Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 Tow Ratings

[Bigventure]

If I remember right I think the 2013 25’ International weighed 66/6700 pounds wet and ready.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Thanks bigventrue: Jeep says 30' trailer is the max. Your experience with a late model 25' builds confidence. My 1975 Overlander is 27' and 6200 lbs GVWR. I'll weigh it ready for travel, but I think I will be several hundred pounds less than that, unless the wife starts picking up big rocks to take home.

Maybe 27 feet is within reason with your experience with your 25' Airstream.

I was chuckling at the 1975 Airstream owner's manual showing all those pictures of big Oldsmobile (or similar) sedans towing 31' Sovereigns. 1975 was not a banner year for American automobiles. I personally wouldn't consider towing with a 1975 sedan. Gee, the distance from the rear axle to the bumper is what, 10 feet? Leaf spring suspension, 200 hp engines, 3 speed transmission, drum brakes, loose steering, and old fashioned break controllers. Wow. Makes the Grand Cherokee look very good indeed.

David

Maybe so, but we towed plenty with those big sedans and got along just fine. Run that Grand Cherokee into the back of my old Suburban at 5 mph and you will have a $3500 repair bill, and I might feel a slight nudge.

[JYD]

I tow my 2016 Classic 30 with an Infinity QX56 equipped with Pro Pride hitch. Just go back from 1300 mile trip. Tows trailer great averaged 11.6 mpg. My greatest problem is keeping under 65. Cannot use cruise.

[Libtech]

FYI to everyone saying the WK2 doesn't have a tow mode in the transmission, it does not. However, it does have a manual paddle shift mode. So you can pick what gear your in and not worry about shifting in and out of the ODs. 7th and 8th gears are both overdrives. Also as to running hot. while towing with mine EGTs never got above 1200, engine and trans stay between 200-210, and intake temps tend to be 10 degrees above ambient temps.

[dbj216]

Very good information Libtech: It sounds like your experience is very favorable towing with the Grand Cherokee diesel. There is nothing alarming about the data you shared. There are similar numbers to my Super Duty diesel.

Manual control of the transmission can be a good thing. I have that feature in the Super Duty, but don't use it much as the "tow / haul" tune seems to work quite well for me. Shifting an automatic manually can get embarrassing at times. You don't want to hit the rev limiter, and you don't want to lug down going up steep hills. I manually shift our 06 Acura MDX to gain some engine braking down hills, and a bit more throttle response going up hills. Second gear selected manually holds second, meaning it leaves from a stop in second. Not good if you forget and try to accelerate up a steep hill. Real sluggish. But okay if starting out on an ice slick road. The MDX is tuned for economy only. It hardly ever gets over 2500 rpm in automatic mode.

I expect the Grand Cherokee to do better.

David

[Libtech]

I have a '16 superduty for a work truck. constantly haul a trailer that's over 20k. the exhaust brake and tow mode in that truck is amazing.

[BillF95]

Originally Posted by Libtech

FYI to everyone saying the WK2 doesn't have a tow mode in the transmission, it does not.

It actually depends on the year. My 2011 V8 has TOW/HAUL mode but no paddle shifters. WK2s have actually had a variety of transmissions over the years - see http://www.wk2jeeps.com/wk2_transm.htm for more details.

[Libtech]

my bad. i thought all the wk2s used the 8spd.