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towing capacity cj5 1980

towing capacity cj5 1980

gindy

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casper wyoming
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1981 cj5
hi all life happened but i'm trying to get back in the swing of it i'm thinking of getting a small trailer for my CJ5 but i don't know its towing capacity CJ5 1980 any help will be appreciated thanks .gindy
 
Depending on your engine and Transmission combination the towing capacity on your Jeep is between 2500 and 3000 lbs. I however would not tow anything that heavy. I have a 4 x 6 foot trailer that will easily carry 1200 lbs. I don't plan on pulling anything bigger than that. I've looked at campers as well. There are small campers like the Runaway or the Teardrop campers that could be easily towed behind your Jeep. Make sure you have a good hitch that connects to the frame of your Jeep and not just the bumper.
 
Need more vehicle info.
LG
 
hi all life happened but i'm trying to get back in the swing of it i'm thinking of getting a small trailer for my CJ5 but i don't know its towing capacity CJ5 1980 any help will be appreciated thanks .gindy



From the 1980 owners manual, p. 87, CJ5 /CJ7 2000#/200# w/Class I hitch, 3500#/350# w/Class II hitch. No identification of different limits based on engine/Transmission /suspension or anything else.

IMG_6788.webp
 
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a little confused my computers old can,t read the page you coped the,s this mean the towed weight can be as high as 3500 lbs ?

Yep, the factory said 3500# with a Class II hitch, 2000# with a Class I hitch. They didn't differentiate between engines, transmissions, gearing, etc., which leads me to suspect that the wheelbase, brakes, and CJ weight are probably the limiting factors, rather than the drivetrain. Sorry about the fuzzy shot.

You'll find a lot of heated discussion about this all over the web, all adding up to being thoughtful about what you're trying tow, what kinds of roads/traffic/speeds you'll be in, how are your brakes (and the trailer brakes, if any), engine/cooling condition, etc.

Oh, and your gearing will certainly affect how comfortable the pulling part is. I think the factory offered a choice of 3.07 or 3.54 gearing in 1980, and I'm sure 3.54 would make for a more comfortable pull.
 
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I towed a 3 seater Yamaha Waverunner across country with fully loaded luggage in the back seat with my 1980 CJ5 . It had the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , T-176 , 3.55 gears and did very well getting 16.5 mpg.
 

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