Towed for the first time with the KK and gave it a good test

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Liaztraht

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And it performed fantastically.

First thing I did when buying it last year was install the aux fan from the tow package. Monitored all temps before and after a small lift as well. Also repaired a leaky cooler and lines.

Then installed a factory rated hitch.

Pulling a rented 2,290 ib trailer loaded with stuff for a dump run (about 3.2k total), the trans temp was staying around 213 Fahrenheit in stop and go traffic and 200 on highway hills for the main out of town drive. Only hit 218 briefly hauling the empty back up the hill of the rental place to drop it off. That was a steep rough "road" after a bit of a paved hill.

Not half bad IMO since it would top out at 208 moving slowly up long hills where the tow haul button wasn't needed. Like on well done gravel access roads.

Only disappointment was a whopping 9 MPG on a 60 mile round trip :p


I did also install a Gibson exhaust before that and it didn't drone me to death!
 

LibertyTC

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Good to hear that you you have the Jeep well equipped for towing.
Those temps are very reasonable and the KK does pull very well indeed.
Ha ha 9 mpg, it's obviously thirsty and working with the load well! :)
 

Liaztraht

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Good to hear that you you have the Jeep well equipped for towing.
Those temps are very reasonable and the KK does pull very well indeed.
Ha ha 9 mpg, it's obviously thirsty and working with the load well! :)
Thirsty indeed! I'm Just supposed to Empty Every Pocket right?

Luckily, we are planning on getting either a couple dirt bikes, or a quad to haul behind it. Don't want anything extreme to tow.

Unless I can convince my step-dad to sell me his Manx then we will tow that... (really just a VW with a roll cage and body) been trying for that for 17 years now ;)
 

tommudd

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When towing always should run with OD off
Unless going down a long hill coasting basically
what tire size are you running ?
Never got as low as 9 MPG pulling any trailer with any of mine so just curious
 

lfhoward

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I got 10 mpg towing mine to Michigan with the OD off, but had a stiff head wind. Towing with oversized tires really tanks the mpg.
 

tommudd

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Guess I was confused since you posted this
quote

Not half bad IMO since it would top out at 208 moving slowly up long hills where the tow haul button wasn't needed. Like on well done gravel access roads.
unquote
 

Liaztraht

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Guess I was confused since you posted this
quote

Not half bad IMO since it would top out at 208 moving slowly up long hills where the tow haul button wasn't needed. Like on well done gravel access roads.
unquote
My bad. That's how hot it would get while leaving it in a standard driving condition. Going about 20 up a well cared for mountain BLM road.

In tow/haul mode, while towing, it didn't get much hotter.

I use the tow/haul mode as road conditions degrade, at least until 4WD is needed. Then pop into second.

I always have the torque app connected when I drive for monitoring. But I want to get some analogue gauges put in eventually for the temps.
 

lfhoward

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Sounds like 10 MPG is par for the course for towing a heavy trailer with the tow/haul button engaged.
 

Liaztraht

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Sounds like 10 MPG is par for the course for towing a heavy trailer with the tow/haul button engaged.
Sounds about right. Haven't felt that much pain in the wallet since driving a Chevelle with a 454 big block.

Nothing like watching the gas gauge drop faster than you drive!
 

lfhoward

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Sounds about right. Haven't felt that much pain in the wallet since driving a Chevelle with a 454 big block.

Nothing like watching the gas gauge drop faster than you drive!
At 10 mpg, you can go 170 miles on a full tank before the low fuel light comes on, LOL. :p

But towing does work well. If I were towing all the time I would have a different vehicle. But for a few times a year, no problem. I like my Jeep.
 

Liaztraht

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At 10 mpg, you can go 170 miles on a full tank before the low fuel light comes on, LOL. :p

But towing does work well. If I were towing all the time I would have a different vehicle. But for a few times a year, no problem. I like my Jeep.
I love the my liberty. Wife named it Peej.
She uses it as a daily since she works close to home. It's getting about 19 after the lift if going easy on the throttle.

I on the other hand have to commute, and the 32 highway I get in my Mazda (with sporty driving) is a godsend. Glad I didn't trade it in! I can drive forever with an 18 gallon tank in it. Relatively speaking :p
 

tommudd

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I drive 95 miles a day
I drive Jeeps only, no disco cars for me LOL

Never did find out what size tires??
I guess that KK's get much worse then KJ's when pulling trailers
 

Liaztraht

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I drive 95 miles a day
I drive Jeeps only, no disco cars for me LOL

Never did find out what size tires??
I guess that KK's get much worse then KJ's when pulling trailers
Mine currently has Procomp AT Sport 245/75/16 on Black Rock Steel 16x7s.

If the 11's came in stick, I could probably squeeze more MPG out of it.
 

tommudd

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Mine currently has Procomp AT Sport 245/75/16 on Black Rock Steel 16x7s.

If the 11's came in stick, I could probably squeeze more MPG out of it.
No you need to regear
With those heavy steel wheels and 30.5 inch tall tires ( 31s ) , there is part of the problem
It does not matter if you have a clutch or not , regearing is the best option when going to larger tires
Been through this many times with both manuals and automatics in many KJs
 

Liaztraht

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No you need to regear
With those heavy steel wheels and 30.5 inch tall tires ( 31s ) , there is part of the problem
It does not matter if you have a clutch or not , regearing is the best option when going to larger tires
Been through this many times with both manuals and automatics in many KJs
It's definitely on the to do list. Been putting away funds for it.
 

tommudd

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It's definitely on the to do list. Been putting away funds for it.
It will make a huge difference
Both of my 03 and 04 , 03 on 31s and 04 on 32s are running 4.10s
and have full diffs with 4.10s ready for the 05 when it goes higher
Have also done quite a number of others for them
KJs are lucky in that we can use 4 cylinder gasser 4.10 diffs
But the KKs can go even lower than 4.10s so a trade off in a way
 

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