Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has towed a caravan or trailer around 1500kg in weight with a 2.4 petrol Patriot & if so how did it go.
Cheers
Ross
Cheers
Ross
Towing
Rnc
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As you already discovered just look in your owner's manual and the car mfg will tell you what is safe to tow. :smiley_thumbs_up:So what is a safe weight for a 175 HP -285 FTLBS 6 speed manual transmission diesel Patriot to pull? Or is this governed by suspension,brakes, etc...? I'm confused!
Another thing to point out here is that the OP of this thread has a 2.4L gas Patriot not a diesel so the majority of this discussion( power )refers to the gas version of the Patriot and what it can tow. You have a diesel powered Patriot and that changes things.
Diesels almost always can tow more than a gas engine due to their greater torque #'s. Diesels also make their power at a lower RPM which is ideal for towing as well. As long as the suspension and brakes on a diesel Patriot can handle the weight the power #'s you provided should be more than adequate for the listed max capacity. You won't win any races but when towing you don't care about that anwyay.
I think the Euro max capacity of a 2.4L gas Patriot at 3000lbs+ is flat out ridiculous however. NO WAY I would try that with my US 2.4L Patriot. They are nuts! I swear I could run along side my vehicle with it floored if it had that much weight behind it. 2000lbs IMO is more than generous for the 2.4L gas engine.
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Cmoore-- tis true. I am comparing. Used to the suburban. However, I'll never go over 2000 simply because while it may pull as needed, it most definitely kills fuel economy. Double that as it gets heavier.
No doubt it is strong for a little 4 though.
2012 Patriot Sport 4x4
No doubt it is strong for a little 4 though.
2012 Patriot Sport 4x4
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Same here... between 15-17 mpg pulling a 5x8 enclosed trailer at 1500 lbs, going 65-70
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I 2nd that. I got 10 fully loaded in the Z71 Burb.
2012 Patriot Sport 4x4
2012 Patriot Sport 4x4
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Ok, update.
I am very disappointed in the rear suspension after a single overnight beach trip. I've got to mod something now.
Stats:
Full size male. (me)
100lb girl
120lb girl
Cargo area full of bedding and other beach junk.
Roof:
7 bag chairs,
1- large tent,
1- pop-up canopy.
Trailer hitch basket with 2 loaded 48qt coolers.
The rear suspension was over 50% squished and the front end was pointing at the stars.
Drove and handled fine except from bumps and driveways which bottomed out.
I thought I had lightened the load significantly. When I removed the coolers it was tolererable but still pretty squatty.
I really need air struts or maybe a small cargo trailer would be better.
Anyone else run into this?
Seriously, I didn't figure the hitch basket would make the ass drag thy bad!
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I am very disappointed in the rear suspension after a single overnight beach trip. I've got to mod something now.
Stats:
Full size male. (me)
100lb girl
120lb girl
Cargo area full of bedding and other beach junk.
Roof:
7 bag chairs,
1- large tent,
1- pop-up canopy.
Trailer hitch basket with 2 loaded 48qt coolers.
The rear suspension was over 50% squished and the front end was pointing at the stars.
Drove and handled fine except from bumps and driveways which bottomed out.
I thought I had lightened the load significantly. When I removed the coolers it was tolererable but still pretty squatty.
I really need air struts or maybe a small cargo trailer would be better.
Anyone else run into this?
Seriously, I didn't figure the hitch basket would make the ass drag thy bad!
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I had to guesstimate some of the figures but that adds up to be about 730+ lbs. The tongue weight of the patriot is 150lbs. Your coolers are 24 gallons total... That's 24x8.34=200.16 lbs.
Think about holding your arms out in front of you and trying to hold up up 50lbs... That's essentially tongue weight. Now imagine you are holding it above your head... That's payload...
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Think about holding your arms out in front of you and trying to hold up up 50lbs... That's essentially tongue weight. Now imagine you are holding it above your head... That's payload...
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Tongue weight of 150 is for the OEM hitch. Aftermarket is 350.
Sure, 200lbs on the coolers I'm ok with that. My trailer tongue weight is well over that and it doesn't cause the ass to bottom out.
Guess the trailer is better on the suspension, harder on drive-train.
Hmmmm
Think I'll keep my ears/eyes open for some kind of strut improvement.
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Sure, 200lbs on the coolers I'm ok with that. My trailer tongue weight is well over that and it doesn't cause the ass to bottom out.
