Anyone towing with 2014 Grand Cherokee/Durango?

I can not speak yet for the new 8 speed, since I am waiting for the Ram 1500 Diesels to come out, and they have the new 8 speed. I currently tow with a Jeep Liberty Diesel, with a 5 speed,and my towing experience is not the best, but it works well for me right now.

The 8 speed has some real nice gear ratios, and I really can't wait to tow with it. I will link you to the chart I made, although it does compare my Jeep to a Ram 1500, but you will get an idea.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/50165289/Liberty%20VS%20Ram%20Gearing%20Chart.pdf

I'm trying to decide between the Hemi and the diesel.

30 mpg unloaded hwy for the diesel. Yes please.

Isn't the diesel only a $4000 ish upgrade over the V6? For 30mpg and 420 lb ft of tq. Cheap price for a diesel in a truck.

Thanks,

Jeremiah

From past experiences owning a GC, get the extended warranty.

Area13 wrote:
From past experiences owning a GC, get the extended warranty.

:R :S

The Jeep GC 3.0 is very similar to our TV, which is a VW Touareg 3.0 8-speed. With your TT it will be a great combination. We can often cruise in 8th gear at 60MPH turning about 1550 RPM. Any type of hill or headwind drops to 7th gear or lower. It's on the turbo 90% of the time towing so don't expect great fuel mileage, but the power is wonderful climbing hills.

Sky_free, what's your fuel economy while towing?

Area13, I hear ya. With the complexity of the electronics and all, on a vehicle costing over $40k that I would keep for at least 200,000 to 250,000 miles (I drive 20k+ miles/year), I believe I could easily win the extended warranty "gamble" with a lifetime max care contract.

I have always wanted a diesel. Probably because my father had several diesel vehicles that he thought highly of, including a Peugeot and a VW Rabbit... plus there was the White Freightliner and the John Deere 4310 (I put many hours on the latter). I figured out that if I could average 17 mpg while towing (I tow a cargo trailer every day for work, roughly 6x12 enclosed box, and my TT is 7x16 and under 3k lb), I could save nearly $1000/year on fuel.

On the other side of the equation, I definitely want 4WD, and the diesel 4WD Grand Cherokee requires ordering the Luxury Group II package (which I otherwise don't want). This plus the diesel will raise the (invoice) cost about $4000 vs. a non-luxII hemi. (Edit: the Lux II requirement has been dropped by Jeep.) Then there is the whole DPF (diesel particulate filter) thing with its attendant regenerations. And the diesel requires special low-ash synthetic oil, which is currently not carried in stores (not a huge issue, but it makes me give pause).

What is worse, I learned just yesterday that the lifetime max care extended warranty is NOT available for the diesel vehicle! The best I could get is 120k mile coverage on the diesel GC. This exposes me to considerably more financial risk when the vehicle ages; the very time I would most want the coverage is the time after it ends. Let's face it, if an aged turbo goes south it will cost a pretty penny.

My Highlander was very economical to maintain until the past 9 months. I that short time it has had 7 (count 'em, SEVEN!) fluid leaks needing repair, and the bill for all those fixes came to over $3000.

The Mopar Max Care lifetime coverage includes gaskets, seals, and even hoses. But not diesel-equipped GC's. Hmmmm.

I guy at work traded in his wifes Tahoe for a Durango. After towing his boat with the Durango, he's ready for another Tahoe.

Area13 wrote:
From past experiences owning a GC, get the extended warranty.

Well said...