Will Jeep Commander Tow 18ft 185RB - X-Lite?

[xlphillips]

I saw some other good advice on this form so thought I'd get some input before I purchased a travel trailer.

I have a 2007 Jeep Commander, Sport 4dr 4x2. 210-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 (regular gas). Towing capacity 3,500 lbs.

I want to buy a travel trailer. Usually it will be me (140 lbs) and a 30 lb dog. I also have 2 bikes, 30 lbs each. Total 230 lbs.

I live in San Diego and will be driving up to BC, Canada, and Colorado Ski Resorts mostly for Mountain Biking.

I haven't purchased a travel trailer yet. I was looking at this new trailer, and want to make sure my Jeep can handle it. I could get a different SUV, as mine is 7 years old, but since its paid off and well maintained am leaning towards keeping it.

Here is the travel trailer: 18ft Wildwood XLite

X-Lite Travel Trailer by Forest River

Dry Hitch Weight 264 lbs. (120 kg)
Unloaded Vehicle Weight 2,881 lbs. (1,307 kg)
GVWR TBA (TBA)
Cargo Carrying Capacity 864 lbs. (392 kg)

Also, would I be able to use this at say, Mammoth, ski resort in the winter, eg, warm enough?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me. Erica.

[xlphillips]

Also looking at 195BH, a little heavier. Rated 3003 GV Weight
X-Lite Travel Trailer by Forest River

[davel1971]

even with the smaller one, you will well exceed the capacity once loaded. Since you stated you are looking at long mountainous trips, definitely not a good ideal. Maybe time for a new vehicle, as your towing options are very slim with that one.

[MtnGuy]

The Jeep may tow those trailers, but IMHO not safely or will it be a pleasant drive.

The hitch: When I looked at Jeeps, the receiver was a Class II with a 3500 tow rating, and a 350 lb. maximum tongue weight. The empty tongue weight of the smaller of the 2 Wildwoods is 264 lbs, and after adding a battery and propane that is going to probably be over 350 lbs, before even adding camping gear to the trailer. Plus, a WDH was not recommended for many of those hitches.

Tow rating of 3500 lbs: The general consensus here is that listed empty weight will "grow" about 400 lbs. with propane, a battery and options (awning, AC, etc.) That puts the projected deliver weight of that smaller trailer near 3300 lbs. After loading up the fridge, cooking gear, personal gear, clothes, etc., that is probalby going to be over 3500 lbs.

The engine: That is supposed to be a great engine, but pulling a full sized trailer through the wind is going to tax it, even before it gets to the mountains. A 6 banger might be more suitable for pulling a lite pop-up or A-Frame camper.....something without a big frontal area.

[xlphillips]

Thanks, MtnGuy. I knew it looked close unloaded so needed to make sure I avoided a bad decision. I am now looking at Jeep Grand Cherokee's as a TV and reconsidering the whole package.

[bikendan]

The smaller one will easily weigh over 3500 when loaded for camping.
That trailer will actually weigh around 3100lbs. when it leaves the factory, leaving only around 400lbs. for battery, propane, water and cargo, IF you only have a 150lb. driver in the Jeep. And that's not even factoring in a WDH.
As a fellow Calif. mtn. biker, I strongly advise you to get a v-8 tow vehicle, knowing the kind of places you will be going to.

[xlphillips]

Thanks Bikendan. Looks like its a new TV for me.

[vtrescue]

Check out bybrv.com. I am new to this whole travel trailer thing and by no means an expert, but saw this on a different thread and used it before putting a deposit on a trailer...you will need a little more detailed info on your vehicle and the travel trailer in terms of weights, but once you have all the info, I think it is a good resource to see how far over or under you will potentially be. You essentially plug in a bunch of different data, such as front and rear axle weight of your vehicle, etc etc and trailer weights and it will give you a go/no go and related weight you are under or over. Looks like you are looking for a new TV, but still could come in handy in the future. Best of luck.

