Will a Jeep Wrangler pull it.

[Laura June]

Just wondering if anyone has pulled a Rockwood Aframe with a jeep wrangler?
If so, does it work? The book says it is rated at 1,000 or 25 square feet of frontal space.

[CCrane2299]

Yes.

[arlee453]

You need to know the towing capability/weight of the Wrangler and also the weight (empty/dry and total max load) of the camper you are considering.

What I can find says the standard Wrangler only has a towing capability *MAX* of 2000 lbs. That apparently depends on the year & model you have and if you have the towing package. Explore Jeep Capabilities | Towing Reference Guide | Jeep

**EDIT... I did notice a tab where there are some Wrangler models (on the "Unlimited" tab in the above link, that have tow capacity up to 3,500. If you have one of those, then an A-Frame would be within the capacity. ***

The smallest A-frame that I can find on the Forest River website is model A 102. It has dry weight of 1,666 lbs, max weight fully loaded of 2,415 lbs.

Even empty, and assuming your jeep has the 2,000 lb towing capability, that would be maxing out your vehicle. The towing capability is calculated assuming NO cargo in the jeep and only 1 person of 150 lbs. Add gear and a 2nd person and a full tank of gas, and you are over the 2,000 lb towing limit.

If you have the jeep model with only 1,000 lb towing capability, then I personally wouldn't use it to to any travel trailer. I don't know of any traditional TT that is less than 1000 lb. But, let's see what other say...

[CCrane2299]

Correction...no. I see you have a 1000 pound limit. You must have a 4 cyl jeep. If so, no it will not pull it.

[bikendan]

with a 1000lbs. tow capacity, you'll have a hard time finding even a popup to pull with that low of a number.
you might want to look at alternative types of campers, like super-lite tent campers.

[Kaytee1206]

We pulled a quicksilver pop up by livin lite with my 4 cylinder wrangler

[Triguy]

I'd have to agree. The Wrangler is not known as a good tow vehicle. Fun capable off-road climber, but not for towing a camper of that size. I believe the hitch is a class 2 and it sounds like yours did not come with the towing package, which is why it's 1,000lbs max.

[Kathyrarnold]

Have a jeep. It's rated to tow more than yours, but even I wouldn't use it to tow that trailer.

[Jeep4Two]

You need to check on what your Jeep is rated to tow. Here's my setup:

2011 Jeep Wrangler 2-door (short wheelbase), Automatic with the 3.8L V6. That setup will include the 3.73 rear axle ratio and is rated to tow 2000lbs with 200lbs tongue weight. The 4-door, same engine and transmission, is rated for 3500lbs and 350lbs tongue weight.

Jeeps with the manual transmission can have one of three rear axle ratios, 3.21, 3.73 or 4.10. The 3.21 axle ratio is rated for only 1000lbs of towing.

If you have the tow package and a manual transmission, you will have the 3.73 axle (or the 4.10 on a Rubicon, or a 4.10 if it was added as an option).

The key is axle ratio, and length of the wheelbase.

My 2011 A126 A-Frame has a dry weight of 1924lbs and a tongue weight of 270lbs or so.

The hitch that is included in the tow package is a 2" receiver, listed as a class II hitch. I'm not sure why it's listed as a class II and is a 2" receiver, but it is.

Bottom line: Check your setup, and if you have a 3.8L V6 with a 3.73 or higher axle ratio you can tow 2000lbs with the 2 door, or 3500lbs with the 4 door. If you have a Jeep that is older than a 2007, then you'll have to look at the older model specs.

My setup is actually towing slightly more than rated when loaded. The camper dry weight of 1924lbs is without propane and battery, so add that in and I'm right at 2000lbs. Add camping gear and I'm in the 2200-2400 range.

To make my setup safe I added a Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) and redistribute weight to the front axle (the short wheelbase doesn't like the heavier tongue weight, so the WDH balanced things out). The Jeep tows great (or as great as an underpowered 3.8L v6 can tow). It's not a rocket, but it does fine.