Guess the trailer is better on the suspension, harder on drive-train.
Hmmmm
Think I'll keep my ears/eyes open for some kind of strut improvement.
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If the tongue weight of your empty trailer is well over 200 lbs. you are definitely exceeding the towing capability. Typical tongue weight is about 5-10% of the trailers weight. At best! That is a 2000 lb trailer.
A single axel 5x12 trailer if built well is about 700-800 lbs. that's a tongue weight of about 80lbs. Now depending on the distribution of your items' weight over the axel of the trailer determines how the tongue weight is affected. I.e. the more center on the axel the less it affects the tongue weight. Farther away from vehicle actually = less tongue weight. (aka counter balance). More towards the front more tongue weight.
So with all of this stated.
Say we have some weights. We sit them at the very front of the trailer. By jeep's specifications we can only add a 700 lb weight. Why you ask? That only equal 1500 lbs!!! True but your tongue weight has now become right around 150 lbs.
However, if we place the weights directly over the axel. We get an additional 500lbs!!! Woo hoo!!!
So what if we move it to the back to counter balance out tongue weight? Nothing. Lol cause we've reached our max tow load already. Plus that wouldn't be the safest thing in the world. That counter balance helps with tongue weight but really messes with the handling and stability of the trailer.
I hope this helps your understanding. And any of you patriot/ towing vets. please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! Cheers!!!
And man im not picking on you or trying to prove you wrong. Knowledge truly is power when you apply it!!!
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A single axel 5x12 trailer if built well is about 700-800 lbs. that's a tongue weight of about 80lbs. Now depending on the distribution of your items' weight over the axel of the trailer determines how the tongue weight is affected. I.e. the more center on the axel the less it affects the tongue weight. Farther away from vehicle actually = less tongue weight. (aka counter balance). More towards the front more tongue weight.
So with all of this stated.
Say we have some weights. We sit them at the very front of the trailer. By jeep's specifications we can only add a 700 lb weight. Why you ask? That only equal 1500 lbs!!! True but your tongue weight has now become right around 150 lbs.
However, if we place the weights directly over the axel. We get an additional 500lbs!!! Woo hoo!!!
So what if we move it to the back to counter balance out tongue weight? Nothing. Lol cause we've reached our max tow load already. Plus that wouldn't be the safest thing in the world. That counter balance helps with tongue weight but really messes with the handling and stability of the trailer.
I hope this helps your understanding. And any of you patriot/ towing vets. please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! Cheers!!!
And man im not picking on you or trying to prove you wrong. Knowledge truly is power when you apply it!!!
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Thanks guys for all of the responses. Last weekend I hooked up the van & headed off on holidays. The Tare of the van is 1140kg so with just the wife & myself & careful packing I believe I was probably up around the 1400kg. Both the book & the tow hitch State a max of 1500kg braked. Now let me tell you I was very hesitant after what I had read but ended up being pleasantly surprised. The patriot pulled it like a dream, sure I didn't break any speed records but was able to cruise along at between 95-100kph. Yes a few long steep hills slowed me down to approx 80kph but I was not in a race. At no time did it feel like I was pulling the bum out of the jeep. Guess that is also what gears are used for. When I get back home I will have a transmission oil cooler fitted & then would not hesitate towing he van anywhere.. One other important point that has not been mentioned is insurance or warranty. If one was to have an accident & the insurance company was able to prove that the all up weight of the van was more than 1500kg they would drop you like a hot cake. Anyway sorry for being so long winded just wanted to let you know how it towed.
Cheers
Ross
Cheers
Ross
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Cmoore:
I am very well aware of all the calculations, figures, an equations you have presented.
Really my only diss-apointment is the fact that adding 200 pounds on the hitch makes such a significant negative change.
My summary is that the Pat can't handle camping with my family. UGH
The wife and I yes. No kids. LoL
I'd just think there has to be someone out there who can make a quality air strut to add.
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I am very well aware of all the calculations, figures, an equations you have presented.
Really my only diss-apointment is the fact that adding 200 pounds on the hitch makes such a significant negative change.
My summary is that the Pat can't handle camping with my family. UGH
The wife and I yes. No kids. LoL
I'd just think there has to be someone out there who can make a quality air strut to add.
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1,668 Posts
There are companies that will make you bolt in airstruts if you've got the $$$.
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