One of our new members was talking about the trailer he pulls behind his Commander and it reminded me of a thread I saw someplace else... So I will ask the question here, What do you pull behind your Commander?
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One of our new members was talking about the trailer he pulls behind his Commander and it reminded me of a thread I saw someplace else... So I will ask the question here, What do you pull behind your Commander?
I have pulled several trailers over the 4 years I have had my Commander, I have the 5.7 Hemi so there are a lot of options available.
The first picture is my 12 foot box trailer that I used to haul the Boy Scout Troop equipment around in, now I keep my personal camping equipment there as well as a full set of tires for the Commander for places like Camp Commander.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...SCI00016-1.jpg
The second picture is my 18 foot flat bed car hauler with my 1955 Willy's Pick-up truck that has been in the family since I was in High School. Maybe I will finish it someday.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i.../Trailer-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...DSCI0012-2.jpg
The third picture is a pop-up trailer that I borrowed from a friend for Camp Commander 2010, I think this is the way I will go from now on as sleeping in a tent is not as much fun as it used to be.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...SCI00371-1.jpg
I towed a 76 Bonair pop up tent trailer last year on a cross country road trip. The trailer has no brakes, is about 12' long and is fairly heavy when loaded. There is a bit of trailer sway on the highway as the trailer sags to one side because of a frame failure on a pothole. The Jeep gets horrible mileage while towing but handles the load rather well. The trailer suffered a blow out at about 60 MPH and the Jeep kept dragging it like nothing happened.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...DSCF2098-1.jpg
Here is a partial pic of my trailer............finally.
I guess that would have been me...(the new member) :)
What I tow:
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...IMG_0017-1.jpg
I tow a 2008 FunFinder X-210WBS. It is a 21' box, but, if you add the tongue and a waste pipe mod I did, the whole thing comes out at 25.5 feet. I have a bicycle rack for the back that adds another 3.5 feet, so the whole rig as I tow it is right at ~29 feet. Since we tend to go for several months (ahh, reitrement) we tow on the heavy side, I'm right at ~5900 lbs with a tongue weight of ~715 lbs. Use an Equal-i-zer weight distribution hitch to get the Jeep to squat equally at all four corners and a Prodigy P3 to get the whole shebang to stop.
Great towing, rock solid (can't say enough about the lack of frame flex in the Commander) and the Hemi is more than up to the task of hauling 3 tons all around the country! I've got about 28,000 on this setup now and love the combination. I average 10.7 mpg going cross country and back, no complaints at all. Best I've gotten is 12 mpg through the flats of Kansas, the worst, 8.5 mpg on Rt. 550 from Durango up to Silverton... For what its worth, that kind of mileage, in the RV world, particularly out of a TV weighing almost 3 tons itself and with full time 4x4 drive, is pretty darn good.
Since we live in the boonies, I have an 8x16 utility trailer, but, compared to the FunFinder, I don't even know the utility is hooked up...
I tow a bracket race car on occasion. I use a weight equalizing hitch and a sway bar. Usually just a short trip to the race track and back, but I have towed it several hundred miles to California and back before.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...IMG_1913-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...IMG_1914-1.jpg
I also movede my man cave / workshop by winching it on top of my car hauler.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i.../10/0018-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i.../10/0028-1.jpg
'92 Cherokee trail rig. Weighs in at about 5000# It tows beautifully. I get 9-10 MPG with the Tow tune on my flashpaq.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...78398e74-1.jpg
I kinda feel left out, my (the wife's) commander does not pull anything. I have my truck for that, I could post a pic of it.
I have a Trailmanor 2619 hard sided pop-up trailer. Those of you at Camp Commander in Silverton got to look first hand. It is a very interesting pop-up, 19 feet when traveling (17 when parked in garage) and 26 feet when set up. I like the hard sided trailer much better than a tent trailer for foul weather traveling, quiet inside, larger size, and significantly less set-up at the destination. Trailmanors are special built, extremely lightweight (read extremely expensive for what you get) trailers, made to be towed by mid-range SUVs.
I orginally bought the Trailmanor to go behind my 1995 Chevy S-10 V6, which only had 165hp and max tow rating of 5000lbs. Even though I only have the 4.7L V-8 in the XK, it more than handles the trailer which maxes out at just under 5000lbs fully loaded with 47gal of fresh water, 10 gal propane, and lots of gear. Hill climbing in the S-10 was a nightmare. The XK tows uphill at 65mph like the trailer isn't even there. The only exception was I had to turn off the A/C while hill climbing in almost 100 degree weather coming across the desert.
I also have a weight distributing hitch which helps with the rear end sag on the XK, especially since I am running the 2.5 inch lift. Even with the hitch, I am considering more robust rear springs due to a lot of bouncing when loaded and towing, and a little bit of remaining sag.
With my lift and tire set up, I get about 12-13mpg not towing. I got a little under 10mpg cross country from California to Colorado towing it. The trailer folds down to slightly lower than the rear of the XK, so it adds very little wind resistance. As stated above, not bad for the RV world. My parents have a 34' class A which only gets 7mpg.
Hummers.........
Definitely! We must be civilized and help our neighbors even if they've made unwise decisions.Quote:
Originally Posted by 07JeepXK
:)
Can we be civilized if we laugh while pulling?Quote:
Originally Posted by superacerc
It is possible... however, due to the lack of motivation to be civilized by those on off road trails it has only been documented on rare occasions.
