a decent tow vehicle within its limits. I was quite happy with how it performed and am not concerned about towing to other places now.
Definitely keep the tire pressure up based on tire max load at whatever inflation they specify. I suspect a lot of folks hitch up and take off and have poor results - in towing and in mpg, because they've squished their tires. There's a reason the max load is specified at a PSI different than normal running. To keep the same foot print and keep from flexing the sidewalls and generating destructive heat, increase the PSI. It's the pressure against the surface area that supports the load. More weight means the surface area or tire's foot print must increase if you don't increase the pressure. Increase the pressure and the footprint can remain the same under more weight.
It's something I know I've been in a hurry and forgotten in the past.
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