Third generation (JK)

2008 Jeep Wrangler towing capacity

Max towing, 20083,500 lb

Maker1,588 kg

The 2008 Jeep Wrangler tows up to 3,500 lb (Sahara Four-door 4-speed automatic 4x4, per the 2008 Jeep Wrangler Owner's Manual).

13 more configurations are rated the same.

The lowest rating is 1,000 lb, for the Sahara Two-door D478 6-speed manual 4x4.

2008 Jeep Wrangler Owner's Manual (2nd edition)

Configurations: 17
Payload: 1,000 lb
GCWR: 4,987–8,104 lb
Tongue: 100–350 lb

2008 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 3.8L manual, drawn to scale from its published dimensions.

01 / Ratings

Every 2008 Wrangler configuration

17 configurations Jeep sells, each with the ratings Jeep publishes for it. A package that changes a rating gets its own row. All have the 3.8L SMPI V6 gasoline.

Drive

Showing 30 of 30 rows

2008 Jeep Wrangler

Makerin pounds

2008 Jeep Wrangler towing capacity, GCWR, payload and tongue weight by configuration, in pounds
Configuration	Max towing^{source 1} lb	Max tongue^{source 1} lb	GCWR^{source 1} lb	Max payload^{source 2} lb	GVWR lb	Axle^{source 2} ratio	Tow check
SaharaTwo-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manual	1,000	100	5,163	not in our data	Not published	3.21	Check load →
SaharaTwo-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manualwith 3.73 axle ratio (optional)	2,000	200	6,163	not in our data	Not published	3.73	Check load →
SaharaTwo-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manualwith Trailer Tow Group (Class II receiver hitch)	2,000^{source 2}	100	5,163	not in our data	Not published	3.21	Check load →
SaharaTwo-door · 4x4 · 4-speed automatic	2,000	200	6,163	not in our data	Not published	3.73	Check load →
RubiconTwo-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manual	2,000	200	6,236	not in our data	Not published	4.10	Check load →
RubiconTwo-door · 4x4 · 4-speed automatic	2,000	200	6,281	not in our data	Not published	4.10	Check load →
XTwo-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manual	1,000	100	4,987	1,000	Not published	3.21	Check load →
XTwo-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manualwith 3.73 axle ratio (optional)	2,000	200	5,987	1,000	Not published	3.73	Check load →
XTwo-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manualwith Trailer Tow Group (Class II receiver hitch)	2,000^{source 2}	100	4,987	1,000	Not published	3.21	Check load →
XTwo-door · 4x4 · 4-speed automatic	2,000	200	6,032	1,000	Not published	3.73	Check load →
Right-Hand DriveTwo-door · 4x4 · 4-speed automatic	1,000^{source 2}	350^{source 2}	up to 7,500^{source 2}	not in our data	Not published	3.73	Check load →
Right-Hand DriveTwo-door · 4x4 · 4-speed automaticwith Trailer Tow Group (Class II receiver hitch)	2,000^{source 2}	350^{source 2}	up to 7,500^{source 2}	not in our data	Not published	3.73	Check load →
SaharaFour-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manual	1,000	100	5,481	not in our data	Not published	3.21	Check load →
SaharaFour-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manualwith 3.73 axle ratio (optional)	3,500	350	7,981	not in our data	Not published	3.73	Check load →
SaharaFour-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manualwith Trailer Tow Group (Class II receiver hitch)	3,500^{source 2}	100	5,481	not in our data	Not published	3.21	Check load →
SaharaFour-door · 4x4 · 4-speed automatic	3,500	350	8,027	not in our data	Not published	3.73	Check load →
SaharaFour-door · 4x2 · D478 6-speed manual	1,000	100	5,277	not in our data	Not published	3.21	Check load →
SaharaFour-door · 4x2 · D478 6-speed manualwith 3.73 axle ratio (optional)	3,500	350	7,777	not in our data	Not published	3.73	Check load →
SaharaFour-door · 4x2 · D478 6-speed manualwith Trailer Tow Group (Class II receiver hitch)	3,500^{source 2}	100	5,277	not in our data	Not published	3.21	Check load →
SaharaFour-door · 4x2 · 4-speed automatic	3,500	350	7,803	not in our data	Not published	3.73	Check load →
RubiconFour-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manual	3,500	350	8,059	not in our data	Not published	4.10	Check load →
RubiconFour-door · 4x4 · 4-speed automatic	3,500	350	8,104	not in our data	Not published	4.10	Check load →
XFour-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manual	1,000	100	5,325	1,000	Not published	3.21	Check load →
XFour-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manualwith 3.73 axle ratio (optional)	3,500	350	7,825	1,000	Not published	3.73	Check load →
XFour-door · 4x4 · D478 6-speed manualwith Trailer Tow Group (Class II receiver hitch)	3,500^{source 2}	100	5,325	1,000	Not published	3.21	Check load →
XFour-door · 4x4 · 4-speed automatic	3,500	350	7,825	1,000	Not published	3.73	Check load →
XFour-door · 4x2 · D478 6-speed manual	1,000	100	5,121	1,000	Not published	3.21	Check load →
XFour-door · 4x2 · D478 6-speed manualwith 3.73 axle ratio (optional)	3,500	350	7,621	1,000	Not published	3.73	Check load →
XFour-door · 4x2 · D478 6-speed manualwith Trailer Tow Group (Class II receiver hitch)	3,500^{source 2}	100	5,121	1,000	Not published	3.21	Check load →
XFour-door · 4x2 · 4-speed automatic	3,500	350	7,647	1,000	Not published	3.73	Check load →

