We are considering purchasing a Jeep Cherokee for flat towing. The dealer recommended the Trailhawk. I need an SUV for business. Does anyone have comments pro or con re the Cherokees? Is there a better SUV option of similar size?

I tow a Jeep Wrangler 1999.That said the dealer recommends the trailhawk because he is probably making more money on it. But I too like the Trailhawk options on the Jeeps.I think most Jeeps through the various models can be towed 4 wheels down the transfer case is what makes some of them not recommended for towing. I think it is the automatic or electronic transfer cases that can not be towed 4 down whereas the manual ones can. i.e. the new Renegade can not be towed 4 down. I do think the Jeep Cherokee is an OK vehicle.But be sure to read the owner's manual about recreational towing not emergency towing there is a difference do not listen to the sales folks on this it would be a shame to get the vehicle home and discover that the vehicle can not be towed 4 down.Good luck with your new Jeep and do hit a few trails or at least some back country roads.JimR

Mr. B.,I, too, liked the Jeep Cherokee as it's towable four wheels down as I'm thinking of changing toads (my sister wants my Honda). I've had two Jeep Grand Cherokee's in the past with less than stellar performance but that was in 1996 and 1999 (both bought new). My thinking was that they have improved quality in that amount of time.Anyway, my direction has been diverted to the Lincoln MKX (the Ford Edge sister). I was hoping the Lincoln MKC was towable but it is not (Ford Escape sister). Other Fords are towable too as many GM vehicles. You can check the towable guide through Motorhome Magazine on the Internet.The only con about the Jeep that I've seen is that there were reports of steering problems when being towed. I'm not sure if that has been corrected or if it was just an isolated incident.Good luck and safe travels,MM.

Most all of GM's SUVs are 4-down towable along with some Ford's. Read Consumer Reports for those that have the better repair and customer satisfaction records. Personally, I love the Grand Cherokee SUV looks, but alas, it's repair records are not all that great. Of course, I've read the same about my Terrain, but I can honestly say that I have not had one problem with it in the past six years and 100K miles. Maybe mine is just an exception to the case.Ron

I have a 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. I replaced a very sexy 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee HEMI Overland for the Trailhawk. I love the GC, but they are so darn heavy and expensive. I like the size, weight, and MPGs on the smaller Trailhawk. No problems at all with it. Easy to park, 3.2 has good performance. All in all, a better choice to tow than the expensive GC.WW

Abqtiger wrote:We are considering purchasing a Jeep Cherokee for flat towing. The dealer recommended the Trailhawk. I need an SUV for business. Does anyone have comments pro or con re the Cherokees? Is there a better SUV option of similar size?be certain that the vehicle can be flat towed. that is not accomplished by asking the sales critter. check the 'Recreational Towing' section of owner's manual for that specific model to be certain. if still unsure contact the manufacturer. next, be aware of the curb weight of the Cherokee. that's the weight of the vehicle with a full tank of gas but otherwise empty.then you need to know just how much weight your MH can safelytow. in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:- the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)- the weight rating of your tow bar- the weight rating of your hitchthis is why it's vital to know what your MH weighs as it is loaded and configure for travel before choosing a toad. Your MH will not collapse if it is overloaded but you will experience handling issues as well as longer braking distances and accelerated wear on suspension, brakes, steering, etc.good luck. jeeps are great!

Flat towing Jeep Cherokee | Good Sam Community

Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2017
Simple Answer:

If you are looking at a Jeep or whatever and it has a transfer case for the four wheel drive and that shifter has a Neutral position. It is almost certainly towable 4-down. That is why they did that. But be cautious, not all Jeeps have a true transfer case. Some Jeeps are full time and some are just a front wheel drive with an added rear drive capability.

Matt
Mondooker
Explorer
Jan 24, 2017
I just got off the phone with the service department and sales department of a local Jeep dealer and found out that the only Cherokee you can 4 down is the TrailHook as its the only one with the 2 speed power transfer unit.

The 2016 Dinghy Guide says the Compass and Patriot can be towed 4 down but the dealer said that is not correct. Maybe its the difference from 2016 to 2017 models?

