Towing 70s Argosy with 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited

[npm5031]

Does anyone have recommendations on if I would be able to tow a Argosy with a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited? I am looking to take it from PA --> CA and want to make sure I will be fine towing it before I head out.

Thank you!!!

[TheGreatleys]

3,500 lb tow capacity and 1,169 lb payload? Hope the Argosy is short...

[Bgibbs]

There is nothing about the Wrangler that makes it a tow vehicle. Suspension is too soft, wheelbase too short, etc. I had a CJ7 years ago that I used to tow a race car trailer. Loaded it weighed a little less than 4,000#. I was young and foolish. Lucky that I didn’t have a serious wreck or even worse. I would rent or borrow a proper tow vehicle and forget the Wrangler. You will be glad you did.

[DGJackson]

I've had several Jeeps - Nice thing about the old Inline 6 was it had enough torque to pull anything. Problem with wheelbase is it is to short to stop anything.

I would look at renting a suitable size truck from U-Haul. They rent standard pick-ups or get a 15-foot Box with tow capacity of 10,000 pounds. A friend rents one every time to pull his camper - two or three times a year.

Rent a properly sized truck.

[npm5031]

Thank you for your replies!

It is a 20’ Argosy. I’m moving out there so I’d have to take the vehicle I own and renting would not be an option.

[TheGreatleys]

Looks like a 1973 Minuet is 2880 lbs dry, so it might be possible. Your particular year's weight may vary, and any modifications or cargo could drastically change that number. Need to check it at the CAT scales.

Others here will tell you it's a bad idea, and hey, there's two mountain ranges on your route, so they're probably right. But if you're within the engineered specs of the truck, it should be possible to do it safely. It's certainly not the tow vehicle I would pick, but if it's what you have and the specs say you can do it...

No water, no propane, no gear inside. Decent weight distribution and sway control hitch, brake controller. Make sure your Wrangler has a 7-pin plug. If it doesn't, it may need some rewiring. Make sure those trailer brakes are 100% cause the Wrangler is going to have a hard time stopping it without them.

Where are you thinking you'll put the rest of your stuff? Moving company? You're not going to have much extra payload left for your belongings.

[drbrick]

The information on the following link may help YOU to determine the answer.

how-to-determine-if-your-tow-vehicle-is-right-for-your-trailer

[journeydog]

One can tow an airliner with a bicycle. Would I recommend it - NO!


You are one-waying it to CA, which, to me, says your AS and probably the Jeep will be packed to the max and all bets are off. I absolutely wouldn't recommend the concept.


I've seen stranger combos on the road but.....

[JCWDCW]

Take it out and run a trial trip. The wrangler is probably a bit under-powered for serious hills but first gear and slow an easy can be done. The 20 foot is do-able;you just need to compensate with your driving technique. Lots of owners pull with this type of vehicle. Not the best set-up but they do it. We have members in our club that have rolled their rig or run off the road with full sized pick-ups pulling well within the TV limits. It's driving technique that counts. You do need to listen to what journeydog says about being fully or over-loaded You need to run a test and see how you feel about the rig then decide.
If you are properly set up with a level rig and good anti-sway in place it can be done. Not the best TV for serious vacationing, but you want to get to CA ...albeit in one piece. You can decide based on your experience.
JCW

[rucos]

So if your moving ...have you been towing the trailer with the Jeep when you head out camping? .how'd it work? What about snow in the passes ? I think it would be nice to have a lot more vehicle.

[rucos]

What about hiring a RV mover to get the trailer out to its new home.??

[Shiny16]

I can’t say wether or not if you would be comfortable towing with the Jeep . If your not and you need to get the Jeep and trailer to Ca then there are uhauls the will fit a Jeep and tow the trailer.

[Richard Pope]

I believe by now if you have read the comments you have received, you get the gist that the answer is NO. You not only endanger yourselves but others who share the roads with you. That Jeep is equipped to pull 3500 pounds.

My first trailer was a new 24 foot Argosy and I pulled it with a 78 Jeep Cherokee Chief with a 390 engine. Big tires, brakes, etc. It was wonderful. I pulled my Argosy around the USA for several months without a problem but it was built for that weight.

I'd either sell the trailer, ship it, store it, have someone else tow it, but not tow it with your Jeep.

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by Bgibbs

There is nothing about the Wrangler that makes it a tow vehicle. Suspension is too soft, wheelbase too short, etc. I had a CJ7 years ago that I used to tow a race car trailer. Loaded it weighed a little less than 4,000#. I was young and foolish. Lucky that I didn’t have a serious wreck or even worse. I would rent or borrow a proper tow vehicle and forget the Wrangler. You will be glad you did.

Are you seriously trying to compare a CJ7 to a 2019 JLU? LOL

[KSA63]

Well, before I bought the Touareg I towed our 28 with my wife’s diesel Q5. We met this nice Jeep towing a 25 at a Provincial Park. So, I assure you it can be done. In fact we were both happy with towing performance.

As others stated, go into this with your eyes open and be careful.

[mkcurtiss]

My 1992 Jeep Cherokee is rated for 5000 lbs.....so technically i should be able to tow my 26' Airstream with it.........it weighs 5000 lbs......But that would be totally insane! not to mention, I would tear up my Jeep !
Vehicle ratings are about 50% bs....

[Grateful26]

Get on YouTube or Google and learn the math for GVWR and Payload and you’ll better understand why your idea is not safe or legal.
Yes, you could tow the trailer. It is a risk and if you get in an accident, you are likely to be faulted as the combination should not be on the road

[out of sight]

People tow with undersized tow vehicles all the time. Basically, any tow vehicle that requires a weight distribution hitch to keep from overloading the rear axle is undersized. Yes, you can tow it with a wd hitch, but remember you have to tow it slowly and carefully.

[specauto1]

If you have a JKU the towing capacity is 3500lbs. If you have a short wheelbase its out of the question. I towed my 20' Airstream no problem with a 2015 JKU 3.6, 6sp, 4.10 axles, standard Rubicon size (32's) tires. The kicker is going to be what your axle ratio is and what wheel and tire combo you have. My Rubi is stock. If you have lifted the Jeep, that changes the suspension. If you've put oversize tires on it and not regeared it, that's even worse. So the answer to your question has multiple answers depending mostly on how your Jeep is setup. A weight distribution hitch is a necessity. As are trailer brakes.

[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by npm5031

Does anyone have recommendations on if I would be able to tow a Argosy with a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited? I am looking to take it from PA --> CA and want to make sure I will be fine towing it before I head out. Thank you!!!

.
Yeah, it can be done but what you're looking at is a serious case of the tail wagging the dog. Even empty, the Argosy will have mass that catches the weather and thus, will affect the ride and drivability, especially with the short wheelbase and width of the jeep... It wouldn't take much to roll a Jeep over with a sail like a trailer behind it.

I'm assuming you'll be catching some mountains on the way west (unless you head way south and take I-10 to CA)... either way, you'll have to stop and there's where the rub is... the Jeeps brakes are rated to stop the Jeep... add 3k+/- lbs. plus payload and you're going to have some serious brake wear (not to mention the drive train and other mechanicals), especially if you're headed through any mountains or even, serious hills...

It's a quandry when you have to be somewhere and that's all you got. I would look reall hard at other options/solutions and not take the risk because that's what it is - a risk. You might make it but at what expense?

Good luck and safe travels, NPM!
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