Welcome to the Forums Vince!
Look at other issues raised in the towing forum (click 'Forums' at top left of this page). A good starter is on Airstream's FAQ page,
http://www.airstream.com/product_lin...ervice/faq.tea. To begin thinking of tow vehicle it is important to read the sections on tongue weight, trailer weights, and weight ratings.
You didn't give what year or other particulars applied to your trailer. But the trailer weights section gives starting points for tongue weight. Travel weight is always heavier. You've got a lot of catching up to do. Pay special attention to weight distribution/anti-sway aftermarket gear installed on the tongue A-frame area. If the previous owner towed I suspect this is already installed. You will want a brake controller installed in your tow vehicle. The forums will return countless search results on many terms used in this reply.
On multiple points your 4L V6 will probably prove unsuitable. I don't know the stats -- look at your owner's manual. There is probably a payload capacity listed (payload capacity = difference between the truck's GVWR and empty/curb weight). This is the total weight you can load in the Cherokee -- people, pets, luggage, hitch receiver
and tongue weight. The V6 is another issue. Another problem is the rear differential ratio -- 4.1? 3.73? -- It might be closer to 3.4 and that is totally unsuited to towing. (lower ratio = better mileage, low pulling power)
What if you bought a new Jeep with the largest V8 and a 3.73 rear end? The problem remains that any SUV has too small a wheelbase for anything but the shorter trailers (please don't hook an ultra-small SUV to a 16' based on this oversimplification). Your tow vehicle must have some heft and means (wheelbase) by which to exert influence. Safety in emergency maneuvers is obvious. The risk is losing grip with the road much earlier in weather or sudden situations. I would refer you to posts from 2 or more years ago that actually gave something of a formula ... I seem to recall roadkingmoe and pick giving this ... anybody?
You didn't say -- do you intend to park this unit? Do you only need to transport it to the coast? Borrowing a vehicle already set up would be a better starting point in that case.
Come back often!