Here’s Why The Jeep Wrangler Is Perfect For RVers
If you are one of the many millions of Americans that have turned to RVing recently, then you might be wondering which vehicle is perfect for RVing. The answer for many will be the Jeep Wrangler.
There are three types of RVers: those that pull small campers and travel trailers, those that pull large travel trailers or 5th wheels, and those that drive motorhomes. For two of these groups, the Jeep Wrangler is proving to be the perfect choice for RVers. The Wrangler is adept at pulling light campers and is the perfect tow vehicle for motorhome owners looking to bring along another vehicle, usually called a dinghy or toad.
Why is the Wrangler so popular with RVers?
Versatility is the one word that explains the Wrangler’s popularity among RVers. Not only can it be used to tow small campers and travel trailers, but it can also be towed as a dinghy or towed vehicle for motorhome owners.
The Jeep Wrangler has a high ground clearance, between 9.7 and 10.8 inches. This makes it ideal for RVers, not only for towing or pulling but also for recreation. Jeep owners love to hit the trails and beaches. The more remote the camping area, the better the Jeep handles the terrain.
Motorhome owners prefer the smooth and easy when it comes to driving and setting up their motorhome at the campground or RV park. Afterward, though, they want to hop in their tow vehicle and see the sights. Often those sights are rugged state parks and trails. Not only is the Wrangler an ideal vehicle for any off-road travel, it’s a perfect flat tow vehicle.
Can you flat tow a Jeep Wrangler?
One of the reasons the Wrangler is so popular with motorhome owners is the simplicity of flat towing it offers. For most Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator models, you only need to put the transfer case in neutral, ensure the steering wheel is aligned straight, and put the transmission in Park to successfully flat tow.
As with all vehicles, you need to make sure the emergency brake is disengaged as well. Generally speaking, you can run with that setup all day long without having to stop periodically or make any changes.
The best part is, this holds true with automatic transmission equipped vehicles as well as those with a manual transmission. Flat towing with a Jeep Wrangler is easy.
Like any vehicle you tow behind your motorhome, you will need tow bars, a supplemental braking system, and proper lighting. We’re the Russos covers towing a Jeep Wrangler well in the video below.
How much does a Jeep Wrangler weigh?
If you are pulling the Jeep Wrangler behind your motorhome, you need to know how much it weighs. Current model Jeep Wranglers start at 3,970 lbs and go up to 4,439 lbs.
Unless you have overloaded it with additional gear, this falls well under the 5,000 lb limit set by smaller motorhomes. Larger motorhomes of course can handle more weight. Older model Jeep Wranglers will scale lighter than those weights. For example, the 2000 Jeep Wrangler weighed in between 3,045 and 3,247 lbs.
Be careful not to overload your tow vehicle. Loading up the Jeep with extra camping gear, bicycles, kayaks, and fishing gear can easily put you over your allowable tow rating. If you have a smaller motorhome, this can be dangerous. It will increase your stopping distance and put an extra load on your brakes and chassis that weren’t designed for it.
How much can a Jeep Wrangler tow?
RVers that are looking to tow a small camper want to know how much the Jeep Wrangler can tow. There are a few factors involved in determining the tow rating of your Jeep, such as model and engine size. Standard OEM tow ratings for the Jeep Wrangler are usually between 2,000 – 3,500 lbs. This is with standard or included hitch components and is dependent on the build.
For example, a standard 2-door Jeep Wrangler will have a 2,000 lb towing capacity, whereas a 4-door Unlimited model may be as high as 3,500 lbs. Jeep continues to add more trim and engine options, however, so we might see those numbers increase.
The short wheelbase on the Jeep Wrangler is a factor in the tow rating, according to Four Wheel Trends.
“Yes, a Jeep Wrangler can tow, but it has a limited towing capacity due to its short wheelbase. Most Jeep Wranglers have a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs to 3,500 lbs.”
Even with those limitations, you’ll find no shortage of great campers and small RVs you can tow with a Jeep Wrangler. It’s important you confirm your Jeep’s tow rating before buying an RV. Here are a few articles you can reference to find a potential camper that fits your RVing lifestyle:
- 10 Perfect Camper Trailers Under 3,000 Pounds
- 9 Popular Lightweight Travel Trailers Under 2,000 Pounds
- 10 Best Lightweight Travel Trailers Under 3500 lbs
- Lightweight Travel Trailers Under 3500 LBS: We Pick Our 7 Favorites
How much does a Jeep Wrangler cost?
Current model Wranglers officially start at $28,295 and can easily reach well over $50,000 with the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited High Altitude 4X4 Edition. The Jeep has held its initial value surprisingly well.
A quick search of pre-owned Wranglers revealed that even a 10-year-old Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with just under 100,000 miles is still fetching over $25,000 on the open market. This isn’t uncommon at all, apparently. A 2012 Unlimited Sport with over 98,000 miles was still listed at over $20,000, and was labeled as a “good deal.”
It’s not a truck…or is it?
A Wrangler is more than a car, and not quite a truck, unless you consider the new Jeep Gladiator. Not only is it more expensive, with the bulk of the line in the high 30,000 to mid 40,000 range, it also weighs more. The Jeep Gladiator weight ranges from 4,650 to 5,050 lbs.
If you are shopping for a Jeep Wrangler for flat towing and your eye skews to the Gladiator, bear that extra weight in mind if you are considering pulling a Gladiator behind your motorhome.
If you are looking for a Jeep Gladiator to pull your travel trailer, you’ll find most stock models can pull between 4,000 and 4,500 lbs. Jeep advertises other trims, such as their Gladiator North Edition, as able to pull up to 6,000 lbs. There are additional trim and max tow packages and modifications available that can even get some models up to 7,650 lbs.
You can learn more about the new 2021 Jeep Gladiator in our list of the Best 2021 Trucks For Towing A Travel Trailer.
I am wondering about the steering wheel lock. The article says to point the steering wheel straight ahead, if you lock the wheel (as in remove the keys) the car slides around corners rather than follows. Is that how you tow a Jeep?
My 2021 Jeep Wrangler sport does not have a steering wheel lock .