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Can a Jeep Gladiator Tow a Fifth Wheel?

You might be thinking of towing a fifth wheel with your Jeep Gladiator, a fifth wheel is an optimized towing system compared to the receiver Jeep hitch towing system, it has an optimized weight distribution.

What happens with towing with the rear of your Jeep Gladiator is that the front wheels tend to lift because the Jeep Gladiator rear axle is the pivot point between your truck and towed vehicle.

Another thing we have experienced on our Jeep Gladiator when using the Jeep Gladiator rear hitch to tow is that the majority of the weight will rest on the Jeep Gladiator Rear Suspension, and you will notice your Jeep Gladiator rear tires being stressed due to the weight subjected on them, increasing the risk of breaking something or wearing out your Jeep parts, Jeep Gladiator towing accessories.

With this discovery, we noticed that the dynamics of our Jeep Gladiator towing capabilities get compromised every time we add heavy loads on our Jeep Wrangler rear rack or our DIY trailer mounted on the Jeep Gladiator rear hitch.

>> Jeep Gladiator Towing Capacity and Accessories. <<

The Jeep Gladiator is a reliable family truck, it is known for its strong frame and body, powerful engine and transmission, off-roading capabilities, towing capabilities, and long-term dependability as a family truck that can be used for daily driving, off-roading, and Overlanding.

Considering the Jeep Gladiator is one of the most reliable trucks with powerful towing capacities of 6000 lbs. to 7,650 pounds when properly equipped, and the rear towing solution has its weakness, are there other Jeep Gladiator mounting options available, can a Jeep Gladiator Tow a Fifth Wheel?

Can a Jeep Gladiator Tow a Fifth Wheel?

If you are thinking about towing a fifth wheel with your Jeep Gladiator, A straight answer is yes your Jeep Gladiator can tow a fifth wheel, you will need to install a specific Jeep Gladiator fifth wheel hitch or a Jeep Gladiator gooseneck hitch on the bed of your truck, you must also factor in the type of trailer you want to haul with your Jeep Gladiator, a fifth wheel hitch will distribute the weight placed on the Jeep Gladiator bed in between the rear axles and the gladiator Cab.

You will need to purchase a fifth-wheel hitch and mount it on your Jeep Gladiator bed, below are some of the best fifth-wheel mounting systems we have reviewed on our Jeep Gladiator towing capacity and accessories post.

Can a Jeep Gladiator Tow a Fifth Wheel

Advantage of Towing a Fifth Wheel with a Jeep Gladiator

A fifth wheel will provide a link between the towed vehicle and your Jeep Gladiator, the fifth wheel refers to the U-Shaped hitch coupling that is mounted on the bed of your Jeep Gladiator. These are some of the reasons to tow a fifth wheel with a Jeep Gladiator.

The weight distribution of the Load to the center of the Jeep Gladiator.

Using the Fifth wheel is safer and provides a more stable towing experience on a Jeep Gladiator than using a rear hitch towing system, it eliminates the problems of rear hitch towing that rests the weight of the load on the rear wheel, instead a fifth wheel will spread the load, although the rear Jeep Gladiator suspension and wheels of your Jeep Gladiator will still feel the loads, for this reason, any Jeep Gladiator used for towing should have heavy-duty suspension and making sure you are maintaining Jeep Tires.

Increased turning radius of your towing Jeep Gladiator.

Another reason why you should consider installing a fifth wheel hitch on your Jeep is to increase the radius of your Jeep Gladiator when towing, using a fifth wheel for Jeep Gladiator towing allows the front end of your towed vehicle to sit above the truck bed helping reduce the length of your towed vehicle, be it a DIY Trailer, camper, boat trailer, kayak trailer, motor home or any other vehicle you might need to tow with your Jeep Gladiator.

A fifth-wheel trailer hitch mounted on a Jeep Gladiator will allow you to turn your towed vehicle up to ninety degrees, and even more when parking and turning in small spaces especially when off-roading or Overlanding off the grid or on Jeep camping grounds.

It’s easy to use the fifth wheel on a Jeep Gladiator.

Once you have reached your camping grounds or towed trailer destination, you can easily unhitch your towed vehicle easily and quickly so that you can continue using your Jeep Gladiator for other family matters, off-roading, or Overlanding activities.

Fifth-wheel mounting stable than rear-mounted hitch towing.

