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2014-2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee factory towing package question

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15K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  ColdCase  
#1 ·
Thanks for all your time. I have ask at many different dealerships and most have given me different answers so I am just trying to find a consensus.

Does a 2014-2017 Jeep GC that does not have a hitch on it assumed not to have the other extra towing package items like extra cooling for the engine and/or transmission? If I were to put a hitch on a 2014-2017 Jeep GC that did not have the other factory tow package items would there be big differences in its towing capabilities? Is the performance of the factory tow package worth trying to find already in the vehicle vs. just adding a hitch to any of the Jeep GC models?

In 2014-2017 Jeep GCs, did they put extra cooling for the engine and/or the transmission in but not put hitches on them? And if they did how would I know they have the extra cooling?

I have a 2008 Jeep GC limited with a V8 hemi with a factory tow package installed. I haul normally about 4000lbs counting the trailer weight. How do the V6 engines compare to what I have now other then hauling weight difference?
 
#2 ·
It varies from time to time. Are you worried about legal capacity?

V8s usually have HD cooling. V6s usually not unless it is equipped with the tow package. There are option packages besides towing that adds HD cooling I think, like some of the off road packages. HD cooling is a larger radiator and multi speed higher capacity fan. So a dead give away of HD cooling is the bigger fan. SD cooling has a two speed fan. I don’t know off hand how to tell by looking, I’ll have to check some photos.

Just because the Jeep has a hitch doesn’t mean it came from the factory with a tow package, they can be added.

If the Jeep is not prewired for a trailer, the kit is a PITA to install. Compared to your V8, the V6 isn’t going to give you much power for passing slower trafic, and may be a little slow on hills, but otherwise tows fine up to about 5000 pounds of trailer weight. So it depends on how much of a hurry you are in.
 
#4 ·
So to give you a rough idea, these are the owners manual charts for driveline capacity, first for 2014/2015 and then 2016/2017. Its basically the same Jeep drivetrain, but notice how the values were revised.They may have learned something by 2016. The 3.6 should handle 6200 pounds (5000 pounds was for earlier models), trailer brakes are required for a trailers above 2000 pounds, and a load equalization hitch is recommended for more than 3000 pounds. Dunno how that compares to your 2008.

So you should be OK regardless, just keep an eye on temperatures and perhaps add an aux transmission cooler if towing on hilly roads. And again, the hitch is simple but its the trailer lights and brake controller wire harness to look out for. Some came preinstalled, many not. You'd need to look for the connector tucked under the rear bumper to be sure.

Overlands and Summits have HD cooling as standard, I think they also have the trailer tow group standard.
 

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