Towing with a JB74 Suzuki Jimny - weights you need to know

[@joost_au]

Great video! I am planning to do long remote trips in a Jimny and I need a small trailer for the extra fuel and water. Thank you explaining everything I needed to know regarding the weights.

[@HardstylePete]

Definitely a few Jimmy owners out there testing those safety factors.

[@jonnosjimny]

This is the video the Jimny community required.

[@L2SFBC]

thank you, please share!

[@jonnosjimny]

@@L2SFBC will do

[@300bhpton]

Nice video and I understand all the points you make. In the UK we only have overrun brakes, legal up to 3500kg. For the Jimny, I have a caravan with a plated weight of 979kg and a MTPLM of 1200kg. I haven't weighed it, but would guess nearer to 1200kg than not. The Jimny towed it very very well. Did best part of 300 miles with the caravan on a trip last year, including lots of steep inclines in Wales. The Jimny could do with a tad more grunt and you had to use the revs a lot. But it felt very stable and would generally sit at the legal towing speed limits in the UK. It averaged 24mpg for the journey, which I thought was pretty good.

[@PredragMrvic]

Thank you so much! Now we can see that even having two electric bikes using bike rack mounted on towball can easy exceed 75kg and serously impact rear suspension.

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it helped!

[@bobbythebobtail]

Thank you for your time preparing this video, I am picking up a Jimny XL with a tow ball at the end of the month, now I know about the limitations and feel enlightened. Cheers!

[@SalvoDan]

My little Stockman Pod All-Roada was one of the first designed for the Jimny. 960ATM, 40TBM and a tare of 370. The F100 PCD is identical to the Jimny, except for the stud size, which is imperial rather than metric. It is great for general towing, but for off-road towing,the All-Roada Extreme would have been a better choice.

[@AquaMarine1000]

Thanks Robert. There are some great ideas for accessory manufacturers. How about a tow package with a purpose built Jimny trailer. Cheers

[@TDubya811]

Jimny: ultimate tow vehicle.

[@maxgood42]

Yeah that guy with the car trailer proves it all 🤣 .... sometimes it looks like dealers need a check list ; Does the customer have the required IQ for this fine automobile ?

[@salvador_mano4x4]

I've seen a Jimny mk3 With a Jeep wrangler JK 5 door on a trailer, It was like..... ¿Why? ¿Can't you see this is not allright?

[@L2SFBC]

What!!!

[@maxgood42]

@@L2SFBC Exactly !

[@GruntyGame]

Superb presentation.

[@M113A1]

Thank you so much for explaining and presenting this information so clearly!! I was coming across the same tow limits with my 2 Door JL Wrangler and couldn't understand why the tow capacity was so low (1.4T) when for example, from the B pillar forward, the engine and drive-train are IDENTICAL to the 4 Door and JT Gladiator which can tow up to 2.5 tonne. Trying to separate marketing from reality has been confusing, you've answered all my queries thanks!

[@L2SFBC]

Sometimes shorties have identical tow capacities to LWB, sometimes even greater. Yes, the wheelbase is shorter which isn't good for stability, but so too is the rear overhang and that is good for stability. SWB Defenders and Prados tow the same as LWB for example, or used to before the L663 anyway. There is also suspension to consider and many other factors.

[@farzadrezazadeh7936]

Awsome information. Thanks mate

[@L2SFBC]

Happy to help

[@nikolajl9035]

Great video, thank you!

[@aslkdfjhg]

I have moved house with my Jimny and a bunnings trailer just around Melbourne. They are the easiest car to reverse a trailer with. Just be humble and understand the limitations of the car. 40 years ago it was ok to tow at 80kmh on the motorway, but nowaday's I'm not so sure. If you insist on towing above 1t, just avoid the metropolitan motorways, it'll be a lot less stressful. With that weight you're as heavy as the Jimny, I really wouldn't go above 90kmh.

[@hilliard665]

Good info mate. Im in the market for a new vehicle but limited funds, mow lawns for work so i tow a trailer with my small ride on mower. Jimny is the only 4x4 i can get less then 5 years old less then 100k kms in my price range (under 40k). My trailer only weighs 190kg and my ride on mower is also less then 200kg so seems like its within my needs, i will need to put brakes on my trailer though. I only work part time but its my only income, im just sick of goung thrilu cheap 2nd hand cars wasting my money constantly.

[@josefpoole]

The difficulty is that in Australia, the authorities don't actually measure TBM of the trailer. They use a calculation of 10% of the trailer mass. So a 1300kg trailer will, by their "measurements" come to 130kg TBM making it illegal. So basically, you can only tow up to 750kg. This is for NSW at least. I've also seen that in other parts of the world, the TBM rating on the Jimny is 130kg...

[@L2SFBC]

130kg is a LOT for the Jimny!

[@josefpoole]

@@L2SFBC I know. It's why I didn't buy one back in 2019 when they came out and I wanted one. Finally have one on order now :D

[@adrianpoolefamily9437]

My owners manual has a rear axle load of 880kg, not 800kg, and a front of 680kg. 2021 JB74.

[@journeymanadventure]

Good information. I have a 2011 jimny and I've been considering a trailer sailer of around 16-18 foot generally they come in at between 550 and 750 boat weight so im gathering from what you say that its doable but near the limits of what they can handle

[@L2SFBC]

Probably yes, depends on mods, distance, speed, type of trailer

[@rondg2]

i'm also concerned about the transfer case chain. in the jimny even in RWD the power goes through the chain. in the jb74 the stock transfer case fluid is a very low viscosity 75w. might be a good idea to fill it up w/ thicker fluid when towing something heavy...

[@Ussnoss]

great info cheers

[@L2SFBC]

Glad to help

[@4x4Overlanding247]

Why oh why ?? Its a bit sad this sort of video is actually necessary . . . . But it is! Well done as usual 👍

[@L2SFBC]

Why sad?

