Jeep Cherokee Sport

[racheljay123]

I've been told my jeep will pull the boat we are looking to buy (14' glassmaster) with no problem but would like some extra advice from people who know more about towing boats. Its a V6, 4.0L... older but new transmission. My parents used to pull their tent trailer with it... but that was over 6 years ago. I read somewhere that jeeps (with the exception of wranglers) are good at towing boats, just have a tough time with stopping. We would only be traveling to the dam near us for this summer, so its a five mile canyon with barely any incline. Small hill near the end but thats about it, though its really curvy and narrow.

please advise!!!

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

Hello There and WELCOME TO IBOATS!
I own a 19' Glastron bow rider style that is near 2K pounds including trailer and gear. I use my 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 6.0 Cylinder, I have no 4x4. I tow my boat with no problem including launching and retriving. The only tip here is tu tow with the Overdrive Off.

Hope this helps..

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

Sounds like a pretty light boat, any approximate weight ?
The brakes on that XJ are left over Chevy Cavalier parts so they are a bit weak but can stop a small load.

It not a V6 or 6.0 either guys, its a 4.0 Straight 6.
Good old motor left over from American Motors, dates to the 60's.
I love straight sixes.......

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

I doubt you will have a problem with it. You didn't give us much info on boat and the year of the jeep. If you know the year of the jeep, you can find the tow rating. Also, the year of the boat, the type of hull, and motor you have on it would be helpful.

A 2000 jeep cherokee with a tow package and inline six had a "max tow capacity" of 5000lb. This is a jeep with the tow package a weight distibuting hitch and a trailer with brakes. But even if it is half that it should be plenty, and I doubt the boat weighs more than 2000 lbs.

follow the link:

http://www.trailerlife.com/towratings/tr00_honda-jeep.cfm

 

[junior1113]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

obviously has a hitch. them things can pull 5000 easy your good. my buddy has an old beat up one at the marina to move boats around 16' to 25' boats. i remember him moving a 28" cabin cruiser i thought it was going to pop a wheelie. you could pull that boat with a escort. inline 6 are torque monsters.

 

[m_court15]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

I use to tow my boat (1984 rinker, 18' I/O) with my 1998 cherokee sport. I loved it those jeeps have plenty of power. It would push me a little when stopping. Mine was all stock. I did plenty of highway driving with it also. I started towing when it had 110,000 up until it reached 150,000 miles. It has 175,000 today and is still running strong.

 

[Action]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

You could tow 3500lbs with that setup with pretty good ease. I have a wrangler, the max I towed was about 1800 pounds (rated for 2000 pounds max), it was pushing. All 2006 and below wranglers and XJ's just have inadequate brakes period. The XJ has the advantage of being a longer wheelbase so the trailer can't push the truck around as much. Should be fine with that boat.

 

[Sikiguya]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

Just know your limitation and take your time. You are dealing with a longer length than normal. Be sure to give yourself plenty of space.

Anyone ever drove the road to Hana?...can't imagine towing a boat through that!

 

[racheljay123]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

Thanks everyone for the replies!
We are still debating what boat we want... I would say it wouldnt be anything over 17'. The one we are checking out sunday is a 14' glassamaster, older model not sure if its fiberglass, but I assume its not too heavy.

My jeep on the other hand is a 1991 Cherokee Sport. Its a friggin tank. Oh and its a 5 speed manual... will that affect its towing at all? Would I need the four wheel drive in gear to tow? We will have to drive some freeway to pick the boat up but I'm taking a grand cherokee for that... just to be safe. My jeep tends to overheat with long drives so I am borrowing another one for the long tow. And this all depends on if we even get the boat up and running for the end of the summer... by next year I'm looking to get a Jeep Commander, anyone heard pros/cons of the towing with these?

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

1991 was the last year that the Cherokee had closed-loop cooling. I think the overheat tendency will be your biggest issue, I don't know of a solution on the closed-loop Cherokees. But radiator aside, pulling a 16 or 17 foot boat is nothing.

-E

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

Might want to double check the hitch mounting points. Friend of mine was pulling a small camper with his and the hitch actually fell off. Cherokees have a unibody not a full frame. His had suffered some rotting from mud, road salt etc...I had a 93 Cherokee and loved it. Sometimes I wish I still had that little Jeep. You can't kill em!

 

[racheljay123]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

Hey thanks everyone! Were still up in the air about which boat we might get... im more worried about restoring a boat than the towing, ill probably have a Jeep commander by the time we get either of these boats up and running though I will check my hitch for sure. I had the muffler and tail pipe replaced recently because they were getting rusty and the tail pipe had a good sized hole in it....

Anyways thanks again for the advice. And I agree you cant kill these jeeps... we call mine Godzilla, its a champ

 

[slydog75]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

I'm currently towing a 19' Wellcraft bowrider with my '99 Cherokee. It does well, though up hill at highways speeds is a bit of a challenge and as other's have mentioned, give yourself plenty of room to stop, don't tailgate people!

 

[Djan]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

I pull my 16' boat with my 1992 Jeep Cherokee 2WD, 4.0 liter high output. No problems whatsoever.

 

[slydog75]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

Would I need the four wheel drive in gear to tow?

Only to pull it out of the water, as those launch ramps are often a bit steep and slippery. Once you're out of the launch, no. Keep it in 2WD

 

[Ron-O]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

I had a 2000 Sport to pull my 20" Cheetah for a while. Didn't do bad, stopping took a lot longer. The only issue was backing down the ramp, the front tires would slide a little. They are good vehicles and last forever.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

We use our '01 Cherokee to move the boat around ( but the '01 Suburban to tow ). Your weak point is the brakes on the XJ. Just take your time and leave extra distance for stopping.

As far as 4WD , personally I would use low range to pull the boat up the ramp. After securing the boat to the trailer, put it in 2WD for the the tow home. No need for towing in 4WD

 

[Lou C]

Re: Jeep Cherokee Sport

I agree with most of what was said....I pull a 20' Four Winns with a 98 Grand Cherokee with the inline 6...it pulls it pretty well but I would recommend surge brakes on the trailer for any load over 1000-1500 lbs...I added a set of 10" drum brakes to my trailer and it made a huge difference in stopping.
The other thing is that sometimes the rear leaf springs on the Cherokee sag easily and you may need to get them replaced depending on the tongue weight...I put a set of Air Lift air bags in my rear coils and they work well for preventing sag....