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Towing Capacity (HD cooling option)

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4.5K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  ColdCase  
#1 ·
I just purchased a 2020 Trailhawk with the 5.7L option. The manual states that unless it has the HD cooling option the towing is limited to #5000. I have looked at my door sticker and haven't been able to see anything related to towing capacity. The window sticker doesn't list out a HD cooling option either. The confusing part is that when I go to the jeep.com site and build up a custom Trailhawk, I can't find HD cooling in any of the available options.


2 questions: Anyone know if it is standard on the Trailhawk, and if not, can I have the deal add that option?


I am wanting to tow a boat that weighs about 5,400 loaded so I think I am ok with wind resistance. It's more of a question of heating up the transmission.


Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
 
#3 ·
HD cooling would include a larger radiator, as well as a transmission cooler if I'm not mistaken. The transmission cooler they're referring to is inside the radiator though so not nearly as much cooling as one would think. Having an external auxiliary cooler added is a must if you are going to be towing, regardless of which automatic transmission you have, heat kills them quicker than anything.

I see nothing on the build site or in the specs even referencing an HD cooling package. Normally if you order a vehicle with the tow package it should come with the HD cooling package, but not always. I'd check with the dealer...possibly input your VIN into a decoder (https://www.farkistan.org/votsws.php) this will let you view the build sheet on your vehicle which will tell you if it has the HD cooling installed.
 
#5 ·
If the build sheet is showing the HD cooling you are good to go. I wish other automakers had a site like that to view your build sheet, so glad Jeep does, its quite helpful, especially on older models where you have no idea what it came with since you are most likely buying from a 2nd or 3rd owner in many cases. That build sheet is what told me that my current Grand Cherokee has the rear factory limited slip....the dealership I got it from just listed it as a Laredo...its actually an SE LOL...oh well saved me a bit of money HAHA!!
 
#7 ·
Yeah, if it came from the factory with a tow hitch it has the factory tow package which includes HD cooling and trailer wiring along with the hitch. Sometimes HD cooling is not listed separately.

There are two types of radiator fans, the base two speed with relay control, and a larger viable speed controlled by the PCM via a PWM signal. On a V8, HD cooling is a higher capacity variable fan. Everything else is the same, same transmission cooler and radiator. The rear shocks are different if you don't have QL (the TrailHawk is standard with QL) There was a time that they put a V8 radiator in V6s, but I don't think they do that currently. Those that don't like how high the transmission temperature gets when towing heavy add an aux transmission cooler (5400 pounds is not that heavy but you may have wind drag). The transmission is sensitive to oil level, so you'll have to add a bit of fluid to compensate.

The door sticker isn't going to give you tow capacity. Unlike most trucks, if you try to correlate door sticker GVR with tow capacity you will find the numbers don't add up, they derate the WK2. The best place to get the rated tow capacity and constraints is from the owners manual.
 
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