webvalues
Lakewood, CO, USA
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Joined: 08/14/2002
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I have a 2001 Cherokee Sport 4X4 with Auto and would like to hear your experience with towing a travel trailer. Please, only reply if you have actually towed with a Cherokee or simular vehicle. The world is to full of teachers and and not enough of doers. Thanks.
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Chap
San Diego
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Joined: 08/08/2002
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I owned a 98 Jeep Cherokee 4X2 4.0L Auto for 4 years. It was an awesome vehicle but is a little small for towing. I towed our 3200lb boat with it and several coleman pop up trailers. The rear springs on the 2wd are very soft and the Jeep squats on the rear tires. Stopping was the biggest problem though. I didn't have trailer brakes and anything but the lightest load would push the Jeep around. I traded the Cherokee for a '02 Ram 1500 5.9L in June. Hated to see that truck go but it just wasn't up to the job.
Good luck,
Chap
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tech47
Grosse Pointe Woods Mi. USA
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Joined: 02/19/2002
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This subject has been discussed many times, you may want to do a search. But I will try to help you here. I am a Jeep Technician at a Jeep dealer, have owned 2 cherokees and towed with both. Great vehicle for off road but not for towing. Pulled a pop-up with a 96 cherokee that wasn't bad but you need friction sway control. Towed a 18 foot hybrid with a 99 cherokee, this combination only 3000lbs loaded was terrible. The trailer squats the Jeep to the ground, and the Jeep has no power. Fuel usage is huge and handling is awful. Sold the Jeep and the trailer.
Cherokees are for Pop-Ups only, any more and you will be sorry. Trust me on this one.
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docjohn
Boerne, TX
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Agree. Cherokee for Pop-ups only. I've had several and they do fine for that. I'd hate to go much over 2000 lbs. dry.
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ugcamper
Central Illinois
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The springs on the cherokee must be the same as the Wranglers. I towed an 8ft popup with my wrangler and it sagged terrible in the back end. Gas milage sucked also. The only good thing was is that it towed really good. That I6 pulled it like it wasnt even there except for the bouncing of the tongue weight. No sway...just bounce.
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summutt2002
(somewhere in the mountains of Utah)
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I don't tow with a jeep, but sorta similar, I guess. You'd be better off with a bigger mule, no question. But if you're like me and can't afford one, just make sure you have the proper support equipment. LT tires, Jordan or Prodigy brake controller, top notch sway control, like Equal-i-zer. If you can afford Hensley or PullRite, you can probably afford a new mule. BTW, I have towed many thousands of trouble free miles over all kinds of terrain. Just lucky, I guess.
Great wife, 3.1 dogs and no money..LIFE IS GOOD
'01 Excursion Ltd 7.3L PSD pulling a '06 Prowler 260RLS, Equal-i-zer, Prodigy
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Samseven
Garden Grove, CA
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webvalues,
I owned a 1987 Cherokee with I-6, 4 sp auto and tow package. When it was new we rented a 18' tt and took off camping. Pulled some grades to 8,500'. Towed about 750 miles overall. Never again. Even at 18' the tt was too big and heavy for the Jeep. Didn't like the way it handled at highway speed and in cross winds.
The engine/trans can pull the load of the trailer but you get the feeling it's the tail wagging the dog when it comes to handling.
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nomoretents
Chillicothe, Ohio
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I own a 1998 Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 litre I6
I'm pulling a 25ft. Terry lite, It seem to be doing OK for now on short trips (40mile radius).
I,m using a Resse WD setup with it. The only problem ive experienced so far is bounce in the rear end of the jeep. Will be upgrading to a pick-up truck in the future.
"Assumption is the Mother of all Screw-ups"
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dbelles
Canandaigua, New York
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Joined: 06/21/2002
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I have a 01 Cherokee (last year made) and a 2003, 21' Starcraft Hybrid. Been out on one trip. The engine pulled OK, but the lightness and shortness of the Jeep made the ride a bit wanting. If you plan on not traveling far, or up steep grades, then it would probably work long term. Our problem is, we live in New York, and like to travel into and through Pennsylvania. Knowing how steep and long those hills and mountains are, I just traded for a Dodge 1500 (5.2L, tow package etc). Haven't picked it up yet, but when I do, and we go out with the trailer, I'll report on the trip.
Sorry I can't be more up-beat about the Jeep. It really is a great little truck!!
Dave
*This Message was edited on 19-Aug-02 01:04 PM by dbelles*
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Bigdog
silverdale wa.
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Joined: 06/28/2002
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I had a '94 Cherokee sport w the 4.0L HO and pulled several different tent trailers all over Oregon and Washington and never had a bit of trouble till once when I was going into Halfway Or. up a steep grade in102' heat and discavered that they hadn't put the heavy duty radiator in. I finally traded it for a '97 Yukon when we decided to get the big Coleman tent with the slide and the Roof A/C.
Also I wouldn't try to pull anything with one w/o using a sway bar and air bags are great.
I really hated to get rid of that little guy as it was so nimble.
*This Message was edited on 19-Aug-02 06:31 PM by Big dog 41*
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