Towing with Jeep Cherokee

[davidpbo]

My venerable Isuzu Trooper is probably coming up for replacement.

Has anyone any experience of towing a sailing boat weighing 2300kgs + on a large trailer with a maybe 2006+ 2.8 diesel Auto Jeep Cherokee. I am assuming it has low ratio and permanent 4WD?

Power looks good just wondering about stability/snaking as it is a shorter wheelbase and lighter than the Trooper.

 

[Lakesailor]

Hmmm. I have a friend who has the same vintage manual Cherokee and he has had quite a bit of electrical trouble with it. Like ignition switch etc.
I believe the auto doesn't have a low ratio as it doesn't need one (torque converter and all that). But I was surprised that his didn't have permanent 4 wheel drive.
I had an older 4 litre petrol auto that was permanent 4 wheel drive and it was a terrific beast. However a 4 wheel car trailer loaded with a big Renault saloon did try to overtake me coming downhill on the motorway so perhaps the weight issue is a thought to hold in mind. OK, perhaps we were doing over 70 mph.

 

[PilotWolf]

I have a 1998 Grand Cherokee 4.0l. It is auto with transfer box for H and L and has ovedrive. I m not sure if the suspension has been raised as ground clearance is good (changed exhaust last year without need for a jack!

I have towed a 2 horse box and RIBS with it quite happily.

Only downsides are UK spares prices - do NOT ever use dealerships, one tried to charge me £3.75 for a self tapping screw!, fuel consumption (mine is converted to LPG) and with 170K on the clock the rear axle is getting noisy - had quote of £250 plus parts to sort.

Yank Tank? Maybe but I do like mine.

W.

 

[alexrunic]

I know of three people how have had serious gear box problems with the Jeep Cherokee's not sure which models, two of them managed to sell before the problems got too bad, the other has just had a quote of over 2K for a gear box rebuild

 

[saltylegs]

i have had the 4 litre grand cherokee converted to LPG great car auto with hi and low ratio towing a J24 and having to reverse it up hill with no probs.
next car was 2.5 cherokee crd sport manual towed ok bit bumpy due to shorter wheel base however a lot harder to manouver as when put into 4wd all wheels locked up to the drive so when turning tight the only way the turn radius differential could be accomadated was for one of the wheels to spin and this put a lot of load on the drive train and the transfer box needed replaced.

 

[DownWest]

Friend tows his Delahaye classic racer with a 4lt petrol, and I think it is only x2 drive, and not such a heavy load. I drove an early 4lt Limited(auto) for a bit. Quite quick for a some long drives, but thirsty. Not sure how I would rate it for heavy towing, seemed more a beast for posing. Bit cramped in the back too. Choice of X2, X4 drive plus low ratio. Think there was an off road X4 option, but never needed it. I would look elsewere for a basic Japanese toughy. Perhaps one of the Mitsu licence built Pajeros spinoffs. Hyundi Pony?
A

Another friend bought a cheepy with axle probs and got the spares in the States, saved tons. We had a prob with the beast accelerating up to 90km with no reason. Got a Haines manual from the States and sorted it withe spares from Austria (agents in those days)

 

[William_H]

Towing Vehicle

I would think that the primary concern is the legal weight that can be towed by the vehicle. Next concern is power if you want to tow up big long hills at any decent speed. My experience is that an auto transmission will allow you to smoothly haul any boat out at a ramp. I hauled my 1.25 tonnes home with a 2litre camry auto with no problems. As for stability on the road you surely adjust your speed to the stability of the rig. More weight on the draw bar will help. There are devices to help level the towing car. good luck olewill

 

[ProDave]

I think as saltylegs described, be wary of a car that has selectable 2wd or 4wd. Most of those do not have a centre differential, which is why you don't use 4wd all the time. the lack of centre diff means you scrub the tyres every time you turn a corner.

That's why any vehicle I have ever owned (except years ago when I had an ancient Land Rover) I always inist on permanent 4wd.

 

[gjgm]

My venerable Isuzu Trooper is probably coming up for replacement.

Has anyone any experience of towing a sailing boat weighing 2300kgs + on a large trailer with a maybe 2006+ 2.8 diesel Auto Jeep Cherokee. I am assuming it has low ratio and permanent 4WD?

Power looks good just wondering about stability/snaking as it is a shorter wheelbase and lighter than the Trooper.

I used to have the old shape petrol version.. built like a tank, and would pull anything up a slipway; I thought it was a great tow car.
I used to use a local jeep specialist; he always said the diesel version was a pile of cr*p.

 

[Nigelhg]

The auto is rated for 3500kg tow weight (3360 + 140 drawbar) . It's a much better tow vehicle than the manual and does have a low ratio and full time as well as part high ratio 4wd. It should do your job admirably. Just make sure it has a FDSH as with all 4wd's there is a bit more to service than a normal car (diff, transfer box service etc) and proper diff additives need to be used.

 

[Laundryman]

I bought a new Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd Auto. Huge power for towing. Effortless.
Downside was that it was the most unreliable and costly vehicle I have ever owned. Sold it at 11 months old. Fed up of it letting me down. Like others have said, electrical faults and unbelievably high servicing costs. My Mercedes is cheap to maintain compared to the Jeep. Be warned!

 

[Kawasaki]

My venerable Isuzu Trooper is probably coming up for replacement.

