Jeep 4 door unlimited OK to tow

[cbig]

a macgregor 25?
We want to buy a 25, older model. I understand they list the boat weight of 2100#s plus a few hundred for the trailer.
The jeep is rated for 3500 #s. I assume an outboard is a hundred lbs or so plus fuel, and maybe 10 gal of water, 100 lbs of sails and such. No extensive stuff anticipated.

Thanks,

Chuck

[beene]

Might just cut it.

I used a minivan rated the same as your Jeep 3500 to tow my 26M for the first couple years.

I was not great as the M with my 400lb motor etc etc.... was probably closer to 4500 then 3500

Look at your manual for max weights for towing and total load and towing combined, you will be close.

G

[cbig]

looks good on paper, I don't know what the actual real world weight is.

Biggest concern I see in buying these used boats is the trailer. Some of them are so poorly maintained and a new one cost as much as the boat!

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I have towed with my 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (4 door) Sahara version. It has the factory 3500# tow package. With it's 3.8 V-6 it easily has the power, and the 4 wheel disk brakes are great. Mine has an automatic and the gear spacing is a bit tall, you certainly will be down shifting on hills. The receiver is also fairly high due to the larger wheels and tires, you'll need a good drop down hitch to get the tongue low enough. For a short tow I have no issue even towing my 26X with it, but for the highway the longer wheel base and weight of our Suburban is still preferred. I'd think it would have no problem at all with the lower, reduced windage, of a Mac 25. It should be better than any minivan as it has a much stiffer truck style ladder frame, it has to since the top and doors are completely removable, all the structure is in the floor pan.

[cbig]

Odd how the unlimited has the small tow capacity compared to the liberty with same engine and trans

[Kelly Hanson East]

As discussed previously 'tow capacity' is not an engineering term in the automotive world and often is essentially made up by marketing departments.

[Jamie79]

I do not own one of these boats yet but i hope to soon. the biggest legal concern is your gvw (gross vehicle weight) this is what will keep you legal. i am a cdl driver and may have different opinions but i have a 1998 jeep grand cherokee and would not hesitate to pull 5000#'s even though im rated for 3500. i would not however pull that on any steep grades. the biggest question is what will your insurance cover, and more important what do you feel comfortable towing. if you have never towed a trailer a small yard trailer carying a bag of leaves can feel uncomfortable much less a 25 foot boat. if your rig is rated to pull it and everything checks out then chances are your ok, however know your limits experience is key don't do anything your uncomfortable with, and when and you will do it use extra caution. just be careful and take every extra step too be careful road signs suggesting speed limits through a corner are for passenger cars not towing vehicles, keep this in mind and cut your speed down by 10 mph until your comfortable and you should be fine. enjoy your new boat and be safe. Jamie

[Jamie79]

P.S. sorry i didnt say it before but towing over your capacity is asking for trouble if you get in an accident. it can be done and done safely but lawyers are a bi something something oops i got an itch

[Kelly Hanson East]

Back to OP question..

Chuck - is does make a difference how you intend to tow...

- Rolling 5 miles down the road to a launch site on a quiet country road? Dont buy a new tow vehicle, just take it easy and have fun. I actually towed my with a 1999 Volvo V70 wagon for a few years to a local ramp.

- Driving 6 times a year to Cape, 200 miles on the Mass Pike at 75 mph average speed in heavy traffic going over the Berkshire Mountains?? You cant cut corners. I use a 5000# rated vehicle, hitch, ball.

I have reported that my rig behaves much better at 60 mph than 65-70 so I tow at 60 on cruise control. YMMV

[cbig]

Out here in the PRC (People's Republic of California) we are only allowed to tow 55 mph. I can't see any need to exceed that. It may get towed out of state some distance tho. If 3500 lbs is ok, and it meets that weight lightly loaded, I'm happy. I may take it to Lake Almanor in CA or Pend Oreille in ID or occasionally Lake Mead. These drives will be more arduous. Locally I will drop in at Mission Bay or Dana Point. Those are cake.

I've looked at my vehicle and the Jeep Liberty. I really don't understand how the smaller Liberty is rated for 5000 lbs wit the same engine, axles, trans, lower rated tires, etc. Must be something to do with the uniframe Liberty vs the rail Wrangler.
Will be careful. Now to find a boat worth towing...at a price I can handle!

[Kelly Hanson East]

I really don't understand how the smaller Liberty is rated for 5000 lbs wit the same engine, axles, trans, lower rated tires, etc.

Chuck - they really do just make these numbers up - no kidding. For longer hauls, you dont want a marginal tow vehicle - but it might make sense to look into renting/borrowing for occasional long haul stuff. I brought my boat back with a Uhaul for about 100 USD since my truck hitch wasnt ready....

[ROAD Soldier]

I use my wife's 2004 Liberty to tow my but only go 55MPH with fulltime 4wheel drive engaged and overdrive turned off. I will be getting electric brakes on the trailer later this year because surge brakes are not cutting it. I am tired of having to start stoping for a stop light 10 times the distance from not having a trailer. Also if anyone ever just pulled out in front of me real quick them or I or both will be dead. However it is still better then trying to use my 2003 Jeep TJ Rubicon.

[ROAD Soldier]

Whow how did that happen?

[Overtime]

To tow you boat the best i can tell you is be careful at first and get a feel for the boat behind you. I tow with a 2002 chevy s 10 blazer 4 door four wheel drive and my blazer gvw is heaver than the boat at 5600lb so it dose a good job and a v6.. i will say yes pulling at 60 mph is the best speed for feel and fuel mileage

[K9Kampers]

Whow how did that happen?

Uuhhhh...Shameless Post Padding!