Trailer weight distribution demonstration

Higher mileage Jeeps are also know for the "Jeep death shake/weave" on their own, even without a trailer. Not a good choice unless worn suspension bits are replaced.
Yes, we owned a 1998 Cherokee Sport for a couple years, lots of bottom bits were replaced.
High CG, tall tires, worn bits, shortish wheel base for its height.

A good tow vehicle should be sorta heavy, long, low (think 60's & 70's US station wagons). Yes, other vehicles can tow (I crewed, about 1979, driving a VW Beetle towing a plywood ASW-15 trailer, it had a hard time doing 55MPH on flat ground.....empty!), but some vehicles have an easier time with ANY trailer.

Is there much point in comparing worn out cars? In my case the boxy '87 Cherokee was bought new, and its first road trip was a 4-day drive to pick up an LS4.
Took a lot of messing around with the trailer and car to find the real fix.
Jim

On Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 9:33:32 AM UTC-5, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
Higher mileage Jeeps are also know for the "Jeep death shake/weave" on their own, even without a trailer. Not a good choice unless worn suspension bits are replaced.
Yes, we owned a 1998 Cherokee Sport for a couple years, lots of bottom bits were replaced.
High CG, tall tires, worn bits, shortish wheel base for its height.

You can tow with a Jeep Cherokee, but you have to have everything setup correctly: upmarket tires at max PSI, air shocks on rear axle, proper tongue weight, trailer tires at correct pressure and type. With that, my old 1997 Cherokee Sport with 230K miles tows fine up to 70 mph (15m Cobra with trailer tires). But it took a while to sort it out! (and the brakes are marginal going down long hills...)

But a longbed pickup - or an RV? Can't even tell there is a trailer behind....

Now when you have to pull that trailer out of the middle of a huge disced field in the middle of nowhere at 2 AM - that 4WD Cherokee is nice to have around, warts and all. Which is why it's still in my garage.

Horses for courses, is the saying I believe.

Kirk
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