Towing limit for 2023 Jeep Gladiator (Rubicon) Diesel

[maksim]

Trying to find out my towing capacity on my Jeep Gladiator. Towing package was not selected.

I know it’s been talked about before but it seems nobody has given a concrete answer. From the manual I see it’s 6000lb talking to parts counter at Jeep they told me it’s 6,500lb. Having the rubicon I have all the upgrades the Max Tow already has less the receiver which I’ll be upgrading anyway.

I looked under my hood I have a 940W fan and 220amp alternator. So much information and before I buy a camper I want to verify capacity.

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[3TDJEEP]

Welcome to the forum.

I have a 23 Gladiator Rubicon Diesel with the tow package. The tow limit is 6000lbs.

In addition to the tow hitch, the package included a 240amp alternator, the heavy duty cooling system which I believe is just an upgraded fan, a trailer hitch zoom feature on the rear camera, and the trailer electrical plug.

You may want to look at my recent threads as I too am trying to purchase a small toy hauler and have been asking lots of questions about towing limits. The hauler I want is 5000lbs dry.

You may also want to read the very long thread on the Diesel Cooling. Or at least the last 10 to 20 pages. https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/diesel-cooling-options-and-ideas.46298/

Good luck.

 

[maksim]

Thank you!

Even without tow package it’s still 6,000 correct? My fan is 940w which is strange because 850 was the upgrade from what I understand.

I’m at 4300 dry. But I want to make sure I’m within my limits.

 

[DylanM]

All ecodiesel Gladiators came equipped with the heavy duty cooling fan, alternator, and larger battery, so there's no difference in tow rating between those that came with the factory tow package and those that didn't but later had a proper hitch installed.

The diesel Rubicon is the only one spec'd at 6000lbs, all other diesel trims spec'd at 6500lbs tow capacity.

 

[rubicon4wheeler]

With a long wheelbase, a stout frame, and the heavy, torquey diesel, the vehicle is safely capable of towing much more than the 6,000lb rating, but the soft Rubicon springs are the first limiting factor. I'd recommend adding airbags to the rear coils regardless of whether or not your trailer has a weight distribution hitch. If you live in mountainous terrain, you will need to keep your eye on exhaust gas temp and oil temp. Engine coolant is generally fine despite the oil heating it up, and the OEM transmission cooler is more than adequate. A quality trailer brake controller like the Redarc TowPro Elite should be considered mandatory.

 

[gramurai]

I accidentally towed over 10,000 pounds over 200 miles from Portland Oregon to the coast over the coast range and my Rubicon Ecodiesel did fine. 37” Bfg’s and stock 3.73’s.
Yeah I screwed up: bought a forklift and thought the 4000lb on the data plate was the weight not the lifting capacity!
Plenty of power and the brakes were fine but it was not hot and I drove conservatively. And the trailer had four wheel brakes.

Keep in mind how row ratings have changed: my 1998 XJ Cherokee was “rated” to tow 5000 pounds but was probably less safe and capable at 3000 pounds than my Gladiator at 10,000.
Now days, manufacturers have to certify the tow ratings in specific SAE braking tests (among other things) while in the “old” days, they could pretty much pull a number out of…uh, a hat
Oh man, I just remembered that in that Cherokee XJ I towed a massively overloaded 30+ foot travel trailer to the dump about ten miles…that was easily the sketchiest tow I’ve ever done.
Now, before you all yell that I’m a COMPLETE idiot, I have towed well over 100,000 miles with zero accidents…I’m only a partial idiot

 

[maksim]

With a long wheelbase, a stout frame, and the heavy, torquey diesel, the vehicle is safely capable of towing much more than the 6,000lb rating, but the soft Rubicon springs are the first limiting factor. I'd recommend adding airbags to the rear coils regardless of whether or not your trailer has a weight distribution hitch. If you live in mountainous terrain, you will need to keep your eye on exhaust gas temp and oil temp. Engine coolant is generally fine despite the oil heating it up, and the OEM transmission cooler is more than adequate. A quality trailer brake controller like the Redarc TowPro Elite should be considered mandatory.

Even non towing package correct? I guess that’s my only real concern. It seems that “heavy duty cooling” is just marketing more than anything else.

 

[maksim]

With a long wheelbase, a stout frame, and the heavy, torquey diesel, the vehicle is safely capable of towing much more than the 6,000lb rating, but the soft Rubicon springs are the first limiting factor. I'd recommend adding airbags to the rear coils regardless of whether or not your trailer has a weight distribution hitch. If you live in mountainous terrain, you will need to keep your eye on exhaust gas temp and oil temp. Engine coolant is generally fine despite the oil heating it up, and the OEM transmission cooler is more than adequate. A quality trailer brake controller like the Redarc TowPro Elite should be considered mandatory.

Also, any recommendation for bags?

 

[gramurai]

ALL diesel Gladiators have heavy duty tow as DylanM said above.

I am running Airlift 1000 bags (rated for 1000 pounds). I leave them at 4-5 psi when unloaded and don't really notice them. Up to 35 psi with a 6-7000 pound gross bumper pull trailer.
Two years of towing with them on my Gladiator, 4 years (different set) before that on a Ram 1500 eco diesel which I sold to a friend who has towed for several years more.

 

[biodiesel]

Also, any recommendation for bags?

I run Timber Grove on my 2015 Ram EcoDiesel and really like them. Here are the ones for the Gladiator: 19'-UP JEEP Gladiator Rear ASAM 2nd Gen Air Spring Kit (SQ6466100) — Timber Grove Enterprises, LLC

 

[maksim]

I was looking at my build sheet and then looked at another build sheet where they had towing package and there was mention of standard and heavy duty cooling. Both were eco diesels both rubicons. Seems that’s all just marketing.

I do know mechanically the diesel rubicons have identical to max tow package on non diesels, looks like I’ll be upgrading my hitch and that’ll give me the “towing” package.

thanks!

 

[DylanM]

@maksim
The standard versus heavy duty cooling difference and its effect on tow ratings is a real thing for the 3.6 gassers, just not the ecodiesel.

 

[maksim]

@maksim
The standard versus heavy duty cooling difference and its effect on tow ratings is a real thing for the 3.6 gassers, just not the ecodiesel.

Right, but on diesels it’s just marketing it seems. At least when it comes to rubicons.

 

[3TDJEEP]

Right, but on diesels it’s just marketing it seems. At least when it comes to rubicons.

Having a hard time believing that Jeep would add something to the build sheet for "marketing" purposes. But who knows...

 

[maksim]

Having a hard time believing that Jeep would add something to the build sheet for "marketing" purposes. But who knows...

These systems are typically automated by default so they can scale, and the towing package likely carried some of those variables with it. They just got pulled onto the build sheet even though they don’t actually change anything. I know for gassers it matters but for diesels I don’t think it does. All the research I’ve done so far seems to confirm it.

Another clue is the owners manual has no distinction for diesel with or without towing package like it does for gassers.

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