Jeep Gladiator as tow vehicle for C-Dory 22 Cruiser

[tobias]

Hello all, new here.

What do you think about a Jeep Gladiator Mojave/Overland/Rubicon as tow vehicle for a C-Dory 22 Cruiser? They are rated at 6000/6500/7000lbs.

I don't have a Jeep or a C-Dory at the moment, just putting a plan together.

I live in Oklahoma so going anywhere but the Arkansas river will require a very long tow. I want the Jeep so I can take the doors and top off at times but I don't want to struggle when towing.

[thataway]

Those jeeps have the tow capacity. The 22 is in the 4,500 to 5,000 range on the trailer. The C Dory 22 will look large behind the rig. Major issue is to watch the transmission temperature.

[daninPA]

Hmmm, I'd be concerned with the tendency to jackknife with a smaller vehicle.

We settled on a 21' long Silverado Extended Crew Cab (Diesel) and that's as small as I would go with a 22'. I think it's realistic to plan for 6k towed weight for a CD-22 as you will have fuel, equipment, generator, and more on board.

The diesel has plenty of torque and the fuel economy is excellent towing. It's rated for 10k but after towing to max capacity with other vehicles and load I prefer excess capacity for stopping as well as going.

[colbysmith]

The short wheelbase will not be your friend! Especially on a long haul. That said, it looks like they have enough tow capacity.

[SnowTexan]

I’d be more concerned with tongue weight contributing to max capacity for the vehicle if you are loaded for travel and have passengers. How much can you put in those jeeps?

[kevinnuckles@icloud.com]

Assuming you are towing a tandem axle trailer with brakes, the Gladiator should tow it nicely. I haul with a Chrysler Aspen 4.7L 4wd, and have no problems. The previous owner hauled with a Honda Ridgeline. Not many mountains over 4000' here in Va and fewer near the coast where I live, but I don't think of Okllahoma as mountainous either...Transmission on my Aspen has a cooler, Gladiator probably does too. Never been a problem with overheating or braking.

[thataway]

[Hunkydory]

Tobias, I’ve been towing many different combinations both professionally & recreational over the last 50 some years with the last 20 years mainly our CD22 with the first 3 years a 3/4 ton Chevy duramax diesel pickup & the last 17 years an overkill one ton diesel powered dually pickup.

Our daily driver & for off paved road fun to drive & explore has been for the last 12 years, two different Jeep Wrangler rubicons & for towing the boat & rv travel with a heavy camper, a 2006 Chevy, one ton, crew cab long bed, 4 (6) wheel drive, dually pickup with a duramax diesel. This pickup does well even with the heavy camper in the bed, while towing the CD22 & in 2010 we made a trip to Alaska with this combination. A few years ago, when learning about the jeep gladiator, I thoroughly researched the possibility of it replacing both my present pickup & Jeep Wrangler with the elimination of the truck camper & addition of a small rv trailer, that the Jeep gladiator could also tow. I came to the conclusion the Jeep gladiator could safely handle the CD22, but no where near as well as my present HD pickup & though the Jeep gladiator is extremely capable off road not quite as well as my present Jeep. In both these areas the capability was still well enough to make the change. What has stopped me doing it is the exorbitant cost of a new Jeep gladiator set up for both off road driving & towing along with my present truck & Jeep being in great shape with the capability of an additional many more dependable less costly miles.

Bottom line, towing choices are in the same realm as the boats they tow. Very few end up with the perfect do all, but the Jeep gladiator is with the correct model choice, capable of towing the CD22 safely & the only present pickup that has the combination of extreme off road capability & being quickly converted to run with the removal of top & doors. For the same cost or less there are many other better tow vehicle choices, that have much better towing capability, but don’t have the same pizazz or off road capability of the Jeep gladiator, especially the rubicon model. What is overall best as you are finding out can be a tough decision.

Jay

[daninPA]

After retiring from the Army I really wanted a Jeep Wrangler (as a newly minted 2LT I had one of the last 1/4 ton issued to me a few times before they were replaced by HMVVW).

The Army Jeep was small, absolutely utilitarian ("heater?"), nimble, and a hoot to drive on trails. Not so great on tank trails or paved roads.

I bought the Wrangler and took it off-roading over remote Western PA ridges a few times. But the noise, lack of heat/ AC, noise, poor fuel economy, noise, and slow acceleration, noise, failing components and poor handling finally made the "sell" decision easy. Oh -- and it was terrible on snowy / icy roads.

The more recent Jeeps seem worlds away from that TJ, but, alas, the love is gone...

[thataway]

[tobias]

Thank you all for the fantastic answers, what a great community! Hopefully I can find a good C-Dory and join the fun.

[colbysmith]

I guess the jeeps have come a long ways. When I think Jeep, I think the old smaller versions. Sounds like the SUV's you are looking at have a long enough wheelbase and well do just fine. Colby

[Hunkydory]

Yes, they’ve come a long way. I grew up as a country boy & in my pre teen & teen years had access to, drove & rode in the different varieties of the Willy’s jeep, both pick up & WW11 style, along with the original dodge 4x4 power wagon. While in the Army, I spent considerable time driving the small jeep the Military used in the 60’s. In my early twenties a Jeep CJ5 followed closely by a a 1975 International Scout 11. In my thirties, I changed up to a small Chevy 4x4 S10, a jeep CJ7 & a 1984 ford 4x4, 3/4 ton pickup with a International diesel, we kept for 27 years. In my 50’s it was 2003 & 2006 Chevy 4x4 duramax diesels of which I’m still using the later. Also in my 50’s, I came back to the jeep with first a 2010 Jeep Wrangler 4 door rubicon & later a 2012 Jeep Wrangler 4 door rubicon. As Colby said what a change these newer jeeps wranglers & now the gladiator have morphed into. Still fairly rough riding with the strait axels, but smooth as silk compared to the earlier models & off road capable way beyond their predecessors with now also having the ability to keep up on freeways & all states posted speeds very comfortably with the additional very good tow rating of the jeep gladiator. Jeeps & other 4 wheel drive vehicles may not be good choices for all, but for many a vehicle greatly expanding the use of regular cars & pickups in undreamed comfort of the originals.

Not that I would necessarily recommend the same, but this year Mike Moser towed his CD 22 with a Toyota Highlander, having only a 5000 pound tow rating from Milwaukee to Skagway, Alaska & back with zero problems.

Jay

[tobias]

I watched a Trip Smith video where he pulled his CD 22 from Galveston to Pensacola area with his Toyota Tacoma with no issues. I think the Gladiator idea has merit. The biggest downside is my wife thinks they're ugly. Honestly, I don't disagree. I wish I could have a Wrangler Rubicon and a truck to pull the boat but so far I haven't been able to justify a 3rd vehicle just to pull the boat.

[colbysmith]