Jeep Towing Capacity: How Much Can a Jeep Wrangler Tow?

Jeep Wranglers are more than a way to get you from one location to the next; they are a part of the lifestyle of genuine adventure and outdoor activities. If you are among the Jeep enthusiasts passionate about camping, you may also be curious to know about Jeep Wrangler’s Towing Capacity.

To inform you in short, Jeep Wrangler towing capacity ranges between 1600 and 3,500 pounds, though only a few models can haul as large as 3,500 pounds (heritage Jeep Grand National). But keep in mind that these numbers vary, as a number of Jeep models are equipped with different towing capacities.

To present our readers with all the info they need to know about towing with a wrangler, we’re happy to invite them to familiarize themselves with all the repercussions of going beyond the demand.

What is Vehicle Towing Capacity?

Towing weight capacity of a vehicle refers to the maximum amount of weight that particular vehicle can tow legally and safely.

This attribute, among others (weight, the configuration of the vehicle, the weight it can carry, and so on) is relied upon by vehicle manufacturers, so they can develop the capacity to tow the heaviest possible load in their model.

There is a single towing capacity number that takes into account both the kind of tow vehicle it is and the road conditions, and how you’re distributing and controlling the loads you’re towing.

Still, it doesn’t give you a rock solid rule to work in every situation. Overwhelmed by the excess weight your trailer may hold, it might jerk around and risk injury to your motor vehicle.

Jeep Towing Capacity: How Much Can A Jeep Wrangler Tow?

Even avid drivers might experience surprise when they see that the Jeep Wrangler’s towing capability can surpass their expectations. Wrangler’s off-road handling capacity is virtually unmatched, and it can haul well over 2,000 pounds.

However, as we stated earlier, you might even discover a towing capability of over 3,500 lbs on some selected models. To illustrate the immutability of unlimited working power, imagine a full-size trailer containing a sleeping area, kitchen, storage space, and your tent.

Almost all trailers with this configuration weigh between 1,200 to 2,600 pounds. That implies nearly any Jeep model can drive it off with ease. Given just how remarkable the towing capacity of a wrangler is, we highly advise adhering to factory recommendations and not exceeding them.

Think of it, even a few additional pounds over the vehicle’s limit can severely impact the wheel positioning. Now that we’re going to present critical differences between Jeep Wrangler models towing capacity in detail.

Jeep Wrangler 2022 Towing Capacity

With the ability to tow up to 3,500 lbs and completely transform into an adventure-ready sport utility vehicle, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler is a fantastic midsize SUV for off-road thrill seekers. The Wrangler All-New edition with a 3.6-liter V6 engine has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs.

The Jeep Wrangler features a 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel engine with a 3,500-lb rating on four-door models. On the other hand, the Wrangler with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine can tow up to 3,500 lbs.

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine can tow up to 3,500 lb on four-door models and 2,000 lb on the two-door model with the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Here is the table showing towing capacity of several Jeep Wranglers with different configurations.

Model	Towing Capacity
Jeep Wrangler YJ	2000 lbs
Jeep Wrangler TJ (2.4-liter Power-Tech I-4 engine)	1000 lbs
Jeep Wrangler TJ (4.0-liter Power-Tech I-6 engine)	2,000 lbs
Jeep Wrangler JK (two-door)	2,000 lbs
Jeep Wrangler JK (four-door)	3,500 lbs
Jeep Wrangler JL (two-door	2,000 lbs
Jeep Wrangler JL (four-door)	3,500 lbs

Jeep Wrangler 2021 Towing Capacity

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler’s maximum towing ability is 3,500 pounds. That number can fluctuate between models. It is worth noting whether you will need an SUV with a towing capacity that Wranglers (full-size and all-doors) can provide.

All 2-door models of Jeep Wrangler have a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, whereas the towing capacity of 4-door models is 3,500 pounds. Wrangler trims are available as either 2- or 4-door options.

If you tow up to 3,500 pounds of heavy cargo on roads, though, the Sahara Altitude, Sahara, Sport Altitude, or Wrangler trims with 4-door versions can tow this load safely.

