Questions on towing with 3.6

[Ironman 67]

Most of you know I have a 2022 gladiator with eco diesel but it's having a lot of problems.
If they do a buy back I will still get a gladiator but will go with Gas 3.6.
My 16jk that I built for rock crawling has 3.6 and it does good.

I am curious what you guys that use gas models think of your rigs towing with 3.6 gas.

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[Jefe1018]

I’ve not towed with the 3.6, but in my Xterra, the gas motor did just fine. The VQ40 in the Xterra has a much lower torque band than the Penestar, but the Penestar can handle the rated weights, within reason for a midsize truck. What does this mean? It means towing it’ll run in lower gears, higher RPMs and towing or not, worse fuel economy than any diesel... but it won’t derate, the turbo won’t heat soak and you won’t have to worry about the CP4 anymore. You’ll still get there. You might also want to think about regearing for bigger tires. If you’re going to tow more than 5,000lbs consistently then any Gladiator probably isn’t right for you to begin with, that’s full size territory in my opinion.

 

[Ironman 67]

I’ve not towed with the 3.6, but in my Xterra, the gas motor did just fine. However, the VQ40 has a much lower torque band than the Penestar. What does this mean? It means towing it’ll run in lower gears, higher RPMs and towing or not, worse fuel economy than any diesel... but it won’t derate, the turbo won’t heat soak and you won’t have to worry about the CP4 anymore. You might also want to think about regearing for bigger tires. If you’re going to two more than 5,000lbs consistently then any Gladiator probably isn’t right for you to begin with, that’s full size territory in my opinion.

I have duallys and f450s for hard towing.
When I built my 16 jk and put 1 tons under it I put 538s and it's strong. But it gets worse mpg than my Rubicon 392 hemi.

I have both gas and diesel trucks so I and used to both.

Honestly I have owned all big 3 diesel since 12 valve Cummins and I never had issues out of any diesel till now.
But not saying nothing bad about my eco diesel, feels like a mini Duramax.
But it's possible they may buy it back.
If I go over 5k I have plenty of heavy trucks.

Just curious how everyone that has 3.6 does for everyone.
If they buy back I will go with 3.6 gas

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I tow 5,000 pounds, no problems.
The trick is to let it wind up. It was engineered to tow at higher RPM, like most modern engines.
Don't try to hold the RPM down - you'd be doing it a big disservice for sure. So you will see 3,200, even 4,200 RPM here and there - don't even think about it, it's fine.
Low RPM in a higher gear generates more heat.
Don't let the transmission hunt too much. If it starts down and up shifting often, then pop it into manual mode and you control the shift points.
But I find 5,000 pounds to be fine with it. Mine is rated 6,000 towing so I'd not really consider going more than maybe a couple hundred pounds more with mine but at this point, I'm fine with it.

My wife's solution when I told her that the choice of Overland meant a lower towing limit than say a Sport S max tow, she said "go buy a lighter trailer" - so I did.

this is my second JT Overland - I had a 2020 but racked up some miles and wanted more options so traded the 2020 for a 2022 Overland.
Look for the level that will do what you want it to do, what fits YOUR needs - it will be YOUR truck, not anyone else's truck.

BTW - I get better mpg towing with this than I did my 2011 Silverado with LS engine. I've gotten an average of as high as 13.9 mpg towing what you see below -in the hills of I80.

 

[Ironman 67]

I tow 5,000 pounds, no problems.
The trick is to let it wind up. It was engineered to tow at higher RPM, like most modern engines.
Don't try to hold the RPM down - you'd be doing it a big disservice for sure. So you will see 3,200, even 4,200 RPM here and there - don't even think about it, it's fine.
Low RPM in a higher gear generates more heat.
Don't let the transmission hunt too much. If it starts down and up shifting often, then pop it into manual mode and you control the shift points.
But I find 5,000 pounds to be fine with it. Mine is rated 6,000 towing so I'd not really consider going more than maybe a couple hundred pounds more with mine but at this point, I'm fine with it.

My wife's solution when I told her that the choice of Overland meant a lower towing limit than say a Sport S max tow, she said "go buy a lighter trailer" - so I did.

this is my second JT Overland - I had a 2020 but racked up some miles and wanted more options so traded the 2020 for a 2022 Overland.
Look for the level that will do what you want it to do, what fits YOUR needs - it will be YOUR truck, not anyone else's truck.

Not seen a eagle in 20 years or so. You don't see those anymore.

If I tow over 5k I have plenty of big trucks.
I like my 3.6 in my built jk with 538 gears.
I am a big jeep guy, my other jeep is a 392 hemi Rubicon.
I am planning just in case they buy it back.
I hope it gets fixed but if they buy back I need a gladiator for my smaller chores so I don't have to fire up my larger trucks

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not seen a eagle in 20 years or so. You don't see those anymore.

