Newbie TT shopper - help? :)

Desert Captain wrote:


1. No!

2. Yes you will need a decent WDH with sway control.

3. You must, by law, have trailer brakes integrally controlled by the tow vehicle on any trailer over 3,000#. Either you misunderstood or need new Jeep guys who know what they are talking about.

4. There will be lots of things from hoses to chocks etc., but for now get your head wrapped around the fact that your need way more truck or far less trailer.

Both of those trailers are well over 7,000# GVWR and are far to large for your Jeep. Step one, IGNORE all "Dry Weights" as they are worse than useless. You would need a beefy half ton truck with more payload than most to tow either of those trailers. V-6's can tow but not nearly as much trailer as you seek.

Check any potential tow vehicles payload capacity very carefully. That Jeep won't have all that much. Loaded lightly your trailer will likely go down the road at around 6,000# which will generate nearly 800# of tongue weight and you have to add another 100# for the WDH. With 900# hanging off the bumper you simply will not have much if anypay load left to load 3 bodies + dogs and gear, tools etc. For a lot of reasons to include the shorter wheelbase of the Jeep it is less than the optimum tow vehicle especially with a trailer that is north of 7,000#. Good luck! :C

As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

yikes. ok.
sooo...
1. thats too much for the jeep. Even with a v8? maybe power wise it could pull it but weight on the back of the jeep is too much?

2. ok thanks.

3. yeah... makes sense. if the trailer over 3k # is required to have brakes... i guess you would need to make them work lol

4. so not sure where to go from here. what weight should we be looking at (as a dry/gross etc) ? for the jeep (like i said. we love jeeps and that wont change lol) we want to look at GVWR and keep that below 6? 5?

and we dont want a popup.

Thank you all for your help!

EDIT:

wait.. why would the people at the RV place say that we would be fine? do they just not care and want a sale??

EDIT2:

maybe something like this?
2013 Starcraft AR-ONE 16BH which is 3200 gvwr and 300# tounge weight.


(I Think the jeep is 600# hitch limit)

but if you are splicing into the current wiring... wont that void it? you are altering factory equipment. Dont get me wrong... thinking about it, yeah.. you'd want the brakes on it to actually work! lol

How does it hook in?

Thanks everyone! so much to learn!

(and we will ask about a v8 just to see the diff in price etc)

StaticFX wrote:
Ok, we have always wanted a TT but have never really gotten around to taking a step past "we want one" lol. But here we are finally ready to move forward. 2 adults, 1 14 y/o and 3 small dogs

We are getting the 2014 Jeep grand Cherokee Limited (V6) - 6200 lbs rated towing - Class IV hitch with 7/4 pin plug.

Currently looking at:

Keystone Hideout 210LHS - which we have seen and love. (i think) 4500lbs

Crossroads Z-1 211RD - waiting for one to come in (soon) so we can look at it in person - i think its 4200 lbs

My main questions are:

1) I should be fine as far as size/weight - right?

2) they say we need a weight distribution hitch... yes? true? (it sounds like i need it! lol)

3) they said we needed a electric brake control system - The SRT crew at the jeep dealership said NO! if you put that in, it voids the electrical warranty, and it does not need it. The jeep is designed to pull up to 6200 lbs and has larger disc brakes specifically for stopping extra weight.

4) are there any other things we need/dont need? I have NO clue and do not want to get sold something I dont need.

5) anyone have either of these? pros/cons?

Any help would be great! Thank you!

1. No!

2. Yes you will need a decent WDH with sway control.

3. You must, by law, have trailer brakes integrally controlled by the tow vehicle on any trailer over 3,000#. Either you misunderstood or need new Jeep guys who know what they are talking about.

4. There will be lots of things from hoses to chocks etc., but for now get your head wrapped around the fact that your need way more truck or far less trailer.

Both of those trailers are well over 7,000# GVWR and are far to large for your Jeep. Step one, IGNORE all "Dry Weights" as they are worse than useless. You would need a beefy half ton truck with more payload than most to tow either of those trailers. V-6's can tow but not nearly as much trailer as you seek.

Check any potential tow vehicles payload capacity very carefully. That Jeep won't have all that much. Loaded lightly your trailer will likely go down the road at around 6,000# which will generate nearly 800# of tongue weight and you have to add another 100# for the WDH. With 900# hanging off the bumper you simply will not have much if anypay load left to load 3 bodies + dogs and gear, tools etc. For a lot of reasons to include the shorter wheelbase of the Jeep it is less than the optimum tow vehicle especially with a trailer that is north of 7,000#. Good luck! :C

As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

StaticFX wrote:

3) they said we needed a electric brake control system - The SRT crew at the jeep dealership said NO! if you put that in, it voids the electrical warranty, and it does not need it. The jeep is designed to pull up to 6200 lbs and has larger disc brakes specifically for stopping extra weight.

The crew at the dealership are idiots.
You are required by law to have trailer brakes...you will need a brake controller.
Installing one will not "void the electrical warranty."

the jeep is not a changeable option :) any time we have switched from a jeep, it was a mistake. the v6 is 290hp and has an 8 speed trans. (the v8 is only rated at 7400 lbs so its not much diff)
I want to make sure that 4500lbs is not too close to the 6200. how much "buffer" should you have?

For close to the same money get a Ram 1500, hemi, quad cab short bed. It will do a lot better than the jeep and there is lots more room.

you will not be able to safely tow either one of those trailers you posted with a Cherokee....dont even think about it.

the "made up" 6200lb towing means you can probably PULL a boat or flat deck. it does not mean you can CARRY a 6200 lb travel trailer.

You will be limited on TW which it will say 620lbs. I would stick to a loaded weight no more than 4500lbs

To put it bluntly, NO!
There is no substitute for cubic inches when towing. V6'es are really not suitable to move a large sail behind them. If you do go for the Jeep, either get the V8 or consider tent trailers.

barely ok

yes you will need a wdh and i highly recommend a hensley or propride since you dont tow. You wont like the feeling I am sure.
the dealership obviously does not have a clue