Towing Boat With Jeep Wrangler | 13 Type of boats you can tow with jeep wrangler
Jeep Wranglers have a class of their own, it is hard to confuse them with any other vehicle on the market. They are simply the best for everything outdoor because of their incredible capabilities to go off-roading.
There is so much you can do with a jeep wrangler, remove their doors, remove the top, set up rooftop camping, and also tow your boat. Yes, a Jeep Wrangler can tow your boat from home or one location to your desired destination.
Towing has for the longest time been a hotly contested topic. With a question like towing a boat with a Jeep Wrangler What size of a boat can Jeep Wrangler tow? How much weight Can a Jeep Wrangler comfortably tow?
This article got you covered on all matters on how Jeep Wrangler can tow a boat, the size, weight, and much more. Let’s dive in.
Factors to Consider When You Want to Tow Boat with Jeep Wrangler
Before you can start your journey about towing a boat with your Jeep Wrangler, you need to consider two main factors.
These factors can be regarded as buying a boat and planning to pull it with your Jeep Wrangler or when you want to purchase a Jeep Wrangler to haul your boat.
Jeep Wrangler Model
The model of your Jeep Wrangler will determine how much weight your Jeep can tow. For the two-model door, your Jeep is capable of hauling around 2,000 lbs., and for the four-door model, it can tow 3,500 lbs. depending on the model of your Jeep Wrangler, you can pull less or more weight.
Weight
A Jeep Wrangler has a capacity of towing between 1,000 lbs. to 3,500 lbs. The weight of your boat should not exceed the ability of your Jeep Wrangler.
If you happen to pull a vessel weighing more than the capacity of your Jeep Wrangler, it can be risky while on the road and can cause engine breakdown or even failure.
If your boat weighs more, it is advisable to look for a Jeep with more capacity than the jeep Grand Cherokee.
What Size Boat can a Jeep Wrangler Tow?
The size of a boat your Jeep Wrangler can tow depends on the kind of boat you want to haul and the model of your Jeep. By now, you understand how much weight your Jeep can handle. Let’s now look at the popular boat types for towing. They vary in size, shape, and weight.
| Types of Boat | Weight |
|---|---|
| Charger Elite 210 | 1,900 lbs. |
| Tracker Pro 2017 | 878 lbs. |
| Bass Cat Jaguar | 2,150 lbs. |
| Tracker Team Pro | 970 lbs. |
| Skiff Boats | 300-900 lbs. |
| Ski Boats | 1,700 lbs. – 3,100 lbs. |
| Pontoon Boats | 1,900 lbs. – 2100 lbs. |
| Sailing Boats (15-20 feet) | 1,000 lbs. – 2,500 lbs. |
| Sailing Boats (20 feet+) | 4,000 to 8000 lbs. |
| Glass Fishing boats | 1,500 lbs. – 2500lbs |
| Personal Watercrafts | 450 lbs. – 838 lbs |
| Bow Rider | 3,000 lbs. – 3,500 lbs |
| Air Boats | 2000 lbs. in average |
Types of Boats a Jeep Wrangler can Tow
Despite the weight limitations, boats come in different sizes, weights, and shapes. Some work well with Jeep Wrangler than others.
Also, you will notice the boats covered will have different consequences, and they will mostly be within the weight limit, but you will also need to consider the weight of the trailer that will carry the boat. Let’s look at the types of boats a Jeep Wrangler can tow.
The boats listed below are ideal for a Jeep Wrangler to tow.
Fishing Boats
Fishing is one of the main reasons many people want to tow boats for a weekend, enjoying what they love doing. If fishing is your hobby, then you can tow your boat. But you cannot all fishing boats can be towed, Jeep Wrangler.
Small fishing boats are popular with most people, and most weigh between 500lbs to 2,150 lbs.; thus, easy to tow them down to the lake or liver and back home. Most of these boats contain a bench or chairs, a center console where you steer, and the hull.
These are the types of small fishing boats that you can tow with ease.
- Charger Elite 210 – 1,900 lbs.
- Tracker Pro 2017 – 878 lbs.
- Bass Cat Jaguar – 2,150 lbs.
- Tracker Team Pro – 970 lbs.
Skiff Boats
Most skiff boats weigh around 300-900 lbs. and are popular with anglers because they are great for shallow water fishing adventures. They are among the easiest boats to tow with a Jeep Wrangler.
Ski Boats
Ski boats are often used for water recreation activities like tubing and water skiing. They are few that work well with your Jeep Wrangler.
The Master craft Prostar 2017 20, tige 2017 RZR 20 and Boston Whaler 170Montauk. They all weigh between 1,700 lbs. to 3,100 lbs., thus good, thus great too, and easy to them with a trailer.
Pontoon Boats
People use Pontoon boats for different water recreational activities like going for a family tour and even skiing. The boat is also ideal for fishing because it is more stable than other boats that may scare fish away.
It has around ten people, so some models are relatively big, and you may think a Jeep Wrangler can’t tow it. These models of Pontoon boats can be towed using a Jeep Wrangler. Nauti Star Angler 193 SC with 2100 pounds, Lower SS210, weighs 1,900 pounds, and Avalon model DRL24 with 2000 pounds.
Sailing Boats
Sailors and 15-20 feet mainly use sailing boats. They are typically referred to as day sailing boats because the users sail during the day. The sailboats range between 1,000 to 2,500 lbs. and are easy to tow.
