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Posts: 44
| Hey guys, I am looking to purchase a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee limited w/ a V6 3.6 lit 4+4 to pull our aluminum Ranger Cherokee w/ 90 hp Yami . My question is, do any of you fellow Musky hunters use this vehicle to pull your rig, and what do you think of the vehicle and it’s towing abilities. I am just wondering if I would need a V8 to pull this rig....it is lighter being alum and all.... any advice would be much appreciated or other recommendations on trucks. This vehicle will also be used for everyday use. Tight lines buys |
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Posts: 199
| Can it tow it? Sure. Will it tow it well? No. |
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Posts: 44
| Any recommendations? Do you think I need a V8? My boat is aluminum so it’s not that heavy. I just don’t know much about this stuff.... |
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Location: Ashland WI | goose - 5/21/2020 1:36 PM
Any recommendations? Do you think I need a V8? My boat is aluminum so it’s not that heavy. I just don’t know much about this stuff....
I towed a Tuffy Esox ltd with a 6 cylinder Jeep. I think the total weight (estimated) of boat, trailer, motor, gear was around 1500. It towed it, but struggled a bit up steep hills.
Now I tow a heavier boat with a Yukon and can hardly tell its there.
If you plan on doing a lot of towing for longer distances, I would definitely get a full size truck/SUV. If mostly short runs, you would likely be fine with the Jeep. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | Yeah a full size truck is better if you are towing a lot. The amount I tow, I'm sure I would burn up anything less than a half ton truck. |
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Location: oswego, il | 3.6, 36 valve, 285hp@6400 and 260ft-lbs@4800 and a 6200lb towing capacity. 21mpg on the hwy. It will do it, gas mileage won't be much better than a 5.3 Chevy. It will labor some on hills and off the line. Another thing to look at is the brakes it you don't have them on your trailer. Look at the rotor and caliper size. Another thing to consider, where are you going on long trips? Short trips? Duluth, MN for example will tax the power train going north and the brakes on the way south. I had a brake fire once coming back through Duluth.
Edited by ToddM 5/21/2020 4:47 PM
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Location: Aurora IL | I have the same jeep and tow an Alumacraft 175 Navigator with a 115, loaded with gear with no problem. Would a larger vehicle be better? sure but have never had a problem and I do go up and down the Duluth hills 2 or 3 times a year. Put about 3000 miles a year on it towing and love the jeep. I also use it for towing boats at work, including pontoon boats and 20 ft fiberglass bowriders. I'm on my 4th grand Cherokee and all were towing with over 100K on odometers. |
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Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | My wife has a 2015 limited 4x4 v6 and we have towed the boat with it a lot. No issues. It currently has 55k on the odometer. It does get pushed around in the wind more than my 2020 ram, but that is to be expected. I would suggest a trailer hitch tightener as the receiver rattles at every bump and i can hear it in the cab. $20 on amazon and makes it as quiet as my truck. |
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Location: Elk River, Minnesota | ToddM - 5/21/2020 4:46 PM
3.6, 36 valve, 285hp@6400 and 260ft-lbs@4800 and a 6200lb towing capacity. 21mpg on the hwy. It will do it, gas mileage won't be much better than a 5.3 Chevy. It will labor some on hills and off the line. Another thing to look at is the brakes it you don't have them on your trailer. Look at the rotor and caliper size. Another thing to consider, where are you going on long trips? Short trips? Duluth, MN for example will tax the power train going north and the brakes on the way south. I had a brake fire once coming back through Duluth.
This...
It's got the power to do it, the capacity to tow your rig, and Todd is right here....the big thing isn't going to be the pulling capability, but stopping is something to consider as well...
Big thing in towing is keeping a transmission and brakes cool. Hopefully the vehicle has a transmission cooler on it...that will be a big help. Also, do you happen to know if the vehicle has a trailer setting which if I understand correctly, keeps the vehicle out of overdrive and possibly changes the shift points of the transmission for better acceleration?