I also added an auxiliary transmission cooler to help keep the transmission cool. The Automatic tranny on the Jeep is known to run hot, so I wasn't comfortable towing without an aux cooler.

See my signature for details on my setup including part numbers for the WDH, Shank and Transmission Cooler.

No need for an aux tranny cooler if you have the manual transmission and a 3.73 axle or higher. No need for WDH if you have the 4-door. Just add the 7-way wiring harness, a brake controller and choose a camper that keeps you in the right tongue weight and total weight range.

[Jeep4Two]

Here's a pic all setup in tow mode after returning from a short trip. I have a little over 1000 miles towing this setup so far with no problems. It's all about making sure your vehicle is properly equipped and setup correctly:

[Laura June]

Thanks everyone for the input. The jeep does have a V6. I am sure that the 2,000 lbs. is more than it will handle safely . I was just wandering if anyone was really pulling an Aframe. I guess we will just pull it with our truck.

[Jeep4Two]

If you have a truck, that would certainly give you a better towing experience. I sometimes wish I had kept my trick as an 'extra' vehicle.

[Yukon Don]

Hi Laura.
I just got in today from hauling my A-frame across northern Manitoba with a Jeep Wrangler.
You never did specify whether you have the two or four door.

I've got the four door with just the stock, factory-installed tow package and recently used it to haul a 1750 pound A-frame (plus an obscene amount of ultimately unnecessary gear) from Lethbridge, Alberta all the way up through the Rockies in Alberta, BC and the Yukon to the Arctic Circle.
Lotsa steep up and down, lotsa rough roads. No major problems.

If you've got the four door and just gotta have your Jeep along, then have the dealer install the tow package. It'll do you fine for all but the largest A-frames (as an aside, my last RV was an A-Liner A-Lite which weighed a mere 700 pounds but was pretty spartan).
Otherwise, as Jeep4Two says, you're further ahead to use a truck.

(photo included because I just uploaded it from my camera and thought it was kinda neat....)

[Jeep4Two]

Cool pic! Love it Don. Glad your trip went well.

[Yukon Don]

Thank you, kind sir.
I've been playing around with night photography and have trips planned for the end of this month (harvest moon) and the end of October (another full moon and should be a good cold-weather test for the T10)

[Jeep4Two]

Not to steal the thread... But night shots are so much fun. I look forward to seeing your work.

Nothing like a Jeep and an AFrame to stir your creativity!

[JeepJunkie]

I'll post a pic after this coming weekend but I tow with a 2 door Jeep Wrangler. I have the A124 & don't have any problems.

[MtnGuy]

Would you believe this is what I tow.......



........NOT !!!

Even towing the lightest Coleman pop-up, I had to 2nd gear up some of the mountains around here.



But......as you can see I have the older TJ, and it has the 4 banger. As others have indicated, I think JKs with the 6 cylinder with the 4.10s is rated to tow 3500 lbs.

The hitch may be a concern. When I checked out the JKs a couple of years ago, the hitch was a class II. Class IIs usually just have 1 1/4" openings, but Jeep decided to put in the 2". That can be misleading to folks not familiar with hitch ratings......."if my 2" shank goes into it, then it should work".

There should be a sticker on the factory hitch with the hitch ratings. Most Class II hitches have a 3500 lb. maximum tow rating with a 350 lb. maximum tongue weight. Some A-Frame tongue weights may exceed 350 lbs. when the camper is setup ready to travel.

Most (if not all) Class II hitches do not allow for a WDH setup.

You guys are great with talking this thing out, and realizing the limitations of pulling with a properly equipped Wrangler. Y'all are pulling pop-ups and A-frames, not conventional full sized campers.

[JeepJunkie]

Mtnguy that's funny I bet you have to tow up hill both ways?

[JeepJunkie]

1st camping trip in the new A124 with the Jeeps.