At the end of the summer we got an amazing deal on a pop-up: a used 2007 Fleetwood Niagara. We've only camped in it a few times now, but it's been great. It's high-walled with a slide-out, indoor shower/flushable toilet, microwave, and all sorts of other goodies that have no business being in a tent trailer. GVWR: about 4000 pounds. Other than needing a ridiculous drop-hitch due to my lift and tires, we've just used a straight hitch set-up so far (no sway or equalizer). It's been fine.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...0/006JPG-1.jpg
More pictures, and write-ups of the few modifications I've had time for, can be found via here.
Great find and I enjoyed the modification write-up too!Quote:
Originally Posted by El Cid
Lately I have been doing more pushing than pulling. It is kind of hard to push this rig up the hills.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...04/00521-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i.../06/0251-1.jpg
I do plan on getting a pop up trailer or something I can put on the front of a flatbed to still be able to bring a trail rig. I have all thru out this last winter going to get 2 tons of presto loggs about once a month; with trailer & cargo about 6k. Works great everytime. here is a link to a pic of myself towing a 8 man hot tub on top of a uhaul 5x8 trailer. I t was funny as heck. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...type=1&theater
I'm currently using three trailers with my Commander. This one is military surplus. Shown here I am proud to display it towing my BIG John Deere !!! I'm sure this John Deere must weigh in around 9500 Pd's plus or minus a zero.. or two ...
I cut the back to make a " tail gate " and it now opens down 90 or 180 deg's.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...mmera008-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...mmera005-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...DSCN0743-1.jpg
This is my trailer I had for over 20 years and it has been towed in most of the states in the USA. The last time I rebuilt it I added the capability to use my winch ( same one I use on the front and back of my Commander) to pull cars or over-sized items up on it.
This is an exciting trip to the dump. In the 2nd photo I have my " CAT " loaded on the trailer to help push off my trash.
Works Great !!!
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...mmera229-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...mmera231-1.jpg
This trailer is used in one of my " other jobs ". I'm afraid to weight it. Luckily most of the time I use, it the terrain is fairly tame.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...DSCN0538-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...DSCN0540-1.jpg
Having FINALLY taken my first REAL trip in it since buying it last October (Pittsburgh to Buffalo & back last weekend), the only thing I "towed" with it, was a lotta itty-bittymobiles in my draft/wake on I-79 & 90! ;)
Does THAT count? :cool:
I was waiting to get a picture before I posted, but that could take awhile. :p Anyway, we used to tow our T@B travel trailer, which is weighed 2,000lbs, loaded and was 16' long. Last summer, we upgraded to a 26' travel trailer which weighs 6,000lbs loaded. I don't think we get it that heavy, though.
On websites like RV.net, the "experts" frequently discourage posters from using a Commander to tow larger trailers, such as ours. However, I am continually impressed with how well the Commander does towing our travel trailer. We put a lot of effort into finding a trailer that meets our needs and would be a good combo with our Jeep. I have made several trips over the Rockies and can go as fast as the curving roads will allow without having the engine screaming. Towing in the mountains, I average around 9 mpg and typically get 12 mpg towing on the interstates.
The Commander has the power, torque, and gearing in all the right places needed for pulling heavy loads.
-TJ
This was from yesterday
Attachment 1390
29ft terry resort 29r is what I was told.
I was helping a friend by towing this for 30+ miles. BTW it had no brakes, so took country roads only. It gave the hemi a work out, thats for sure.
Not sure if this is towing or pulling..!. but I had to add our City's first gas fire truck, a 1925 American LaFrance.
We do our best to keep her running and give rides to the kids during city events. A chase/escort vehicle is always around and every once in a while she needs a little help with our Bubba rope.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...DSCN0786-1.jpg
man I love your Jeep!!! Definitely one of my favorites on here!!
Mostly done towing it now.. but currently living in it until we close on our house.
21 ft Forest River Toyhauler
https://theultimatejeep.com/notfound.png
Thanks... She's my baby.. I have lots of my limited free time in her. My XK is my first (and perhaps only) new vehicle in my life. Thinking I will keep her so long that I can be buried in her ! Lol .....Quote:
Originally Posted by 06JeepXKHEMI
That is a Beautiful XK man!Quote:
Originally Posted by 1USMC
Yea I hear ya, this is the first car Ive ever financed. I like it so much Ill probably keep it forever, love theXK!!!
I've got a 4x8 Harbor Freight utility trailer that I use quite a bit. Here's a pic right after I emptied it of trash at the local dump:
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...17955000-1.jpg
Whenever i go home to Arkansas, i haul off scrap metal thats on my familys land, the trailer is 1900 lbs and i usually haul about 2000 to 2500 lbs. do a load or two, just enough to fill up the tank and the cooler! :D
Attachment 1609
8.5 x 20 enclosed trailer with a car in it. Loaded up it is probably at about 6000-6500 lbs. Brake controller and weight distribution hitch are a must. I get about 9mpg pulling this around, and I'm actually getting pretty good at backing her up too!
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...2_192942-1.jpg
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...012/10/9-1.jpg
get about 11 mpg and weighs in just shy of 7000
Careful. You're right at/over the total weight limit with that setup. Especially with gear. Getting the trans rebuilt costs about $2500. Ask me how I know.
I dont do it often, and am buying a tow rig this year anyways. The warranty will cover it too I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by jcoulter
That's what I thought, "5-6 times a year won't hurt". Ya right. Oh well live and learn. I'm in the market as well. Can't believe the price of the good diesels! Good luck in your hunt.
Don't tow with my XK and won't. We use Attachment 1727Goldie for that.