Max tow max tow max tow.

[badtux]

my JT gets 13.9 [pulling 5000lb] and keeps up the speed limit (towing limit in Iowa is 65) with ease.

I got 15mpg towing at 60mph with only a slightly lighter load (500lb lighter). I will say that it's ridiculous how efficient this Pentastar is at towing. Like you, I was lucky to get 10mpg towing with a big V8. I wonder if it's got something to do with the variable-lift variable timing valve gear? Or the 8 speed transmission? It certainly has nothing to do with the weight of the truck, which weighs as much as most full sized trucks.

I will note that 0-60 in 30 seconds was pretty much my experience too. Not much fun.

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[Snake Eyes]

On page 5 of this thread a I inserted a picture of my Max Tow decal:

Well I changed it so as not to be offensive and hurt any ones feelings.

Here is mine from @pixeldecals. Bronze with Matte Black. Of course with that on the back, if I go too slow going up a steep grade I am going to have to do a Flintstone feet thing to speed up so as not to embarrass myself!!! We bought ours for towing a trailer around 5K AND have a Jeep all rolled into one… we have not added weight other than a cover on the bed, kept stock size tires, etc. This affords us decent amount of payload. Then when we arrive where we want we have a decent offroader where we can take off the doors and roof. What other non Jeep truck driver can do all that??? I dare say none!!!

 

[WILDHOBO]

I would say that it is realistic, but not fun. Your engine is wound all the way out, your gas mileage is crap, and you're going 45mph up those grades. We used to tow like that back in the late 1970's when the available engines were so choked by smog equipment that a 400 cu. in. engine had less horsepower than today's Pentastar, but that was then, and this is now. We have more powerful engines available to us now if we want to tow like that.

Fair enough.

 

[jsalbre]

These aren't "the best" tow vehicles, but they really aren't bad.

When you include the weight of the tow vehicle, my JT towing at it's limit (6000#) is only 1 pound per HP behind my previous 2020 Ram 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi pulling a 30' long 9000# Airstream. They even have the exact same gearing in the 8 speed transmission and axles.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

These aren't "the best" tow vehicles, but they really aren't bad.

When you include the weight of the tow vehicle, my JT towing at it's limit (6000#) is only 1 pound per HP behind my previous 2020 Ram 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi pulling a 30' long 9000# Airstream. They even have the exact same gearing in the 8 speed transmission and axles.

Interesting, and good, comparison engine-wise as HP is the rate at which actual work is done, like moving an object xx feet in yy minutes.
So truck stability, handling, suspension, and that sort of thing aside, assume those abilities are there, if you figure like you did it's a fair measure of if the engine itself can do it or not.

In the case of your RAM may have been more able to cool, and have other factors in its favor for tow rating. You have to keep the ponies cool and that's part of the testing - handle these chores without overheating or tripping any MIL/CEL.
2021 Grand Cherokee with 3.6 and the same 8 speed automatic - tow rating 6,200 pounds.

 

[dawghauler]

It’s the builders model. Got the bigger axles oil cooler heavier spring rate. Way buy a rubi and remove options when you can get a max tow and build it for less

 

[WILDHOBO]

It’s the builders model. Got the bigger axles oil cooler heavier spring rate. Way buy a rubi and remove options when you can get a max tow and build it for less

I get that people choose to build it up their way, but you can’t get rubicon features for less by adding them to a sport s max tow.

 

[Fox940]

I get that people choose to build it up their way, but you can’t get rubicon features for less by adding them to a sport s max tow.

You're really stuck on this "rubicon" topic. This thread is about the Max Tow and no matter how much you believe it, what you say is not true. Go build a Sport S Max Tow and then go build a Rubicon with same/similar options like cold weather group, etc. If you are honest with yourself you will find that in no way, shape or form is the Rubicon the better deal. You are paying for the "rubicon" name period.

I have a limited slip in the same Dana 44 wide axles with 4:10 gears, you don't. I have quick disconnect sway bars that can be done in under a minute, I don't need an overpriced heavy electronic disconnecting sway bar. I have better payload, I have better towing ability. I have 33 inch tires.

So you have locking axles. Big deal, I'll put an air locker up front. You have the lower range T-Case. Big deal I don't rock crawl. You have sliders, well I do as well. You have two tow hooks on the rear bumper. Yeah, most people change the cheap bumpers out so it really doesn't matter. I'm several thousand dollars ahead of you because you bought a name.

If you like your Rubicon then great, more power to you. With that said, enough of your condescending attitude because people like something different than you. It's almost like you are envious and do whatever to justify your rubicon purchase.