[@4x4Overlanding247]

@@L2SFBC the sad part is that you don't buy a jinby to tow . . . But if you do you just wouldn't tow like that pic of the jimny towing a car trailer! Surely common sense kicks in at some point. . . As always your content is very informative and interesting mate 👍

[@AA-vr8ez]

Hey Robert, I would love for you to do a full breakdown of the new 250 series Land Cruiser Prado, similar to how you did with the 300 series. I’m not sure if the design philosophy included “land crewness” to the degree the 300 did, especially here in the USA where we only get the hybrid option.

[@L2SFBC]

Maybe...

[@cryoine7194]

these should carry over to the Gen 3 jimny

[@MiniLuv-1984]

That was very useful info Robert. I wonder if you could make some suggestions for towing with a subaru forester and/or outback with towing capacity only a couple of hundred kg more than the Jimny?

[@L2SFBC]

Same principles, Ben...2/3 of the max and look at rear springs, TBM. The Subarus have advantages because they are MUCH better handlers, heavier, and AWD so better able to control a given trailer mass. The Jimny has enough road handling issues just by itself never mind a trailer.

[@MiniLuv-1984]

@@L2SFBC Yes, that is why I was curious. I ended up getting a big diesel 4x4 because the camper trailers I could afford and use are around 2T..too much for the forester, but I really do feel much more confident with the forester for safety, reliability and fuel cost.

[@AndyTom9999]

Well said

[@IanTriggs]

Thanks for the great video! Is there a place one can go to check all these weights and ensure you're within limits once you have a loaded up trailer? Can I at least check towball mass at home by using bathroom scales?

[@L2SFBC]

Yes Goweigh.com.au and if you have a Jimny, bathroom scales should work. Not so much for a LC300 :-)

[@tosgem]

What about towing my yamaha wr450f with front wheel off the ground behind my bmw 1300GS adventure bike?

[@realartytv]

Hello, wondering about towing a JetSki on a standard Jimmy

[@L2SFBC]

if it's light enough, then yes

[@mistermonkey5842]

wait... I'm confused... you mean you can't have the tow vehicle at GVWR with each axle maxed AND tow at the maximum? I love how strict australia can be while also providing a pathway to make increases within reason.

[@L2SFBC]

Correct, can't do that.

[@a9entjones]

Hi Robert. I'm thinking of using my JB74 to tow my jetski. It's just shy of 500kg on the trailer with full fuel. Boat ramp is less than 10kms from home. I'm assuming backing a trailer with electric brakes into the salt water isn't a great idea. Do you think over-run brakes will do the job for that mission? Thanks.

[@L2SFBC]

Yes go easy ✔️

[@aslkdfjhg]

Towed the Jimny with overrun brakes (tandem rental Bunnings trailer for some timber), it was perfectly fine. They work well for around town.

[@mikehzz9848]

A long range tank with fuel will add weight over the axle as well?

[@L2SFBC]

Yes it will.

[@leonmarquardt-j4z]

that tbm of 75 means transporting a motorbike (180-200kg) right on the back would not be possible?

[@L2SFBC]

Correct

[@carlosjaen9137]

JC74 Jimny XL?

[@prosunsport1]

I assume the 800kg trailer is weight of trailer with load, so what is the typical weight of trailer without load

[@L2SFBC]

Very very variable!

[@petermurphy2167]

Saw a Rav 4 towbar ripped out Of floor towing trailer full of pavers

[@MiniLuv-1984]

Hard not to laugh at that kind of stupidity. Mind you, I've committed my fair share of stupidities...like towing a 4x6 trailer loaded with 2m sleepers (that flattened the trailer springs after 4 sleepers), but continued to load all 7 sleepers, all overhanging the trailer tail gate. What a wild ride that was in the trusty HR with drum brakes and immaculate handling (not).

[@GarryNichols]

So basically the jimny is a better TOAD than a tow vehicle. Got it

[@hasantopcu182]

(Hello, I live in Turkey and I follow you, I want to get some help from you; With my 1.6 16wlf gasoline 150torque vehicle, the travel load is 1500kg, the ball weight is 50kg, the loaded weight of the towed caravan is 1000kg, the total combination weight = 2500kg, will the engine oil decrease or will the engine burn oil during the trip?) With my regards. ( Merhaba ben Türkiye' de yaşıyorum ve sizi takip ediyorum , sizden bir yardım almak istiyorum; 1.6 16wlf benzinli 150tork aracım ile yolculuk yükü 1500kg , topuz ağırlığı 50kg, çekilen karavan yüklü ağırlığı 1000kg toplam katar ağırlığı=2500kg alan araç seyahat sırasında motor yağı eksilir mi veya motor yağ yakar mı? ) Selamlarımla

[@L2SFBC]

Just use the standard oil and maybe increase service intervals as the car works harder.

[@hasantopcu182]

@@L2SFBC Thank you very much for your interest. I used to do the oil and other maintenance of my vehicle at 10,000 km, but since the caravan was attached, I started doing it at 5,000 km, and I was losing oil, I wanted to ask. Greetings from Turkey. ( İlginize çok teşekkür ederim. Aracımın yağ ve diğer bakımlarını 10.000km de yapardım ama karavan takılınca 5.000km de yapmaya başladım yağ eksilmesi oluyor, sormak istedim. Türkiye' den selamlar. )

[@dylantaylor8931]

Really not keen on towing anywhere near 1300kg with only 50 or 75kg tow ball weight in a short wheelbase vehicle.

[@michaeldallimore8590]

I have an older model Jimny and I would not tow anything with it.

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

What are all of the abbreviated words?

[@L2SFBC]

Such as?

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

@@L2SFBC yes