2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude Dingy tow?

wrc wrote:
Susan,

Just wanted to see if you would verify what I think I'm seeing about towing a 2014 cherokee.

Don't need to leave the electronics active, i.e. when you are done with putting the transmission in the "tow neutral" everything gets turned off in the car, your not in accessory mode.

The steering wheel does not lock

You don't need to leave the fob in the car when towing

The odometer does not get miles when towing.

There is something about checking that the parking break is off.

Also, would you be willing to share your checklist for getting things ready to tow?

Thank you so much,

Bill

Since it's been some time from the last poster.

The power is not to be left on. Shut it down completely.

The steering will will not lock - don't worry about that

The fob is not left in the car - take it with you.

Miles will not be recorded.

Some people set the parking brake to make sure the car doesn't roll. Make sure you shut it back off. It will set itself automatically if the door is open and the engine is started and not in park - safety feature. Sometimes you don't realize it sets itself. Beware of this.

This is of course only if you have the active II power-train. It has the little neutral button next to the shifter.

I try to hook the toad to the motorhome before disconnecting the trans, that way I don't have to worry about the parking brake or the car rolling. The just go through the process to disconnect the jeeps trans. Drive away slow having the arms click into position on the tow bar and verify the wheels are turning ( spotter needed).

Susan,

Just wanted to see if you would verify what I think I'm seeing about towing a 2014 cherokee.

Don't need to leave the electronics active, i.e. when you are done with putting the transmission in the "tow neutral" everything gets turned off in the car, your not in accessory mode.

The steering wheel does not lock

You don't need to leave the fob in the car when towing

The odometer does not get miles when towing.

There is something about checking that the parking break is off.

Also, would you be willing to share your checklist for getting things ready to tow?

Thank you so much,

Bill

We have the 2014 Cherokee Limited (4WD and ActiveDrive II) and love it.

Two things that were not clear in the towing instructions that caused me problems at first:

1) To get into 4wd neutral, you have the engine off but the ignition switch in the On/Run position. Instructions don't say that to get that, if you have the keyless ignition, you need press the start button TWICE (not just once) with foot off the brake to get there.

2.) In some circumstances, the car will automatically put on the electronic parking brake, locking the rear wheels if you don't catch it. It appears if you leave the door open for air in the hot weather, then when you start the engine again (after putting the 4wd in neutral) to go into park, it sets the parking brake. If you then just turn the engine off, after a short period, the parking brake light goes off and you don't realize it is set.

This auto setting of the parking brake is mentioned in the full manual (look up "Safehold" in the manual), but not in the towing instructions.

And other information seems inconsistent to me, as the parking brake section says you can only turn off the park brake with the your foot on the brake and the engine on. I don't think the engine need to be on though, and that conflicts with the towing instructions.

I try not to use the parking brake when setting up for towing. We don't follow the towing instructions completely as we hook up the car first, then put it in 4wd neutral. We often need to move it a little bit to get it close enough. (And I don't understand where the towing instructions that to put the "transmission in reverse and check there is no movement" as if you on an uphill slope, it will move if not connected to the motorhome.)

Now that I understand these, it is really easy to set up. I do use my Word Check Sheet with the towing procedure from the manual each time just to make sure I don't miss anything.

Susan

My 2014 jeep cherokee trailhawk does not have a steering wheel lock. Just hook up,put in neutral and go.

Is there anything you have to do to your LAtitude to unlock the steering wheel or keep your battery from running down while towing?

Thank you to all who responded, I feel confident towing this vehicle now.

Bill

I have the 2014 latitude 4x4 with active II drive et2 is right need the neutral button the book tells you how to tow 4 wheel down. tow's great

You need the Active II drive train. If it doesn't have a small neutral button next to the selector on the console it isn't Active II.

Other than that it tows great.

Hi Bill,

We have a 2014 Jeep limited and love it. It tows great, super easy to setup for towing. I feel this is a "do it all" vehicle. You must get the 4wd with 2 speed transfer cases in order to tow. We have towed the Jeep from Vermont and are now in the Upper Peninsula of MI. We are fulltiming and plan to put many miles on it.

Stuart

Is it a 4WD model? If so it can be towed 4 down provided it has the 2 speed transfer case (high and low range). Single speed 4WD drive models are not towable except on a trailer. If it's a FWD model it can only be towed on a Dolly. This is right out of the owners manual under "Recreational Towing".

Good luck...