FWIW, I towed with my Scion xA all last year during the track season. Granted, I never drove over 65mph, but it got 37mpg while I was towing. Zero problems with brakes, transmission, or clutch. My trailer is a tiny harbor freight upon which I constructed a small wooden platform to just hold the bike, ramp, and a gas can.
I think you'll be fine. I tow a 6300 pound (loaded) toyhauler with my v6 sport trac that has 180,000 miles on it. Original trans and motor. Bought the toyhauler new last year probably put 15,000 miles on the old girl just towing the camper since I got it. So far so good (fingers crossed) lol biggest a thing is know your limits and take your time if not you'll break things.
Hi everyone. It's warming up and spring although late for my standards (I've water skied in Feb in Atlanta) I towed an enclosed trailer with a Jeep Grand Cherokee for a number of years. I had to weld up the frame where the tow hitch fastened and that welding. With a single axle trailer you need to be supper careful how you load it. Too much weight on the tongue causes the rear of the car to sit low. Too much weight in the rear will cause the trailer to sway. Cars really aren't meant for towing. But when fuel prices were 4+ dollars it was sure nice pushing 20mpg The trick is to try it and see. Pay very close attention after a short drive and inspect the bolt holes thru the frame of you car. They will rip out and we don't want that to happen in the expressway. Mine ripped out in the Jeep after an intersection so I was safe and didn't loose anything nor damage much. If you do decide to haul some weight with a car frame like a jeep has. Consider getting the rear frame beefed up. you might try a 24 pack of beer. Everyone likes beer but welders more 50 bucks and a 24 pack go along ways. Be sure that the welder understands there are things that need to be done to the vehicle before welding on it like disconnect the batter and ground the thing properly. I was plagued with gremlins for 2 years after that emergency welding. Now I drive a Ford F250 with a tandem 16' enclosed trailer like a big boy now and 9MPG at 80+MPH hhaha jokes on me.
Did you have a factory or aftermarket hitch receiver? And do you remember roughly how much you were towing with the Jeep at the time (weight of trailer + the stuff inside)? I also have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I tow with (2011). With the new trailer I got and having 2 bikes, I'll be towing around 2500 lbs with a max of 3000 occasionally if I have to take a friend's bike as well. I have an aftermarket hitch that's rated for 5000 lbs if I remember well.
Read your service manual. Just some advise to all. I know, and many of you know, that one is capable of towing weights much higher than a vehicle's rating if one is loaded properly, and drives appropriately. That being said, if you have an accident while overloaded, you will pay hell getting your insurance to cover anything. If you have a newer vehicle and breakdown while overloaded, good luck getting the failure covered under warranty. These same ideas apply to modifying your vehicle in ways such as welding anything to the subframe, etc. (Unless the welding is strictly a repair, nothing more) I say these things as I do not want any of my friends here to get screwed in this litigation happy world.....
Yes, I know what it's rated for...it's 6200 lbs, which is why I'm surprised to hear that someone else's hitch just ripped right off the frame, hence I'm wondering how much he was towing.
Bart call me next time you do that..... I am 1/2 mile from the Lake and will gladly provide the boat and tow....
Il pay for fuel Im a bit fatter than I was at 17 & 18 yo LOL Im coming down to visit my pops Monday 13th in prep for Roebling WERA races. He lives in Clevland GA and at 82 still rides motocross. and about that Jeep I packed as much crap in the enclosed trailer as possible. Two Suzuki 600's and a zuma + yz450 and a slew of other stuff like tent, generator, tires. I was often over loaded and had to drive 55 and under. faster down hill. I used an aftermarket tow package that was welded on + bolted. Plus i had the frame beefeed up some. That Jeep is nothing better than a car frame. The frame is basically sheet-metal.
OP, if your trailer has the 2x6's on the sides like the one in the link you posted, You can remove them. That will lighten the trailer. If that's pressure treated wood, removing the side wood and front wood will save you about 240lbs in trailer weight. I'd replace the front wood then with 1/4" plastic if you want to make a "spray shield". Bart was your Grand Cherokee one of the 1st gen? (93-98). Frames on them (and the regular Cherokee of the era) sucked ass. Friend of mine bought a Cherokee Wagoneer and the rear spring mount ripped the frame right in two.