Jeep Cherokee wobble while towed

New to this forum, so "hello" and thank you for all your inputs. Regarding the 2014/2015 Jeep Cherokee wobble behind the motorhome, I, too, have experienced this on three different occasions. In searching for answers, I have found more than 20 other owners who also have experienced this problem. They drive different motor coaches, use different brands of tow equipment. The Cherokee is the common denominator. It is very dangerous when it occurs and will not cease unless the rig is brought to a complete stop, which, as you know, is extremely dangerous on highways with traffic. Individual owners have tried many various fixes, most of which were mentioned in this thread, but to no avail. This is a real problem. One owner had his wife drive behind him and use her cell phone to record the wobble. We have posted complaints with the NTSB. Chrysler won't acknowledge the problem because the dealers can't duplicate the issue. The video clearly solves that problem. For those of you have this model Cherokee and have not experienced this wobble, if it happens to you bring the vehicle to a complete stop as fast and safely as possible. Slowing down will not eliminate the wobble. For those of you thinking about buying a new/used Cherokee to flat tow, I suggest you watch the video before making a decision to purchase. This problem has surfaced on vehicles with little lmileage to those with more than 15,000 miles.

If it's possible to post a video here, I would be glad to upload it. The owner posted it on You Tube. Just go there and search "Jeep Flat Tow."

This problem is older than Methuselah for some towing situations. Some would tow a certain vehicle and never have a problem, while others towing the same vehicle have nothing but problems. This is not limited to Jeeps by the way. Front end alignment is one of the keys to this. All alignment specifications must be on the money with an increase in the castor angle of between 1 and 2 degrees.
The problem mentioned by one poster about the tow bar points out the need for that equipment to be in top shape and inspected by knowledgeable technicians. Over the past years the Jeep vehicles have been so easy to tow that it is hard for me to believe that all of a sudden their vehicles won't tow properly.

No, RJ, I'm actually on the other side of that issue. Do the test I described and be sure the tow bar is NOT the problem. We see cases once in awhile where the tow bar didn't stay locked. Certainly not 1 in 100, probably not even 1 in 1000 but it can sure happen. "Jeep" (whoever that is, dealer, factory rep etc etc) is going to blame the tow bar. Or anything else non-Jeep. "Jeep" is going to stonewall. But there's no need to run off blaming BlueOx, Roadmaster, et al.

Search "Death Wobble" and see lots of explanations, solutions, and references to Jeeps (mostly the beloved Wranglers). There's also a reference to RAM Trucks, and I believe I read where there's a Ford pickup with oscillation Ford had tried to address and couldn't fix.

Company I worked for had an old Ford van that I drove a fair amount over a month or so. It'd get to wobbling, usually after crossing a railroad track or something else rough. It'd feel like it wanted to take the steering wheel away from me, shook and gyrated until I stopped or came to a near stop. Then OK till something set it off again. I suspect that in the van's case most of the problem was in worn out steering parts, but I can tell you that wobble is real, and scary.

Ok, its all caused from defective tow bars. So do all the defective tow bars come only on the newer Jeep Cherokees ?? Get real, the Cherokee has a problem !

I was thinking how to check the tow bar. One way or another, they telescope to allow hitching, lock to tow, and have releases to allow disconnecting. So if I suspected the locks were not holding, I'd try this:

1. Measure and record the extended/locked length of the two tow bar arms.

2. Hitch up and see that they lock. Confirm he measurement matches 1.

3. Clean the telescoping piece and apply tape (black plastic electrical tape's great for stuff like this) right where it disappears into the fixed piece.

4. Take your trip.

5. On arrival, see if measurement is still like 1.

6. See if the tape has slid away from where you put it. IF IT HAS, THE TOW BAR LOCKS HAVE NOT HELD FOR AT LEAST PART OF YOUR TRIP. You have identified at least part of your wobble problem.

I used to transfer rental trucks and we used clamp-on tow bars to tow our ride-home vehicles to our destinations. If the tow bar worked loose the toad would hunt back and forth and actually sway violently. You'd think it was going to turn over.

This is surely not relevant to the topic at hand, but, I have 2000 jeep Cherokee sport. Gradually, it started to develop a nasty wobble after certain bumps or certain turns. It has a slight lift kit on it. I tow it behind my rv. Never had it wobble while being towed, thank God. Anyway I put a new steering stabilizer and that stopped the wobble, but, I could feel it wanted to wobble. So I balanced the front tires. Problem solved. I then ruined a tire, the rest were mostly wore out so I bought new. Went from P235 75 r15 goodyear wranglers to 30x9.5 r15LT. Now, no wobble, nice smooth steady ride.

Many more people have towed their Jeep Cherokee without any issues whatsoever, including us. We owned it for two year without any problems. The toad before that was a Jeep Liberty, towed without a issue. Now we have a Grand Cherokee and have no issues either.

That being said there are many people who will blame everything without really knowing what it takes to do it properly. Many different areas to be concerned with. Every bolt from the MH hitch to the base plates must be torqued to specs and rechecked over time. We've found loose ones. The connections and risers or drop hitches and how they are secured. Is a immobilizer being used? If not there is plenty of slop to setup a situation.

Way more people have no issues compared to those who do. That leaves me to believe some peoples setups are very questionable. Many times I've seen ridiculious height differences.

I solved my problem. Took the hit and traded in the 2014 Cherokee Latitude and my beloved '94 Cherokee. Which towed beautifully for many, many years and miles. That is why I purchased the '14. Don't want to and can't take the chance of becoming "one of the few(?)". I would never get the wife in the motor home if it happened once.
Got a back to basics '15 Wrangler Sport. No U-connect (to be hacked) as well as the other electronic stuff that we were less then satisfied with. I am sure I will love it if I ever get the chance to drive it.

yes I am aware, have read some of the complaints about it.

And after my problem that NO one wanted to believe it was the tow bar arm, I've run across many RV'ers that ultimately found it to be in the tow bar arms whether new or not and NOT the toad itself. Most mechanics were positive it had to be in the steering of my MH not the toad or it HAD to be the toad. :R

Just saying it sure doesn't hurt to check the tow bar arms out before OP dumps his toad and takes a bath financially.

If it were the OP I'd invest in a new tow bar which is what I was going to do to prove my point. And the the OP should take the toad out on the road with the new one.

Jeeps are 'very' popular toads so one could point fingers at the brand of toad but I experienced the same thing the OP did and it was one of the arms. just saying.

Many people are obviously not aware of the problems towing some jeep cherokees. No one has figured out why only some have this problem. Most that experience this problem experience it after hitting a bump, cross a RR track crossing etc. Some tow fine and others do not and will mot.