Jeep Cherokee as tow vehicle |
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Happy Tripping
Senior Member Joined: 27 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 473 |
Topic: Jeep Cherokee as tow vehicle Posted: 23 Jan 2016 at 1:17pm |
Hello.
We have been very happy with our Jeep Grand Cherokee as a tow vehicle (7400 lb capacity), but need to 'downsize'. Any comments on the Jeep Cherokee (4500 lbs capacity) are appreciated. We are planning a cross country trip thru the mountains to California in May.
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Pilot
Groupie Joined: 26 Jul 2015 Location: Pinckney, Mi Online Status: Offline Posts: 91 |
Posted: 23 Jan 2016 at 4:54pm |
I have pulled my 177 with my F150 (V8 Triton motor) and I loose about 3 miles a gallon. That truck only gets about 16 mpg with no trailer. I have also pulled my pod with my 2014 Explorer. In Mi. with generally flat terrain I was getting 12 mpg. and it did a fine job. A considerable decrease from the 23 mpg that we usually get. The truck pulled the pod with ease through the mountains of WV. I don't think the Explorer would have done very well. Just my experience.
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Walt & Lynne
2015 r-pod 177 08 F150 or 2014 Explorer Pinckney,Mi |
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GLBCamper
Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2015 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 274 |
Posted: 23 Jan 2016 at 5:49pm |
I know many will chime in on this with lots of various stats, but I personally think that the easiest thing to do is to take the tow vehicle's rated tow capacity and divide it in half for a reasonable "real world" tow capacity.
For example, my Tacoma is rated for 6500lbs. I try to keep my loaded trailer weight around 3250lbs. or less for a minimally comfortable tow experience. I get 14mpg not towing and 11mpg towing (high altitude with hills.) I don't think a vehicle rated that low would be advisable, but I'm sure others would disagree. |
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Old: 2014 177 HRE
2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
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Pilot
Groupie Joined: 26 Jul 2015 Location: Pinckney, Mi Online Status: Offline Posts: 91 |
Posted: 23 Jan 2016 at 5:53pm |
I think that is pretty good advice.
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Walt & Lynne
2015 r-pod 177 08 F150 or 2014 Explorer Pinckney,Mi |
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john in idaho
Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Eagle Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 611 |
Posted: 23 Jan 2016 at 6:53pm |
Personnally, the longer wheelbase of the grand cherokee would be important.
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ToolmanJohn
Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 451 |
Posted: 23 Jan 2016 at 9:41pm |
I agree with the advice of only towing half of actual tow capacity of the vehicle. Works out better for the tow vehicle and safety.
As far as tow vehicle weight, it only matters in emergency steering. The R-Pod has it's own braking system, and if you have a good well dialed in brake controller, and appropriate sway control, then the weight of the R-Pod only counts against you when turning and hard braking. A heavier tow vehicle will resist jack knife better.
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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
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Tars Tarkas
Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447 |
Posted: 24 Jan 2016 at 12:52pm |
Half the rated towing capacity is nice but overkill, in opinion. A comfortable margin of maybe a thousand pounds (still, that's arbitrary) is my rule of thumb. If your tow capacity is 5000 lbs, try to keep your trailer under 4000, etc. Again, that's not a hard rule. There are a lot of factors that come into play. I must be misunderstanding something about tow weight only mattering in emergency steering. You aren't saying that I can tow a 5000 lb trailer across the Rockies as easily as I can a 2000 lb trailer, are you, as long as I don't get into any emergency steering situations?? TT |
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser |
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ToolmanJohn
Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 451 |
Posted: 24 Jan 2016 at 4:23pm |
You can tow a 5000 pound travel trailer across the Rockies as easily as a 2000 pound trailer, it depends on your tow vehicle. In a emergency (RAIN, 50 mph, turning, SUDDEN EMERGENCY BRAKING=Jacknife!!) , which is better, a lighter tow vehicle, or a heavier one??? Which would you choose , a Grand Cherokee, or a Cherokee? One is a lot lighter than the other. Tail wagging the dog situation. The OP was "downsizing" the tow vehicle. There are other considerations besides "can it tow 2000-5000 pounds" through the Rockies. |
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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
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Happy Tripping
Senior Member Joined: 27 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 473 |
Posted: 24 Jan 2016 at 9:34pm |
As usual, I asked the right question in the wrong way.
Our V8 Grand Cherokee (360 hp & 390 lb-ft torque) towed our 171 as if it wasn't there on our last trip to California. My wife has mild vision problems and so we are downsizing. The Cherokee has 270 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, which I believe is adequate but nothing like the V8 of course. However the Cherokee also has a built-in sway control that acts thru the brakes to head off problems. Has anyone had experience with the Cherokee and it's V6 with this sway control?? |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 24 Jan 2016 at 10:38pm |
Not with a Cherokee, but with a 2016 Ford Escape SE with factory tow package and 2L Ecoboost 4 cyl. engine. It is rated at 3,500 lbs. We recently completed our first big trip (North Carolina to Nevada and Arizona and return) with no problems, even when we did have what could be termed as an emergency braking situation.
We were turning on to an off ramp at high speed, not knowing it was a tight loop. I hit the brakes hard. Between the trailer's brakes and the stability control teamed with a good 4-way sway control hitch, we had no problem with this maneuver. We are closer to the maximum towing capacity with our Escape than you would be with the Cherokee. I don't think you would have any problems. The Escape's engine is rated at 240 hp and 270 lb-ft torque, which seems to be the exact opposite of the Cherokee's specs. However, those specs require use of premium gasoline, which is what Ford recommends when towing. Do expect a significant difference in mileage between towing and not towing. We certainly did. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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