Can you pull a boat with a Jeep?
It is common to have a boat and a car. There are many Jeeps Cherokee which have been specifically designed with towing in mind. The Jeep Cherokee is also known for its off-road capability. But the question remains, “can a jeep cherokee tow a boat”. We will discuss this question in this article so that you can have the answer to your question when you go looking to purchase your next vehicle.
We will learn what you need to know about Jeeps and boats by doing research on how much weight they can tow and what size trailers they can tow. We will also learn about the horsepower that a Jeep can tow and how to confirm this horsepower with a test.
There are three basic categories of towing: towable, light-towable, and heavy-towable. In the case of a Jeep Cherokee, you will need to know which category your vehicle falls into in order to make an informed purchase.
Towable means you can tow a trailer by yourself. A Jeep in this category might have a class one hitch. A class one hitch is capable of lifting 5,000 pounds in a vertical position and 2,000 pounds when it is horizontal. The transmission ratio of the vehicle is 3.73:1. To determine whether your vehicle can tow you need to know its trailer weight. The trailer weight will vary depending on size, width, and configuration. For example, a class one hitch will allow you to tow trailers with 5,000 pounds of load but if your trailer weight is 2,000 pounds it might not be able to do so.
Light-towable means you can tow a small car or other lighter vehicle by yourself by means of a class one hitch. A light-towable vehicle might have a class one hitch that is capable of lifting 5,000 pounds vertically but still can only tow 2,000 pounds horizontally.
Heavy-towable means you cannot tow the trailer alone even with a class one hitch. A heavy-towable vehicle might have an aluminum trailer ball hitch which is capable of lifting 7,000 pounds but it will only be able to pull 2,500 pounds horizontally. The transmission ratio of the vehicle is 3.73:1. To determine whether your vehicle can tow you need to know its trailer weight depending on size, width and configuration.
A vehicle that is heavy-towable requires a trailer with a wheelbase of no less than 8 feet and no more than 19 feet. A wheel base is the distance between the center of the two front tires and the center of the two rear tires. If you want to tow a trailer with your Jeep Cherokee, you need to confirm that it is capable of supporting the size and weight rating of your trailer.
As mentioned earlier, there are three categories of towing: towable, light-towable and heavy-towable. You can find which category your vehicle falls into by researching its manual or go to an auto parts store and ask someone if they can assist you in doing so. Before you purchase a boat, ask the clerk whether it is towable and what type of trailer hitch you need to tow it.
A boat is heavy and awkward and using a heavy-towable vehicle might not be safe or practical. For light-towable vehicles, it is advisable that you get the assistance of another person when towing your boat. One reason for this is because someone needs to guide the vehicle when making turns. It will also make driving easier for you when towing a trailer. When driving, use extra caution when turning especially in areas with much traffic because other drivers will not expect you to make such turns.