Vehicle/Travel Trailer Compatibility

[bobka7914]

Greetings!

New to this site today.

We are getting rather tired of the tent camping scene.
Contemplating a transition into a small travel trailer with a higher mpg tow vehicle...

In your opinion, can a 2015 Jeep Cherokee V6 with tow pkg and a 4500 lb tow rating safely pull a Travel Lite i18 Cobblestone travel trailer with a 2945 dry weight?

[SkiMore]

sch911: I was wondering how I would apply that chart to a trailer with a 48 sq ft frontal area. I understand that the max weight would be less, but how much less?

[jfkmk]

Wow, this thread is all over the place, and I don't think the original question was ever answered. The trailer you're looking at sure looks nice!
While I don't have a Cherokee I can say this. I tow a very similar trailer with an 06 Envoy. I've never had a problem and I average 12.5 (how one poster came up with 5 is beyond me). I would say that while I'm comfortable towing this, I wouldn't want to tow anything much bigger with it or tow my trailer with anything much smaller. I agree with some posters in that a pop up might be a better fit.

[Muddydogs]

Terryallan wrote:
Well I guess you need to argue that to the tire company engineers. Cause I don't know. All I know is that is what they are rated for.

Also. If you run 65, or 70 on 2 lane roads in NC you will be more than likely ticketed, and your drivers license taken on the spot. Just about every 2 lane road in NC has a 55 MPH speed limit. Only the 4 lanes have a higher speed limit.

As to being a hazard at 55. Again. Big wall with lights, see it a long way off. Maybe it's just a Utah thing to not be able to see a vehicle in front of you.

BTW. Nitrogen psi in tire does grow to some extent. Not so much as air. But it does go up as the tire gets warmer. Which is why race tires start the race with low psi, so that it can grow when the tire gets hot.

And as mentioned. My truck will tow as fast as I want, I'm just too smart to do it.

Out West most 2 lanes are 60 to 70 MPH limits and the Interstates range from 65 to 80. Most drivers on 2 lane roads run at least 10 over and the chances of getting a ticket are slim.

Guess I don't understand your big white wall deal or you don't understand me. I'm not talking about seeing a trailer I'm talking about the idiots try to pass a slow moving trailer in all the wrong spots like corners and hills. Its the poor guy coming the other way that has to deal with the head on collision with these idiots. I'm sure we have all had to deal with this, going 55 makes it worse. Drive 55 through Salt Lake City during heavy traffic and all you will have is a sea of cars flowing around you with quite a few cutting in front of you showing there displeasure.

Smarts goes both ways, to smart to drive to fast but smart enough not to create a back long of traffic behind you? Smart enough to pull over and let traffic pass? Idaho has a law that states if you are delaying 3 vehicles you need to pull over and let them pass, most slow 2 lane roads have spots to move over, most drivers think the signs are intended for others and they don't mean them.

I would hope with today's faster road speeds, bigger trailers and meaner trucks that ST tires will be reworked to handle more speed. I am willing to bet that 90% of the trailer towers out there have no idea there tires are only rated for 65.

[bobka7914]

Just watching this thread evolve...
FYI- I wasn't really concerned about mpg when pulling a trailer, concerned about mpg when NOT pulling a trailer- which would be 95% of the time.

Getting back to the topic- Again, I am checking your expertise regarding the compatibility issue: '15 Jeep Cherokee (not the Grand Cherokee) V6 SAFELY pulling the i18 Cobblestone at almost 3000 lbs dry. I would expect to pull the trailer at no more than 60 mph or so. And yes, a weight distribution system and a sway bar would be added on.

By the way, does anyone have a Travel Lite i18 Cobblestone? If so, your opinion?

