Grand Cherokee for towing an open trailer?
10-16-2009, 01:52 PM
#1
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Grand Cherokee for towing an open trailer?
Need to pick up a winter/tow vehicle.
Been looking into getting a new pickup.
But there's something to be said for an SUV
An 8 liter Suburban would definitely do it, but I can't imagine trying to put it in a parking garage park it downtown
So how do the smaller SUV's do?
Specifically a Grand Cherokee?
They reliable?
Been looking into getting a new pickup.
But there's something to be said for an SUV
An 8 liter Suburban would definitely do it, but I can't imagine trying to put it in a parking garage park it downtown
So how do the smaller SUV's do?
Specifically a Grand Cherokee?
They reliable?
10-16-2009, 02:11 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
My 6 cylinder GC has been towing since it was new in 2000. Been to 100 mph during tow with it. Solid as a rock and fully reliable. Im completely satisfied with its performance. Although, I did remove the mechanicsal fan after 6 months.
10-16-2009, 02:39 PM
#3
Safety Car
We test drove a Jeep Cherokee and a Dodge Durango before we bought our Chevy Tahoe. The Tahoe was a much nicer vehicle to drive and outside of some crappy electrical issue with the rear wiper, and a p-side rear window motor that gets stuck every rear, the vehicle has been great. It towed my heavy wood open trailer with the 2400# Pro7 and several hundred pounds of tools and spares no problem... even up the hill in to Laguna and back across Hwy17 (in the pouring rain)-- and like I mentioned in another thread, I hadn't got the brake controller working properly for some of those trips. :-/ This is a 5.3l with the usual rod knock on cold start, etc. I keep looking for an excuse to get a different truck/SUV but it just refuses to provide me with one -- best one I can come up with is being spoiled by the Xenon headlights on our newer cars...
10-16-2009, 06:07 PM
#6
Team Owner
GF had one and I called it The Egg because it was white and rolled like one without a trailer. it was a 2000 or 2001. She liked to drive it around it had a V8 and was peppy.
10-16-2009, 06:29 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
If you are looking for midsize?? The Nissan Pathfinder has about the best tow rating of 6500LBS. I love the Tahoe's except the third row seats have to be taken out of the truck in stead of folding down. I just bought a new Aramda 9100 LBS towing cap. That is one of the highest for a regular size SUV. Everyone has a favorite! those are mine. I towed my C6-Z06 over 25000 miles with a Pathfinder on an open trailer. JD 
10-16-2009, 09:39 PM
#9
I have owned the Cherokee and the Tahoe and I split the difference and now have an Avalanche. It's the best vehicle I've owned; I just finished pulling a 16' enclosed flat front halfway across the country with no problems. It's not rated as high as the Tahoe, but pulls an open trailer like it's not there.
10-18-2009, 09:43 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
I have a 2008 with the turbodiesel and tow package. Power-wise it tows amazingly well. Generally, though, it lacks a touch in comparison to experiences I've had with big pickups. I guess the short wheelbase and relatively low weight make it a little more nervous feeling. Still good enough that I'd let my wife tow with it, though...
My diesel gets 19mpg towing a u-haul trailer with a C4, and keeping it at 70mph. It gets 17mpg towing at 75-80. Unladen I get about 25-26mpg on my normal commute, and I've achieved 29mpg on all-highway trips where I am disciplined enough to keep it under 70mph cruising speed. This is a 2wd model, not sure how well the 4wd does with economy.
-michael
My diesel gets 19mpg towing a u-haul trailer with a C4, and keeping it at 70mph. It gets 17mpg towing at 75-80. Unladen I get about 25-26mpg on my normal commute, and I've achieved 29mpg on all-highway trips where I am disciplined enough to keep it under 70mph cruising speed. This is a 2wd model, not sure how well the 4wd does with economy.
-michael
10-18-2009, 06:38 PM
#12
Drifting
Can;t say about the Jeep, but we had a V8 4Runner, worked great pulling our C4 on an open trailer, wonderful in snow, was full time 4WD, never a problem with it. Pretty quick also. Rated to tow 7,000 lbs btw.
10-19-2009, 11:02 AM
#14
Safety Car
10-19-2009, 11:51 AM
#15
Racer
10-19-2009, 08:29 PM
#16
Drifting
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We towed 3500# gross dual axle w brake open trailer with a 6cyl Jeep Cherokee...burned up the tranny even with the biggest add on cooler we could fit...upgraded to a Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 with tow pkg...towing the hills of Pennsylvania and around Watkins Glen...same result.....if I were doing it again I would go with a Tahoe, Suburban or other BIG tow vehicle. I like the Suburban...I could sleep in it.
10-19-2009, 10:51 PM
#17
Race Director
I was on a REALLY tight budget so I bought a 99 Yukon as a winter/tow vehicle. You can pick them up for almost nothing these days and they're great. I have used it to tow the length of the WVA Turnpike numerous times with the trailer and loaded down in the back without a bit of a problem. I don't know what type of trailer you are looking to tow, but I could tow a LOT more than I do. I'm sure you can find some newer Tahoes/Yukons for really cheap these days although I have no idea how the 5.3 tows compared to the old 350.
Yes, the trailer looks better now.
Yes, the trailer looks better now.
Last edited by RedLS1GTO; 10-19-2009 at 10:54 PM.
10-20-2009, 08:38 AM
#18
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I have owned the Cherokee and the Tahoe and I split the difference and now have an Avalanche. It's the best vehicle I've owned; I just finished pulling a 16' enclosed flat front halfway across the country with no problems. It's not rated as high as the Tahoe, but pulls an open trailer like it's not there.
Can you tell me about your avalanche? 5.3L ? auto? rear gears? 4WD ? DO you have an addditional transmission cooler? How heavy is your car/trailer combo? What region of the country and how hilly or mountainous are the highways for you?
Thanks
10-20-2009, 09:09 AM
#19
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I was on a REALLY tight budget so I bought a 99 Yukon as a winter/tow vehicle. You can pick them up for almost nothing these days and they're great. I have used it to tow the length of the WVA Turnpike numerous times with the trailer and loaded down in the back without a bit of a problem. I don't know what type of trailer you are looking to tow, but I could tow a LOT more than I do. I'm sure you can find some newer Tahoes/Yukons for really cheap these days although I have no idea how the 5.3 tows compared to the old 350.
Either people overbought, or they're getting scared with the price of gas going up.
the Chevy Truck month thing going on right now, they're trying to get rid of all their '09's. If I can actually get $6k off a new truck, that's worth it. I made some phone calls I'll see what happens.
10-20-2009, 09:30 AM
#20
Le Mans Master
My father had a Grand Cherokee with a Hemi that I used for towing for a year before I bought my Aspen (Hemi). While it had great pulling power, the suspension was soft and the rear sag'd without a distribution hitch. It also was twitchy at high speed and required 2 hands on the wheel at all time.
Bottom line, it's got the motor, but the chassis is lacking. I would find something bigger and longer that is more stable and comfortable at high speed. This comes from experience. Also, I was only pulling a 16' with a C6Z (4650lbs), and it was not a comfortable drive as my Aspen. I can take my hands off the wheel (not recommended) at 80 and while towing it is ROCK solid.
Bottom line, it's got the motor, but the chassis is lacking. I would find something bigger and longer that is more stable and comfortable at high speed. This comes from experience. Also, I was only pulling a 16' with a C6Z (4650lbs), and it was not a comfortable drive as my Aspen. I can take my hands off the wheel (not recommended) at 80 and while towing it is ROCK solid.