Jeep Cherokee as a tow vehicle?

[Ken Ward]

Wondering if anyone has experience towing glider trailers with this?
It's a '91 with the 4.0 FI V6, class 3 towing package.

Thanks,
Ken

[Jay]

Ken,

I have a '94 Cherokee that I use as a tow/recovery vehicle. I think the
biggest issue is what are you planning on towing? I have a PIK-20 that
tows well behind the Cherokee but I would hesitate to use it for towing
a two place glider or one of the older really heavy single place. Not
so much for towing on the road but because it would be pretty light as
a recovery vehicle.

Jay


Ken Ward wrote:
> Wondering if anyone has experience towing glider trailers with this?
> It's a '91 with the 4.0 FI V6, class 3 towing package.
>
> Thanks,
> Ken

[JS]

Used to tow with an 86 Cherokee 4.0 automatic, a few HP less than the
91.
Even when it was new, it wasn't great at cruising above about 60 until
I installed some decent shocks. Think they were Monroe "Gas Magnum".
The ride suffered a bit, but cushy ride wasn't what the vehicle was
for. Fuel economy was 19 or 20 MPG with or without trailer.
The shocks upped the stable cruise speed to 70 or 75.
I think with the firmer shocks and good brakes on car and trailer it
would be OK with open class or two place. But then I have towed open
class with a Subaru Outback. It does as well as a Chevy Tahoe except
for getting in to 4-wheel-drive-access landing fields
Jim

[Bill Daniels]

"JS" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Used to tow with an 86 Cherokee 4.0 automatic, a few HP less than the
> 91.
> Even when it was new, it wasn't great at cruising above about 60 until
> I installed some decent shocks. Think they were Monroe "Gas Magnum".
> The ride suffered a bit, but cushy ride wasn't what the vehicle was
> for. Fuel economy was 19 or 20 MPG with or without trailer.
> The shocks upped the stable cruise speed to 70 or 75.
> I think with the firmer shocks and good brakes on car and trailer it
> would be OK with open class or two place. But then I have towed open
> class with a Subaru Outback. It does as well as a Chevy Tahoe except
> for getting in to 4-wheel-drive-access landing fields
> Jim
>

So tell me about the Suburu. What sort of milage?

BTW, I have a '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a V8 that has towed 1 & 2 place
gliders for 250,000 miles - still going strong. 19 MPG with trailer and 24
MPG without. Jeeps are brutally rugged if given reasonable care. However
the short wheelbase, high CG and tall sidewall tires make them prone to
'directional instability' with a trailer in tow. Best keep them under 65
MPH.

Bill Daniels

[dave r.]

A bit too short of wheel based for the perfect tow vehicle. My six year old
Cherokee with a less that optimal trailer setup gets wagged by the trailer
at higher speeds when the trailer gets bumped by air or bad road or such.
I'm sure that stiffer trailer tires, better jeep shocks and moving the axle
back would help a bit.

Plenty of power, but a longer wheelbase would be nice.

"Ken Ward" > wrote in message
...
> Wondering if anyone has experience towing glider trailers with this?
> It's a '91 with the 4.0 FI V6, class 3 towing package.
>
> Thanks,
> Ken