Towing Gas vs Diesel

[Ericshere03]

Funny you mentioned 05 LJ, my 05LJ M/T towed better than my JT and about the same MPG's when I had 31s or 32s tires.... but with current heavy 33MT's not a chance too. My XJ actually got good MPG's with the 33s or 35s but 4:56 gears.
Back to the regular scheduled thread.
When I got my JT (Max-Tow) the diesel wasn't out, do I regret it... No, I'd like a diesel but not the maintenance and added initial cost. Towing with a late diesel JT would have been probably spot on for most of what I tow. Have really enjoyed driving diesel vehicles but I wasn't footing the purchase and maintenance expenses on them. Dang sure don't want to have to buy jugs of urine for a vehicle either.
A friend of mine has 4 F250s and F350 truck running crews all over the US pulling heavy utility trailers doing communications installation and decommissioning systems. Last year I was helping him by driving the trucks in for maintenance a few of them were in shop for services about every 3-5 weeks for oil, filters, brakes and tires. None of these trucks are under 200,000 miles one is on far side of 500,000, one truck had a transmission rebuild or replacement. Now the emissions "DEF" systems are a problem on diesel engines. None of his trucks are "hopped up" with performance stuff. Just on time or early maintenance at trusted Ford dealership.

I wasn’t impressed with the Pentair on my first JT, got about the same MPG on 35’s as my LJ on 33’s … all these years of advancement, you’d think they’d exceed in that regard. Both were manual transmission too.

Anyways, I’m on my second ecodiesel, it’s a tragedy they dumped the diesel so quickly. From a teenager to now I been dreaming of a diesel jeep. It just makes sense, and jeep FINALLY did it after almost a half century and pulled the plug only 3 years later… jerks.

The m surprised the towing performance wasn’t up to par with your truck. I know the 3.6 is a screamer, but it will get the job done.

Back to old jeeps, maybe modern… don’t FEAR THE GEAR! I know, broken record

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[AlrightAlready]

I always said if they sold the diesel in the JLU back in 2018, I'd still have my green 4 door. I had a supercharged 3.6 in a manual two door jk which was fun but the stock motor left a lot to be desired especially running 40's on it originally then on my JLUR.

The diesel pulls my trailers, motorcycles, and all my gear like it's not back there. No, it's not a full size truck but for my purposes, it rocks. Drove a buddies with 40's and it was comical what the torque would allow at low to mid rpms. Towing a fully enclosed trailer 6x12 double axle loaded with 4 motorcycles, I still get mid 20's at 60mph and 17-20 at 70-75mph. In my old jeeps, the 3.6 would be screaming to do small overtakes and getting 11mpg towing while not being an enjoyable tow experience. I don't see myself approaching the 6k+ tow weight unless for short trips but the casual manner in which it produces torque while loaded is epic. Having a good hitch/tow setup will make it much nicer as well.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

Funny you mentioned 05 LJ, my 05LJ M/T towed better than my JT and about the same MPG's when I had 31s or 32s tires.... but with current heavy 33MT's not a chance too. My XJ actually got good MPG's with the 33s or 35s but 4:56 gears.

But we are talking about Diesels here. As mentioned before, my JTOD towing the TJ, has about 30% better mpg than my TJ towing nothing.

 

[MudderNuker]

I got the diesel because of the much better driving experience in general, and not necessarily for towing.
I also tested the max tow, and have rented a Rubicon gas on 37s (gear ratio unknown, assuming 4:10) for a week in the California Sierra Nevada mountains. Both times, I did not enjoy the constant high revving to get power going up inclines with nothing in the vehicle. I wasn't afraid of hurting it, more that it was just annoying.
I can only compare my gas vs diesel towing experiences between my old Tacoma with similar power and torque as the Gladiator gas (though not an 8-speed), vs my current ecodiesel. The diesel certainly gives me way more confidence in terms of power. But it's still not that enjoyable to tow with a little truck. I've only towed something substantial with it, twice in nearly two years of ownership. I wanted a fun, nimble truck that could haul my YJ or a tractor, project Jeep, etc. when called upon, and that's about it. Both times, the trailer was maybe between 5,500 or 6,000 lbs. Trailer alone is a little heavy, being a tilt bed. A load-distributing hitch would be a valuable purchase if I towed more, to reduce the teeter-totter effect of the long rear overhang.
As others have said, if you like your truck the way it is and don't tow a lot, then just enjoy it.
The improved power of the diesel will not improve the small footprint of the truck.

Nice, I also have a YJ, tractor, ATV and SXS that I tow from time to time on my flat bed trailer. By far the worse to tow is the heavy tractor. The 3.6 felt gutless. How much land do you have?

 

[Stan H]

My 3.6 with 4.10's does great ...if you want to tow on pavement get a ram 2500 with a Cummins if you want to off road with the least amount of weight up front get a Jeep with 3.6. Period.

 

[Sweetums]

And if you want to have the maximum amount of torque in a more maneuverable wrapper, get the JT Diesel and put heavier springs on it when you lift.

 

[nanook12]

And if you want to have the maximum amount of torque in a more maneuverable wrapper, get the JT Diesel and put heavier springs on it when you lift.

which springs?

 

[Sweetums]

which springs?

I bought the 2.5" Game changer kit from Metalcloak and they have a diesel option when purchasing that gets you the correct springs at no extra cost.

The truck rides better than it ever has.

 

[NHJeep4x4]

Nice, I also have a YJ, tractor, ATV and SXS that I tow from time to time on my flat bed trailer. By far the worse to tow is the heavy tractor. The 3.6 felt gutless. How much land do you have?

I had just a few acres at the time, but I borrow my Dad's tractor for the occasional yard project.

 

[Blade1668]

But we are talking about Diesels here. As mentioned before, my JTOD towing the TJ, has about 30% better mpg than my TJ towing nothing.

No disagreement on diesel being a better tow vehicle and more MPG's towing or not. If the diesel option would have been (available) with "my" required options it would have been my choice even with noted down sides. More expensive services.
The diesel option wasn't out, or if so not long enough "Jan 2020" and I'm not of the changing vehicles like underwear as some are. (My JT was paid off before June 2020) I wasn't going to take up another debt. I was looking to not dealing with the B.S at work much longer then. I had already typed up a "bridge burner" letter of resignation of a few pages in 2019 with updates. In hindsight on my last day I should have sent it out to all in address book.
The reason my XJ did well towing is gearing and overdrive met at "sweetspot" with 33s-35in tires. And most creature comfort removed. My 05LJ is 6speed, w 31-32 in tires. Heavy added equipment so 16 or so mpg is it.
Years back I ran into someone who had swapped in a 4 cyl diesel into his Wrangler his MPG's was crazy.... not fast, top end of about 60 mph.
It almost seems like there is sabotage done with the diesel engine option in JTs and JLs. Jeep has slipped out diesel options then "quickly" stops offering it. A year or two here and there, but with problems then dropped.

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