HiI'm looking at the 07, 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesels and would very much appreciate your opinions.I am wanting one to drive daily and to pull a 20 foot, 3800 lb boat in the summer. I'm sure this wouldn't be a problem for it. If though it could also pull my 29 foot Bullet Ultra Light Trailer - I've never weighed it but it is 5200 lb dry so maybe 6500 lb loaded?? that would be a major plus. Is the Jeep heavy and long enough for this? If not I'll look more at a gas one.They certainly don't come cheep - in Alberta they want low to mid 20s for anything with 100-150 thousand kilometers on it. I don't even want to guess what a new one goes for.Is this deisel motor a good one? If so, will the rest of the car be long worn out before the deisel? Any special maintence issues? Any certain years better or worse than others? Did some come with a special tow package?Did they only make these in 07 and 08? and again now new? Why the stoppage in production?Thanks much for the help.

gschindel wrote:HiI'm looking at the 07, 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesels and would very much appreciate your opinions.I am wanting one to drive daily and to pull a 20 foot, 3800 lb boat in the summer. I'm sure this wouldn't be a problem for it. If though it could also pull my 29 foot Bullet Ultra Light Trailer - I've never weighed it but it is 5200 lb dry so maybe 6500 lb loaded?? that would be a major plus. Is the Jeep heavy and long enough for this? If not I'll look more at a gas one.They certainly don't come cheep - in Alberta they want low to mid 20s for anything with 100-150 thousand kilometers on it. I don't even want to guess what a new one goes for.Is this deisel motor a good one? If so, will the rest of the car be long worn out before the deisel? Any special maintence issues? Any certain years better or worse than others? Did some come with a special tow package?Did they only make these in 07 and 08? and again now new? Why the stoppage in production?Thanks much for the help.This diesel engine is a Mercedes diesel and they stopped putting them into the GC due to the Mercedes/Chrysler take over fell apart and Chrysler was sold to Cerebus.I would pass on any Chrysler vehicle with these engines due to limited sources to repair and support.

I don't understand where FishOnOne is coming from. A Mercedes diesel is a Mercedes product, with many dealers servicing them, throughout North America. Jeep is still a thriving automotive company and can be serviced in almost any town or city in North America. One that age would have no warranty so that would not be a problem, Soooo, where is the problem of owning a 4x4 with the best of both worlds in its makeup..:?

Thanks. Never thought about the companies splitting making the repair / maint an issue. Ill ask my local shops what they think about this. Maybe I'll look more at the touaregs.

Ask yourself this... With a 29ft trailer hanging off the back of a Cherokee can I control the load in an emergency or heavy braking situation?

I can't comment on the diesel, but the Grand Cherokee is a great towing platform for a boat. I had an 07 Hemi that did a great job pulling my 5000 pound 21' boat. The only downside was 10 MPG with a smaller fuel tank made frequent stops. The 3.0 CRD would get significantly better MPG with similar towing capability, so my main complaint probably would not apply to your situation.If you read FishOn's other posts, you will notice a severe bias against any Chrysler product. Make sure you take that into account before taking his post as gospel. A better question may be would the CRD resale value stay that high if parts/service really was a problem?

Jeep Gr Cherokee Diesel - Worth the $? Reliable?, Could tow?

Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
Depending on where you are going to tow and what you expect it could be good or bad.

This engines only puts out 215 HP and let me tell you that is not much at all for that load in the mountains. You will be right at 30 MPH in big hills and grades depending on gearing.

If that is ok with you then you're good to go. If not, then you are going to be disappointed.
nevadanick
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
I own a Mercedes dsl and have it serviced at an independent. You dont have to go to a dlr. in fact i trust my independent shop more than the dlr.
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
I can't comment on the diesel, but the Grand Cherokee is a great towing platform for a boat. I had an 07 Hemi that did a great job pulling my 5000 pound 21' boat. The only downside was 10 MPG with a smaller fuel tank made frequent stops. The 3.0 CRD would get significantly better MPG with similar towing capability, so my main complaint probably would not apply to your situation.

If you read FishOn's other posts, you will notice a severe bias against any Chrysler product. Make sure you take that into account before taking his post as gospel. A better question may be would the CRD resale value stay that high if parts/service really was a problem?
N-Trouble
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
Ask yourself this... With a 29ft trailer hanging off the back of a Cherokee can I control the load in an emergency or heavy braking situation?
gschindel
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
Thanks. Never thought about the companies splitting making the repair / maint an issue. Ill ask my local shops what they think about this. Maybe I'll look more at the touaregs.
The_Texan
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
I don't understand where FishOnOne is coming from. A Mercedes diesel is a Mercedes product, with many dealers servicing them, throughout North America. Jeep is still a thriving automotive company and can be serviced in almost any town or city in North America. One that age would have no warranty so that would not be a problem, Soooo, where is the problem of owning a 4x4 with the best of both worlds in its makeup..:?
FishOnOne
Nomad
Oct 06, 2013
gschindel wrote:
Hi
I'm looking at the 07, 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesels and would very much appreciate your opinions.

I am wanting one to drive daily and to pull a 20 foot, 3800 lb boat in the summer. I'm sure this wouldn't be a problem for it. If though it could also pull my 29 foot Bullet Ultra Light Trailer - I've never weighed it but it is 5200 lb dry so maybe 6500 lb loaded?? that would be a major plus. Is the Jeep heavy and long enough for this? If not I'll look more at a gas one.

They certainly don't come cheep - in Alberta they want low to mid 20s for anything with 100-150 thousand kilometers on it. I don't even want to guess what a new one goes for.

Is this deisel motor a good one? If so, will the rest of the car be long worn out before the deisel? Any special maintence issues? Any certain years better or worse than others? Did some come with a special tow package?

Did they only make these in 07 and 08? and again now new? Why the stoppage in production?

Thanks much for the help.

This diesel engine is a Mercedes diesel and they stopped putting them into the GC due to the Mercedes/Chrysler take over fell apart and Chrysler was sold to Cerebus.

I would pass on any Chrysler vehicle with these engines due to limited sources to repair and support.

Forum Discussion

Jeep Gr Cherokee Diesel - Worth the $? Reliable?, Could tow?

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Most RELIABLE Diesel 1 Ton Truck???

Looking for a reliable diesel truck

Reliability in purchasing older diesel A

Reliability of new 2015 6.7 powerstroke or Cummins Diesel

Turbochargers... durability, reliability ?