[Terryallan]

Muddydogs wrote:
I read all the time where you guys throw out that trailer tires are rated for 65 mph. Ok fine why are they rated at this, is it due to heat? Well ok so at what temp was the road when the tires were tested? Tires run at 30 degrees are going to run cooler then tires run at 100 degrees. Do you really think that 65 is some hard fast number and if you run at 70 the tire is going to blow? I hate to tell ya but most trailers are towed faster than 65 mph and I would venture to guess that I have more miles logged pulling a trailer then most on this board and I have never had a blowout while running down the road.
For all you lacking in reading comprehension I never said I towed at 75, I made a comment on someone towing at 55 and the hazard they create. I also stated that if you can’t tow at 65 then you need to get a more capable rig. Now if you are not physically able to tow at 65 that is another problem but don’t justify it as a tire problem. Towing down almost any road at 55 makes you a hazard these days, I’m not saying it’s right or wrong it’s just the way it is these days.
Another thing I don’t understand is if ST tires are so bad then why aren’t people switching to LT tires? I’m not going to mess around with the ST tires for very long then I’m putting LT on my rig and not worrying about them.
It’s also funny how there was a post a while back about nitrogen in tires and when I made a commit how well it worked I got some flack but If you guys are so worried about going 65 on ST tires and checking the tire pressure I would think that you would be more open to running nitrogen in the tires so you know the pressure stayed where it needs to be.
Kind of seems that this place is clicky and people believe what they want to hear, if someone steps outside the box there’s all sorts of trash talk.

Well I guess you need to argue that to the tire company engineers. Cause I don't know. All I know is that is what they are rated for.

Also. If you run 65, or 70 on 2 lane roads in NC you will be more than likely ticketed, and your drivers license taken on the spot. Just about every 2 lane road in NC has a 55 MPH speed limit. Only the 4 lanes have a higher speed limit.

As to being a hazard at 55. Again. Big wall with lights, see it a long way off. Maybe it's just a Utah thing to not be able to see a vehicle in front of you.

BTW. Nitrogen psi in tire does grow to some extent. Not so much as air. But it does go up as the tire gets warmer. Which is why race tires start the race with low psi, so that it can grow when the tire gets hot.

And as mentioned. My truck will tow as fast as I want, I'm just too smart to do it.

[sch911]

PAThwacker wrote:
That chart should have a popup trailer image at the 3500lb rating. You can exceed the tongue wt limit with a popup. Oh well. Marketing at its's best!

The chart is correct! A small TT with frontal area 32 sq-ft or less. This type of RV is readily available, like the Scamp for example.

[PAThwacker]

SkiMore wrote:

sch911 wrote:
Here's more:

Thanks for posting that page.

I assume the little picture of the 3500lb trailer only applies to the 3.2L tow package setup.

I know the specs are for a 32 sq ft frontal area. How do we know what the specs are for a larger frontal area? Is it a simple ratio?

That chart should have a popup trailer image at the 3500lb rating. You can exceed the tongue wt limit with a popup. Oh well. Marketing at its's best!

[Muddydogs]

I read all the time where you guys throw out that trailer tires are rated for 65 mph. Ok fine why are they rated at this, is it due to heat? Well ok so at what temp was the road when the tires were tested? Tires run at 30 degrees are going to run cooler then tires run at 100 degrees. Do you really think that 65 is some hard fast number and if you run at 70 the tire is going to blow? I hate to tell ya but most trailers are towed faster than 65 mph and I would venture to guess that I have more miles logged pulling a trailer then most on this board and I have never had a blowout while running down the road.
For all you lacking in reading comprehension I never said I towed at 75, I made a comment on someone towing at 55 and the hazard they create. I also stated that if you can’t tow at 65 then you need to get a more capable rig. Now if you are not physically able to tow at 65 that is another problem but don’t justify it as a tire problem. Towing down almost any road at 55 makes you a hazard these days, I’m not saying it’s right or wrong it’s just the way it is these days.
Another thing I don’t understand is if ST tires are so bad then why aren’t people switching to LT tires? I’m not going to mess around with the ST tires for very long then I’m putting LT on my rig and not worrying about them.
It’s also funny how there was a post a while back about nitrogen in tires and when I made a commit how well it worked I got some flack but If you guys are so worried about going 65 on ST tires and checking the tire pressure I would think that you would be more open to running nitrogen in the tires so you know the pressure stayed where it needs to be.
Kind of seems that this place is clicky and people believe what they want to hear, if someone steps outside the box there’s all sorts of trash talk.