Don't be afraid to run your engine over 3000 RPM in a lower gear going uphill or downhill. Those rpms help keep fluids running through the coolers, and downshifting if need be going downhill saves your brakes tremendously. you may find at certain times downshifting and keeping it there, although slower overall, will be better overall for the vehicle.
Steve |
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Posts: 1749
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | VMS - 5/22/2020 8:41 AM
This...
It's got the power to do it, the capacity to tow your rig, and Todd is right here....the big thing isn't going to be the pulling capability, but stopping is something to consider as well...
Big thing in towing is keeping a transmission and brakes cool. Hopefully the vehicle has a transmission cooler on it...that will be a big help. Also, do you happen to know if the vehicle has a trailer setting which if I understand correctly, keeps the vehicle out of overdrive and possibly changes the shift points of the transmission for better acceleration?
Don't be afraid to run your engine over 3000 RPM in a lower gear going uphill or downhill. Those rpms help keep fluids running through the coolers, and downshifting if need be going downhill saves your brakes tremendously. you may find at certain times downshifting and keeping it there, although slower overall, will be better overall for the vehicle.
Steve
These jeeps do not have a tow haul mode like a truck typically does, but they do have a trans cooler if you get the factory trailer hitch (formerly referred to as tow package). There is a gear limiter on the steering wheel (paddle shifters) that we utilize when driving in hills or to limit the use of overdrive.
Our limited with 18" wheels has 16" rotors in the front and 15" in the rear. Equivalent to some of the 1/2 ton trucks. This jeep is no slouch in the stopping department or off the line with our boat. Turn off eco mode which controls the VVT and the vehicle tows very well even in hills. |
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Location: oswego, il | One other thing to consider when buying a Jeep, look underneath them. They are notorious for rusting bad. I have driven two hemi versions of this jeep. They have big brakes and big power and work very well. Thank God my one buddy is a last second braker even with his big boat. If the brakes are anything like those you will have good brakes. I have an old cherry suburban it doesn't have big brakes and my boat pushes it. Add the big weight of the vehicle, coming south through Duluth I can only go 35 and I have to manage and pump the brakes the whole way.. if didn't I would be a runaway train 70mph plus the whole way. Speed limit is 45 I can't manage that speed without a fire. Other option is adding brakes to the boat trailer.
Edited by ToddM 5/23/2020 10:09 AM
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Posts: 1373
| Not really relevant because this is old, but this thread brought back good memories. Dug out an old photo from the past. Both the Jeep and boat are 1988 models. Got the Jeep in '92, and the boat in '93. Made a great package for me from '93 to '98, when someone rear ended me on my commute to work, and totaled the Jeep. It had an in-line 4 liter, and transmission cooler. Also was rigged for an RV, with the big RV light plug. Took 4 to 5 fishing trips each year, each were anywhere from 3 to 6 hours from home. Also a couple trips to Devils Lake, which is quite a bit farther. Never had any issues. Really loved that vehicle. Great for hunting, fishing, and camping, yet very nimble in the city. Felt pretty fancy to me at the time too, as it had electric windows, seat adjusters, and mirrors. Also had leather seats and other "fancy" features. Of course I like my modern crew cab pick up even more, now.
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Posts: 44
| Thank you all for all the thoughts on my question. Wishing all of you many big Muskies in 2020 |
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Posts: 612
| I own a 2015 Grand Jeep Cherokee w the upgraded V6 and towing package (enhanced transmission) and build in trailer hitch. Pulls my Lund fine. While driving I hardly know the boat is being towed. Very smooth with no lack of pickup. Also it has the gusto to pull the boat out of questionable muddy launches. Totally happy with the Jeep. |
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Posts: 267
| I tow a 2020 Lund Impact 1775 with a 2019 v6 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited I added a hitch to with zero problems. Would a bigger truck work better? Sure. But, my Cherokee does fine and gets about 17 mpg towing. |
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