How much can jeep gladiator tow | What is the maximum tow capacity of Jeep Gladiator?
The jeep gladiator is jeep’s flagship pickup truck that debuted in 2018 and was first sold in the late months of 2019. It hasn’t been accepted fully, especially by pickup truck enthusiasts.
Many refer to it as a jeep wrangler with a bed. But it’s slowly gaining popularity and being accepted by jeep lovers who even trade in their jeep wranglers or Cherokees to get it.
Powerful engine options are available for the gladiator, such as the 3.0-liter turbodiesel, making it a favorite among tuners. Some go to extreme levels and build other vehicles on the gladiator’s chassis. This shows that it is strong, durable, and has a good quality build like other Jeeps.
The gladiator is built on is the same as the four-door jeep wrangler, meaning it has the same off-road build and off-road capabilities as the jeep wrangler. But the frame has few changes over the frame used in the jeep wrangler.
In 2020 Jeep revealed that the gladiator will get a better frame different from the one used on the jeep wrangler. However, we’re gonna see how much can jeep gladiator tow and the maximum towing capacity of the jeep gladiator.
Is the jeep gladiator better than the jeep wrangler in terms of load and towing capacity?
For a fair comparison, we’ll compare a 2019 jeep wrangler and a 2019 jeep gladiator. You get two engine options for the 2019 jeep wrangler, a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or a turbocharged inline 4 engine.
Wranglers with the turbocharged inline-four get an electric motor, thus making it a hybrid. This makes the hybrid jeep wrangler just as capable as a wrangler with the Pentastar V6 but with a better fuel economy and more power at low RPMs.
The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 has a power output of 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged inline has a power output of 270 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque.
The Pentastar V6 is coupled to either an 8-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual. Only an 8-speed automatic is available if you get the 4-cylinder hybrid.
Jeep wranglers have a maximum load capacity of between 1000 to 1400 pounds maximum depending on the year of production. Two-door wranglers can tow a maximum of 2000 pounds, and four-door wranglers can tow a maximum of 3500 pounds.
Only two engines are available for the gladiator. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 (EcoDiesel). The power output of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is at 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
The 3.0-liter turbodiesel has a power output of 260-horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. You can get both engines coupled to either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The gladiator can hold a maximum load capacity of 1700 pounds with a five-foot bed. With the bed, you can carry anything you can think of that can fit in the bed, unlike in jeep wranglers, where you are limited because of the roof.
There is also some extra storage under the rear seat if you need to keep some stuff safe. Not only can jeep gladiators hold more weight than jeep wranglers, but they also have a higher maximum towing capacity.
The base model has a maximum towing limit of around 4500 pounds while the higher trims such as the Rubicon tow around 7600 pounds easily. You’ll notice that Jeep gladiators with an automatic transmission have a higher towing limit than those with a manual transmission.
Features that make jeep gladiator have a higher payload and towing limit
- High-quality steel frame and body and frame design
The jeep gladiator’s frame is made to withstand massive weights pulling and pushing down on it; thus, it can withstand heavier loads. The new frame is made with four cross members, which increases the weight you can put in the bed, in the cabin, and when towing.
A body on frame design is good for towing since vehicles with a body on frame design are heavier, which increases the towing capacity. Compared to unibody-designed trucks, trucks such as the jeep gladiator can carry heavier loads and tow more.
- Heavy-duty axles
The jeep gladiator comes as standard with solid Dana® 44 front and rear axles. They have extra thick steel tubing and forgings for extra strength and rigidity. You can tow loads and still have loads on your jeep gladiator at the same time without having to worry about axle damage.
- Coil suspension
Coil suspensions are better than leaf suspensions because of two main things. The risk of axle warp is low with a coil suspension, and coil suspensions do not undergo frictions, unlike in leaf springs. Apart from that, a good quality coil suspension ensures smoother load movement when you have weight on the bed or when towing.
You also get FOX 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks which regulate the spring rebound and control movement in the rear. This prevents the rear end from swaying at highway speeds when towing and when you have a load in the bed.
- Heavy-duty towing hitch
When towing heavy loads, you’ll need a heavy-duty tow hook that can hold and pull that weight without snapping. The gladiator is equipped with a high-quality steel class IV tow hitch which can hold up to around 7700 pounds.
Suppose you need to increase the towing capacity of your gladiator. In that case, the tow hitch is among the components that you’ll need to change.
- Trailer sway control
The jeep gladiator has a trailer sway control system when you activate the tow mode. This system detects any sway in the trailer and applies braked to the gladiator’s tires accordingly to reduce the sway. It also applies brakes to the trailer, thus reducing the speed, reducing sway.
