Jeep Grand Cherokee Tow Capability

[gvsummer]

Greetings fellow Jeep owners,

Checking to see if anyone is currently towing a 28 foot or bigger Airstream with a Jeep Grand Cherokee? We have a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit (5.7 Hemi Engine with tow package), and considering purchasing a 2016 Airstream 27FB. Our Jeep is rated at towing 7400 pounds max tow weight. We used to tow a 6,000 pound 25' Cobalt (powerboat), with no problem and would like any insight from those of you that tow with a Jeep.

Thanks!

[Hittenstiehl]

Others will reply but just FYI there have been many threads here about the merits or lack thereof about towing with Cherokee/Jeeps.

You may want to Google something like:

"Towing an Airstream with Cherokee on Airforums"

That should get you lots of reading material from the other threads until others respond.

Good luck and happy trailering.

[Glenritas]

Read your owners manual for details on towing and ratings.

Keep within the manufactures specs and don't exceed them.

IMHO the 27'FB is to long for the Grand Cherokee wheel base.

Is you Jeep 2 wheel drive ? If not its Tow rating is less.

[remphoto]

We towed a 30' SOB with our 1995 Jeep CG V-8 back in the day. We were just within Gross Vehicle Combine Weight and found that it towed fine. We used both a friction anti-sway device and a Reese WD hitch, which also had an antisway setup. We found it towed better than the previous tow vehicle which was a long wheelbase Ford Club Wagon (full-sized 1/2 van). That was a different generation Jeep but dimensions were probably pretty similar to the new ones.

[idroba]

I tow a 2014 FC 20' with my 2012 Overland with the Hemi V8. It does very well. I am not sure how well it would do with a longer unit. I think you will get varied opinions and experiences and only you will know how well it will work out for your specific trailer and towing situation. I would not be too concerned about other's opinions on the matter. Some will tell you it is totally wrong and unsafe, some will say it is just fine.

Since you own the Jeep, why not try it out and see what you think. If it is not enough tow vehicle for you, you can trade it for something more suitable.

[Glenritas]

Is you Jeep 2 wheel drive ? If not its Tow rating is less.

Check the spec's for your receiver also.

The tongue weight of the 2016 27FB Flying Cloud is 719 # empty without options.

The Gross vehicle weight rating is 7600 #

This is not a good combo.

The 23 FB would be within range at 467# & 6000#

The 25' FB would be over also.

[idroba]

My 2014 FC 20 has a tongue weight of 700# and I have no problem with it. My '74 Argosy 20' also has the same 700# tongue weight. With a WD hitch, I am able to move the tongue weight around so neither front or rear axle ratings are exceeded. And yes, I have had it on the scales so I have the numbers to back up my comments.

[Mrjkq]

I'd be more concerned with braking. That Hemi is a powerhouse but the Cherokee is not a big wheel base TV with big heavy brakes so going up the mountain will be a breeze but coming down could be white nuckle experience even with tow haul pkg.

[Goal15]

I think ScreamStream in Texas pulls a 25 with her Grand Cherokee or at least she was at last rally we went to. You might PM her and see if she still is

Dana


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Denis4x4]

I tow a Safari FB 25 with a 2013 GC with the hemi and factory tow package. The disc brakes are more than adequate. The '13 was the last year that had the tow/haul feature. Went camping a couple of weeks a go and used the transmission temp feature and even on a couple of hills, the trans fluid temp never got over 205 degrees. I'm using a DirectLink brake controller and a ProPride hitch. After removing unnecessary crap, the Safari crosses the scales at 6200-6400 pounds, depending on the destination. I no longer believe those tags that give the factory weights. Time after time, I find that they are not accurate after running my equipment over certified public scales. Same goes for tongue weight. I have a Sureline scale. The GC replaced a 2012 Chevy 2500HD that actually had less HP and torque with the 6.2 engine than the GC! I really enjoy driving a TV that is comfortable and doesn't ride like a truck. Pun intended

[dkottum]

We have the 5.7 Hemi in our 2012 Ram 1500 Reg Cab. We tow in fourth gear so the transmission does not shift up and down as we travel through hilly country. In fourth gear the transmission ratio is 1:1 so I believe that is the most efficient gear for power transmission and cooling.

We shift down as needed to climb steep grades, and descend steep grades to allow the engine to provide compression braking (it needs to increase rpm for compression braking, let it rev but stay under rpm limitations).

