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wj towing

11K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  mountian goat 
#1 ·
ok so i am no new comer to towing, i know some rigs can be push alittle beyond their factory tow ratings, so i have a 04 wj with 3.73's cold air intake and hyperteck programmer... a couple years ago i pulled my pontiac grand prix 1,900 miles from michigan on a car dolly it did ok, the prix weighted about 5,000 pounds load down with every thing i could fit in the jeep, it was loaded down so i was pretty much at the factory towing capicity... so now my new challange, back in michigan i have a 1986 chevy 3/4 ton that has a big block in it so it a no go with driving, it weights about 5,700 pounds, i was wondering if it woud be to much on my trans if i towed it on a car dolly, are the trans behind the 4.0 stout enough to handle the extra weight. thanks for any input you can give me
 
#2 ·
I would be more worried about the breaks than the trans. The WJ's are very lacking when it comes to towing and breaks. The trans should hold up okay if you take it slow and don't push it hard up hills. I personally wouldn't even do it in my v8 with the tow package without a break controller.
 
#8 ·
are you sure about the 3.73s? i thought those only came with V8s?? i could be wrong though, but thats how it was with the 1st gen grands, I6=3.55 V8=3.73..
 
#10 ·
Since you're probably going to do this regardless, I have a thought...

What about dolly-style towing? Pull the drive shafts out of the rear of the truck, throw it in the bed. Put the front wheels on a tow dolly, that way your Jeep is not supporting the full weight of the towed vehicle. Taking the drive shaft out will save the diff and trans from unnecessary wear.

Unless the truck is dingy-towable. Or you can make it dingy-towable by removing both front/rear shafts. Then all you need is a tow bar, and all you'd be worrying about are the brakes.

Take it easy and map out the most efficient/flat route, and you should be fine.
 
#12 ·
yes my wj with the I-6 did come with 3.55, but i did some upgrades. i took a dana 44 out of a wreck overland and put it in,so i have 3.73 limted slip now. then i found a 3.73 liimited slip carrier and swapped it in my dana 30....as far as towing goes i tow my grand prix behide my wj on a tow dolly 1,900 miles and that thing weighted in a alittle over 5,000 load down and that was with the 3.55 gears...and yeah i know the stealerships will tell you anything for a buck, thanks for the advice..
 
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