Jeep Wrangler 2018 Towing Capacity

The 2018 Jeep Wrangler will provide you with a V6 engine with a displacement of 3.6 liters, producing a total of 285 horsepower. It has 260 lb-ft of torque at 4800 rpm of power.

This model weighs 2000 lbs, along with a payload capacity of 892 pounds. So you can easily haul all of your items. Even though the average towing capacity of 2018 Wranglers ranges between 2000-3500 lbs, it varies depending on the trim.

Model	Towing Capacity
Sport S 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M)	2000 lbs
Sport 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M)	2000 lbs
Rubicon 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M)	2000 lbs
Unlimited Sport S 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M)	3500 lbs
Unlimited Sahara 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 6M)	3500 lbs
Moab 2dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)	3500 lbs

Jeep Wrangler JK (2007-2018) Towing Capacity

While it’s the radically new and better Jeep Wrangler JK, it’s not out of any surprise it’s referred to as a satisfying towing car. The Jeep Wrangler JK was originally released between 2007 and 2018, and as for the towing capacity customers can expect, it’s mentioned that the JK is capable of towing around 2,000 lbs.

It’s more accurate to say that the forthcoming model is equipped with a larger, more powerful drivetrain that is capable of doing a little better than others. JK Unlimited, the updated version of JK, can tow 3,500 pounds.

With as many people now staying out a little later for recreation, you may consider towing a camping trailer to the farm to remain out for a time. What’s more, while you aren’t strapped down with a truck, there are bumper-mounted hitches available that you may attempt to choose from.

Jeep Wrangler LJ (2004-2006) Towing Capacity

The Wrangler LJ has a very long wheelbase of 118.4 inches, versus the Wrangler TJ, which has a wheelbase of only 93.4 inches. The Wrangler LJ’s factory towing capacity is a whopping 3,500 pounds.

That is 1,500 pounds more than the smaller Wrangler’s towing capacity! Keep in mind, however, that many LJ owners would recommend not exceeding 3,000 pounds. It is certainly wiser to be prudent when you are driving on bumpy roads.

Jeep Wrangler TJ (1996-2006) Towing Capacity

You see TJ hitches, many of which don’t match your particular bumper. There are a few other types of hitch, though, and you choose the one ideal for your car based on your needs.

It’s not the only kind of hitch you can have. Instead, you’ll likely see Martin hitching mounted beneath the bumper, which is sturdier but takes longer to install.

Newer Jeeps with this new hitch have a rating significantly greater than those preceding it, up to 4,000 pounds.

You can quite literally pull around one much more than a small to a medium enclosed trailer, which falls into the category designated to small enclosed trailers.

Even if your friend has a boat on a lake that he can take you on for a great weekend fishing trip, the small enclosed trailer is easily pulled out to be loaded onto your Jeep or hitch.

Jeep Wrangler YJ (1987-1995) Towing Capacity

The Jeep Wrangler YJ was released between 1987 and 1995. This particular Wrangler distinguished itself from other models thanks to the shape of the headlights. Their headlights boast a round shape not found in other Wranglers.

The Jeep YJ rough-terrain precursor in 1987 was affordable, so it had a title, the CJ-7, for the longest period of time. That’s discussed in more detail on our Jeep information website, Jeep Wrangler Newbies.

Looking at the Jeep forums, you will notice a lot of guys boasting about the vehicles’ towing capability, saying that they use them to tow farm machinery weighing around 2,700 pounds.

How To Increase Towing Capacity Jeep Wrangler?

Imagine you’re towing your trailer at the maximum towing capacity of your Jeep Wrangler or you have selected the proper tow equipment for your trailer’s additional weight.

Then, if whoops—you hit the towing capacities of your trailer or your vehicle, you can change the current towing setup to optimally leverage towing capacity.

Ultimately ensuring that you don’t get stuck on the side of a road again! For this, you can do the following things:

Know Your Wrangler’s Weight Capacity

Approximately 25 percent of a vehicle’s engine or transmission may be damaged in the event that it’s subjected to towing too much. Keep in mind that engine damage from towing is specifically common in the mountains.

What’s even more important, spending a little money now to upgrade your vehicle can be maintained with the protection of your vehicle from whatever dangers you may be confronted with in the future.