Our wheelbase is also short so we use a Hensley/ProPride style w.d. hitch which keeps the rig rock steady even when semis blow by, and eliminates any possibility of trailer sway. The Grand Cherokee full independent suspension is more stable than our solid rear axle truck, you may be satisfied without the Hensley style hitch and using a conventional w.d./sway control hitch.

[vanster]

Great news. I learned that we can tow our Caravel with our Porsche.
The boys in Germany even added a special turn indicator light that is dedicated to towing. I passed this Road Chief a few weeks ago and started thinking about this prospect.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by vanster

Great news. I learned that we can tow our Caravel with our Porsche.
The boys in Germany even added a special turn indicator light that is dedicated to towing. I passed this Road Chief a few weeks ago and started thinking about this prospect.

If I am not mistaken, Bowlus has a 2800# GVWR, and a 200# tongue weight. Porsche Panamera has a 4800# tow rating. Way within its tow ratings.

[Barretta2]

I have an AS FC 23' and pull it with my 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland, 5.7 Hemi. The AS tows like a dream with the Jeep, have to remind myself that it is behind me, on flat roads and moderate hills. However, I live in the Rockies, and on those very steep climbs and on very extended more moderate climbs (such as are around Park City Utah), my Jeep struggles. I can rarely go over 45 mph., so I just fall in behind the semis, turn up my music, and watch my temp gauge like a hawk. I also tow light--fairly empty tanks and not much heavy cargo. My sense is that pulling a larger AS would be a real challenge for your Jeep unless you can avoid mountains.

[phawk33]

I have a 2014 FC25' and a 2007 Grand Cherokee CRD 3.0L Diesel. I have added the Green Diesel Engineering EcoTune Re-flash to take the torque to about 440 Ft-lb. I also use a Tekonsha Brake Controller and a 90-00-1000 Equalizer Hitch.
My experience so far (4000 miles) after towing thru West Virginia, Kentucky and the Skyline Drive in Virginia has been outstanding. I am getting 16 MPG and, if I want to, I can actually keep up the speed at 65 MPH in the hills with no signs of effort on the Diesel. The brakes and brake control seem to be doing well also with no signs of overheating or loss of control. The 5-speed Getrag automatic also allows me to engine-brake by manually downshifting downhill. The sway is also in check and the combination feels safe and controlled.

I chose the 2007 Grand Cherokee with the Mercedes-built 3.0 Liter CRD because its performance and ruggedness and so far I haven't been disappointed. The 4-wheel Quadratrac II is also a welcome bonus.

I know I sound like a commercial, but I am a happy camper!

[Barretta2]

Originally Posted by Mrjkq

I'd be more concerned with braking. That Hemi is a powerhouse but the Cherokee is not a big wheel base TV with big heavy brakes so going up the mountain will be a breeze but coming down could be white nuckle experience even with tow haul pkg.

Agree, but my Tow/Haul automatically shifts into 3rd for downhills, AND I maintain a very conservative downhill speed so I rarely have to brake. Never had any worries. My brake assist is very effective, too. I think if you are careful to start out going slowly on steep downgrades, and you have a good brake assist, you should be safe.

[Airjeep]

We are using a 2012 GC Overland 5.7 Hemi with the tow pkg to pull a 27' EB. The hitch had a brace welded on it by Cam-Am. The engine temp has never gone over 230ºf going uphill even with the A/C on at 60-65 mph.

Think we were near Campbell, CA. with its long grade in the Mojave, engine 230ºf, oil temp was over 250ºf, A/C on, ambient temp was about 80ºf. Only time the trans temp goes over 200ºf is when trying to get into tight spots or when we when to Badger, CA.

When we first started towing in 2013, the TV/TT seemed to have a mind of its own, moving about in the lane. May 2013, was following the unit in PA. and noticed the trailer seemed to be offset more to one side rather than centered on the TV. Only when following just the GC noticed it was dog tracking. It took 2 tries to have the alignment right and now can almost forget the TT is behind us.

This past winter we covered 11,000 miles, over 10,000 towing, with some off roading and averaged about 11.3 mpg US overall.

The 4 wheel drive is useful for boon docking and moving into camp spots or backing up the slope of our driveway.

Also have changed tires on the TV to ones with a load rating of 112 if IIRC. Having the pressures of say 40psi front, 44psi rear all but stops oversteering in corners.

Having the weight properly placed in both TT and TV helps a lot. Tues. we can home with the GC packed and some items in the rear of the trailer and tire pressures where not adjusted as above. It did not tow very well. This happened before, not as bad when we had two dressers in the back.

Cheers, John