If I tow over 5k I have plenty of big trucks.
I like my 3.6 in my built jk with 538 gears.
I am a big jeep guy, my other jeep is a 392 hemi Rubicon.
I am planning just in case they buy it back.
I hope it gets fixed but if they buy back I need a gladiator for my smaller chores so I don't have to fire up my larger trucks

Smart to have a "plan B" - then you are ready for any outcome.
I've had a lot of trucks over the years and finally decided I didn't need a full size truck for my needs any more. The only diesels I've had were in ag and other heavy equipment (back hoes, tractors and so on) even my grain trucks were I6 gassers.

That Eagle is considered by many to be the best in the world right now, many are trying to emulate it. Best of show in its class in the 2018 International AMO show, Senior Gold twice.
It sports a 4.0 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine I built, T5 transmission (factory) and a new old stock transfer case I was lucky enough to land from eBay years ago (it was still in the wood crate when I got it)
I've had several Eagles over the years.
I've towed that setup multiple times.

I hope to have my 73 Javelin back together this month to take to a show in September but health issues have landed me in urgent care, ER and other bad places multiple times the last few days so working on cars is really iffy at this point.

 

[Jefe1018]

So this is a bragging thread? ???

I inspire to one day own a 392 hemi, dually oil burners and a JT just for kicks. Bravo to you sir!

3.6 will do just fine.

 

[bd100]

Towing with a 3.6L 6-speed manual, 3.73 gears, 32 inch tires, loaded truck plus 2000lb trailer, combined to be near max combined rating, and going up I70 west of Denver with its miles-long steep grades, my JT was easily able to accelerate through 2nd gear to 45 mph right up to the red line, but it got nowhere in 3rd. I was stuck in 2nd at 45 with the engine screaming, sometimes in 3rd and barely holding.

But the engine itself was fine. Redline for minutes at a time, and the temps were fine. Except that too close to the redline it started making scary noises, which I figure was predetonation, so I had to back it down a bit. (Should I run premium octane when towing in the mountains? Funny thing is they also sell 85 up high.) It's been fine since.

The rear differential may have been worn a bit in that trip, because it has been making noise which has been gradually getting worse, and it's going into the dealership soon. That was the factory fill, but next time I'll use 75W140.

The problem is the manual transmission. It's like a wide 5 speed plus another overdrive. Too big a jump from 2nd to 3rd gear. An 8 speed auto would have been better. More torque from the engine would have been better. More gearing might have been better, but also might have had me stuck at 40 instead of 45 if 3rd with the new gearing still wasn't enough.

Totally stable for handling and stopping. It's a popup so wind doesn't affect it much, and has electric brakes. 15-17mpg towing.

If I were towing much more then I'd go for a full sized pickup, and put up with its dial-a-transmission and push button transfer case controls.

We also towed the same trailer with a WK2 Grand Cherokee with a 3.6 and 8-speed auto. Went to the eastern mountains and it was fine. The WK2 weighs about the same as the JT, but has a shorter wheel base, which made for a bit more bucking up and down.

We also towed the same trailer all over the country with a late 90s Ram 1500 with 5.2L V8 and 5-speed manual. Slightly better than the JT up mountains, but otherwise about the same in all over ways, except it has drum brakes in back. And better engine braking.

 

[Ironman 67]

Smart to have a "plan B" - then you are ready for any outcome.
I've had a lot of trucks over the years and finally decided I didn't need a full size truck for my needs any more. The only diesels I've had were in ag and other heavy equipment (back hoes, tractors and so on) even my grain trucks were I6 gassers.

That Eagle is considered by many to be the best in the world right now, many are trying to emulate it. Best of show in its class in the 2018 International AMO show, Senior Gold twice.
It sports a 4.0 Jeep Grand Cherokee engine I built, T5 transmission (factory) and a new old stock transfer case I was lucky enough to land from eBay years ago (it was still in the wood crate when I got it)
I've had several Eagles over the years.
I've towed that setup multiple times.

I hope to have my 73 Javelin back together this month to take to a show in September but health issues have landed me in urgent care, ER and other bad places multiple times the last few days so working on cars is really iffy at this point.

It's neat to see that set up, seeing that took me back when I first seen one and thought they was neat.

I am having a plan b just in case.
I like gas trucks, I have them and they do fine.
3.6 is a proven engine but I will tell you this.
If you put steep gearing in it it makes that engine real torquy.
When I done my jk build and put 5.38s and even on 40s it really changed torque range.
It feels like the 4.0 with rpms

 

[Sandevino]

I too had the EcoDiesel and FCA bought it back when the fuel pump failed about two months ago. I got into a Rubicon with the 3.6 and it does just fine when towing reasonable loads. The heaviest I towed with the EcoDiesel was around 6000# and towing a similar setup, the 3.6 moves it just fine.