Other sailing boats which are over 20 feet+ usually weigh between 4,000 to 8000 lbs. these larger sailing boats are used for day cruising around the lake or ocean.
When you have a bigger sailing boat, it’s vital to check the dimensions as a sea boat more significant than 30 feet is considered to be a yacht, and you can’t tow a yacht with Jeep Wrangler.
Glass Fishing boats
Fiberglass fishing boats weigh more than smaller or usual fishing boats, but the extra weight makes them stand out from the rest with their ease while fishing. They also cost a little more but last for longer. They weigh between 1,500 lbs. to 2500lbs and are simple to tow.
Personal Watercrafts
Also known as PWC, these are recreational watercraft, and the most known personal watercraft is the jet skis.
It is much smaller than what you may consider usual, weigh much less, and can be towed, being your Jeep Wrangler quickly. There are various types of personal watercraft that weigh from 450 lbs. to 838 lbs.
Bow Rider
Bowrider boats are usually used for short cruise distances and have a comfortable sitting area. They have an in-board motor that is attached at the bowed rear of the boat. If you don’t like the inbound motor on the back, you can install it on the side.
Most motorboats weigh 3,000 lbs. to 3,500 lbs., so you need to trailer weight to ensure you don’t exceed the required weight.
Air Boats
Airboats are unique and are commonly used b people residing in low water areas like swamps and mash lakes. If that is your specialty, you will meet your needs as a jeep wrangler can tow your boat. Its average weight is 2000 lbs., so it still fits well within the average weight when combined with that of a trailer.
What You Need to Know Before Towing Boat with jeep wrangler?
You already know weight is significant when towing a boat with Jeep Wrangler but there is the fewer thing you need to consider.
Length is another factor that you need to look into. Towing a very long boat is complex and can pose some risks.
It would be best if you also have the proper equipment for towing. Ensure the receiver you intend to use is well-rated for towing.
Many people happen to try using a smaller receiver that is mainly meant for cargo only to realize it cannot pull a boat.
The suitable receiver for towing a boat is class II or class III for proper towing. Apart from a receiver, it would be best to have a hitch ball mount that comes with a hitch pin.
What is a Hitch?
A hitch is a device that is incorporated into your vehicle chassis for towing. A cording to how much the hitch you choose will determine how much you can pull with your Jeep Wrangler.
Also, your Jeep can have the capability to tow 35,000 lbs., but if the hitch you have does not support that capacity, then you can’t be able to pull that weight. To determine the power of your hitch, you need to look at how much tongue weight it can carry.
Probably you are wondering what a tongue weight is? It is the downward force applied to the hitch by the trailer you intend to use for the tow. The low pressure determines how much your car can comfortably pull without any problem.
To know the actual tongue weight, buy a car with a hitch installed in the factory with a manual of the cat weight. But if you are installing one, you will see two stated tongue weights it’s advisable to take them down one.
You can also calculate the tongue weight of your hitch by taking 10% of the gross weight of your car or the trailer you intend to use.
There are others that state you can tow 9-15% of your car weight, but to be on the safer side, the recommended is 10%.
Types of Trailer Hitches Best for Towing
The hitch comes in two types, weight distributing hitch or weight-carrying hitch. The weight distributing hitch distributes the weight on the trailer, and it’s mainly used for class III receivers. Jeep Wrangler primarily uses the class III receivers.
Under the two types of hitches, there are four categories that you can choose from that differ in tongue weight capacity. When you are buying, look at their ability.
How to Install a Hitch for towing a boat with jeep wrangler?
Get a hitch that suits your needs, attach it in the right way to the trailer, and setting the correct electrical connection will determine whether you will have smooth towing.
When connecting the hitch, you need to ensure you attach chains under the tongue. If the hitch falls, the chains will be able to hold it.
Check the tire’s pressure to ensure they have proper pressure, as towing a boat on overinflated tires may cause uneven traction on your tires, affecting its capability to stop. Foe uninflated tires can fail to cause you to lose control of the car.
Safety Procedures to Follow While Towing
Before you set off for a water adventure, it is good to do some safety measures for smooth towing. You can connect and check if the trailer lights are working well. That is what you will use to alert other drivers behind you what your intentions are.
Check if the chains are well connected to the trailer, the hitch pin, and secure the link. Is the coupler is closed, locked, and in place? Ensure the boat straps are secure and tight by doing a second-round check. Once you are sure everything is well and safe, you can now start our preferred destination.
One more thing you should look out for is the law of your state where you will be driving. Some states require you to use a separate braking system for the trailer with a load of more than 1,500 while towing.
The brake system you can buy are electronically controlled brakes, surge brakes, and electric-ver-hydraulic brakes, also known as (EOH) trailer brakes. These three types of brakes will ensure you can stop entirely at once in case of an emergency.
Conclusion
Getting to know what your Jeep Wrangler is capable of in terms of towing is exciting. The size of a boat that your Jeep Wrangler can tow on its weight and other factors listed above.
There are different types of vessels a Jeep Wrangler can pull, as listed above. Most of the boats are within the required weight when you include the trailer.
Jeep Wrangler cannot tow off-roading or on steep and round roads apart from the smooth roads. When you Push your Jeep Wrangler to its maximum or beyond its limit, you will encounter problems with the engine. Time to go and get the boat in the water and off to fishing.
