I am looking to drive from AZ to MI and back. I have an '04 Grand Cherokee Laredo with the i6 4.0. It does not have the tow package.
I was planning on adding a hitch at uhaul. I understand the towing capacity is 2000lbs.
What can I have added to allow me to pull something heavier? What is the max weight you'd pull after the addons? And what is the max length you'd pull?
I'm trying to get my small family across the country and back during COVID times. The goal is to have a bathroom and bed with us. If you have other suggestions, I'm open to those as well.
You could add a trans cooler, the hitch, and wiring to technically make it work. However, the truck official towing specs are not updated as a result of adding this equipment.
Note the 64 square feet of frontal area spec as well.. that'll be an issue for a lot of cargo trailers.
I ruined my engine pulling in 98 degree heat with a headwind and only 3000lbs and I have the OE tow kit.
Do you have both the mechanical and electric cooling fans?
I'm assuming I do not have both fans based on what I've read on the internet.
I was thinking I'd add the trans cooler. I read the fan might not be as necessary. Are there any other things added with the tow package that I should or could be adding?
I'd prefer not to do damage to this engine. My other '04 grand is about to cross 200k and my 97 wrangler has 265k.....I'd like this one to make it up to those numbers as well!
Trans cooler and both fans are critical. The article here doesn't mention it but it was standard with the tow package to have both a thermostatically controlled electric fan and a clutch-driven mechanical fan.
Shoot us a pic of the fans if you don't know what you have.
If you tow over what the vehicle is rated for, even if it will pull it, you can get yourself into a bad situation if your involved in an accident. Insurance not covering you, accident is your fault regardless of your fault or not....ect. Maybe rent a u-haul and tow your jeep?
Unfortunately, we are less than keen to put our 2 yr old in the front seat of a uhaul. I'm also not sure how safe I'd feel having us all sleeping in the back of it whereever we end up stopping.
This thread is making me consider those 2000 lbs micro trailers.
If I added the trans cooler and fan, upgraded the brakes, does anyone have a length/weight that you would feel good hauling?
What exactly are you towing? 2000 pounds is nothing. I’ve towed more that that with my car. Don’t all wjs have the trans cooler built in the radiator? I’d say your more that capable to tow 5000. I’d recommend lt tires.. sway control if it’s a travel trailer, electric brakes if possible, and just take it nice and slow.
What exactly are you towing? 2000 pounds is nothing. I've towed more that that with my car. Don't all wjs have the trans cooler built in the radiator? I'd say your more that capable to tow 5000. I'd recommend lt tires.. sway control if it's a travel trailer, electric brakes if possible, and just take it nice and slow.
My hopes were to pull around an 18-22' RV which would likely end up weighing around 4-5k lbs loaded.
After researching online more, I have reduced those hopes to a 16-20' around 3.5/4k lbs loaded.
I'm starting to be concerned that all I should really pull is actually closer to 2000 lbs. Which only allows for a very small trailer.
The trip is 2000 miles each way and relatively flat most of it, but there are some mountains and its 110 degrees out here. If this was just a 20 mile trip, I would be much less concerned.
I'm a bit confused by the fans and tow package(s). I have 4.0 with tow package and seem to just have hydraulic fan. Build sheet lists, AHT: Trailer Tow Group. So all tow packages should have both mechanical/hydraulic ? Mine definitely has 3.73s and 7pin/hitch.
More info for you to mull over: I have 4.7L with factory tow package class IV hitch (includes auxiliary tranny cooler and power steering cooler), load distributing hitch with sway control. Installed electric trailer brake controller. Been occasionally hauling around an RPod for a year now, took a trip through the Sierras and California Coastal Range last July.
RPod RP-189 is 20 ft long, 10 ft tall, and around 4000 lbs loaded. Towing it has not exactly been a pleasant experience, but it got me where I wanted to be without too much trouble. Really dislike driving around 18 wheelers, all the displaced air pushes the trailer around a lot. I installed heavy duty springs to try to help and honestly the handling got worse ... I may be chasing an issue unrelated to towing though, not sure.
Yes it struggles a bit up the grades but not too badly, so positive marks for the 4.7. However not too sure the V8 is happy about it with 200k on the odometer, she smokes a bit on startup now. Spend most of the miles with O/D locked out.
Wjjeeps says a 4.0 is good for up to 5000 lbs, I guess that means you could do it too, although it would be a slower go up and over the mountains.
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Selling my 2004 Scamp Camper - 16 ft Extremely lightweight can be towed with any vehicle only weighs 1600 pounds. In excellent condition no leaks or soft spots whatsoever. Can sleep up to 4 people. Air condition brand new tires a Non-smoker. Price $2,400. Galveston, Texas
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Agree with Austin here. Go salvage one from a wrecking yard. The OEM hitch mount will fit much better. May as well grab the factory 7-pin connector while you are there, too.
Yes. I wish I had done more research before I prepaid for the hitch and install scheduled for tomorrow morning....About $330 installed with ball and everything isn't too bad of a price though. I am concerned it might be lower than I'd prefer since I think it will pop out below the bumper though.
Now if you guys think I'm sacrificing anything more than cost, let me know as I will try to back out of this tomorrow somehow.
Agree with Austin here. Go salvage one from a wrecking yard. The OEM hitch mount will fit much better. May as well grab the factory 7-pin connector while you are there, too.
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