There are a lot of things that make Jeep Wranglers so distinctive. They’re widely considered as some of the best SUVs with off-road capabilities on the market.
This go-anywhere, do-anything SUV is so powerful that owners feel comfortable towing trucks, tractors, or even mid-sized trailers with them.
So what about boats? Can a Jeep Wrangler tow a boat? Let’s find out!
Can a Jeep Wrangler Tow a Boat?
The short answer is yes! A Jeep Wrangler can easily tow fishing boats and other small boat types.
However, not all boats fall within the towing capacity of a Jeep Wrangler. For example, a two-door Jeep Wrangler wouldn’t be able to tow a ski boat or a pontoon boat.
In order to decide whether your Jeep Wrangler can tow a specific boat or not, you need to take two things into consideration:
- The towing capacity of your Jeep Wrangler
- The average dry weight of the boat
Don’t forget that the fuel tank of the boat can add to the total weight. Other things you should factor in include the weight of the trailer and the freshwater storage (if available).
What Is the Towing Capacity of a Jeep Wrangler?
Not all Wranglers have the same towing capacity. In general, Jeep Wranglers have a towing capacity of 2000-3500 pounds.
Jeep Wrangler YJ (1987-1995)
The first official Jeep Wrangler had a towing capacity of 2000 pounds. However, many owners claim their Wranglers can handle up to 2700 pounds.
While these are strong claims (mainly due to the 3000-pound hitch rating), we don’t recommend exceeding 2000 pounds.
Jeep Wrangler TJ (1996-2006)
Similar to the Jeep YJ, the TJ model has the same 2000-pound towing capacity. This was met with criticism because the Jeep Cherokee had a 5000-pound towing capacity.
Yes, you heard that right. The Jeep Cherokee had the same 4L engine as the Wrangler TJ, but more than double the towing capacity.
Again, owners tried to exceed the towing capacity and push it beyond its limits, but quickly realized that was an impossible feat.
The reason? The short wheelbase. The Jeep Cherokee has a significantly longer wheelbase, which allows it to handle much heavier weights.
Jeep Wrangler LJ (2004-2006)
The Wrangler LJ is commonly referred to as the “Long Jeep.” This short-lived model had a much longer wheelbase (118.4 inches vs. 93.4 inches), which enabled it to have a towing capacity of 3500 pounds!
While still nowhere near the towing capacity of the Cherokee, the Jeep LJ was the first Wrangler to have such towing capacity.
Still, due to the weak frame strength and subpar stopping power from the brakes, we recommend you stay under 3000 pounds at all times.
Jeep Wrangler JK/JKU (2007-2017)
The Jeep Wrangler JK model reverted to the 2000-pound max towing capacity, but it also introduced the JK Unlimited model. The JKU Wrangler had a 3500-pound towing capacity.
Jeep Wrangler JL/JLU (2018-Present)
We’re starting to see a theme here. The Wrangler JL has a 2000-pound towing capacity and a shorter wheelbase. The Wrangler JL Unlimited has a 3500-pound towing capacity and a longer wheelbase.
Boats a Jeep Wrangler Can Tow
Now that we have a better understanding of the towing capacity of all Jeep Wrangler models, let’s take a look at the type of boats that a Wrangler can tow.
Fishing Boats
Fishing boats (aka bass boats) are one of the most popular boats that can tow behind a Wrangler. If you’re looking to tow a fishing boat, you should be able to do so with the two-door or four-door Wranglers.
Just make sure you check out the dry weight of the boat before towing. Some models, like the Bass Cat Jaguar, weigh around 2150 pounds. This is over the max towing capacity of the two-door Wranglers and isn’t suited to tow behind them.
Pontoon Boats
Pontoon boats are generally well-suited to tow behind four-door Wranglers. However, you should be extra cautious if you have a two-door Wrangler.
Even the smallest pontoon boats could weigh a little over 2000 pounds. This makes it unsuitable for the smaller Wranglers.
Small Sailboats
Sailboats are a tricky one since their weight can range from 150 pounds to over 4000 pounds. Of course, smaller sailboats like the Sunfish and Minicat 310 can comfortably tow behind any type of Wrangler.
A MacGregor 26 weighs slightly over 2500 pounds, making it unsuitable for the two-door wrangler.
Don’t forget you still need to factor in the fuel weight and freshwater storage. This could easily put you over the maximum towing capacity of your Wrangler.
Small Ski Boats
Most ski boats can’t tow behind a two-door Wrangler, and even the four-door Wrangler may struggle with a lot of models.
A base-option Boston Whaler 170 weighs about 1700 pounds, so it can barely tow behind a two-door Wrangler.
Ski boats like the Mastercraft Prostar and Tige R20 are just over the 3000-pound mark, so you can manage to tow them behind a four-door Wrangler if their fuel tank is empty.
Airboats
Airboats, on average, weigh around 2000 pounds. Add the weight of the trailer and you’re well over the towing capacity of the two-door Wrangler.
A four-door Wrangler, on the other hand, can tow most airboats.
Personal Watercrafts (PWCs)
Almost all PWCs can be towed by a Wrangler. They’re pretty lightweight, usually not exceeding 1000 pounds. This means you could tow two Sea-Doo Sparks (around 450 pounds each) on a two-door Wrangler without any issues.
Boats a Jeep Wrangler Can’t Tow
Towing a boat that exceeds your Wrangler’s towing capacity can be detrimental to your SUV.
Here are some boats that your Jeep Wrangler won’t be able to tow:
- Cabin Cruisers – 10000 to over 15000 pounds
- Large Sailboats – up to 6000 pounds
- Large Ski Boats – 2500 to 4000 pounds
- Speed Boats – 3500 pounds to over 5000 pounds
- Deck Boats – 3500 to 6000 pounds
In Conclusion
If you’re looking to use your Jeep Wrangler to tow a boat, it’s important to make sure its towing capacity isn’t exceeded.
Generally, two-door Wranglers are capable of towing fishing boats and PWCs. Four-door Wranglers can handle small sailboats and some airboats.