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fbgairstream · 10-06-2011, 09:09 PM

how many pounds can you tow with the new grand cherokee with the hemi!!!?? great looking vehicle !! Jeep has a winner from all I read on the 2011 2012 jeep cherokee

Chief · 10-06-2011, 09:45 PM

Back when I was a bit less smart, I rarely used the tow/haul mode on our Dodge Quad Cab Hemi (towing 3,000 lbs of motorcycle trailer at excessive speeds). It did seem to provide better gas mileage.

My bad habits carried over to towing our 25' Airstream, and I got the "wakeup call".......transmission failure!! The only saving grace was having 1,100 miles left on the power train warranty.

My habits have improved.....slower speeds and always using the tow/haul mode.

Chief

idroba · 10-06-2011, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbgairstream

how many pounds can you tow with the new grand cherokee with the hemi!!!?? great looking vehicle !! Jeep has a winner from all I read on the 2011 2012 jeep cherokee

7300# tow rating with the 5.7L hemi. 5000# with the Pentastar V6.

The change in the 2012 5.7L is the new 6 speed automatic.

It seems like it is a great rig. However, I have not sorted out the automatic leveling vs. the proper spring bar setup. But even so, it is a very impressive vehicle in all ways. The backup camera is great for hitching up. Tonight, it is 40 here in NW Montana, and I tried starting the engine with the remote start feature. It even turned on the heated steering wheel, automatically, and the wheel was all toasty warm when I drove off. The seats are not only heated in both the front and back, but the fronts have two speed cooling mode for hot weather. Wow!

TouringDan · 10-06-2011, 10:53 PM

The Toyota 6 speed tranny does not care whether you are in t/h or not- the transmission still downshifts when you tap on the brakes and are going downhill. This is one of the reasons that I forget to put it in t/h when I am in hilly terrain.

Dan

Hodum · 10-13-2011, 08:22 PM

Tow and haul is recommended in the owners manual of my new F-250 6.7 diesel with 6 speed auto transmission. I enables the transmission to run cooler according to the book.

Eric H · 10-13-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bklecka

My diesel SuperDuty when in tow/haul revs higher when shifting up and downshifts earlier when on a hill or when you step on the gas. I don't see why anyone would manually keep the transmission in 3rd. It would seem the engine would be turning really fast at highway speeds.

The engine might be turning faster, but IMO (and I have always been told) it's better for the engine to run at a slightly higher RPM then having the engine struggle at 2000 - 3000 RPM. I have a manual and have towed a lot of various equipment (no haul mode;-) If it's flat and I'm doing 70 I certainly will be in 5th, but going up steeper grades I'll give it plenty of RPMs. Have taken my tacoma back and forth across the US several times towing various things (cars, trailers) and both tranny and engine seem to be in good shape.

Flying-Steve · 10-14-2011, 04:58 AM

Shawn, I have a 25, but tow with a 2010 Tundra. This past weekend towing up to Ok. I played a bit with the tow/haul on the flats and could notice little difference, but the Tundra's computer constantly showed that I was getting better mileage with the Tow/haul. I averaged 13 mpg for the weekend but I drive like your grandma.

STEVE

xonvldz · 10-14-2011, 05:58 AM

use t/h every time when towing.diesel engine braking and different shift patterns make the truck feel more in control of the trailer.overdrive kicks in around 65 mpg for highway driving.plus manual says that the cooling of the trans is increased in t/h.

**moosetags** · 10-14-2011, 07:30 AM

I use the tow/haul mode whenever towing the Airstream. I believe that it is better for the transmission. I have done this with the Suburbans and their gasoline engines , and with the new Duramax. I realize that the fuel mileage may suffer slightly, but a few cents saved on gas is easily trumped by an $5,000 transmission repair.

Brian

Hodum · 10-15-2011, 01:09 PM

Headed to the mountains Monday, so i'll be able to tell you a little more about The new truck and it's tow and hall in a few days. But with the 400HP diesel engine it is not going to be short on lugging power, especially when you consider the 800 lbs. ft. torque that this engine boasts. The 2006 F-250 with 6.0 diesel handled my 34 footer just fine in or out of tow and haul, but I usually ran in T&W for the trans. sake. The new 2011 truck has a oddity rear axle ratio, 331.1. I am interested to see how it reacts to towing.

Et Cetera · 10-15-2011, 03:53 PM

IMHO, speaking as a 30 year transmission re-builder,
Most late model overdrive type automatic transmissions use clutches that are almost one half the size used for direct drive (3rd gear) for overdrive. Thus you are using half the total friction surface of direct drive that was only designed/intended to drive the weight of the TV along after it had reached highway speeds. This feature let the manufacturers reach increased mileage numbers, keeping the government and customer happy.
Adding an AS that weighs as much or more than the TV to this clutch pack (overdrive) puts a major strain on the clutches resulting in increased heat generated and if carried far enough clutch/transmission failure.
You might be able to get away with this practice (towing in OD mode) if your TV had plenty of power and you were in flat country, buy why risk it?
Transmissions are expensive to repair.
The reason you have tow/haul or od off as a selection is to prevent this problem. I would advise anyone towing/hauling anything of more than nominal weight to use these features to avoid future failures.

Et Cetera