“Not published”: the maker doesn’t print it. —: not in the documents we hold yet. A number by a column’s name is the source of its figures that have none of their own. Scroll the table sideways for every rating.

SourcesMakerThe small number by a figure says which document it is from.

How Jeep rates towing: maximum gross trailer weight (GTW) from the manual's table, which doesn't split braked and unbraked trailers; with the Trailer Tow Group; standard, without the Trailer Tow Group.

Documents last checked Oct 9, 2026. How we read them and what the marks mean: how we source the numbers. A figure doesn’t match its document? Report a wrong number.

2008 Jeep Wrangler specs: payload, dimensions, ground clearance and weight beside the towing ratings.

The 2008 Wrangler belongs to this generation; every configuration, its clearance, angles and weights are on its page.

Jeep Wrangler JK (2007–2018): full specs

02 / Why

Which one tows the most, and why

Each figure below is the gap between two of Jeep’s own ratings for configurations that differ in one thing only.

What moves the rating

Maker

Tows the most: 3,500 lb

Sahara Four-door 4-speed automatic 4x4; 13 more configurations are rated the same.

Axle ratio
3.73 axle instead of 3.21
+1,000 to +2,500 lb
Same configuration otherwise · 6 pairs in the table
Package
Trailer Tow Group (Class II receiver hitch)
+1,000 to +2,500 lb
Same configuration otherwise · 7 pairs in the table

03 / By year

Wrangler towing by model year

The highest rating each model year, from that year’s documents. Years rated the same in every configuration share one page.

04 / Next

Check it against your load

Towing calculatorPut your trailer and cargo against a 2008 Wrangler’s ratings and see what’s left.Check my load GVWR, GCWR & payloadWhat each rating limits, and why the trailer number alone isn’t the answer.Read the guide Wrangler specsClearance, angles, weights and the rig builder for every configuration.Open the spec plate Wrangler tire sizesStock tire and wheel sizes by trim, and what bigger tires change.See tire sizes All towing capacitiesEvery truck and SUV we cover, side by side, sortable.Compare vehicles

05 / FAQ

Questions people ask

Which 2008 Wrangler configuration tows the most?

The Sahara Four-door 4-speed automatic 4x4, at 3,500 lb; 13 more configurations are rated the same.

What is the max tongue weight of the 2008 Jeep Wrangler?

100–350 lb by configuration; the most is 350 lb, for the Right-Hand Drive Two-door 4-speed automatic 4x4. Tongue weight is the trailer’s downward push on the hitch; it counts against payload.

What is the GCWR of the 2008 Jeep Wrangler?

4,987–8,104 lb by configuration; the most is 8,104 lb, for the Rubicon Four-door 4-speed automatic 4x4. GCWR is the most the loaded vehicle and its loaded trailer may weigh together.

Has the Jeep Wrangler’s towing capacity changed by year?

Highest rating by model year: 2026, 5,000 lb; 2025, 5,000 lb; 2024, 5,000 lb; 2023, 3,500 lb; 2022, 3,500 lb; 2021, 3,500 lb; 2020, 3,500 lb; 2019, 3,500 lb; 2018, 3,500 lb; 2017, 3,500 lb; 2016, 3,500 lb; 2015, 3,500 lb; 2014, 3,500 lb; 2013, 3,500 lb; 2012, 3,500 lb; 2011, 3,500 lb; 2010, 3,500 lb; 2009, 3,500 lb; 2008, 3,500 lb; 2007, 3,500 lb; 2005, 3,500 lb; 2001, 2,000 lb; 1999, 2,000 lb.

Does four-wheel drive change the 2008 Wrangler’s towing capacity?

No: Jeep rates each configuration the same with either drive (8 pairs in its table).

Which 2008 Wrangler configuration tows the least?

The Sahara Two-door D478 6-speed manual 4x4, at 1,000 lb; six more configurations are rated the same.

These are Jeep’s published ratings, not a weighbridge. Your own vehicle’s GVWR and axle ratings are on its certification label, and only a scale tells you what your loaded rig weighs. Found a figure that doesn’t match the document? Tell us.