Towing amongst Wrangler owners is a concern for several reasons. First, the Vehicle is not advertised as a towing vehicle, but that does not mean it does not have a towing capacity. The Wrangler Rubicon is intended for outdoor activities; it begs the question: Can a Jeep Rubicon Pull a Boat, and if so, What Boats can it Tow?
The Jeep Rubicon can easily pull smaller boats like pontoon or fiberglass boats and even mid weight boats like an aluminum or sport fishing boat. The Rubicon’s towing capacity ranges from 2000 to 4000 pounds and is enough to pull most recreational boats on a trailer.
A Jeep Rubicon can pull a boat, some boats that are large, and mostly all boats that are small. Considering the other factors involved in planning a trip and ensuring that all measurements remain under the manufacturer’s guidelines takes a little effort. However, doing the math ahead of time ensures that everyone will have a safe journey when pulling a boat behind a Rubicon.
Will a Jeep Rubicon pull a boat?
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is an iconic Jeep for any outdoor enthusiast. Fans of the Rubicon may be wondering if a Jeep will pull a boat. The Jeep will pull anything that fits within the configuration of the towing capacity set forth by Jeep.
These Formulas include the following considerations:
- Ground Clearance
- Tongue weight
- Trailer weight
- Towing capacity
- Boat Dry Weight
- Cargo Weight
- Fuel
Even though the towing capacity of the Rubicon ranges from two thousand to four thousand pounds, a Jeep Owner must also consider the other factors that go into the maximum performance measurements of the Vehicle.
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For example, if the tongue weight is not within the correct percentage or the Payload is over, these factors must be considered when determining the towing capacity for the trip.
The Jeep Rubicon can pull the following boats comfortably:
- Skiffs
- Pontoons
- Fiberglass Fishing Boats
- Aluminum Boats
- Ski Boats
- Sport Fishing Boats
A Jeep Wrangler Rubicon will tow anything with enough ground clearance after being lifted and a combined weight of fewer than forty-five hundred pounds (four thousand pounds for models previous to twenty and sixteen).
Here’s a cool video showing the fuel economy of a Rubicon while towing:
How Much Weight can a Rubicon Jeep pull?
A Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has a towing capacity of two to four and a half thousand pounds. This measurement includes the trailer weight as well as the item being towed.
Also, do not forget to include the tongue (source: howstuffworks.com) weight in the calculations for how much a Rubicon can pull at any given time. The tongue weight for a solid object is less of a concern over cargo trailers.
The average camper trailer holds a dry weight of anywhere between one thousand to three thousand pounds. The dry weight is calculated before the camper/Boat is loaded with gear.
Therefore, it would be recommended to visit a commercial scale to gain an accurate insight into the amount of weight the Vehicle is towing on a single trip.
When towing a boat, most owners know the total weight of the boat and trailer combined. However, if in a situation where the trailer weight or boat weight is unknown, Visiting a commercial scale is the only way to determine the weight the Rubicon is pulling accurately.
Towing with the Rubicon
The Rubicon has several optional accessories that make towing with the Rubicon easier. The Rubicon has the option to tow as a feature but was not built with a wide enough wheelbase to make hauling the Rubicon’s primary function.
As a result, Jeep has several towing accessories available to make towing a boat more manageable.
These accessories include :
- Mopar Hitch Receivers, Harnesses, and Adapters
- Bumper Replacements for Towing
- Tow Hooks
- Tow Straps
- Winches
- Mounting Plates
- D-Rings
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Which Size Boats can a Jeep Rubicon Tow
When towing a boat, one must consider two direct measurements: the dry weight and the trailer weight. The combined dry and trailer weight must be less than the rated towing capacity of the Rubicon towing the boat.
As a general rule, the larger the boat, the larger the trailer. However, sometimes that is not always the case, such as with some of the boats listed below.
Skiffs
The skiff is a small boat with a single motor and is perfect for fishing on a lake. A Skiff is usually a one to the two-person boat and weighs approximately three hundred to one thousand pounds. Even with the trailer added, the Rubicon can easily handle a Skiff.
Aluminum Boats
Aluminum boats are light-duty and should be easy to tow with the combined trailer weight. Boats in this category range from five hundred pounds to twenty-five hundred pounds (source: jdpower.com) for the more sophisticated aluminum boats. The trailer weight will also mostly fit within the parameters of the Rubicon towing capacity.
Salt Water Boats
These boats will generally not be able to be towed by the Rubicon because when combined with the trailer, most of these boats weigh more than four and a half thousand pounds.
Pontoons
The Pontoon boat is perfect for an afternoon at the lake, and most traveling pontoons will be light enough to tow behind a Rubicon. However, the Pontoon alone carries a significant amount of weight. The Pontoon boat weighs approximately two thousand pounds to twenty-five hundred pounds.
This does not leave much room for the trailer weight, so the Pontoon should probably not be loaded with much gear. The trailer weight for the Pontoon will range between four hundred to one thousand pounds, quickly maximizing the towing capacity for the Rubicon.
Fishing Boats
Fiberglass fishing boats of average length will weigh on average two thousand pounds. This measurement includes standard features that a fishing boat would naturally be equipped with, such as a trolling or onboard motor.
The trailers required to tow these boats weigh anywhere from two hundred fifty to nine hundred pounds.
If the boat is larger than average, the Rubicon may have trouble towing it (Boats and trailer combined weight of four thousand pounds or more)
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What Else Can A Rubicon Haul Behind It?
The thing to consider is the total combined weight of the item. Some travel trailers and RVs are easy to connect to the Rubicon but also hard to judge if the camper is overweight.
Using a commercial scale is the only way to be sure that the item a person is pulling behind their Rubicon is within those manufacturers’ guidelines for safe travel.