Be sure to inspect your owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer before towing your Jeep Wrangler to ensure that you are towing the maximum amount of weight allowed.

If your Wrangler’s towing rating is close to the allocated limit, move on to the parts mentioned later in this article.

Install A Power Programmer

There are computerized systems being installed on most towing vehicles today for reducing fuel expenses. Despite their greater power at low revs, this doesn’t translate into better acceleration and maximum torque.

A power programmer installed into your vehicle enables you, shortly after the purchase, to modify the vehicle’s engine or transmission settings for towing purposes.

Driving down the road will quickly return you to the standard mode if you do not utilize any hitches with it.

Bear in mind that taking a shorter trip to build up more power from a tuner will make it more difficult to tow the vehicle. To get the most out of a programmer, you will likely need to pair it with another upgrade.

Upgrade the Hitch

Don’t be too mesmerized by how your Jeep Wrangler’s trailer hitch functions. Your Jeep Wrangler’s towing hitch is the physical mechanism that permits your automobile to be towed.

Aside from paying for installation, you also desire to make sure that your towing hitch is rated for your trailer. If you do have additional money to spend, it would be well-advised to invest in a high-end hitch with proper weight distribution capability.

A weight distribution hitch acts to evenly distribute the weight of your trailer throughout a larger portion of your vehicle’s frame than ever before, preventing the trailer from pulling back toward the rear of your trailer receiver hitch.

This expands the range of the vehicle’s suspension to improve the overall weight your trailer can carry.

Opt for Strong Axles

Since your Wrangler is a towing vehicle, the rear end of your vehicle is loaded with a great deal of weight and transfers a lot of energy when towing. The rear axle plays a significant role in determining the upper limit of capacity for towing.

So, it’s fine to speak with your mechanic at the vehicle garage to find out which kind of axle would be better for your Jeep Wrangler.

They can tell you more details on which axles help increase towing capacity more specifically and can help you plan your budget more effectively.

Upgrade Suspension System

This is the modification that works best when you upgrade from a weight distribution hitch. Upgrading the suspension system improves your Wrangler’s carrying capacity, UPH, and also increases the rated weight, which can have a direct influence on your ability to tow a heavier trailer.

The upgrade also helps improve your vehicle’s overall ride quality, which can also make your vehicle a more prominent choice for towing.

FAQs

Although we have dealt with the vast majority of the necessary information, it is not unexpected that you may have some questions regarding Jeep Wrangler towing capacity in your mind. Hence, this portion is built to handle those prevalent queries.

Is it possible to gain 5,000 lbs with a Jeep Wrangler?

No, even the finest factory-built 2021 Jeep Wrangler unlimited two-wheel drive model isn’t capable of towing 5,000 pounds. As far as we have seen, the maximum towing capacity of Jeep Wranglers is 3500 lbs.

Are Jeep Wranglers good for towing?

Jeep wranglers often tow small campers. Even though their towing capacity is smaller than other vehicles, you can make use of an efficient wrangler to tow a trailer while satisfying safety requirements. Jeep Wranglers are suitable for towing Airstream Trailers, Teardrop Trailers, etc.

Why is Jeep Wrangler towing capacity so low?

Jeep Wrangler’s towing capacity is low because of its higher curb weight. If you pull a heavy load with a Jeep Wrangler, you are exceeding its towing limit and are putting unwanted strain on the powertrain, brakes, and other vital parts for heavy-duty engines.

How much does it cost to put a tow package on a Jeep Wrangler?

Professional hitch installation costs $100 to $250 for labor costs, plus the price of any trailer hitch equipment. Prices start from approximately $300 and can reach $600, depending on each part and the address.

Conclusion

At this point, you might have learned that the Jeep Wrangler towing capability depends on the specific version and can be maximized by after-market upgrades.

So, no matter what Jeep Wrangler model you have, it is always wise to have an idea about the maximum towing capacity. To start your Jeep journey in complete safety, we recommend that you utilize a maximum of 80% of the tow capacity of your Wrangler.

This means, if your Wrangler’s tow capacity is 3500 lbs, the trailer’s weight should not exceed 2800 lbs.

Jeep Towing Capacity: How Much Can a Jeep Wrangler Tow?

What is Vehicle Towing Capacity?