Toad Towing?

[Michael Kauffman]

[size=14]Hello, we are looking to buying a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited for my wife's work car and as our toad.  Does anybody have this set up and if so how do you like it?  Thanks, Mike[/size]

[Jim Felton]

Have a 2006 Grand Cherokee and love it, both as dinghy and road vehicle. Easy to hook up and very dependable. Had a BMW X-5 and sold after purchasing the Jeep for towing.

Jim Felton
2005 Patriot Thunder
Bend, OR

[Gerald Farris]

I have been towing a 2005 Grand Cherokee Limited  for three years and it is a great tow car as well as a great driving car for all conditions and occasions. Remember that only the 4-wheel drive models with a true neutral in the transfer case are towable without modifications.

I am driving one with the 5.7 liter Hemi, and it has an appetite for fuel. I had a 2000 Limited that had 128,000 when I got the 2005. The 2000 had a 4.7 liter that performed very well and it got 2 to 4 MPG better than the 5.7 does. The 5.7 gets about 20 MPG at 60 MPH, 16 MPG at 70-75 MPH, and 13-14 in town.

Gerald  

[Joel Ashley]

I can't speak directly to your question about the Jeep, but regarding fuel mileage, check the differential gearing in the prospective toad also, as well as engine size.  A vehicle meant to tow more, by torque application, will, as a rule of thumb, get worse mileage than a lighter duty rig with the same engine.  For example, a 3.55 axle ratio (capable of 1 axle turn for every 3.55 engine rotations) should provide better light-duty mileage than a 4.10 axle ratio.  

Many people overlook axle ratio when buying an SUV or truck.  You don't want to get stuck with a high axle-ratioed big engine.  If it's to be your wife's everyday car, rarely if ever used to tow a boat or other trailer, a lower axle ratio with a smaller engine might be best, and most mfrs. offer axle options for any one engine.  If you occasionally like power for passing or backwoods adventures, err on the side of a bigger engine and low axle ratio.

Just my 2 cents,
Joel