2014 Grand Cherokee Eco Diesel

[rostam]

Originally Posted by johnhh

I have a 2014 JGC V6 gas. I tow a 25 ft. Tradewind. Tows great. 12 mpg pulling a fully loaded Airstream, 21 mpg around town, 24/25 mpg on the highway.

The manual does state a tongue wieght limit of 740 pounds, no mention of WD. In the sales literature it also states a tongue weight of 1200 pounds when using WD.

I have had trouble with the tranny shift points in the first few months of driving. Mostly an irratant, not a real problem. I found out, the tranny software adapts over time to your driving. The shift points have all smoothed out over the last few months. Now it's real smooth.

I did have CanAm reinforce the hitch. They welded on a simple square tube to the front cross bracket The shop guy said his brother in-law had a new GC and the hitch had bent maybe 1/4" after a trip to the Rockies and back. So for WD the reinforcement is a good idea.

John H

Just wondering, where did you get that 1200# figure? The manual states 740# for 4X2 and 720# for 4X4.

[2012FB]

I just sent he Jeep sales manager another email asking to be put in touch with the regional rep.. I also asked about the tongue limit with WDH. I can not find anything other than the 740 in the manual. I do remember seeing it referred to as a Class IV hitch which would support the 1200 but that's not what the manual states.

[dznf0g]

I looked up the owner manual online...and I can't find any other reference either. It seems quite incomplete in it's towing info.

[DKB_SATX]

The Jeep Towing Guide online shows the Hemi with a Class IV, EcoDiesel with a Class III.

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by 2012FB

I am bewildered at the statements and images of Airstreams being towed by all kinds of vehicles that are obviously over the manufactures specifications.

Personally, I would have zero problems fitting both the VW and/or the Mercedes with the appropriate WD hitch and tow away.

The hitch would most probably need reinforcement, but once that's done both vehicles appear to serve their owners extremely well.

[2012FB]

I was building the GC with the Hemi and tow but at the end when I was looking at dealer inventory the top match turned out to be a Eco Diesel with the Trailer Tow Group IV:

Rear Load Leveling Suspension
Engine Oil Cooler
Delete Rear Tow Hook
Heavy Duty Engine Cooling
7 and 4 pin wiring harness
Class IV Receiver Hitch

On paper this looks like the real deal (Class IV Receiver Hitch) I just need to test another unit to determine if the overheating and shifting issues were real or problems they don't want to admit. I would also want someone to confirm that the full Class IV hitch ratings are applied to the vehicle.

There is not much price difference between the Hemi and the EcoDiesel but there sure is with fuel economy.

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

The Jeep Towing Guide online shows the Hemi with a Class IV, EcoDiesel with a Class III.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by rostam

Just wondering, where did you get that 1200# figure? The manual states 740# for 4X2 and 720# for 4X4.

Given the link DKB_SATX just sent, I doubt the 1200# hitch weight be correct as most GC's seem to have a payload less than 1100#. I don't think reinforcing the hitch would solve the problem, as most likely the payload would be exceeded anyway.

[dkottum]

When you compare Hemi to EcoDiesel economy consider the difference in fuel cost, and purchase cost with it's associated expenses (taxes, interest), as well as any higher diesel servicing costs.

[Jim Flower]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

The Jeep Towing Guide online shows the Hemi with a Class IV, EcoDiesel with a Class III.

You may want to dig a bit deeper on the web site. The only hitch available on a GC is a Class 1V. You may also wish to read the Motor Trend article on the SUV comparison. Jim

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Jim Flower

You may want to dig a bit deeper on the web site. The only hitch available on a GC is a Class 1V. You may also wish to read the Motor Trend article on the SUV comparison. Jim

Perhaps you meant to say "Jeep may want to correct their website"? I did not create the Jeep web page on which it lists Class III for several configs of the Grand Cherokee.

[Jim Flower]

Yes. That would be a good start. My reference was to the listings for the individual models found on the same web site that correctly identifies the Class1V hitch availability when a hitch is specified. Jim

[gmw photos]

Originally Posted by 2012FB

.....snip.......

I would also want someone to confirm that the full Class IV hitch ratings are applied to the vehicle.

There is not much price difference between the Hemi and the EcoDiesel but there sure is with fuel economy.

