The Jeep Wrangler never disappoints when it comes to off-roading. No wonder a majority of Jeep Wrangler owners love exploring new destinations. If you love adventure, and you also own a Jeep Wrangler, then you definitely enjoy camping. If you have been wondering whether your Jeep can tow a camper, then this article will answer all your questions.
Even though not as powerful as the Dodge RAM or Ford F150, the Jeep Wrangler is strong enough to pull a camper. Jeep’s towing capabilities are slightly above average. Therefore, before you connect a trailer, you must evaluate a couple of factors.
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How Much Weight Can a Jeep Pull?
The towing capacity of a Jeep ranges from 2000 to 4000 pounds. There are several types of campers that fall under Jeep’s towing capacity. This means that you have various options. Not all Jeeps have the same towing capacity. The towing capacity varies depending on the year of manufacture and model.
For instance, the 2010 and 2012 model has a towing capacity ranging from 1,000 to 3,500lbs. From 2013 models going up, these have a towing capacity of 2,000 to 3,500lbs. As you plan on pulling a camper with your Jeep, you must keep these numbers in mind.
Please note that the above is a rough estimation. In your Jeep’s manual, there should be an exact figure of how much weight it can pull. Exceeding your Jeep’s towing capacity is risky as it can cause accidents or even damage your car.
With such a figure in mind, you can confidently pull a camper without worrying. But before you do so, there is another factor that you need to consider: the camper’s weight. You may think that a Jeep’s towing capacity is high. But wait until you find out the weight of a camper, such as the Airstream trailer. These trailers weigh around 2,500 pounds when empty. If you add the weight of other things you may need on a camping trip, its total weight can be quite high.
As you pack items in your trailer, it’s important to be aware of the weight of your belongings and ensure you do not exceed the towing capacity of your Jeep. While considering weight, you also need to ensure the camper or trailer is not very tall to the extent that the wind can sway it. A camper of the same height as your Jeep will be blocked from strong winds that can affect its stability.
How to Avoid Damaging Your Vehicle When Pulling a Camper?
Camping can be fun. But the logistics of bringing camping gear and equipment to camping grounds is always a problem. For instance, towing a camper can be quite troublesome if you don’t adhere to the towing capacity of your vehicle, in this case, a Jeep. Below are tips that will help you avoid damaging your Jeep when pulling a camper.
- Do not exceed the Jeep’s towing capacity – Allow us to emphasize the need to stick to the required towing capacity. If you go a couple of pounds more than needed, you will likely overwork your engine. You may notice that the engine temperature gauges will be higher than usual. Overworking the car can lead to engine failure, which isn’t worth it when comparing the repair costs against towing your camper using a bigger vehicle.
- Correctly set up your weight distribution bars – Always load the correct bar size. This will ensure you have a smoother ride and that no damage occurs on the camper or Jeep.
- Ensure your trailer brakes are working flawlessly – Trailer brakes work slightly different than those of your Jeep. If you want to have a safe drive, always check the condition of your trailer brakes and adjust them. Also, be on the lookout for wear and tear.
- Do not race when pulling a camper – if you are heading on a camping trip, you may feel a little bit excited. You and your buddies can engage in a race and see who gets there first. But, we would like to discourage you from doing that. When you are pulling a camper, your vehicle is straining itself. And high speed can lead to faster wear of your Jeep’s transmission. Drive slow and steady when you are pulling a camper. And as you divert into the off-road, be very careful when driving on a bumpy road.
- Ensure the tires are well-inflated – Both your jeep and camper tires need to be properly inflated. Driving with low-pressure tires will cause fast wear. Secondly, this is very dangerous since the tires can blow out because of over-heating.
- Never forget to lube all mechanical components – From the pivot points to the axles, all mechanical parts need to be lubricated. This will make both the camper and towing car serve you for longer.
Even though long-term wear is unavoidable, the above tips can help your Jeep serve you for longer. Cars such as the Jeep Wrangler weren’t designed to be full-time towing vehicles. Though rugged, your vehicle can undergo significant damage if you do not follow towing guidelines.
What Type of Campers Can a Jeep Wrangler Pull?
Now that you know the ideal towing capacity of a jeep wrangler and how to prevent damage when pulling a camper, here are the different types of campers that you can pull with a Jeep.
1. Casita Camper
First on our list is the lightest trailer out there. Made using fiberglass, these trailers have become quite popular amongst campers these days. A casita trailer weighs around 2,000 pounds. They are relatively small, and the fiberglass construction contributes to their lightweight design. A Jeep can easily pull a casita trailer because it is very light. This trailer features excellent aerodynamics; therefore, you are also assured of fuel efficiency.
Let alone a Jeep Wrangler, plenty of vehicles can tow a Casita trailer. This is good news for Jeep owners because no matter which model you own, you can be assured of pulling a camper without any issues.
2. Teardrop Trailer
Out of the many trailers that a Jeep can pull, the Teardrop is one of the best. With a total weight of 3,500 pounds, this camper features sleeping quarters, a cooking area, and a restroom. Surprisingly all these amenities do not exceed three hundred and fifty pounds.
The Teardrop may not be as light as the casita. However, it still falls under the required Jeep towing capacity. And what’s even more interesting is that it has a much bigger space and amenities. Instead of sleeping on the ground when camping, you can always get a Teardrop trailer and have a lovely time with your family. If you want a much lighter teardrop trailer, you can get a smaller one that is ideal for one or two campers.
3. Pop-up Trailers
Pop-up trailers are quite interesting. In this category, we have the lightest trailers that way, as less as 600 pounds. And then we have the heaviest pop-up trailers that weigh 4000 pounds. If you can remember the maximum towing capacity of Jeep Wranglers, we said that the maximum is 4,000 pounds.
If you love pop-up trailers, we would advise you to go with the lighter options since these are the ones that won’t overwork your Jeep. Pop-up trailers tend to have soft canvas walls. These can’t be compared to the hard walls in the campers mentioned above. But, it’s the same light walls that make these campers one of the lightest. The canvas is also waterproof. You don’t have to worry about getting rained on.
4. Airstream
The Airstream trailer is the last type of camper on our list that can be towed using a Jeep. Most campers love Airstream trailers because they have everything you may need. Be it a kitchen, bathroom, or even a lounge area. An Airstream should have that and much more. The problem with these trailers is that they are super heavy.
If you look hard enough, you can find an Airstream camper with a dry weight of around 2,500. When you add the weight of your belongings and other amenities, it can total 4,000, which still falls under the towing capacity of Jeep.
What Factors Affect Fuel Efficiency When Towing a Camper on a Jeep?
If you want to experience maximum fuel efficiency on your Jeep when towing a camper, ensure that you stick to your vehicle’s towing capacity. The lighter the camper, the more efficient your car’s fuel consumption will be. The other factor that needs to be considered is wind resistance. Remember when we talked about the importance of pulling a camper of the same height as your vehicle? This guarantees minimal wind resistance, and you will get better fuel efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Undoubtedly, Jeeps offer many perks when used to pull a camper. You are assured of getting into camping sites that other vehicles can’t. After all, Jeeps rule the off-road. The biggest challenge with using a Jeep as a camper is its maximum towing capacity of 4,000 pounds. You are therefore limited to towing certain types of campers.