- Large brakes
When towing large amounts, you’ll need a good braking system with good stopping power because of the increased weight. Your trailer has brakes, but they are not enough. The jeep gladiator has 12.9-inch rotors at the front and 13.6-inch rotors at the back repetitively.
You get 2 (51) twin-piston floating calipers for the front, and for the rear, you get 2 (51) single-piston floating calipers. Even when you have a 7500-pound trailer at the back, that is enough stopping power.
- Jeep gladiator towing package
Two towing packages are available for the jeep gladiator for maximum towing ability. You get a standard trailer towing package and a full towing package.
- Standard trailer towing package
With this package, you get the standard Class IV towing hitch, heavy-duty engine cooling, trailer hitch zoom, and a 240-watt alternator. The class IV towing hitch ensures that you can tow heavy loads up to the maximum towing limit indicated on the owner’s manual. With the trailer hitch zoom, you can check the hitch from the infotainment screen if you feel loose.
When towing or carrying heavy loads, the engine works more than usual, meaning it heats up more. As the engine heats up, it will require more cooling. This is where the heavy-duty engine cooling comes in. the 240-watt alternator charges the gladiator’s battery which also powers the trailer’s electricals.
- Maximum towing package
You get everything in the standard towing package in this package, but you also get more. You get all-terrain tires for better grip and an anti-spin rear differential which reduces lack of traction and keeps the gladiator on track. You also get a 4.10 axle ratio higher than the standard axle ratio.
A high axle ratio increases acceleration even with a heavy payload on the bed or when towing heavy loads on your trailer. Apart from those, you get anti-lock brakes available for higher trims, such as the Rubicon and daytime running lights and fog lights.
With the full towing package, you can exploit the gladiator’s maximum towing capacity without having to worry about anything. However, if you do excessive towing, you can make a couple of add-ons or modifications to your gladiator. They ensure it is always in good condition for towing and making towing safer and smoother.
Such modifications and add-ons include the following:
- Transmission coolant
The transmission also heats up quickly when towing, just like the engine. The normal transmission fluid helps keep it cool and the internals lubricated. Still, suppose you often tow heavy loads for long distances.
In that case, you’ll need a better transmission fluid with cooling properties or get a transmission coolant mixed together with the transmission fluid in a specific ratio.
When you have coolant in the transmission fluid, you’ll notice that gear shifts are smooth. No noises or vibrations are coming from the transmission, especially when going uphill.
- Get 10 ply tires
10 ply tires have a higher load limit than 4 ply and 6 ply tires used on the jeep gladiator. 12 ply tires have a higher load rating, but these are made for trucks with a higher load capacity and towing limit. The jeep gladiator’s towing capacity is at around 7600 pounds. It falls in the category of cars that can use 10 ply tires.
However, 10 ply tires do not have a comfortable ride, but this is something that you should not even consider when you have a 7000-pound trailer and a 1000-pound load on your bed.
Due to the extra ply on the tires being stiffer, thus they have more grip on the road. They also last longer even when you use them daily when towing.
- Upgrade the hitch to a weight distribution switch
A weight distribution capacity hitch helps spread the trailer’s weight evenly on the hitch; thus, trailer sway is reduced significantly. Your hitch will also last longer as when weight is exerted on one point, there is friction at every trailer movement, which causes wear and tear on the hitch.
You also gain better control of your gladiator, especially when cornering and braking. When using a normal hitch, the trailer tends to lean to the opposite direction when cornering, but this does not happen when you have a weight-distribution hitch.
- Upgrading the air intake and exhaust system
The engine needs to combust more air when towing or carrying heavy loads. Upgrading the air intake and exhaust system to better aftermarket ones enhances how the engine “breathes”.
The engine can combust more air and let out combusted gases. You might gain a little bit more horsepower when you upgrade the air intake and exhaust system.
Conclusion
The gladiator is a new addition to the truck scene and is looked down upon. But it provides stiff competition to other trucks such as the Ford F150 and Toyota Tacoma. When it comes to towing, the gladiator shines over such trucks easily.
For example, the Chevrolet Colorado has a maximum towing limit of 7000 pounds and a maximum load limit of 1550 pounds. The Toyota Tacoma has a maximum towing limit of 6500 pounds and a load limit of 1200 pounds.
This places the gladiator at the top of its class. According to Jeep, it will get more power from the engine options available. This better frame will probably increase its off-roading abilities, load limit, and towing limit.
