Towing Gas vs Diesel

[biodiesel]

Another thing that was not mentioned (I think) is that in some instances you lose 1,000 lbs. towing capacity by going with a diesel. At least when compared to a JTR. From a Mojave auto to a diesel it's a wash.

The difference in tow rating is due to the diesel running hot. If you're towing a trailer that isn't near max capacity, then the diesel will tow it easier and with better fuel economy. There's no debate whether or not the diesel is the best application for towing, the argument is whether or not it's worth it.

If someone bought a Jeep Gladiator to tow 50% of the time, then the diesel is the way to go. But if someone is going to tow a trailer just a few times each year, then the gasoline engine would be fine.

The Pentastar and EcoDiesel are both good engines. In my opinion, the diesel guys are not going to be on the fence. We know what we are getting, and we would never consider the Pentastar. The folks who are on the fence should probably stick with the Pentastar.

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[MudderNuker]

The difference in tow rating is due to the diesel running hot. If you're towing a trailer that isn't near max capacity, then the diesel will tow it easier and with better fuel economy. There's no debate whether or not the diesel is the best application for towing, the argument is whether or not it's worth it.

If someone bought a Jeep Gladiator to tow 50% of the time, then the diesel is the way to go. But if someone is going to tow a trailer just a few times each year, then the gasoline engine would be fine.

The Pentastar and EcoDiesel are both good engines. In my opinion, the diesel, guys are not going to be on the fence. We know what we are getting, and we would never consider the Pentastar. The folks who are on the fence should probably stick with the Pentastar.

I traded a '21 GMC 1500 AT4 Duramax diesel for the first Gladiator I had. The GMC didn't fit in our mountain house garage we move to when I retired last year. Diesels are very fuel efficient when not towing. Diesel off course feels better at take off due the amount of torque they generate. I towed the same Geo Pro 19BH with a Ram 1500 5.7 gas (great engine), AT4 Duramax and Gladiator 3.6. You would think the diesel beat all with fuel mileage but that was not the case. The Ram averaged 17mpg unloaded/14 mpg with the camper, AT4 24 unloaded/ 14MPG with the same camper, Gladiator 17-20mpg unloaded/13-14 towing the camper. The one that dropped the most was the diesel but it felt great when towing. So did the Ram but that engine is a beast.

The argument that if you tow a lighter load with the diesel it would be better also translates to the 3.6. Don't get me wrong, I like diesels and had I found a JTR with everything I wanted in diesel I would have gotten that one. I like the grunt and pull but I still think the 3.6 is a very good engine. I forgot that I towed the camper with a GC WK2 3.6 and the mileage was the same. The pentastar is very efficient. Is it the ideal engine for truck? That's a no but that's is what we got from Jeep.

 

[DylanM]

Another thing that was not mentioned (I think) is that in some instances you lose 1,000 lbs. towing capacity by going with a diesel. At least when compared to a JTR. From a Mojave auto to a diesel it's a wash.

In only two instances do you lose tow capacity when going to the diesel: from a 3.6 automatic Rubicon (7000lb capacity) and from a Max Tow package Sport (7650lb capacity). In all other instances the diesel version will have a tow rating equal to or higher than the gasoline version: the diesel Rubicon tow capacity is 6000lbs while all other diesel versions are 6500lbs.

 

[Tulbox]

Hi all, just a quick comment regarding towing capacity. I had a 2015 GC with the ecodiesel which I used to tow my 6k lb RV with. The only problem I ever had was once on a long steep climb at 90+ degrees it started to heat up so had to slow to about 30 mph so it was not so stressed and temp dropped. My average towing mpg was 12. I did a lot of research before recently buying a 2021 Gladiator with the newer version of the same diesel. I pull the same rv and get about 13mpg loaded up and about 24 mpg cruising down the hwy without. In my research I discover the tow capacity rating goes like this...... All jeeps start with a 2k towing capacity, if you add a FACTORY tow package it jumps to 4.5k, if you add the 8 speed auto trans it bumps to 6k and depending of the reference 6.2k. Now if you change the gearing from the standard 3.73 and go with 4.10 you bump up to over 7k and again depending on the reference up to 7.4k

Now the kicker here is that you cannot get a factory option of 4.10 gears in the ecodiesel and I presume it is because of the lower rpm range of the diesel. Now for those out there who are planning on a 3'' + lift and 37" tires if you run 4.10 gears you will run the same rpms as the stock 33" tires and 3.73 gears.

