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cherokees towing power

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Old 08-23-2012 | 07:14 PM
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Default cherokees towing power

so iv decided i need a new DD as much as i love my built xj im fixing it way to often and left without a vehicle for too many days outta the year. thus leading to my question i wanna take project white ninja off the road and leave it as a trail only rig so i need a tow rig, id prefer to get another xj as my DD/tow rig bc i know them inside and out n can get one cheap and fix it to running order. my question does an xj have the power to tow around another built xj? only times it will be used to tow is to tow the built xj. who here has any experience using an xj too tow? all advice/experiences/opinions would be greatfull.

if im in the wrong section here mods feel free to move this thread.

thanks -Ethan
Old 08-23-2012 | 07:48 PM
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Probably....http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...80&bih=158#p=0 sorry, no personal experience, but I'm pretty sure jeeps have a 500/5000 towing cap...
Old 08-23-2012 | 07:50 PM
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well based on the amount of pics id say im not the first one to use an xj to tow an xj!! haha thanks man.
Old 08-23-2012 | 08:23 PM
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Welcome.. Like I said, PRETTY SURE you've got a 500lb tongue weight and 5000lb towing weight.
Old 08-23-2012 | 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by VTJeep
Welcome.. Like I said, PRETTY SURE you've got a 500lb tongue weight and 5000lb towing weight.
Excuse me but tongue weight?
Old 08-23-2012 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by clayton3854

Excuse me but tongue weight?
There's no excuse for you!! Haha jk!! http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-p...gue-weight.htm
Old 08-23-2012 | 09:08 PM
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Originally Posted by clayton3854
Excuse me but tongue weight?
The weight that can be put directly of your hitch bar/tongue. The XJ is rated for 5000 lbs IF you use a load distributing rig on the trailer ortherwise it is less. It should be marked on the hitch.
As a side note to hauling stuff, I have a 2009 Santa Fe and a 2001 Cherokee and 4 trailers of some sort. The Cherokee is great as a hauler and more comfortable hauling than the Santa Fe (rated for 3500 lbs) BUT when it comes to braking with a large load that doesn't have brakes ... plan ahead! Depending on your tires and it is wet plan ahead!
Old 08-23-2012 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Sails
The weight that can be put directly of your hitch bar/tongue. The XJ is rated for 5000 lbs IF you use a load distributing rig on the trailer ortherwise it is less. It should be marked on the hitch.
As a side note to hauling stuff, I have a 2009 Santa Fe and a 2001 Cherokee and 4 trailers of some sort. The Cherokee is great as a hauler and more comfortable hauling than the Santa Fe (rated for 3500 lbs) BUT when it comes to braking with a large load that doesn't have brakes ... plan ahead! Depending on your tires and it is wet plan ahead!
So keep it stock with good street tires or all terrains if i will be using it to tow basically. Lifting it will only compromise braking? New to the towing scene. Wanna make sure in ready for it.
Old 08-23-2012 | 09:46 PM
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From my personal experience of towing with the factory tow option. You NEED a good cooling system as well as a transmission cooler, I need a bigger cooler because the stock one is pretty useless. Also I would like to get atleast new shoes and pads. And maybe even swapping out my brake booster. The jeep, or well mine, sucks at braking with a trailer while going down a hill. After that is should do fine and you'll look pretty cool towing a built xj with a stock xj hah
Old 08-23-2012 | 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by clayton3854
Excuse me but tongue weight?
I've had good luck getting decent advice, and good/well priced products from ETRAILER.COM

For Towing, try this link: http://www.etrailer.com/maindept-Towing.aspx

Below their product categories, they have "Articles about Trailer Hitch" I couple good ones there...one about "how to tow a trailer" one about tounge weight...one even specific to Jeep Wranglers.

Good Luck, and HAVE FUN!
Old 08-23-2012 | 10:13 PM
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I towed Suburbans and Expeditions by my 97 XJ MT 4x4, but it is not safe.
Durango is much better.
Old 08-23-2012 | 10:16 PM
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Hauling any more than a 4 wheeler or two on a utility trailer behind an XJ is just silly...

If you MUST tow more than that your trailer NEEDS to have brakes. It's just dangerous any other way.

Last edited by Lowrange2; 08-23-2012 at 10:19 PM.
Old 08-23-2012 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by clayton3854
So keep it stock with good street tires or all terrains if i will be using it to tow basically. Lifting it will only compromise braking?
I don't know that lifting will compromise braking, it will change the dynamic of the trailer, up/down and clearance. Good tires are a given and if the trailer doesn;t have brakes ... plan ahead!
A Cherokee weighs roughly 3300 pounds and the brakes are designed for that, add 1 1/2 times its weight and you have an 8300 pound package!
So figure what the brakes need to do to stop something that is about 2 1/2 times heavier than what it was designed for.
Depending on where you are hauling all the cooling and transmission information will be very important.
Old 08-23-2012 | 10:32 PM
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Of course lifting it reduces braking power... The center of the wheel is farther from the ground.

Lever...



Same concept.
Old 08-23-2012 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by lowrange2
Of course lifting it reduces braking power... The center of the wheel is farther from the ground.

Lever...



Same concept.
That is pretty amazing in nine minutes!!!! Nice job!



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