Has anyone any experience of towing a sailing boat weighing 2300kgs + on a large trailer with a maybe 2006+ 2.8 diesel Auto Jeep Cherokee. I am assuming it has low ratio and permanent 4WD?

Power looks good just wondering about stability/snaking as it is a shorter wheelbase and lighter than the Trooper.

To answer your question specifically
Yes, I have towed boats with the Cherokee 2.8 auto.

OK solo but no great shakes (well you might get some!) as a tow vehicle
Go for a Grand 2.7crd
The engine and gearbox is the same as the Merc lm of that era.
They are ok from 01 Y Onwards.
All Jeep products with diesels prior to that, leave well alone.
Models marketed in the UKprior to that had VM derivative lumps in them, which did not work properly!!!

Or if you want an exciting 4x4 and don't do many miles
The Grand Cherokee Orvis 4.7 petrol is a Hoot!

 

[davidpbo]

i have had the 4 litre grand cherokee converted to LPG

What MPG using LPG? We have an LPG refueller near who is also a Jeep specialist. I am consiodering that option as a) clean fuel. b) no particulat filter. I do a lot of very short journeys. (no, cycling is not an option as carrying tools etc. )

A lot of responders have mentioned electical problems on Jeeps. Have they been major affecting the running and needing component replacement? or extremely annoying connection/ water ingress etc. problems on anciliary equipment?

 

[davidpbo]

I bought a new Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd Auto. Huge power for towing. Effortless.
Downside was that it was the most unreliable and costly vehicle I have ever owned. Sold it at 11 months old. Fed up of it letting me down. Like others have said, electrical faults and unbelievably high servicing costs. My Mercedes is cheap to maintain compared to the Jeep. Be warned!

Other contenders are an ML, Kia Sorento or maybe Nissan Navara or Pathfinder.

Is the ML air suspension? I looked after a wheelchair accessible V class and know rather more about Merc air suspension than I wanted to.

I suspect that yours is maybe quite a new ML and that is probably out of my price range. If anyone has experience of 4 or 5 year old MLs I would like to hear.

 

[Lakesailor]

A lot of responders have mentioned electical problems on Jeeps. Have they been major affecting the running and needing component replacement?

My friend has had lights going on and off, reversing light failures and small stuff. But the main problem has been the ignition switch/lock. It's had to be trailered away twice.
He had them fit a simple switch for the ignition and doesn't have the steering lock engaged at all now (farmer solution)

 

[PilotWolf]

What MPG using LPG? We have an LPG refueller near who is also a Jeep specialist. I am consiodering that option as a) clean fuel. b) no particulat filter. I do a lot of very short journeys. (no, cycling is not an option as carrying tools etc. )

A lot of responders have mentioned electical problems on Jeeps. Have they been major affecting the running and needing component replacement? or extremely annoying connection/ water ingress etc. problems on anciliary equipment?

I think if you're going to have it converted you'll need to do a fair few miles to recoup the savings between LPG and petrol. I brought mine already converted so the savings were instant - between 60p and 70p a litre depending where you buy it.

My 4.0l auto averages around 17 mpg on LPG - I think 'they' say it is usually about 15% less than on petrol.

Only electrical problem I have on mine is the heated seats don't work but I've never bothered to look further than the fuse, I believe there was a recall for some of the elements and the pre-set mirrors don't always return to where they are set - again I believe that is simply a case of some contact cleaner.

Seems you either get a good one or a bad one?

W.

 

[Lakesailor]

Yours will be the older square shaped one? I think they are better. Except for water leaks and rust on the brake rotors for the ABS.
I had a 4 litre Ltd and it never managed more than 17mpg . Usually under 15mpg. That was on petrol.

 

[gjgm]

re 4.7, yea, had one of those too, at the same time as the old shape Cherokee. They also did a bigger engine, but the depreciation looked too terrifying.
Going up a steep hill with a few tonnes behind me, I managed to get the fuel meter to 1 gal per mile !
Was a good car, til it started to age and then it got very expensive. WONDERFUL engine.

 

[PilotWolf]

Yours will be the older square shaped one? I think they are better. Except for water leaks and rust on the brake rotors for the ABS.
I had a 4 litre Ltd and it never managed more than 17mpg . Usually under 15mpg. That was on petrol.

Mine? It is a Phase 2 - I think they call it... not the really square one!

I actually seem to get worse mileage on petrol! Although the LPG is running a bit lean as I still haven't got round to having it serviced despite owning it nearly 3 years now!

W.

 

[pvb]

If anyone has experience of 4 or 5 year old MLs I would like to hear.

We have an 03 ML270, which we've owned since 2004. Now 100K miles and generally reliable. Main dealer servicing is fairly costly (say £350-400), although many Merc dealers now charge lower labour rates for 6+ year old vehicles. Servicing only needed about every 20K miles (but I replace the oil myself in between services). Rear suspension is coil springs. Auto has hi/lo transfer box and permanent 4WD. The body is mounted on a separate chassis.

It's a pleasant car to drive, feels very safe, is a lot quicker than you might expect, and can be pushed around bends fairly enthusiastically. It's a great towcar, we tow a 2-horse trailer with it and it's effortless. The rear seats fold in seconds to give a very versatile loadspace which will take all manner of odd-shaped things (I've had stepladders in it, armchairs, etc). Worth looking at.