 

[Tulbox]

Just a reminder, unless you can find a actual FCA list which indicates towing capacity for Jeep, then you are left with some alternative sources which do vary. So bottom line is one should not believe everything they read as fact!

 

[DylanM]

@Tulbox
Tow capacities are laid out in plain black and white in the owner's manual, one can't really go wrong going by that information. Good point about not trusting everything you read though as what you posted was itself not entirely correct.

All Gladiators are rated for 3500lbs when towing with the rear bumper, regardless of how they're otherwise equipped. Add on the appropriate receiver hitch and this bumps up to 4000lbs manual trans and 4500lbs auto trans, exception being the Mojave which goes to 4500lbs/6000lbs and the gas Rubicon which goes up to 4500lbs/7000lbs for manual/auto respectively. Add the factory tow package and the various trims/variants of the gas Sport/Sport S with auto trans also jump up to 6000lbs. Add the Max Tow package (only available on the Sport/Sport S with auto trans) and you get the highest rating, which is 7650lbs. As I mentioned in my earlier post, all diesels are rated 6500lbs except the Rubicon which is 6000lbs. Of note is there are also variations in allowable trailer frontal area depending on how each is equipped, see the excerpt from the owner's manual below for further information on that.

 

[ZeeJay]

The thing is how much of the time will it be under a trailer. If few times here or there doesn’t matter, if it’s a lot then probably will matter. Known dudes that just “had” to have a Powerstroke to tow and all they had was a 14 foot aluminum boat they pulled twice a summer, didn’t make sense. Next thing how patient are you? If your the I just gotta do 75 up that summit then gas isn’t for you, and this leads to the last thing. Elevation doesn’t matter the subject either, erbody has these staggering anecdotal answers and for me I can only assume they live 5 ft above sea level. My house is over 5100 feet. I regularly during summer pull a 7x14 trailer with at most 2 full size and 2 youth ATVs, trailer included tops out little over 2900. Truck god only knows the weight in camping gear, coolers, fuel. Usually we head to 6500-7000 feet. The summits that tap out at 8000 feet we are throwing shit out the windows and finishing up with boat oars. It struggles….badly. Doesn’t over heat, doesn’t sound like it’s going to die, but this where patience is a virtue. It’s a lot of 5th and 6th if lucky. It doesn’t make this trip too often or too fast either loaded out like this. Would a diesel do better, oh absolutely, but for the amount of time it actually does this I will opt out of the ticking after treatment and MCRS time bomb and get on with a 3.6. Adjusted for inflation that my $4.58

 

[BearFootSam]

I feel the same way, unfortunately, I have to take what I can get. I've never had a diesel before and I wanted one before they are gone.

I feel you. I owned an 09’ Jetta TDI with a manual transmission, fantastic driver’s car. 145hp and 236ft-lbs doesn’t read as impressive but the thing would idle up a steep hill in 2nd gear. It was the last of the pre-urea, minimum emissions equipment diesels in the US.

 

[Grey Warrior]

In 2021 the Sport S with max tow was rated for 7650 lbs with gas engine. The same truck with diesel was rated at 6000 lbs. The difference was attributed to the added weight of the diesel engine. That being said, diesels seem to tow better due to developing torque early in the power band.

