Hello forum,
The last two months I've learned a lot from reading all the chat. Now a member, here's a question. Any Jeep Wrangler owners out there that trailer 4 quads (3 quads & a motorcycle)? I'm trying to decide on a trailer for a Wrangler, this is difficult due to their short wheel base, and their limited towing capability. What are you using out there? Single axle or tandem axle, steel or aluminum, trailers for sleds, size, etc....help. Appreciate any ideas.

 

Go4it:

Never towed with a Jeep but put a lot of miles on a 74 Bronco which is similar in wheelbase and weight. I found the best setup, when pulling boats and horse trailers anyway, was a tandem axel with brakes on it. The rig was so darn short that it was easy to start fishtailing with trailers with no brakes. Worst case scenario would be going downhill in a corner and have a deer jump out in front of you. No way your going to control things with no trailer brakes. JMHO based on a lot of miles.

 

I tried to haul my enclosed (with only a 400ex in it) 6x12,,,,,and it couldnt do it,,,,,had to run 3rd or 4th gear on the highway (98 wrangler 4.0)

I would say, aluminum, flatbead, single axle......and be sure the toungue weight is proper (balanced load).

Or do like we did and buy a truck[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

they are all in my pics

 

oh,,,,and electric brakes

and with two axles the load may balance a little better.

 

Man !! Talk about co-inky-dinks !!!

Refer to my my earlier post regarding trailering an ATV. Here's the deal:

My '98 2.4L Jeep Wrangler tow capacity is rated at 1000# with auto tranny and 2000# w/manual transmission.

In California (and many other places) you do NOT need brakes on a trailer until the total weight of the trailer and load exceed 2000#.

My new single axle trailer weighs 650# and my Rancher weighs in at a bit under 550#. Add in tools, ramps, gas cans, and "stuff" and you are still well under capacity for the 2.4L Wrangler w/ stick shift.

I just had my Wrangler set-up to tow the new trailer and will pick up my new Recon with it this afternoon.

Now, let's talk about wheelbase a minute: with a Wrangler, a trailer 10' or over could pose a problem - NOT towing but stopping. When you brake the Jeep, the inertia of the trailer's speed becomes a big lever (or "prybar") with the force being exerted wher the trailer hitches to the Jeep. Because of the lever, equal to or maybe even "longer", than the wheelbase of the Jeep; the result is to jack-knife or swap ends. This is exaggerated when you try to brake going downhill at highway speeds.

All that said: keeping the trailer single axled and 10' or less, staying under towing capacity, and staying at the legal 55mph for towing a trailer and there should not be a problem. A long haul with a Wrangler might get a little "old".

Yeah, I know, 25 of you will write and say you exceed ALL of those parameters ALL the time and have never had a problem. So ??

FWIW: I tow my 2000# orchestra at least 4 times a week (and have for the last 15 years). I also regularly tow my 7500-8000# RV trailer MANY times every year, so while that does not make me an expert, it does mean that I have some very experience to base my opinions on.

Hope this helps with your question.

 

Tandem axles are usually a good idea. They do wonders for the stability of the trailer at speed. Long trailers are also more stable at speed. I'm not pickin' up what Ol is puttin' down regarding wheelbase...

How far are you going? That makes a difference. Just about anything can be done if the haul is short enough.

Sled trailers are nice because they're usually light and have good ramps, but they also usually have very high centers of gravity. They work well, but might be kind of "exciting" if you had to make a fast manuever with a light tow vehicle.

Aluminum trailers are the best in just about all scenarios, if you have the $$.

Four quads seems like a lot for a Jeep, but I've never owned a Wrangler (just an M38A1), so I really don't know.

I have a steel 8x12 high-deck (sled style, no fenders in the way) single-axle trailer that I use occasionally, and I tow it with a 1/2 or 3/4 ton pickup.

 

Four quads (or 3 quads and 1 motorcycle) and a trailer would weigh some where between 1450 lbs and 2900 lbs. So it would really depend on the total weight. I had to do some digging to find a class 2 hitch for my Wrangler. I used it to pull a very heavy fiberglass 18 foot open bow Chap. boat. The trailer was a dual axle with no brakes. It took a little while to get from here to there. (The jeep had a 6 cyl.) I would put it in low 4 wheel drive to back it into the water. Sometimes, I thought it was going to pull the jeep in. So, if you're going to be pulling a lot of weight then brakes on the trailer would be nice.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Just try to keep everything within the weight limits and it should do alright. Make a snack to take along if you live where there are hills. Good luck.

 

Coyotechaser,
........... you vewwy vewwy funny, guy!

LOL!!

 

I used to tow my 19.5 bayliner with a 94 jeep wrangler. Pulled it fine, just make sure you have ample stopping distance.

 

Ol,
I check your picture page once a while in hopes that there will be more desert pictures. HINT. HINT.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]