New Jeep Renegade

The jeeprenegade forum has the specs on this vehicle and it shows a neutral position in the transfer case but cannot confirm towability until a vehicle manual can be examined. However the neutral position looks promising for towability. It weighs 3200 lbs. The vehicle will be at the New York auto show next month so maybe someone can check this out.

hpdrver wrote:
The jeeprenegade forum has the specs on this vehicle and it shows a neutral position in the transfer case but cannot confirm towability until a vehicle manual can be examined. However the neutral position looks promising for towability. It weighs 3200 lbs. The vehicle will be at the New York auto show next month so maybe someone can check this out.

I spent some time this week driving (testing) one and agree that this post is accurate...

Thanks for the quick replys, I am hoping it will be.

The 2015 Jeep Renegade will be built at Fiat's Malfi, Italy factory..when equipped with the diesel option the little Renegade can tow 3,300 pounds, when the rear seats are folded flat will have 30.7 cubic feet storage, this version will be sold in over 100 countries, entry level model will have only a 6-speed manual as the sole transmission option.

The other engine will be the familiar 2.4L 4-cylinder with a 9-speed automatic. Jeep Active Drive uses a rear-axle and power transfer unit disconnect to improve mileage.

But does this sound safe? The Jeep at 3200 lbs is said to be able to tow 1.5 times it own weight!? :R

BUT "Kicking Tires" Website says.."Inside is Jeep's Tek-Tonic design combining the rugged structural elements with more luxurious materials along with extreme-sports style colors and compartments. The five-seater is powered by either a 160-horsepower 1.4-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic transmission or a 184-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder with a nine-speed automatic, available in front- or all-wheel drive. The Renegade is expected to hit dealerships in early 2015.

The "Jeep Renegade Forum" and several other Jeep sources say "The drivetrain specs show a neutral position for the transfer case so I hope it will be 4 down towable like the Cherokee".

Packard Automobile ads back in the 1920's said "Packard...ask the man who owns one!" Using that as a starting point...keep in mind that FThe Renegade IS built in Italy by FIAT, and built on the FIAT 500L unibody frameless chassis...so reliability and durability is historically going to be questionable.

Just make sure to get the longest warranty available...I've owned FIAT's, and it IS true that the name FIAT stands for "Fix It Again Tony"! All the mechanics at the FIAT repair shop that I frequented drove Toyotas!

Here in dry, sunny SoCal my poor little FIAT got rust bubbles under the paint in just 18 months after purchase! We will watch with interest!

Funny FIAT King of the Hill Cartoon!

I emailed tyo be sure and got...
Dear Ccchuck:

It is great to read of your interest in Jeep!

According to the 2015 Jeep Renegade Owner?s Manual recreational towing
of the 2015 Jeep Renegade models is not allowed. I would strongly advise
you to review the 2015 Jeep Renegade Owner?s Manual by visiting the Jeep
website at http://www.jeep.com and selecting the ?For Owner?s? tab. Once
there, choose ?Owner/Service Manuals? and you will be able to select the
User Guide. The recreational towing information in the 2015 Jeep
Renegade Owner?s Manual begins on Page 419. I am providing you with the
following link to the Owner?s Manual page for your convenience:

http://www.jeep.com/en/owners/manuals/

Just remember it is after all a Fiat in Jeep's clothing.

I just talked to my Friend who owns a Jeep Dealership and he said looking at the manuals they specifically say you can not flat tow the Jeep Renegade with all 4 down. They mentioned something about using a dolly--which I would assume that to be the front wheel drive version.

I talked with my local jeep dealer and they said it is just like the Cherokee in that the determining factor is the transmission.........must be the Active Two 4wheel drive system to be towable. I plan to follow this closlely until the renegades are at the dealers, then confirm, but I believe that specific models will be towable if properly equipped. All we can do is wait and see.

Doug

I was at the Cleveland Auto show this past week and asked a Jeep rep if it you could flat tow it. His answer was yes if properly equiped, but could not explain why the owners manual said not to. He was going to check and e-mail me a definitive answer.

According to Chrysler dealer, official answer is that the current Jeep Renegade is not towable 4 wheels down. This is very disappointing since the initial news release article said it would be towable. We can only hope they make the active drive II transmission available as option in future.
The number of towable vehicles are dropping every year.

Doug