[peta8368]

The 5x9 that you towed with the x5 has an empty weight of 1240lb. The 6x12 that you towed with the wk2 have an empty weight of 2290lb. That's over 1000lb heavier. Also, the width of the 6x12 means it will extend past the side of the wk2, causing additional wind resistance. Whereas the 5x9 would tuck behind the x5. Poorly adjusted surge brakes like Jim said could also contribute to this.

The braking distant part is baffling though. The 6x12 has surge brakes, so I'm not sure why braking distance increase would be greater than the x5 towing the 5x9.

In any case, nice Vespa. Looks a little funny in the giant 6x12 though.

Peter

 

[FredoinSF]

The 5x9 that you towed with the x5 has an empty weight of 1240lb. The 6x12 that you towed with the wk2 have an empty weight of 2290lb. That's over 1000lb heavier. Also, the width of the 6x12 means it will extend past the side of the wk2, causing additional wind resistance. Whereas the 5x9 would tuck behind the x5. Poorly adjusted surge brakes like Jim said could also contribute to this.

The braking distant part is baffling though. The 6x12 has surge brakes, so I'm not sure why braking distance increase would be greater than the x5 towing the 5x9.

In any case, nice Vespa. Looks a little funny in the giant 6x12 though.

Peter

No surprise the WK2 with HEMI is no fuel miser but still was surprised at the drop. I expected closer in th 15-16MPG range. I may end up towing more with the Jeep if my little plan of renting an Airstream and hitting the national parks along with the remaining 10 states I have not been to comes to fruition. That would be in 2024 when I stop working in tech, so time will tell. Other than that, towing should be minimal.

Yep, the trailer I used this time was larger and heavier; I took what they had.
The X5 diesel was my beast of burden and I used to tow regularly with it, usually the large enclosed trailers. We emptied my partner's parents house who were borderline hoarders, emptied our main house in the SF Bay Area and shuffled stuff from there to our other two homes in Reno / Tahoe and Sonoma, and also made many trips to the dump during a full remodel of the NV house. It was a great car that I sold when I bought a new 5 series in 2019 foolishly thinking I could do without a SUV because I was done with moving remodeling and triathlons... I should have held on to it or bought a newer version, but the 5er and Jeep combo is nice too.

Gratuitous photo of loading during the 'move'.

Not too many BMW's at the dump 😁

 

[philosoghee]

Just put new oem shocks on, as well as 1.5 inches of the rough country level kit on the front suspension just to level it out.

 

[ATCSFC]

installed my Gobi ladder.

 

[Crice04]

Ordered raptor lights and rain guards today. Hopefully putting them on this weekend

 

[IDoMy0wnRacing]

I installed the Gleaming Rear Differential Guard (XOPlate).

I have to admit it is a very easy installation, the engineering and hardware is top notch which makes the install a breeze.

I would say that it is a 1-hour installation. I setup my area, gathered up the required tool (which is outlined in the instructions), placed the Jeep in OR2 mode and backed it on to a set of ramps.

I took 2-pictures before the install, installed the Rear Differential Guard, took a couple more pictures after the install, took it off of the ramps and put away my tools and it took me only 40-minutes.

** One caveat, if you have aftermarket exhaust you may run into a small fitment issue at the front of the Rear Differential Guard. The Rear Differential Guard Just touches the exhaust on both sides (see attached pictures). I am going to make a road test it to check for noise; I may have to clearance the exhaust a little bit if I am going to keep the Rear Differential Guard.

Quality = 10
Difficulty of installation = 2 out of 10 (only because raising the vehicle and tools are required). 1 easiest and 10 most difficult

Here is where it is touching the exhaust. Just barely, at the corners, but it is touching.

 

[IDoMy0wnRacing]

I installed the Gleaming Rear Differential Guard (XOPlate).

I have to admit it is a very easy installation, the engineering and hardware is top notch which makes the install a breeze.

** One caveat, if you have aftermarket exhaust you may run into a small fitment issue at the front of the Rear Differential Guard. The Rear Differential Guard Just touches the exhaust on both sides (see attached pictures). I am going to make a road test it to check for noise; I may have to clearance the exhaust a little bit if I am going to keep the Rear Differential Guard.

Here is where it is touching the exhaust. Just barely, at the corners, but it is touching.

View attachment 243915

I was able to correct the fitment issue by raising the front of the skid plate by drilling a hole about 3/4 of an inch above the original mounting hole in the "L" brackets that mount to the control arm mount.

 

[andrewsiff]

I awakened this morning at a hotel 200 miles from home, having been weeping, at an increasing rate, coolant from a heater hose yesterday. Called a kid who used to work for me who’s now in parts for a group that includes a Jeep dealer. Stopped in Richmond to pickup the actual part, to be installed later. Drove the rest of the way with neither a worry or problem.

 

[FredoinSF]

More something I discovered than something I did: the hitch ball mount has a storage spot on the left side of the spare wheel organizer.
That alone is worth the price of admission.

 

[ATCSFC]

I installed the Gleaming Rear Differential Guard (XOPlate).

I have to admit it is a very easy installation, the engineering and hardware is top notch which makes the install a breeze.

I would say that it is a 1-hour installation. I setup my area, gathered up the required tool (which is outlined in the instructions), placed the Jeep in OR2 mode and backed it on to a set of ramps.

I took 2-pictures before the install, installed the Rear Differential Guard, took a couple more pictures after the install, took it off of the ramps and put away my tools and it took me only 40-minutes.

** One caveat, if you have aftermarket exhaust you may run into a small fitment issue at the front of the Rear Differential Guard. The Rear Differential Guard Just touches the exhaust on both sides (see attached pictures). I am going to make a road test it to check for noise; I may have to clearance the exhaust a little bit if I am going to keep the Rear Differential Guard.

Quality = 10
Difficulty of installation = 2 out of 10 (only because raising the vehicle and tools are required). 1 easiest and 10 most difficult

View attachment 243910

View attachment 243911

View attachment 243912

View attachment 243913

View attachment 243914

Here is where it is touching the exhaust. Just barely, at the corners, but it is touching.

View attachment 243915

The situation you'd have to be in to hit the rear diff....Don't get me wrong I'm going to order one but holy hell.

 

[MallCrawl-NV]

Put some new vinyl wrap on in place of the old stock trailhawk vinyl on my hood. At 5 years old, the stock vinyl was in bad shape and always looked dirty. I've wrapped my motorcycle a few times, so the (mostly) flat hood was pretty easy. I used satin black (same as I had my roof wrapped in), and just followed the edges of the stock vinyl with knifeless tape to cut the lines. For a couple hours work, and $40 worth of vinyl, I'm happy with the results. Now I just need to wash the rest of the Jeep so it looks as clean as the hood.