Towing question

Thelt · 02-02-2006, 01:41 PM

I am looking at buying a '98 Grand Cherokee. It has the 4.0 six cylinder. It does not have the factory tow package but it does have an aftermarket hitch installed. I know I would probably need to add a transmission cooler. If I do that is there anything else I need to do in order to tow a 3000 lb trailer. I know I need a brake controller and I have one. I also have a sway controler. I do not have a weight distribution hitch, my camper will not accept one.

Thanks

**ArloGuthroJeep** · 02-02-2006, 01:52 PM

For 3000lbs you'll probably be fine with that setup but the only thing you're missing from the "Tow package" is 3.73 gears instead of 3.55 gears. If you can try and find one with the factory tow package cause the 3.73 gears are a lot nicer.

Thelt · 02-02-2006, 02:08 PM

I am having a hard time finding a six cylinder GC with the tow pacakge. I guess they mostly put that on the V8 models. The one I am looking at is a '98 model with 91k miles, it is a laredo with selectrac. It is in pretty good shape and look like it has been well maintained. It has a clean carfax report and I can get it for $5700. It seems like a good deal but I wanted to make sure I could use it to tow my small hybrid camper.

ajmorell · 02-02-2006, 02:43 PM

It's no that you couldn't tow the camper with the 3.55s (Assuming thats what it has), you will just find it more difficult to get up to speed and maintain that speed once you're there. Since you generally don't (well you aren't supposed to anyways) tow in overdrive it shouldn't be a huge issue.

JeepsterLR · 02-03-2006, 10:22 AM

I used to tow a '83 Nautique skiboat with a 2 wheel drive, 2000 WJ, 4.0, w/o factory tow package and standard 3.55 gears. Just added the wiring, a hitch and an external trans cooler. The boat weighed roughly 3200 lbs with single axle trailer, gas, gear, etc.. Most of my trips were less than 50 miles one way. Also made a 2500 mile trip towing a Geo Metro on a heavy tandem axle trailer.

Interstate cruise was managable with overdrive locked out. Hills were a struggle. Passing required a LOT of open road. 20 MPG @ 80 MPH unloaded went to something like 12 MPG @ 60 with the boat. This from a stronger running than average 4.0 liter. The only time engine temp would rise past normal was during acceleration to interstate speed during 100 degree weather with the A/C running or climbing a hill. At cruise the engine cool back down in less than a minute.

Both situations were quite a load and both truely needed trailer brakes. Braking was almost adequate under perfect conditions. It didn't take any imagination to figure out that I would be in deep doodoo if I had to brake while dodging something or in the rain. Looking back it was especially foolish to tow the boat without trailer brakes. That WJ with 4.0 was adequate for occasional short distance towing in dry weather. Definitely not a serious cross country machine.

**PlatinumZJ** · 02-03-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thelt

I am having a hard time finding a six cylinder GC with the tow pacakge. I guess they mostly put that on the V8 models. The one I am looking at is a '98 model with 91k miles, it is a laredo with selectrac. It is in pretty good shape and look like it has been well maintained. It has a clean carfax report and I can get it for $5700. It seems like a good deal but I wanted to make sure I could use it to tow my small hybrid camper.

Many ZJs came with factory prep for towing (except for the actual hitch); get the VIN and send it to DC for a build sheet to see what gears were put on it. Also, might as well get a V8 while your at it, the MPG is virtually the same as the I6.