spearfish1@gmail.com Report post Posted February 15, 2017 We are looking for a vehicle to Tow and are interested in a Grand Cherokee. We are undecided to buy new or used. Can one easily find a used with the appropriate towing package? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blakeloke Report post Posted February 15, 2017 Spearfish, You can find them from time to time in the classified ad section of the monthly FMCA magazine. Are you a member? For example: the November '16 issue has an '07 Grand Cherokee with a Blue Ox set-up for $7,700. Blake Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillAdams Report post Posted February 16, 2017 Just stay away from the 2014 and newer GC. They have an issue with the steering that causes a Death Wobble unless a special kit is installed and installed properly. Costs about $400 if you can find someone who knows what they are doing to do it for you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blakeloke Report post Posted February 16, 2017 Bill, I've only heard of problems with the Cherokee. Not Grand Cherokee. There's a difference. We tow a 2016 Grand Cherokee and never had had a problem. Blake Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spearfish1@gmail.com Report post Posted February 25, 2017 Thank you all for responding to our interest in the GC Jeep for towing behind our Motor Home. The FMCA Magazine,January Issue, notes that the GC requires a Quadra-Trac ll/Quadra-Drive ll and the vehicle needs to be four wheel-drive. Is the towing equipment installed at the factory or can it be added to a used vehicle. Thank You! Rick Barbush in Harrisburg, PA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted February 25, 2017 24 minutes ago, Spearfish said: Thank you all for responding to our interest in the GC Jeep for towing behind our Motor Home. The FMCA Magazine,January Issue, notes that the GC requires a Quadra-Trac ll/Quadra-Drive ll and the vehicle needs to be four wheel-drive. Is the towing equipment installed at the factory or can it be added to a used vehicle. Thank You! Rick Barbush in Harrisburg, PA The towing equipment such as base plate and wiring for lights is aftermarket. I did make it part of the deal when I bought my CR-V. Even then the dealer farmed it out. There should be no difference new or used. Just get the right year base plate. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkreuzen Report post Posted February 26, 2017 On 2/15/2017 at 5:20 PM, BillAdams said: Just stay away from the 2014 and newer GC. They have an issue with the steering that causes a Death Wobble unless a special kit is installed and installed properly. Costs about $400 if you can find someone who knows what they are doing to do it for you. The 2014 Grand Cherokees do not have any towing issues. You may be thinking of a Cherokee. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted February 26, 2017 You are correct and I can't figure why folks get them mixed up? Year after year ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingfr Report post Posted February 26, 2017 Some folks don't know how to read the whole thing, they just see the word Cherokee, and think it applies to both vehicles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaypsmith Report post Posted February 27, 2017 Till I read this post, I didn't realize that Jeep even made a Cherokee, so now I have been enlightened also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingfr Report post Posted February 27, 2017 The Cherokees (not Grand) are basically 2wd and AWD/4WD Fiat suvs that are rebadged as Jeep product, complete with Transverse engines and trans-axles. The 2wd versions are front wheel drive. They are really crossovers rather than true Jeeps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted February 27, 2017 "True Jeep" = Wrangler. I prefer the 2 door, due in part to turn radius...I'm more on 4 x 4 trails, than paved roads.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hermanmullins Report post Posted February 27, 2017 2 hours ago, manholt said: "True Jeep" = Wrangler. I prefer the 2 door, due in part to turn radius...I'm more on 4 x 4 trails, than paved roads.. I understand the desire to go off road. It must be a real rush. Been down that road with fast and loud cars. Now I'm for smooth roads (hard to find) soft seats and Air Conditioning. Besides, the beer stays cooler so it is cool to drank when you arrive. Herman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted February 27, 2017 Well "Dad", when I get to your age , I'll probably do the "soft thing" ! Linda's toad is a nice big Expedition, fully loaded, ice chest of cold beer ! Best of both worlds.. Carl Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingfr Report post Posted February 27, 2017 1 hour ago, hermanmullins said: I understand the desire to go off road. It must be a real rush. Been down that road with fast and loud cars. Now I'm for smooth roads (hard to find) soft seats and Air Conditioning. Besides, the beer stays cooler so it is cool to drank when you arrive. Herman I've owned two Grand Cherokees and two Wrangler Rubicons. The beauty of the Grand Cherokees is that they can be equipped to go everywhere that a "Stock" Wrangler will do and still go down the smooth road and rough roads smoothly. Sort of like Tiffin's "Roughing it Smoothly!" Notice that I said "stock" Wrangler. The beauty of the Wrangler is that you can turn it into anything that you want with aftermarket add on's and mods. In my mind, the best thing would be to own one of each! