Towing a 2011 Jeep Grande Cherokee

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

GandLW

Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Posts
18
I am just getting back into RVing, trying to become a Snowbird.  We are looking at purchasing a Winnebago Aspect 30 or Access 31.  We would be towing a Jeep Grande CHEROKEE.  The instructions for towing include disconnecting the negative battery cable. How will this impact brakes, light, etc.?  I'd there a specific tow package and/or brake package I should be looking for?  Also if you have any advice on which class C would be better I would appreciate the feedback.
 
While towing the lights should be powered from the motorhome, not the car. An aux brake system, however, probably will need 12v power. You can install a 12v outlet hooked direct to the Cherokee's battery, or provide for an auxiliary power circuit from the motorhome.

Most people install a disconnect switch on the battery cable rather than physically disconnecting it each time. Some of them even have a remote control so it can be done fro the driver seat.
 
Please check your hitch capacity and your vehicle weight. If you have a 5000# limit hitch on those models, which I suspect you might,  and that Cherokee is pushing 5000#' like I think it does, you are at the upper limit.

That SUV weight is why I didn't pull my 4Runner and tow the Honda Accord instead.
 
I believe the 2011 Jeep Grande Cherokee Overland has a weight (not GVRW) of 3700#. Please let me know if I have this wrong.  The GVRW is 6500#.  I believe I am safe in pulling this behind a class C that permits 5000# trailer weight.
 
I don't think I would be as concerned about pulling it, even at almost 90% of the hitch rating, as much as I would worry about stopping it, when the ratio of the towed weight to the towing vehicles weight is so high.

My ratio is almost 10 to 1, towing vehicle loaded to towed weight. Do you know what yours will be?
 
We had a 2011 GC which we towed for about 12,000 miles.

The towing set up instruction were changed to make the battery disconnect unnecessary.

If you Google 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owners Manual, you will find a number of place where you can download (free) the updated owners manual with the corrected instructions.

This is even more important to you than for the usual SUV because the battery is very conveniently located under the floor under the passenger seat.

The weight of our 2011 JGC with Quadratrac II 4 WD and off road skid plates was 4524 pounds.
 
Thank you so much for the info on the new manual!  The battery disconnect is no longer part of the procedure as you stated. Does this change the wiring requirements for lights?  Can you tell me what type braking system you used for the Jeep?
 
I have a Ready Brute tow bar with incorporated surge braking system from Ready Brake. Simple, reliable and mechanical. Be concerned about having enough HP to pull the Jeep but but not so much about the ratio of weight of towing vehicle and toad. Anybody concerned about this wouldn't operate on the same highway with 15,000 pound semi tractors pulling 65,000 pound trailers.

Make sure your GC is not AWD if you are going to tow it. You must be able to shift a GC's transfer case into neutral to tow it four down.

Install an entire tail light wiring kit with bulbs separate from the GC's wiring system and operated by the RV. Then, when needed, you can troubleshoot the lighting system with a 9 volt transistor battery rather than taking it to a Jeep mechanic.
 
We use a Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar and a portable or removable Brake Buddy braking system.

Both have been problem free for 7 years and 62,00 miles
 
Thank you all for your help. After more research we are leaning more towards an Allegro 32 CA instead of the Class C. I would assume the advice I have gotten here wouldn't change. Again thank you!


George and Linda Walker
Almost back into RVing!
 
Biggest concern for us was road handling and floor plan. According to everything I had read the Class C has a higher rating for road handling then many of the smaller class A units. The floor plan of the class A is more desirable though. We finally decided on the Tiffin Allegro 32 CA.  It had very high road handling rating probably due to its wheel base to length ratio and the interior seems perfect for us.  We want to be comfortable getting out of winter weather for a few months plus traveling around outside that time period.  We are placing an order today for our new unit!  We are obviously very excited about it.
 
Back
Top Bottom