My new Tow Vehicle

[MarshMarlowe196]

I would have posted this in the "What do you tow yor AS with" thread, but I haven't towed anything with it yet so I'm not sure it qualifies.

Here's my brand new 11 year old tow vehicle:


2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4.7V8, Legendary Jeep 2 wheel drive, 55k miles.  Yes... the family wagon.    

The truck? came with a factory hitch.  Rated capacity is 6500lbs without any springs or magic levelers.

Anyone tow with this vehicle before?  How was it?  I'm a little wary of the short wheel base.

Thanks guys!  

[wingtime]

Nice Jeep!  And you  have the V-8!  That should pull your boat just fine.  Yes a longer wheelbase is more stable.  But a shorter one gives you better maneuvering.  For instance my super duty and my 245 is 54' long and it takes two counties to turn it around! The Jeeps have a soft suspension so you don't want a heavy tongue weight.  But if your trailer is set up right you shouldn't have a problem.

[MarshMarlowe196]

I followed your odyssey thread.  That's an impressive, daunting rig.    I used to deliver 30'+ boats up and down I95 (they all went to FL   ) with a Chevy 3500.  Seemed like it was actually easier to tow a longer boat... until you tried to get a pump at the gas station.

Seems like the suspension on the Jeep is a little soft.  I test drove a 4x4 version, and it was just too rugged for me, even with me sporting my full grown beard.  BUT- the suspension is a lot tighter on this Jeep than my old F150.

[fitz73222]

One of our VP's had a '99 4X4 that he would tow his big 24' SeaRay cabin, 454 Bravo Mercruiser from Daytona to New Hampshire every summer for vacation. I could not believe it would pull that boat up north and back without frying a transmission or breaking something. He never had one issue with that truck; quite amazing.

[seabob4]

63', front bumper to swim platform...



Down Florida Ave. to Hillsborough Ave. in N Tampa.  


That Jeep is an excellent truck for your 19-6, Jess.  If it doesn't have a tow package with tranny and oil cooler, I'd suggest installing them.  Easy, relatively cheap, and great for the longevity...

[MarshMarlowe196]

One of our VP's had a '99 4X4 that he would tow his big 24' SeaRay cabin, 454 Bravo Mercruiser from Daytona to New Hampshire every summer for vacation. I could not believe it would pull that boat up north and back without frying a transmission or breaking something. He never had one issue with that truck; quite amazing.

Thanks Fitz, that's very comforting.  I always have buyers remorse after making a substantial purchase and hearing that makes me feel better.  It is a Jeep after all, and I had a bad experience with a Jeep in the past, but then again it was a Frankenstein AMC product.  :cyclops:  Seems most of feedback I'm getting on this circa Grand Cherokee is positive.

That Jeep is an excellent truck for your 19-6, Jess.  If it doesn't have a tow package with tranny and oil cooler, I'd suggest installing them.  Easy, relatively cheap, and great for the longevity...

I hope it's good for boats other than the 19-6 too..     It came with a factory hitch, along with tranny and oil coolers.  I just hope this Jeep doesn't get stuck in wet grass... that would be embarassing.

[seabob4]

I hope it's good for boats other than the 19-6 too..     It came with a factory hitch, along with tranny and oil coolers.  I just hope this Jeep doesn't get stuck in wet grass... that would be embarassing.

Jess,
When you said in your first post..."legendary Jeep 2-wheel drive"...did you mean 4WD?

[wingtime]

Oh yeah longer wheel base to rigs and trailers tow great, but you have to plan your turns!  I had to keep checking to see if my 245 was still behind me it tows that well.  I'm guessing part of that is the torsion suspension.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Jess,
When you said in your first post..."legendary Jeep 2-wheel drive"...did you mean 4WD?

No, I meant 2-wheel-drive.  The "legendary" comment was a bit of a joke...   :)

[T Race]

Mr. Marlowe,

My previous tow vehicle was an 06 Nissan X-terra, which I reckon is a similar wheelbase to your nice new Jeep.  

I towed the 215 Explorer with it and it towed "OK".  It felt very slightly 'squirrely' compared to my previous boat.  I had been

wanting  to get a pick'em-up truck anyway, so I went ahead and replaced the X-terra with the F-150 I have now.  The longer

wheelbase made all the difference in the world.  

I guess for your new Jeep, you'll just have to try it out.  My instincts tell me it will be just fine.  My buddy had one just like it and I

drove it around for a weekend... I can definitely see why you liked it and went ahead and got it.  Nice indeed.