If I remember, class four limits are 10,000 pounds. Just because a car company puts a class four hitch on doesn't mean the rest of the vehicle is rated for that ?

Example: Nissan fits a class four hitch to my truck, but the truck is only rated to 6200 pounds.

[hazelgreen]

Class IV hitch is available option for limited but is standard on the Overland. It can be selected with the Hemi V8 or the Eco diesel. I have been looking into the Eco diesel jeep for months but waiting to see what real towing capabilities it can really do. I'm hoping we can get more input from users in real life towing situations with JGC Eco diesel especially. I personally would not consider towing our 1991 AS 25' Excella Classic as it is heavy and too close to top of the towing weight capacity. If we go the JGC we will have to get a smaller trailer.

[Jim Flower]

Originally Posted by hazelgreen

Class IV hitch is available option for limited but is standard on the Overland. It can be selected with the Hemi V8 or the Eco diesel. I have been looking into the Eco diesel jeep for months but waiting to see what real towing capabilities it can really do. I'm hoping we can get more input from users in real life towing situations with JGC Eco diesel especially. I personally would not consider towing our 1991 AS 25' Excella Classic as it is heavy and too close to top of the towing weight capacity. If we go the JGC we will have to get a smaller trailer.

Hi hazelgreen,
I towed my 97 25' Safari 100,000 k with my 2008 Jeep GC 3L CRD diesel. I have towed my 2012 30' International 50,000 k with the same Jeep that now has 330,000k on it. My new one will be in next week. This one goes to my son who will put on 2 or 300,000 k before it turns into a piece of junk. I believe the 2014 Jeeps are better than the 2008 Jeeps. You do not have to get a smaller Airstream if you buy a Jeep. Jim

[hazelgreen]

Jim,
What kind of mileage did you get towing your Airstreams and did you do any towing in the mountains. I'm not concerned about the regular flat highways but know the mountain roads can really be quite a pull. We tow now with a 1990 Ford Supercab 4WD with a 460 but a 3:55 rear end. It has plenty of power all thought the 3:55 is not great in the mountains with this AS and our previous 31' AS. We want to get away from pulling with truck to have a smaller vehicle for site seeing after trailer is parked as well as better gas mileage. We get a whopping 7.5-8.5 mpg but we are also travel the highways at posted speeds. I'm glad that you had the previous GC and hope you like your new one as well. I hope that we are able to get one in the near future. We rented the GC Hemi last summer in Colorado to use for four wheeling as it was cheaper than buying to see if we liked the vehicle and it's off-road capabilities. It was great on the trail.

[2012FB]

155 miles round trip Denver to Silverthorne and averaged 15mpg.

Originally Posted by hazelgreen

Jim,
What kind of mileage did you get towing your Airstreams and did you do any towing in the mountains.

[Jim Flower]

Hi hazelgreen,
I average 14.7 mpg on my trips south which include the hills of WV & V. I travel @ 62 mph when there is nobody around and I go with the flow when it gets busy. Sometimes that means 70 mph. Some times getting diesel fuel is a pain because the nozzle for cars is on the inside of the pump and getting maintenance from a Jeep dealer is almost impossible. I expect that may change a bit since they will now be obliged to train their mechanics. The best part happens all the rest of the time when you are not towing, 28 mpg approx, and it fits every where. Jim

[rostam]

Originally Posted by Jim Flower

Hi hazelgreen,
I towed my 97 25' Safari 100,000 k with my 2008 Jeep GC 3L CRD diesel. I have towed my 2012 30' International 50,000 k with the same Jeep that now has 330,000k on it. My new one will be in next week. This one goes to my son who will put on 2 or 300,000 k before it turns into a piece of junk. I believe the 2014 Jeeps are better than the 2008 Jeeps. You do not have to get a smaller Airstream if you buy a Jeep. Jim

Just wondering, has your jeep been modified? and are you within the specified payload and front/rear axle ratings?

Thanks

[Jim Flower]

Yes. Hitch mods by Can Am. I also put heavy duty Bilstein shocks on it in Sept when the originals no longer did their job. As for the rest of your question, sometimes. Jim

[hazelgreen]

Thanks Jim for your information. You are right that it would be nice to have the high mpg when not towing.