 

[bgenlvtex]

FCA/Stellantis/Whatever tow ratings are 100% outright lies. Not exaggerations, not mis-statements, not mistakes, they are lies.

I ordered my JTR in 2019, 3.6l/8sp/4.10 and added 35's.
My trailer is 2350lbs dry and will hold 52 gallons of fresh water, all in it is a little over 3000lbs loaded out.

I've pulled it about 25.000 miles mostly in the mountain west.

My little trailer is all the JTR can muster. It screams to make hills and when you get into the 6000-10000 foot elevations is is much , much too anemic. This trip we just came home from it developed the Pentastar tick and both front and rear locker sensors shit the bed. Trans temps routinely pushing 220*, engine oil temps over 240* frequently, losing speed,down shifting to 2nd just to pull a grade.

I bought the advertising 7,000lbs! I paid my money and took the ride, 5 years and 106,000 miles and I spent the day today stripping shit off of it because I'm going to sell it while it is worth something.

A Jeep Gladiator is not a "tow vehicle" by any stretch of the imagination. It is a vehicle that "will tow" in limited capacities for short periods of time under circumstances that are not too demanding.

7,000lbs, LOL, bullshit. Honestly I'm surprised someone hasn't sued them over this.

 

[Sweetums]

Elevation is one place the diesel shines due to the turbo. We just got back from Colorado and even climbing up 13,000 ft passes I didn't notice any drop in performance. It was wild, every vehicle I've ever owned has significant power loss at altitude - even at my base elevation of 4,200 ft.

I was very impressed, any loss in performance was inconsequential from where I was sitting behind the wheel.

 

[biodiesel]

In 2021 the Sport S with max tow was rated for 7650 lbs with gas engine. The same truck with diesel was rated at 6000 lbs. The difference was attributed to the added weight of the diesel engine. That being said, diesels seem to tow better due to developing torque early in the power band.

The issue isn't the weight of the engine. The issue is the narrow grille opening which makes it difficult to adequately cool the engine/charge air cooler. The same engine with more HP/TQ in the Ram 1500 doesn't have that issue.

 

[Mr._Bill]

FCA/Stellantis/Whatever tow ratings are 100% outright lies. Not exaggerations, not mis-statements, not mistakes, they are lies.

I ordered my JTR in 2019, 3.6l/8sp/4.10 and added 35's.
My trailer is 2350lbs dry and will hold 52 gallons of fresh water, all in it is a little over 3000lbs loaded out.

I've pulled it about 25.000 miles mostly in the mountain west.

My little trailer is all the JTR can muster. It screams to make hills and when you get into the 6000-10000 foot elevations is is much , much too anemic. This trip we just came home from it developed the Pentastar tick and both front and rear locker sensors shit the bed. Trans temps routinely pushing 220*, engine oil temps over 240* frequently, losing speed,down shifting to 2nd just to pull a grade.

I bought the advertising 7,000lbs! I paid my money and took the ride, 5 years and 106,000 miles and I spent the day today stripping shit off of it because I'm going to sell it while it is worth something.

A Jeep Gladiator is not a "tow vehicle" by any stretch of the imagination. It is a vehicle that "will tow" in limited capacities for short periods of time under circumstances that are not too demanding.

7,000lbs, LOL, bullshit. Honestly I'm surprised someone hasn't sued them over this.

There are many factors that affect how well it tows. High Altitude and Trailer Shape can have a big impact. The Tow Rating is based on the stock configuration at lower altitudes. Putting bigger tires on it also reduced the towing capacity. Jeep advertises it with the highest Tow Rating in its class (mid-size), but it is not sold as a full-time Tow rig.

 

[NHJeep4x4]

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.

 

[Blade1668]

lol, mileage is better towing the TJ rather than driving it. I have an 05 LJ, love ‘em but MAN! They’re thirsty … on 33x10.50 I’ll get 12-14mpg in this heat with max AC. I do love that 4.0 and simplicity.

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.

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