Towing with an XJ

[Ken M]

The manual says the Cherokee is good to tow a 5000 pound trailer. I'm trying to decide whether to spend twice the money to buy an aluminum tandem axle car hauler and save 500 pounds over a steel trailer. Anybody have any experience with towing 3000-5000 pounds with their XJ? What is a realistically comfortable load for a long-distance (3000 miles) tow? Both trailers I'm considering have brakes on both axles. Thanks.

Ken

 

[jp4lo]

Just as a reference - I tow a 16 ft steel trailer w/ wood deck and a 2800lb race car behind my ZJ w/ the 360 in it. 4 to 4500 lbs total. It does fine w/ that but it does get pushed around a bit. When i towed a YJ on dana 60's,37s, V8, etc.. it was strugglin to maintain 70. If you can afford it I would go as light as possible on the trailer to help the 4.0 out. Plus as you probably already have found out alum. trailers hold value. Good luck.

 

[avnsteve]

engine isn't your only consideration for towing, your transmission is a limiting factor, ESPECIALLY if you have an automatic, the harder it works, the more heat it will generate, keep that in mind.

 

[TheInstaller]

I tow a 16 foot Boston Whaler around which is around 3500 total weight, and there are no brakes on the trailer. I did this with 31's and stock gearing. It was pushing me around a little bit, but I realized I had no rear brakes left on the Jeep.

 

[kf_chris]

Don't be scared of 3rd gear. the Jeep pulls nice in the rpm's in 3rd. I changed my fluids before I towed to FL and back, about 2000 miles in a week. Still runs like a champ

 

[Vanquish]

Don't be stupid. This is an excuse to buy a Super Duty :angel:

 

[j99xj]

If you are a gambler you could go ahead and tow the 5000 lbs and if something happens we could start a class action suit against DC. Hah. Maybe they would recall all of our Jeeps and put Dana 44s with disc brakes on.

 

[Beej]

This comes around from time to time. Try searching mod tech as well. The automatic cherokee is rated at 5000lbs, but the standard transmission is only rated at 3500lbs. At any rate, its an exceptionally dangerous thing to tow a combo that outweighs the tow vehicle and very unadvisable to do it over long distances. You'll toast your tranny, and may kill someone in the process. There will be naysayers, but this topic has been covered and I'm repeating the general consensus...

 

[Ken M]

I was a little skeptical of the 5000 pound rating. I'm buying the 1000 pound aluminum trailer with brakes on both axles; with only a 2000 pound car on board, I expect the Cherokee should be able to handle it. Thanks to everyone for your help.

Ken

 

[TIMEBOMB]

Boy, it would be a shame to wear out or even worst loose control and crash your XJ...I'm with Vanquish on that one...go get a Duramax or Powerstroke...save the XJ for the off-roads!