[Community Alumni]

"Well good for you and thanks for being a road hazard. I hope I am not coming the other way when all the crazies are trying to pass you on a 2 lane road. I feel you should at least have a rig that can tow a trailer at a reasonable speed and unfortunately 55 is not reasonable anymore and going this speed just makes you a road hazard. Even at 65 or 70 MPH I feel like a rock in the ocean with water flowing all around me as the crazy’s fly by. If you can’t run 65 on the interstate then your rig is subpar. Heck some Utah interstates are now posted at 80 and most state hwy’s are at least 65 which means 75 most of the time."

Actually, you are the hazard if you are towing a trailer over 65 MPH. If you don't know it, you can't drive over 55 MPH in California when towing, and that includes big rigs.

I pointed out the 55 MPH speed so readers have an idea of what to expect in gas mileage towing with the V6 Grand Cherokee.

[SkiMore]

sch911 wrote:
Here's more:

Thanks for posting that page.

I assume the little picture of the 3500lb trailer only applies to the 3.2L tow package setup.

I know the specs are for a 32 sq ft frontal area. How do we know what the specs are for a larger frontal area? Is it a simple ratio?

[Terryallan]

Another camper you may want to look at is the A-Liner. No canvas, pop up and looks like a A frame. Very light, easy to use.

[bobka7914]

Just watching this thread evolve...
FYI- I wasn't really concerned about mpg when pulling a trailer, concerned about mpg when NOT pulling a trailer- which would be 95% of the time.

Getting back to the topic- Again, I am checking your expertise regarding the compatibility issue: '15 Jeep Cherokee (not the Grand Cherokee) V6 SAFELY pulling the i18 Cobblestone at almost 3000 lbs dry. I would expect to pull the trailer at no more than 60 mph or so. And yes, a weight distribution system and a sway bar would be added on.

By the way, does anyone have a Travel Lite i18 Cobblestone? If so, your opinion?

[ryanw821]

Terryallan wrote:
Agree. Running 75 with a trailer is just looking for a place to wreck.
And in truth. I know of no times where a driver cannot see a large mostly white wall with lights on it. When is the last time you heard of a school activity bus being rear ended on the interstate. they are regulated to 55 MPH, and most won't do that.

My "rig" will run as fast as I want to go. I'm just not stupid enough to run 75. I stay between 55, and 65 except when I don't pat attention to speed, and it creeps up toward 70.

I hear you, I krept up just over 65 a few times not watching, unless it's insistent on hunting gears, I try to set the cruise control when ever possible.

[KFCCaravan]

ryanw821 wrote:

KFCCaravan wrote:
I don't have my owners manual handy but a quick google seems to indicate the WK2 Grand Cherokees have a trailer frontal area limitation of 55 sq-ft - not 32. The Travel Lite i18 seems like it would have a frontal area less than that. Also, if your G.C. has the tow package, you should be legal to tow 6200lbs (not that I'd recommend that).
This trailer looks a like a really good match for the Grand Cherokee. I pull a trailer with very similar specifications with 2014 Grand Cherokee V8 and it is a joy to tow. The rig is rock solid with weight distribution and no sway control. MPG is not great but better than most gassers. I get between 10-13 mpg depending on my speed. The only thing I cannot speak to is how the V6 will perform. I think it would be adequate but be ready for sustained high rpm operation on any kind of a grade.
The 8 speed transmission really shines when towing. There is always an appropriate gear for any speed and load. The paddle shifters which initially seemed like a waste of space are actually very handy for using the transmission for engine braking on downhill grades.
As others have stated, you need to be cognizant of payload on this rig. Depending on your Grand Cherokee's trim level, you will have between 1350 lbs and 1050 lbs available for payload.

OP has a Cherokee, not Grand Cherokee. Much closer in size to my Liberty, than your Grand Cherokee.

oops my mistake
Disregard everything I said OP, lol.