Towing?

Renegade Dave · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:50 pm **Posts:** 12

Hi guys, newbie here without a kj, but looking to buy. so i have a question. i have a dilema. i'm wondering if i would find a kj would it be able to tow my dodge avenger? i'm asking this cause my fiancee doesn't have her license yet.

Thanks

Edwin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:20 pm

How much does a Dodge Avenger weigh?

Renegade Dave · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:50 pm **Posts:** 12

I'm not sure. i'll have to go look it up. what is the most a kj can tow?

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:25 pm

5000lbs on the towing compacity.. but.. with that.. all depends on what you are towing.. how you are towing.. and where.. the brakes on the KJ are not really meant for serious towing.. find out how much your Dodge weighs..

the KJ can pull just about anything on wheels but for long distance towing AND on the road.. safety is #1 factor..

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:29 pm

I'm assuming your Renegade was equipped with the automatic transmission along with the 3.7 (only motor in a renny). If so then you have the most towing capacity of 5000 pounds. Yes your KJ should be able to tow a Dodge Avenger. The brakes on the KJ are really not well designed for towing this much weight (i have towed over 7000 pounds with mine). The big problem is the short wheel base which will sway all over the place in wind at highway speeds. It is doable but a little scary. If you have previous towing experience-you should be able to handle it.

Edwin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:33 pm

My gas KJ is rated to tow 5,000 lbs. I've probably towed about 3,000 with no problems. Just make sure if you buy a KJ to get the factoy tow package. Sometimes they will add a hitch and call it a tow pack. but it ain't. The tow pack. has 3.73 gear ratio, class 3 hitch, HD engine cooling, and is wired for trailer lights. Oh and you'll need a brake controller to operate the trailer brakes.

Renegade Dave · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:50 pm **Posts:** 12

The Dodge Avenger weighs 2870 lbs. so its under the capacity of the kj. when i do buy one i will look for the tow package.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:05 pm

Are you going to be flat towing it? or on a trailer? you need to factor in the weight of a trailer too, around 1500-2000. you should be ok though. if you can afford it, get a crd!!

Wasatch15 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:52 am **Posts:** 242

The KJ with an automatic transmission has a tow capacity of 5000 lb, 3500 lb with the manual transmission.

Renegade Dave · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:50 pm **Posts:** 12

I was planning on using a dolly from uhaul or someone else that has one.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:14 pm

For how long are you planning on towing the Avenger? It can be done, but I don't think I would want to do that across country or anything.

hankwood · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:39 pm

actually, towing with a car dolly is really easy. you have to worry about the extra stopping distance of course, but the dolly doesn't push the short wheel base kj around at all, even in high winds it feels really stable. i pulled a '65 mustang on a u-haul dolly from wichita ks to the middle of montana with no problems other than rusty parts falling off the mustang.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:52 pm

Cool! That is good to know. (I might have to tow my Mustang one day)

KJ33 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:40 pm

FWIW, You also should get a tranny cooler and tranny temp guage, if you don't want to fry it. I pulled a buddy's dead waggoneer home from a run once (about 6,000 lbs), over hilly (mountainous) dirt roads, and would have fried my tranny without both of those. BTW, when the tranny overheated, I put it into 2nd gear (not 3rd = no O/D), and drove slower of course, and the drop in temperature was dramatic.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:26 pm

Putting it into 2nd gear will heat it up more than keeping it in 3rd gear with the torque locked. It makes much more heat having that torque unlocked, the little button on the side of the gear shift puts it into 3rd and locks the torque at 35mph. (in my jeep at least)

KJ33 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 14, 2006 4:48 pm

'...with the torque locked' - Are you talking about the torque converter? This will lock-up in any gear, if you don't step on the gas too hard, and is more likely to stay locked (at any given speed) in a lower gear. Certainly trying to keep it locked with a light foot will reduce heat in the torque converter, but sometimes you have to get up the hill. The button on the gearshift turns off the overdrive (4th gear) - it has nothing to do with the torque converter.

The point however, is that even though third is 1-1, 2nd is a lower ratio, and at a given engine RPM generates less heat in the tranny. My experience was that the difference was quite significant, as I could actually see the needle moving down, which I think would be quite helpful to any readers that may actually need to tow a big load. I.e. if your tranny dash light comes one, you need to slow down right now, downshift, and then you can actually keep moving without frying your tranny, and eventually get home.

Also of interest, I noticed once on a trip at 80 MPH on the highway, in August (~ 85 F), no trailer, but with a full load, 5 people, and the roof full of camping gear, the tranny also ran borderline too hot in 4th (O/D), so I slowed to 65 in 3rd, and again you could see the needle dropping.

Just thought this might be helpful info to someone.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jan 14, 2006 4:54 pm

The od off button does change when the torque locks up. It locks up at 35 with od off and at 40 in od. Ive never seen a torque lock up in 2nd gear? Didnt know they could do that. Ill have to try and get it to do it.

Liberty & Justice 4x4 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 11:11 am

A good rule of thumb never tow in overdrive! Renegade Dave if you have a class 3 hitch and wired you are good to tow. You already have the aux. trans. cooler & the power steering cooler, jeep puts these on from the factory no matter what package you have in the 3.7L . The only thing you may not have would be the HD cooling fan (not needed except for high RPM at very low speed for extended amount of time.) but for what you are planning on doing you will be fine. So fell safe to tow your car from were you are to tenbucktoo!

Skipperb · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:15 pm

I have a 20 foot CC at 3652 without gas so on the high way I tow between 60/65 and have now problem
except braking I have Hydrolic brakes we go to Panama city from Atlanta often.
My daughter lives in Knovville TN and we go up there and go camping with them My camper is 21 and it is 4300 with electric brakes and I think that is about the limit of my 02 liberty.I puled my mouther n law car
small pontiac on a dolly from Penn and it was ok but I did have to lock out the OD for the hole trip. What ever you do get trailer brakes, it the stoping you will need to wory about.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 8:55 pm

Wow, a 21ft camper behind the libby?!?! Thats crazy in and around knoxville, did you hit any mountains?

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