 

[Ironman 67]

Well mine's on the list for a fuel pump too it's not failed yet but it's on the recall
Mine is low voltage and electrical issues as well as some other they have not issued a buyback yet but they can't figure out what's wrong with it
I've never had to have a buyback before on a vehicle do they just trade you out or how does that work

 

[MrClortho]

I tow often with the setup in my signature. Up to about 4k lbs, the 3.6L is sufficient to run about 65mph on the highway, but that is about it unless it is screaming. Above that, it starts to suck, lol.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Except that too close to the redline it started making scary noises, which I figure was predetonation,

Picking nits -
High RPM is where detonation doesn't occur. Drag racers can run hellish ratios and not have problems with detonation because detonation takes TIME and at those high RPMs, there's not enough time.
and
there's no such thing as "predetonation".
There's preignition where the charge ignites before the spark
and
detonation where the spark ignites the charge and the advancing flame front compresses the unburned charge until is self-ignites.
Preignition can lead to detonation because you have two flame fronts compressing the unburned gases in the chamber to the point of self-ignition.

Those stupid auto blogs have gotten things so twisted around in terms and what causes what it's a total disaster. Most of those writers likely couldn't change their own oil and only copy and paste what they read elsewhere. Hemmings has gotten just as bad lately.

The problem is the manual transmission. It's like a wide 5 speed plus another overdrive. Too big a jump from 2nd to 3rd gear. An 8 speed auto would have been better.

That's one of the reasons I will only tow with an automatic - closer ratios, easier to pick the ideal gear for the proper RPM range, and, backing a trailer where I need to back is killer with a stick because since the 1980s they've made reverse more like high gear and you have to work the clutch so much to keep control of your ground speed backing..........
It's not a new problem, even the T5, IMO, is a bit wide between 2nd and 3rd but then with only 4 speeds and an OD (5th) they had to spread it out a bit somewhere. .

I've never had to have a buyback before on a vehicle do they just trade you out or how does that work

If it's a lemon law thing, you can find that by googling lemon law name of your state, such as
"lemon law Iowa" just for example. Usually the pages of your state's AG show up - make sure you look at the official state page and not attorney pages or a forum.
If you are working directly with them and they've offered a buy-back, they should pay you for what it cost you to buy that vehicle minus any use you got out of it - like a deduction for miles because you did actually have use of it for a while.
Details vary, that's just "the gist of it" - generically speaking, YMMV as they say.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I tow often with the setup in my signature. Up to about 4k lbs, the 3.6L is sufficient to run about 65mph on the highway, but that is about it unless it is screaming. Above that, it starts to suck, lol.

Yeah, but you've drastically dropped your towing ability with all the mods, too.
It's changed, most states have dropped it in recent years, but it used to be that 65 mph was the towing speed limit in quite a few states - if you were towing anything, 65 was your speed limit. It wasn't always posted, it was a given, sometimes it was posted, but it seems it's gone away (likely because no one paid attention, including police)
Towing over 65 just isn't safe anyway, especially with these things, and especially with a lift.
As far as screaming - tow with a Chevy with an LS and watch that tach hit 5,000 RPM - you'd think screaming when you hit a hill.

 

[Labswine]

I tow a 5,100 lb (with all we want or need) 27' travel trailer with my stock Overland (delivered in 7/19) and have no issues. It pulls it just fine.

I shift manually. I have found that when accelerating from a stop, going with traffic, getting up to cruising speed, that I shift between 2,500 and 2,800 RPMs. Also, by speed itself such as, 1 and 2 are fairly quick to around 15-20 MPH, then I shift into 3rd and run that to around 25 MPH, then 4th to 32 MPH then 5th and then 6th around 42MPH. 7th doesn't occur until at least 55 MPH. 6th at around 55-60 MPH is around 2,700-2,800 RPMs. 7th goes until I hit MY max cruise speed of 65 MPH and it's right around 2,100 RPMs at that speed.

You see what I'm doing there? 1-2 ~18 MPH 3 to 22-24 MPH then 4th (2+2=4) through the 20s and low 30s then at 32 MPH, it's 5th (3+2=5) then at 42, 6th (4+2=6) and so forth.

Of course once I get to more hilly terrain...so far, towing has been mostly east coast towing to the beaches of the DelMarVA penninsula and NC (Outer Banks)...like in western VA or upstate PA, then I'll have to adapt accordingly.

I have not noticed any lugging of the engine and, as far as moving out with traffic, I can keep right up with it doing this shifting pattern.

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