Towing with a 2001 GC 4.0 Inline 6

Perfectly legal in Ontario, Canada as long as the tow vehicle doesn't have a commercial registration IIRC.

Bill

I'd say if you keep the weight close to the 3400 lbs or so, life will be good ... I trailer a 3500 lb or so boat/trailer with my 4.0 XJ 4 spd auto with cooler and it's almost as if there's nothing there. If you load it up though, I'd be most concerned of cross winds at highway speed ... actually, cross winds even emtpty should be a concern. I did see a few years ago a GC and trailer on their side I guess due to driving too fast with cross wind and resultant sway. And just change the fluids a little more often than usual. I'd try your ratio as is ... then change if required.

Forgot to mention to the OP that I'm running OEM 3.73 gears, which are close to your 3.55's. There isn't enough of a difference to bother, and if your trialer pulls as effortlessly as mine did, you'll be just fine. In fact, I was surprised that mine pulled so effortlessly. It actually pulled easier with the Jeep than with a friend's '86 F-150/5.0/auto.

IMO, I'd shy away from major changes in differential gearing unless you plan to upgrade the entire drivetrain. Shafts, axles, transmissions, cooling systems and the electronics are all matched to a specific torque load and RPM range of the selected OEM axle ratio. Change this and everything else becomes the weak link in the chain.

-JD

In article , dmacintire wrote: #Yes it has Electric brakes, and my GC has a brake controler installed.

It should be OK--just don't expect to set any acceleration or uphill speed records. The i6 is a great torq engine so once you get up to speed, you should be fine.

/herb