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Topic Closedany jeep wrangler owners?
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2629 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: any jeep wrangler owners?
    Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 4:43pm
Originally posted by furpod

1 thing.. again, a brake controller isn't optional. It's required by law.

New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont ALL require functional brakes on all trailers with GVWR of 3000 pounds or more. All pods have a GVWR of 3500lbs.
Not only that, but Vermont and New Hampshire require trailer brakes if the trailer (let's call it 3200 lbs) exceeds 40% of the weight of the tow vehicle. That means you need trailer brakes if your tow vehicle weighs less than 8,000 lbs (assuming the above 3200 lb R-pod). If your R-pod is loaded up to 3500 lbs, then the tow vehicle needs to be over 8750 lbs.

I don't think I've ever seen a Jeep Wrangler over 4500 lbs, and that might be generous.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 4:32pm
1 thing.. again, a brake controller isn't optional. It's required by law.

New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont ALL require functional brakes on all trailers with GVWR of 3000 pounds or more. All pods have a GVWR of 3500lbs.

Linky..  <<<<<<<<--------Click me.
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ricobobo View Drop Down
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Posts: 20 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 4:23pm
***UPDATE*** first off I want to thank all of my fellow "podders" for helping me out yesterday and today.

I took Keith-and-Dar's advice and I went to a U-haul store and spoke with the owner. I had all my measurements and notes with me - which was key.

In a nut shell I don't have to do anything. Jack, the owner, basically said if it were he with the jeep and the R178 he would leave the jeep the way it is, he would not put in the brake controller and would not put in an anti-sway hitch. His reasoning is pretty simple for my circumstance. I only go camping a few times a year and it is locally to NH/ME and VT. If I were to take it cross country or even live more in the mountains he might make a few adjustments however I should be fine.

Although I was still a little hesitant he did say to me that he has been hitching hitches for 20+ years and each one he works on he puts in his head that it has to be done perfectly or it could be his children and wife behind you if it gets lose and I do not want them to die or anyone else. This is coming from the OWNER of a U-haul so I would assume he does not want a law suit either.

He looked at the way the hitch is bolted to my jeep and gave me a sense of security.
That being said, if once we get all connected and on the road we find out differently we will be back at square one but would not have spent all the extra $.

So Thank you again for your input. Look for my post after Oct 1 to see if we made it home without a glitch :)
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riotkayak284 View Drop Down
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Posts: 162 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 1:37pm
The best rule for towing is the towed vehicle needs to be 1/2 the weight of the rated vehicle tow rating.
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rawest50 View Drop Down
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Posts: 440 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 12:12pm
I did upgrade my wife's car for a 2017 Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab and it makes a difference on the hp and capacity I can tote. Does not shift nearly as much and RPM's are a lot lower. We will use the Jeep only if the Colorado is not available.
2017.5 RPod 179
2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab
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rawest50 View Drop Down
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Posts: 440 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 12:06pm
Originally posted by ricobobo

I hope someone can save me some heart-ache.
We have just purchased R178- weight 2554 due to pick up next week.
I happen to call a jeep dealership to confirm my jeep had the tow capacity.
Internet told me 3500 dealership told me only 2000.
I asked why- it's because the hitch was not factory installed.
When I asked if my jeep could be retrofitted they said it would void the warranty.
Either I get rid of my jeep or I get rid of the RPod- neither of which I am happy about doing.
my jeep is a 4 door wrangler unlimited sport 4 x 4 v6
Any suggestions before I slit my wrists (not really)Ouch 


I have a 2017 Jeep Sport Unlimited which is a 4 door and the tow capacity is 3,500. Look in your owners manual. It is there. I use sway and load control pulling our 2017 179 Pod (weith approx. 2,700#'s). No problem what so ever. The only down side is pulling on long hills. It really shifts down into the lower gears and the rmp's get quite high. As far as the hitch you need a Class II I think. You tongue weight is something to keep an eye on. I think it is rated at 350 - 400 pounds. I bought a scale to check it. My hitch can with my Jeep. Make sure you have the brake control installed if you do not have one already. My RV dealer installed mine as part of the package.
2017.5 RPod 179
2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab
2 Weiner dogs
Great wife puts up with my BS
❤️ Thoroughbred Racing.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2629 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 11:58am
Originally posted by ricobobo

Keith n Dar- thanks for the suggestion. Will head over to uhaul this afternoon and maybe by looking at my hitch they can give me some reassurance on the hitch. Also, I had not even thought about the anti sway hitch - that is why I love this forum, so many great ideas!!

Question: if the vehicle weight is 2603 and the cargo capacity is 1165 and hitch weight is 268 - does that mean my capacity should be (2603+1165+268=4036 OR 3768?)

Thank you --- will keep you posted.
The weight on the hitch is part of your "cargo". So the gross weight of your vehicle is 2603+1165=3768. If the trailer is connected and the hitch weight is 268, then your cargo capacity goes down by that amount.

Solving for cargo capacity when the trailer is attached:

3768-2603-268=897.

That 897 becomes the total of people, fuel, and other stuff.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 11:27am
Originally posted by ricobobo

Furpod: or anyone:

if I am reading the Magnuson Act correctly it is for new or resale vehicles. Am I to assume that if towing my RPod does in fact somehow damage my transmission the dealership is not obligated to honor the powertrain warranty if they can prove that is was damaged b/c I installed an after market hitch??


Possibly.. BUT, in the long run, it will cost them more to prove the transmission damage was caused by towing, then to just fix the transmission.

As long as you are doing things within reason, there will be no issue.
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ricobobo View Drop Down
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Posts: 20 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 10:33am
Furpod: or anyone:

if I am reading the Magnuson Act correctly it is for new or resale vehicles. Am I to assume that if towing my RPod does in fact somehow damage my transmission the dealership is not obligated to honor the powertrain warranty if they can prove that is was damaged b/c I installed an after market hitch??
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eye95 View Drop Down
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Posts: 63 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Sep 2017 at 10:29am
Hitch weight is just the portion of the total weight of the trailer that is on the hitch. The rest of the weight is on the wheels.

i.e. Don't add in the hitch weight.

BTW, hitch weight generally goes up as you load the TT. It normally runs around 10% of the total weight.
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