Fifth-wheel systems are more stable in structure than rear-mounted hitches used for towing, you can also strengthen their support by making sure they are mounted on your Jeep Gladiator bed and are supported and bolted to your Jeep Gladiator body frame.

Can You Pull a Gooseneck with a Jeep Gladiator?

A straight Answer is Yes, you can pull a gooseneck with a Jeep Gladiator, to pull a gooseneck with a Jeep Gladiator your will need your Jeep Gladiator gooseneck hitch or Jeep Gladiator fifth wheel hitch mounted on your Jeep Gladiator bed.

Factors to consider when pulling a gooseneck with a Jeep Gladiator include the Jeep Gladiator Towing Capacity, Tongue weight, and Weight of the towed vehicle and its cargo load.

How Much Weight Can a Jeep Gladiator Haul in the Bed?

Wondering how much weight can a Jeep Gladiator haul in the bed using a gooseneck or fifth-wheel system? Well, the 2022 Jeep Gladiator with a 3.6L V6 engine is one of the best towing trucks available in the market and can tow up to 7,650 lbs. and has a payload capacity of 1,700 pounds.

Refer to the Jeep Gladiator Towing Capacity Chart and Payload Capacity Chart below for each Jeep Gladiator Trim:

Jeep Gladiator TrimJeep Gladiator Towing CapacityJeep Gladiator Payload Capacity
Jeep Gladiator Sport7,650 pounds1,700 pounds
Jeep Gladiator Sport S7,650 pounds1,700 pounds
Jeep Gladiator Overland6,500 pounds1,140 pounds
Jeep Gladiator Rubicon7,000 pounds1,200 pounds
Jeep Gladiator Mojave6,000 pounds1,200 pounds

Ideally, you want the Jeep Gladiator Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) to exceed the weight of the Jeep and the towed vehicle tongue weight combined by at least 10 percent. If you have a Jeep Gladiator with a Jeep Gladiator gooseneck hitch or Jeep Gladiator fifth wheel hitch mounted on your Jeep Gladiator bed, always keep this simple bed towing weight calculation formula. The payload of your Jeep Gladiator should also be capable of handling the tongue weight placed on the bed of your Jeep Gladiator.

You should also consider the Curb weight of your Jeep Gladiator, the heavier your Jeep Gladiator, the more it will be able to handle the weight placed on its bed, a Jeep Gladiator has powerful hauling capabilities so you must check the weight of your hauled vehicle, the last thing you want is your hauled vehicle overpowering your Jeep Gladiator.

A jeep Gladiator curb weight is the weight of the truck including its fuel tank and its standard accessories, it doesn’t include your custom Jeep aftermarket parts or accessories, passengers, and cargo. A factory Jeep gladiator’s curb weight is 4,650 lbs., while the Jeep Gladiator’s gross vehicle weight rating is 5,800 lbs. and the Jeep Gladiator’s gross combined weight rating is 9,100 lbs.

Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch vs Fixed 5th Wheel on a Jeep Gladiator.

You don’t have to put a sliding 5th wheel on a Jeep Gladiator, the Jeep Gladiator bed size (length x width x depth) is 60.3 inches x 44.8 inches x 33.9 inches, in truck beds shorter than 8ft we don’t recommend installing a sliding 5th wheel hitch on a Jeep Gladiator bed if you don’t have towing and recovery experience, because you will not have enough clearance between the Jeep Gladiator and the trailer to execute sharp turns.

However, if you are experienced enough in towing and recovery you can use a sliding 5th wheel hitch on a Jeep Gladiator, however, extra precaution should be taken to ensure the towed vehicle is secure, you can use your Jeep rear park backup camera, and your Jeep mirrors to keep checking the position of your towed trailer.

For experienced towing and recovery Jeepers, you can install an extended pin box on the trailer being towed by the Jeep Gladiator, and this process will move the king pin connection forward that will be creating a higher ground clearance on the front end of the trailer being hauled with a Fifth Wheel hauling Jeep Gladiator, however, it’s important to note fifth wheel modification with an extended pin box will place more stress on your towed vehicle frame.

James Ndungu - Jeep Runner

About the Author: James Ndungu

James Ndungu is a seasoned automotive professional with a deep passion for Jeeps. With 40 years of experience in owning, testing, and reviewing various Jeep models, James has gained extensive first-hand knowledge and expertise. He shares his insights, tips, and advice through his engaging writing, helping fellow Jeep enthusiasts navigate the exciting world of Jeeps.

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Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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