 

[WILDHOBO]

You're really stuck on this "rubicon" topic. This thread is about the Max Tow and no matter how much you believe it, what you say is not true. Go build a Sport S Max Tow and then go build a Rubicon with same/similar options like cold weather group, etc. If you are honest with yourself you will find that in no way, shape or form is the Rubicon the better deal. You are paying for the "rubicon" name period.

I have a limited slip in the same Dana 44 wide axles with 4:10 gears, you don't. I have quick disconnect sway bars that can be done in under a minute, I don't need an overpriced heavy electronic disconnecting sway bar. I have better payload, I have better towing ability. I have 33 inch tires.

So you have locking axles. Big deal, I'll put an air locker up front. You have the lower range T-Case. Big deal I don't rock crawl. You have sliders, well I do as well. You have two tow hooks on the rear bumper. Yeah, most people change the cheap bumpers out so it really doesn't matter. I'm several thousand dollars ahead of you because you bought a name.

If you like your Rubicon then great, more power to you. With that said, enough of your condescending attitude because people like something different than you. It's almost like you are envious and do whatever to justify your rubicon purchase.

The problem is, you made my point for me. You can get a max tow to the point YOU want it for less, but you can’t get the same features for less. 4:1 low range is a very big deal to anyone that uses it, which I and many others do. Lockers and a transfer case replacement would already put you past the price difference. Now get yourself the off road plus functionality. Oh wait. You can’t. And the electronic sway bar disconnect is far and away superior to manual disconnects of any kind. You’re not exiting the vehicle, or jumping on one side to get the suspension level enough to reattach. And you claim I didn’t have 4.10:1 gears like you? Of course rubicons come with that. I’m hung up on nothing. But when you mislead others that they can build their own rubicon from a max tow for less money, you’re either kidding yourself, or others. I’m not trying to get everyone to buy rubicons, and I certainly didn’t do it for the name as you claim. Every single feature of the rubicon gets used by me, and many others here. If you don’t, don’t buy one. But people trying to build one will spend more, if they actually end up with apples to apples functionality and features.

 

[Fox940]

The problem is, you made my point for me. You can get a max tow to the point YOU want it for less, but you can’t get the same features for less. 4:1 low range is a very big deal to anyone that uses it, which I and many others do. Lockers and a transfer case replacement would already put you past the price difference. Now get yourself the off road plus functionality. Oh wait. You can’t. And the electronic sway bar disconnect is far and away superior to manual disconnects of any kind. You’re not exiting the vehicle, or jumping on one side to get the suspension level enough to reattach. And you claim I didn’t have 4.10:1 gears like you? Of course rubicons come with that. I’m hung up on nothing. But when you mislead others that they can build their own rubicon from a max tow for less money, you’re either kidding yourself, or others. I’m not trying to get everyone to buy rubicons, and I certainly didn’t do it for the name as you claim. Every single feature of the rubicon gets used by me, and many others here. If you don’t, don’t buy one. But people trying to build one will spend more, if they actually end up with apples to apples functionality and features.

Sure, whatever dude. We get it, you are obsessed with your rubicon.

 

[Lunentucker]

Mojaves are prettiest ?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Sure, whatever dude. We get it, you are obsessed with your rubicon.

Not in the slightest. My only argument is against the theory that you can get the same features for less money. If you don’t want those features, don’t buy one. If I didn’t intend to use them, I would have bought a Willy’s. You do seem obsessed with proving that you can have a rubicon for less money by adding lockers and quick disconnects. But then you mention features you won’t have, killing your theory.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Mojaves are prettiest.

Agreed.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I should be very clear. The max tow is a very nice trim/option level, and you can build a truly amazing rig starting from that platform.

The only thing I’m debating is the misconception that you can get equal features of a rubicon for less money than starting at a rubicon.

I’ll happily debate this, but let’s do it with numbers. Meaning, price of max tow, then add dual lockers, motorized swaybar disconnect, 4:1 low range transfer case, and off road plus. I’ve compared that number to what I paid for a rubicon. It’s not lower.

 

[Fox940]

Not in the slightest. My only argument is against the theory that you can get the same features for less money. If you don’t want those features, don’t buy one. If I didn’t intend to use them, I would have bought a Willy’s. You do seem obsessed with proving that you can have a rubicon for less money by adding lockers and quick disconnects. But then you mention features you won’t have, killing your theory.

No, you are missing the point. You paid extra for the name "rubicon". I can build my Sport S Max Tow for less than you paid for your rubicon and have just as capable of an off road vehicle as some of the features you are infatuated with are not needed.

Understand I own a 2010 Ram Power Wagon with lockers front and rear, factory disconnecting sway bar, factory winch, and 4:56 gears with a rear limited slip. After owning the Power Wagon for years, when looking at prices of JT's and the packages/options I penciled it out and know I can build a very capable off road Jeep JT that meets my needs for far less than what the "rubicon" package would cost me.

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