Newbie tow question

bert2470

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2007
Location
Charlotte
Have a Jeep TJ with 35s, armor, winch and soon to have D60 axles so probably over 5000 lbs. For a long distance (like Moab) trip I'm thinking about what options I have versus driving the Jeep which would be painful but possible in theory:

1) Use my Tahoe to tow the Jeep with a rented U-haul trailer but the U-haul may not be wide enough for the Jeep. Would be near max tow rating for Tahoe with gasser engine I think.

2) Buy a used trailer wide enough for the Jeep and then sell it or just keep it for the once a year trip out west. Use Tahoe as tow vehicle.

3) Use my Tahoe to flat tow the Jeep...not ideal...have an Atlas II speed and think it will work per Atlas but not sure

4) Plunk down money I don't have for a used diesel tow rig (and trailer) that wouldn't be my daily driver anyhow but a lot better for long distance pulling over hilly terrain.

What do think?
 
I never recommend (and dont' think anyone else will either) towing at your tow vehicle's max rating. My vote would be to get a tow rig (doesn't have to be diesel) if you can swing that.
 
First really think if it's worth it. The fuel alone will probably be $1000. If you want to tow your jeep more than 30 minute drive trade the tahoe in for a real tow rig.

If you must got to Moab then consider flying out there and renting a rubicon. It's much cheaper.
 
Ive towed my full size k5 allover nc with the wifes old yukon (5.3)...even up to tellico and int he mountains, hell a jeep wont weigh much more than my boat and I towed it to TX with the yukon and got 14.5 mpg on the trip.
 
I think the Yukon's probably fine (it's going to SUUUUCK in Summit County, but you'll have plenty of time to look at the scenery)... but I wouldn't want a U-Haul trailer for a cross-country trip. They use surge brakes. Decent in a pinch, but a PITA on a long hwy trip.
 
My vote would be to buy or build as light of a trailer as you can, with at least 5K axles. You will use it more often than you think!
 
Make friends with someone that owns a 2 car trailer, talk him into towing both of your junk to moab, pay for fuel. Cheaper and easier.
 
Rent a u-haul/Penske/Budget truck to tow it with? Just another option. I'm with Gubni, I'd love to take my rig out there but it's just not worth what it would cost to tow it. I go and use a friends stock Pathfinder and have all the fun I want, heading out next month and have decided again not to take my rig!
 
About 12 years ago me and some buddies drove out there and rented some cj's and rode a bunch of the trails. I think it was called slickrock jeep rentals moab utah. We had a blast!
 
I've been to Moab 3 times, I used my trailer and my tow rig. From Winston-salem it's about 1,800 miles one way. There are some pretty good pulls out there. Black mtn. is a hill not a mtn. Altitude robs 10 percent of horsepower for each 1,000 feet of altitude gained! Look at the map, and alt. rent a jeep when you get there and put every dime of ins. on it. Much cheaper like gubni said. Or call Mik's tours and ride with him, he does it for a living and you will have a blast, I know wheelers that did it. Moab is VERY different from here, people die every year by going un prepared. The second time we were there they brought out three guys bodies and they were together. Not trying to be a killjoy, but it is the desert.
 
If you are wanting to see and experience MOAB, fly out and rent a Rubicon. You can see everything and wheel some great trailsat half the price.
If you want to wheel YOUR Jeep, then I suggest buy a diesel tow rig. A 4000 round trip is a bunch of miles and the dependibilty and fuel milage will be a plus. We have pulled out ther 4 times and the fuel is the biggest expense of the trip.(and that was at 2.25 gal)
 
I have a CTD and I could pull two trucks....although I don't think my transmission would care for it much
 
$1000.00 in fuel...$2000 for trailer...$3-5000.000 for beat up tow rig....


dude...call CSX have the jeep shipped. drive a honda out there and save a TON of money.
 
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