Need help!-Towing capacity

[tlhdoc]

geraldgrogan congratulations on the impending birth!
 
Can you give us more detail of the problem when towing the PU?
 
As for a vehicle that has more seating capacity and can tow, have you considered a full size van?  A friend of mine tows with an older Chevy conversion nicknamed the "MOOSE", because of its size.  Plenty of room for kids/babies and all of their stuff.

[dthurk]

I think I've seen some ads on TV (television, that is) that show a new model of Jeep that is a 7 passenger model.  Don't have any information on it, but the Grand Cherokee and the Liberty models are both rated at 5,000 lbs.  I would think this newer model would have a similar capacity.

[copcarguy]

HMMMM! His Cherokee is a '96. That search only goes back to '99.
 
He can search here but he has to click on his particular model vehicle.
http://research.cars.com/go/crp/features.jsp?year=1996&makeid=23&modelid=244&myid=2289&defaultSelection=true&logtype=7&aff=national
 
I think that he may be surprised to find out that his 4 wheel drive vehicle has a substantially lower towing capacity.
 
For instance the 4x4 2dr SE is:
Max trailer weight 1,000 lbs.

Hey wavery - if you re-click on that link, and read the entire webpage, you'll see that they have the information for PRE-99's available if you email them.

[wavery]

Hey wavery - if you re-click on that link, and read the entire webpage, you'll see that they have the information for PRE-99's available if you email them.

I saw that . Just thought that one would be easier than emailing and waiting for a reply.

[geraldgrogan]

As I was attempting to see exactly what the towing capacity and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight rating?) is for this Jeep (using http://research.cars.com/ ).
 
I always have the same issue when looking up this Jeep.  The Jeep is built in 1995.  It is not the sport model nor the Country nor the SE model.  It is 4WD however.  All I know is that it has the 4.0 engine and is fairly stripped down.
 
I found it hard to believe that this vehicle is rated for 4900 lbs towing capacity as mentioned on cars.com.

Just to double check I searched and I found the following information on my Jeep (it's a 1995 not 1996).

http://www.internetautoguide.com/car-specifications/09-int/1995/jeep/cherokee/index.html

Weights:
gross vehicle weight rating (kg) 2,064 (4,550 lbs)
and curb weight (kg) 1,305 (2877 lbs)

When pulling the trailer on the open highway for over an hour or more I notice the console (directly above the trany) getting fairly warm to the touch.  Given that my Jeep has all dummy gages, I wouldn't know the temp of the engine or the trany  :screwy: .

Other symptoms I notice are that when the Jeep and the PU Trailer are fully loaded the Jeep rear end sits very low to the ground and sags substantially (large front storage box causes too much tongue weight I imagine).  I am wondering if a new set of heavy duty shocks with perhaps a stabilizer bar in the back would do the trick.  I get a steady shimmy as I go down the expressway at 65 mph.  As others have said, it is 'white knuckles the entire way'

I am not sure this Jeep (with 140,500 miles) is worth the trouble to put in these added upgrades, however I wanted to make sure I understood the problems before I ran out and purchased another TV, and possibly ended up with the very same issues.

With the details for GVWR shown above, what would that mean the maximum trailer weight should be for this Jeep?  :confused:

[dthurk]

As I was attempting to see exactly what the towing capacity and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight rating?) is for this Jeep (using http://research.cars.com/ ).
 

Weights:
gross vehicle weight rating (kg) 2,064 (4,550 lbs)
and curb weight (kg) 1,305 (2877 lbs)

I'm responding to geraldgrogan's message, deleting most of your message to save space.  The first link I clicked on came up Dodge Grand Caravan with my zip code.  Didn't give me any usable information.  The second was on a Jeep, but didn't see anything on towing.

We own a 2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo with the inline 4.0L 6 cylinder engine.  The tow numbers are similar to the current Jeep Liberty model which might be comparable to the Cherokee.  I will give you numbers for my vehicle from our owners manual in hopes it may help some.  
All weights are in pounds.
Weight on registration  FWIW:   3880
Front axle: 2750
Rear axle: 2950
GVWR Jeep: 5400
Tow capacity with class III hitch:  5000
Max tongue weight: 750
GCWR  9550  
I find no VWR (empty weight) numbers for the Jeep, niether on the vehicle or in the manual.  Without this number, it's difficult to compute cargo capacity.

GVWR of our camper: 2440  We normally tow at 2140
Our actual GCWR: 6200

Hope this might help in your situation.  Your GVWR is a bit lower than mine.  I'd think the other numbers would be proportionally lower.  I know the reality might be different.  What I got here is the best I can do to help you out.  In the end, you might want to consult a Jeep dealer.  They should be able to get accurate numbers for any model produced.

You may consider adding a transmission cooler to your list of upgrades.  The rear end of our Jeep also shows a dip when towing.  Because of this, we do not tow in 4WD.  

Most Minivans without factory tow packages are only rated at about 2000 lbs.  Minivans don't usually make good tow vehicles.

[wavery]

Check the link that copcarguy gave you:
http://research.cars.com/go/crp/fea...=7&aff=national

You can email them your 13 digit V.I.N. # and they will email your specs.

I noticed that the '95 has leaf springs in the rear (didn't notice '96). That could make the difference in towing capacity. If you're sagging, you could add a leaf to your springs or simply add a set of air shocks:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/80-96-FORD-Tr-JEEP-NEW-AIR-SHOCKS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33590QQitemZ8027448067QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

http://www.racepages.com/brands/buy.php?part_name=shock_absorber&brand=monroe&make=jeep&model=cherokee&year=1995

If you install air shocks, just pull into a gas station after you load your trailer, and fill them with air until your vehicle is level. After you return, let the air out to return your normal vehicle height. They work great.

Remember, the biggest issue with towing capacity is stopping distance. The GVW has little to do with towing capacity. In some cases, it can make towing more difficult because the engine and trans is moving the total package. The more weight that they have to move, the less efficient the engine and trans become.

If/when you ad the trans cooler, it is simple to add a temp gage at the same time. Just make sure that you install the sending unit in the line that is moving fluid from the trans to the cooler. That will give you the temp of the fluid after it goes through the trans.

An aftermarket temp gage is also easy to install and relatively inexpensive.

[NIAGARA05]

I work ford a Ford dealer and the most when properly equiped is 3500 lbs. and no more than that.  If you want to tow more than I would look at getting some type of SUV that can handle that.  The small suv's like escapes and crv the most om almost all off these is no more than 3500 lbs. max if that.  My 03 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0l V6 4x4 can tow 5080 lbs when equiped with tow package and weight distribution..  My 05 Explorer 4dr 4.6l V8 4X4 with weight distribution can tow 7100 LBS with tow package.  I find that suv with fullframes and that are rear wheel tow can tow the best unless you want to buy a big truck.  We have a 05 Fleetwood Niagara which weighs around 3800 lbs loaded.

Hope this helps

Mark '74
Susan '78

[copcarguy]

Hey all!

You can check Trailer Life's tow rating guides here http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=42175 broken down for each engine/ tranny/ gear ratio combo.

[beacher]

Model - Tow Rating

Windstar Van 3.8L V-6 - 2,000
Windstar Wagon 3.8L V-6 -  2,000
Windstar Wagon 3.8L V-6 - 3,500*
*Requires Class II Trailer Tow Package.

This is from the Trailer Life Website , assuming your Windstar is a 2003 model.