[Taranwanderer]

As a Jeep guy, I can tell you that the 3.7 is barely robust enough to get its own weight out of its own way. I wouldn't consider towing anything more than a pop-up or a jet ski with anything equipped with that motor. My Wrangler has a 4.0, which was a much stronger engine, but thanks to the EPA and CARB, our engines have to keep getting better mileage (and thus smaller and less capable, unfortunately.) Now the Hemi that's in the GC is a much more suitable engine for towing, but the Grand is still a uni-body vehicle, and most manufacturers will advise against using a WDH with uni-body. Your best bet for a tow rig for what you're looking to do might be to find a used Dodge Ram 1500...they're plentiful for the most part, and will comfortably (and safely) do what you're asking. I only say Dodge because it appears that you want to stay in the Chrysler family, and I'm partial to them too!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[lmarshall08]

I have a 2014 JGC V6 and I am pulling a 19RR with a 800 lbs. motorcycle. It pulls great up to about 65 mph, but I also purchased it with the towing package. It's rated at 6500 lbs towing capacity and with the TH and the MC I'm at 5000 lbs so from experience i think you will be good with the V6 as long as you get the towing package.

[xlphillips]

Thanks lmarshall08...I wish I had JGC, only have a Commander at this time -- Rated to tow5550 or so. My favorite car was my 1994 JGC dealer display, every option imaginable.

[EricInColorado]

I bet that Commander could pull an "Aero" TT without you noticing it there. Maybe look at the Rpod line?

Make sure you stop in Winter Park CO for some MTB action. They have built an amazing network of trails for XC and DH. And they rent DH bikes.....

[xlphillips]

Eric - no need for a rental DH bike, I have a few! Will go to Winter Park, thanks for the info. This summer is 2 Enduro races in Colorado, Whistler Canada, then Moab. I need to work and travel so need some comfort.

Thanks for the model ideas. The Aerolite looks like an option. The rpod is cool, a little small though. I want an indoor kitchen and bathroom.

[EricInColorado]

If you DH, certainly DON'T miss Winter Park. They've gone koo-koo with their trail system.

[CampingDixieDogs]

I have a 2104s Rockwood that I could pull with an Xterra..Could it, sure. Did I feel every bump, truck passing and dying on hills because of the V6 and short wheel base...yep. I now have a 2007 Yukon pulling it.

I also have a 2007 Jeep 2 door JK and I use it to move the TT around in the backyard when it needs moving!

[bitNine]

The #1 thing people forget to include in cargo weight, are liquids. Water is 8.34 pounds per gallon (233.5 pounds), and you also have propane, which a 30lb tank is probably 55 pounds when full. So you're already at 300 pounds there. Knowing the CO mountains and resorts like I do, I would hate pulling a trailer along I70 with that vehicle. Especially if you decided to head to Winter Park (my favorite for mountain biking), and have to head up Eisenhower pass. Vail pass is bad enough.

Best of luck, and enjoy CO while you're out here

[EmersonTT]

Xlphillips, I can heartily endorse the Grand Cherokee if you are still considering that option. From what I have read on other threads, the GC V-6 gas engine (rated at 6200 lbs for towing) could comfortably handle a TT in the size range you are considering, but we opted for the 6 cylinder diesel to tow our 21 foot TT (3700 lbs dry and probably 4500 fully loaded) because we were planning a trip through Colorado. Based upon a year of traveling and camping with a 2011 Honda Pilot
as our tow vehicle, I was confident that the Pilot (250 hp) could do the job, but we were at the Pilot's max tow rating and felt the mountain passes would be a real strain on the car. The diesel performed flawlessly, and it was a special pleasure to hardly hear the engine at the low rpm's (around 2000) that the engine maintains while towing at 55-65 mph. The engine temperature climbed on the long 7% and 8% grades up to the high passes (Loveland, Vail and Wolf Creek), but I found that the temperature would stabilize in the quadrant of the gauge below the hot zone quadrant when I kept the rpm's at around 2000, where the car achieves maximum torque and just purrs along. Towing mpg is great -- 16 mpg while towing on our 4200 mile trip and 30 mpg highway when not towing. Good luck on whatever you decide!