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrock Report post Posted February 27, 2017 We have a 2012 Grand Cherokee with the select track 2 transfer case just put t case in neutral and it's good to go Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rewillia Report post Posted February 28, 2017 On February 15, 2017 at 7:01 PM, blakeloke said: Bill, I've only heard of problems with the Cherokee. Not Grand Cherokee. There's a difference. We tow a 2016 Grand Cherokee and never had had a problem. Blake Ditto, the wobble as I've read was with the Cherokee and not the Grand Cherokee. We have and flat tow a '16 Grand Cherokee Summit coupled by the Roadmaster Blackhawk II and SMI Air Force I aux. brake controller. With >5k miles in tow thus far, we've not had any issue whatsoever, i.e. flawless. We also purchased the GC as a pre-owned vehicle with 4,900 miles on it, saved $16k vs. the cost of the same exact car brand new, then spent ~$3k having it outfitted with the Blackhawk II, AFI and Guardian Shield. Note: during the processes of installation, we had previously planned to purchase/install and use the Invisibrake but learned from our installation techs at NIRVC that there is/can be an interface problem with the Invisibrake system and the late model Grand Cherokees' wiring hence their recommendation was to go with the SMI Air Force I which we did and have been very pleased with. We also like the small LED lights that come with the AF1 and attaches to the backside of the tow vehicle rear view mirror whereby we can confirm the lights/brake system is activated by simply applying our coach brakes and looking in our rear view camera (thus avoiding the need to run a separate wire from the tow vehicle to the dash of the coach and install an indicator light) Preparing the Grand Cherokee for flat towing is a simple procedure and clearly outlined in the vehicle's owners manual. Takes all of 3-5 mins. and your set to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted February 28, 2017 The AF 1 is one of the best, the other is M&G that I use, for my after market Wrangler, it works the best for me...at 60% of the price! I have had all of them at one time or another! Great buy on your GC!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nelsons1948 Report post Posted September 10, 2017 On 2/28/2017 at 11:05 AM, Rewillia said: Ditto, the wobble as I've read was with the Cherokee and not the Grand Cherokee. We have and flat tow a '16 Grand Cherokee Summit coupled by the Roadmaster Blackhawk II and SMI Air Force I aux. brake controller. With >5k miles in tow thus far, we've not had any issue whatsoever, i.e. flawless. We also purchased the GC as a pre-owned vehicle with 4,900 miles on it, saved $16k vs. the cost of the same exact car brand new, then spent ~$3k having it outfitted with the Blackhawk II, AFI and Guardian Shield. Note: during the processes of installation, we had previously planned to purchase/install and use the Invisibrake but learned from our installation techs at NIRVC that there is/can be an interface problem with the Invisibrake system and the late model Grand Cherokees' wiring hence their recommendation was to go with the SMI Air Force I which we did and have been very pleased with. We also like the small LED lights that come with the AF1 and attaches to the backside of the tow vehicle rear view mirror whereby we can confirm the lights/brake system is activated by simply applying our coach brakes and looking in our rear view camera (thus avoiding the need to run a separate wire from the tow vehicle to the dash of the coach and install an indicator light) Preparing the Grand Cherokee for flat towing is a simple procedure and clearly outlined in the vehicle's owners manual. Takes all of 3-5 mins. and your set to go. Just found this while researching the wobble issue with my 2017 Grand Cherokee TrailHawk... So the issue exists also with the GC. There's a forum on IRV2 concerning this but it's focus was also on the Cherokee which has a TSB issued. Haven't found a fix for the GC yet. I'm towing with a '14 Tiffin Allegro Bus, Demco Dominator tow bar, Blue Ox base plate and Air Force 1. Still looking for a fix. We're Hurricane Irma refugees right now but we'll check with our Jeep dealer when we get back to Florida... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted September 10, 2017 Nelson1948. Welcome to the Forum! Don't know where your at as a refugee and we all feel sad about the prospect of a CAT 3 rolling up the FL peninsula. That said, I would have your GS situation taken care off where your currently at. It will probably be month's before "your Jeep dealer" can look at your Jeep! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nelsons1948 Report post Posted September 10, 2017 13 hours ago, manholt said: Nelson1948. Welcome to the Forum! Don't know where your at as a refugee and we all feel sad about the prospect of a CAT 3 rolling up the FL peninsula. That said, I would have your GS situation taken care off where your currently at. It will probably be month's before "your Jeep dealer" can look at your Jeep! Thanks Manholt... I was thinking it looks like it could be a long drawn out process since it looks like FCA hasn't even acknowledged the issue exists with the Grand Cherokees. The existing TSB addresses the issue with the 2014 - 2016 (KL) Jeep Cherokee, and is dated February 24, 2016 so I reckoned it would be better to corner my local Jeep dealer where I bought it in case some throat grabbing is required. Once I get back down there I'll pretty much be there all winter. In the meantime I'll try the bungee-cord-tied-to-the-steering-wheel solution. I'll be calling the FCA Customer Service line tomorrow just for kicks. (We're on the Georgia/SC border just off I-85 presently) Thanks for your concern! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cwswine Report post Posted September 10, 2017 We just got back from 3600 miles towing a GC without a problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dons2346 Report post Posted September 11, 2017 I just completed a 6,000 mile tow on a '13 WK2 with zero problems Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nelsons1948 Report post Posted September 11, 2017 (edited) Maybe there's something unique with my GC. It's a hemi powered '17 TrailHawk. The wobble seems very similar to the Cherokee - typical scenario is: Sharp left turn from a dead stop, some minor pavement dip or hump (once over a railroad crossing) then immediately after straightening out the wobble starts and the only way to stop it is come to a full stop, then start off again - somewhat annoying to anyone following, I reckon!! I rang up FCA customer assistance today and the nice young lady was very familiar with the issue on the Cherokees. She started a new case for me so I'll letcha all know what happens. Edit: Just heard that FCA made a change to the electric power steering starting with the 2016 GCs, so that might explain why dons2346 doesn't have a problem. What year is yours, cwswine? Edited September 11, 2017 by nelsons1948 updated info Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cwswine Report post Posted September 12, 2017 11 hours ago, nelsons1948 said: Mine is 2017 GC bought in June 2017 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
