Towing with a Grand Cherokee???

[cardboard]

Can anyone tell me if a Grand will pull a cherokee on a trailer. I am looking for something to pull my xj with and have come across a 96 grand :v8,trailer towing package, 373 gears, but dont know if it will work. Any insight will do me great, Thanx Digger

 

[xjfish]

Should work fine. If you do lots of driving pulling a heavy trailer with an xj you might look into getting a transmission cooler (that is if not already equipped) -my .02

 

[woody]

Trailer brakes-maybe on all 4 wheels- will be your friend

 

[BIGWOODY]

Can anyone tell me if a Grand will pull a cherokee on a trailer. I am looking for something to pull my xj with and have come across a 96 grand :v8,trailer towing package, 373 gears, but dont know if it will work. Any insight will do me great, Thanx Digger

it will but it's scarry, I towed my xj with a grand several years ago. The wheel base is really just to short , the trailer wanted to sway(no matter how i loaded it) when I got back from that trip I went and bought a F350 diesel dulley, works way better...

 

[Cottontail]

Plan on stiffening your rear end. When I blew my clutch in the XJ, I had to go home and get my 96 ZJ to fetch it and tug it home. I had the XJ on a flat bed, and it sagged the rear pretty badly.

My ZJ is only a 2wd with a I-6, but I have the factory tow package and the auxilary tranny cooler.

The trip was to mid-TN from Tellico and the temp guages really spiked on the mountain with the XJ behind it. I stopped at the top of several "big" mountains to pop the hood and cool the ZJ. Also, I was getting about 23 mph going out there empty and about 10-11 coming back.

Not sure if this answer will help any, but here it is!

 

[lesslimited]

With the proper setup, you should be OK with the V8. Invest in a good weight distributing hitch setup with sway controls, a good brake controller, and some air bags for the rear coils, possibly a trans temp gauge, and you'll be fine. Sure, a dually pickup will handle it easier, but who wants to drive one of those when it's not necessary? The Grand will be a much nicer DD.

 

[BIGWOODY]

With the proper setup, you should be OK with the V8. Invest in a good weight distributing hitch setup with sway controls, a good brake controller, and some air bags for the rear coils, possibly a trans temp gauge, and you'll be fine. Sure, a dually pickup will handle it easier, but who wants to drive one of those when it's not necessary? The Grand will be a much nicer DD.

Not trying to stir any chit but....have you ever towed with one or are you telling this guy what you think will be ok? I had all of the above on mine when I used it and a light weight aluminum trailer and it sucked. It was also dangerous and I doubt the ZJ is rated to tow that kind of weight. I'm passing out info I know for a fact to be true from direct experience, not what I think will be ok. It would probably be fine to use to tow on flat ground for short distances, but in the long run its dangerous and the crap tranny in the ZJ will fail....

 

[BIGWOODY]

You want a nice DD and towing get a suburban/tahoe and be done with it.

 

[lesslimited]

Not trying to stir any chit but....have you ever towed with one or are you telling this guy what you think will be ok? I had all of the above on mine when I used it and a light weight aluminum trailer and it sucked. It was also dangerous and I doubt the ZJ is rated to tow that kind of weight. I'm passing out info I know for a fact to be true from direct experience, not what I think will be ok. It would probably be fine to use to tow on flat ground for short distances, but in the long run its dangerous and the crap tranny in the ZJ will fail....

I'll admit I haven't towed an XJ on a trailer with my ZJ, but I have towed similar loads as far as trailer to vehicle tow rating ratio with the ZJ and the XJ and not had a problem. I don't think too much would have changed from 96 to my 98, but the 98 is rated for 6500 lbs (4x4), and 6700 (2wd).
As far as the tranny, that is a weak link, which is why I suggested the temp guage.
Maybe Scott Mac will weigh in with experiences trailering his XJ with a ZJ previously and WJ currently.
YMMV eace:

 

[Scott Mac]

It's definitely doable. I've towed my XJ from Detroit to Moab using my wifes '00 4.7 WJ.
If you do it right you will not have any problems. Make sure you use a weight distribution hitch, sway control, and dual axle trailer brakes.

With the weight distribution hitch the rear sits at the same height as when it's unloaded.

Edit: my experience is with a 4.7 WJ with the factory tow package. I used to own a '97 ZJ with the 5.2 and believe it to be weaker than the 4.7.

 

[cardboard]

Thanx for all the info guys. I think i will pass on this and just stick with
plan A. A fullsize ext cab or four door truck. Anybody got one they want to trade for a 98 Chrysler Town & Country?
Digger