Gladiator bent frame offroading with trailer? Why do you think this happened?

[ACAD_Cowboy]

What's even more amazing is how the operator wasn't concerned by the sounds it was making.

I've seen Wages of Fear and Sorcerer, I know when to go slow.

As for the frame, a weekend with the welder and some good material and you could fishplate the whole rear.

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[velogeek]

Going down the rabbit hole, this seems to be what they were towing and it's not even a heavy trailer at 160lbs dry tongue weight. However, add in all the crap listed on the rental company's site here and I'd imagine it's much higher.

Tow ratings for vehicles are on-road ratings only and a non-distributing hitch is just a massive lever to the rest of the frame. Same reason why off-road racks include a static, on-road, and off-road rating that frequently halves at each stop down the list, it's not hard to make a 500lb tongue weight feel like 2000lbs when bouncing around at speed over aggressive terrain.

I've got $50 that this ends up like that Colorado where the dude was being an idiot and going way faster than they should have and the bouncing was too much stress for the truck.

 

[ALVagabond]

Speed was likely a factor.

 

[WhatExit?]

It is amazing the kind of forces one can generate with a trailer, washed out road, and too much skinny pedal.

I don't think that's the whole story. Sure, speed on a washed out road towing a trailer could do it and, there are people that stupid but still...

This is from the article link above:

One Facebook post from CORE Off Road claims that incorrect shocks were mounted to the 4x4, effectively turning them into bumpstops and putting major pressure on the shock mounts.

 

[Bbannongmu]

Frame looks bent, dumb assery likely.

love it!!!! Seems about right

 

[Demo_slug]

Send it!!!

 

[ALVagabond]

Send it!!!

It done got sent.

 

[Seanrobsar]

Send it!!!

That was funny!! Thanks. I needed that!

 

[WhatExit?]

 

[SF_E60]

Wow this made it here on the forums, my JK buddy sent me a picture on instagram about this JT with the bent frame.

 

[BajaDrifter]

What we are all doing is guessing on what happened here. The little info given does not paint the whole picture, so I suppose until we know more and hear from the horse's mouth, its all speculation. A bunch of theory and no facts.

 

[WhatExit?]

What we are all doing is guessing on what happened here. The little info given does not paint the whole picture, so I suppose until we know more and hear from the horse's mouth, its all speculation. A bunch of theory and no facts.

Right. That's what the internet is all about

 

[Godfadr]

Let's face it. There are not enough facts on the table (and the owner isn't talking). Sooo...

1. The trailer is well within the parameters of towing.
2. The dog probably was not a factor (but does look guilty).
3. Shocks are unlikely but can't be ruled out.
4. Tires are probably out...I mean...we have seen much worse do just fine.
5. Obama, Trump, Coronavirus are all suspects.
6. Excessive speed would be the front runner in this race.
7. Glad it is not mine.

 

[bgenlvtex]

This does open the the doors for aftermarket to kick in. Which I kinda hope they do!

Redistributing the shock load will only move the point of failure to the next component in the hierarchy of weakest point.

It goes like this for example:
I'm blowing out tires (because they are overloaded) so I buy tires rated for higher capacity, meaning more air
Now I'm cracking wheels, so I buy heavier wheels
Now I'm breaking wheel studs so I buy stronger wheel studs
Now I'm bending axles, so I but stronger axles
Now I'm bending axle housings, so I post on the internet about my junky truck

At the end of the day, sometimes you just shouldn't do dumb shit.

 

[Slapping_Rabbits]

Oh man i was concerned about this because i'm new to jeeps and i'm getting a camper for the first time soon. However, it sounds like it was a combination of mods and dumbassery so yes, now i'm even more worried.

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