It's seems like the vehicles you can tow 4 down are becoming fewer and fewer!
BobGed
Explorer
Jan 24, 2017
Mondooker wrote:
I just got off the phone with the service department and sales department of a local Jeep dealer and found out that the only Cherokee you can 4 down is the TrailHook as its the only one with the 2 speed power transfer unit.

The 2016 Dinghy Guide says the Compass and Patriot can be towed 4 down but the dealer said that is not correct. Maybe its the difference from 2016 to 2017 models?

It's seems like the vehicles you can tow 4 down are becoming fewer and fewer!

I think you received some bad information. If I were you I would visit a dealership and ask to see a Latitude or Limited with an AD II transmission. When they show you one, look at the center console and you should see the letter N with a small concave button next to it. Depressing this button with something like a ball point pen will put the transfer case into the neutral mode, which allows the vehicle to be towed four down.

I would then suggest looking in the User Guide for the complete steps to perform to put it into tow mode.

Also be aware that you will need the optional Mopar towed vehicle wiring harness.
Life_is_a_high1
Explorer
Jan 24, 2017
Hello, we are new to RVing and would like opinions on towing a vehicle, tow bars or trailer, any pros or cons would be helpful thanks.
et2
Explorer
Jan 25, 2017
Mondooker wrote:
I just got off the phone with the service department and sales department of a local Jeep dealer and found out that the only Cherokee you can 4 down is the TrailHook as its the only one with the 2 speed power transfer unit.

The 2016 Dinghy Guide says the Compass and Patriot can be towed 4 down but the dealer said that is not correct. Maybe its the difference from 2016 to 2017 models?

It's seems like the vehicles you can tow 4 down are becoming fewer and fewer!

Find another dealer. He's giving you bad information on the Trailhawk. Other models have the active ll transmission. Limited does as standard I believe.
time_to_go_now
Explorer
Jan 25, 2017
The 2015 and 2016 and probably 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk can be flat towed. Make sure you get the correct transfer case. Must have the little button that can be depressed with a ball point pen to the right of the shifter.

But, test drive your car (the one you BUY!) and make sure you like the way the transmission shifts. After more than a dozen visits to the dealer to get the transmission fixed/replaced, Jeep had to buy our 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk back from us.

We bought a 2017 Ford Explorer Sport.

I have ALL the brackets in the boxes in the garage for the Jeep Trailhawk to be flat towed. Never got around to installing them. Let me know if anybody is interested in them,. Would sell for cheap!
BobGed
Explorer
Jan 25, 2017
All Trailhawks come standard with the AD II transmission and a transfer case, so they all can be towed four down.

The transmission issue that plagued earlier year models is no longer a problem with the new Cherokees. FCA put a 2017 transmission in my 2014 Cherokee in December, and it shifts like a charm as it now downshifts to 2nd gear between 8-10 mph.
Executive45
Explorer III
Jan 25, 2017
When speaking with your dealer, show him the video below and ask tell him that is why you want the kit installed....Dennis

Jeep "Death Wobble"
hogcard
Explorer
Jan 26, 2017
Just became class a owners and bought the Jeep Cherokee Limited. It has to be a 4x4 with the active drive train II. My dealer had a bazillion cherokees on the lot and none of them had the transmission option. Had to look around and find one.
Tripalot
Explorer
Jan 27, 2017
hogcard wrote:
Just became class a owners and bought the Jeep Cherokee Limited. It has to be a 4x4 with the active drive train II. My dealer had a bazillion cherokees on the lot and none of them had the transmission option. Had to look around and find one.

I'll vouch that this info is correct. We went to the dealer to buy a Cherokee Limited 4x4 and none of the vehicles on the lot had Active Drive II. They did however have a Trailhawk 4X4 that came with the Active Drive II as standard. The dealer did not offer to find us a suitable Limited vehicle, but up-sold us the Trailhawk - supposedly for a v.g. price. Ha! Only drawback that I can see is T.H. weighs more probably because of the larger, heavier tires. We are pleased with the vehicle but have not towed it yet.

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