Ok guys... Here's my story, I have an 86 CJ-7 that I will be pulling on a trailer to be bought this summer nothing fancy and used more than likely. This week and next I am going to start test driving but that will not tell me much on how it will pull. I have been leaning towards 1/2 ton because I will do very little (once a year at the most) of hilly/mountain pulling so the new F-150 or Ram seem to be my preferences. The Nissan has been getting great reviews so I may drive it too...Japanese and a truck might be tough to swallow The wife doesn't like the idea of a big truck because she is 5' 11" and loves our current Grand...How does the new Grand Cherokee w/the Hemi pull? 7200lbs towing capacity doesn't sound bad...I don't think I can wait for the new Commander but I sure like it better than the new GC So what I am asking is will the new Grand behave itself w/a dual axle trailer and a tall CJ on it? What are your prefs when it comes to 1/2 Ton Ford/Dodge/Nissan? Sorry so long... Thanks, Sponge
I would imagine that the newer Grand Cherokees and Dodge Dakotas with the Hemi could pull a tandem trailer with a CJ7 on it fairly well. How built up is your CJ7? You Jeep guys( when not a sheep of course) can get away with a smaller tow rig because of the lighter jeep than us full size guys. I would say a GC with the Hemi would be pretty sweet. waytogo As to the 1/2 ton pickups, I can't stand the new Ford body style so that would be out for me. The Dodge hemi truck is pretty cool and the GMC or Chevy trucks use the 5.3L which is a GREAT engine for what it is. I don't care for the Jap trucks, I don't pay much attention to them.
IMHO, If you are doing ANY hauling of a jeep on a traier, a 3/4 ton truck is the MINIMUM needed. Ive towed my jeep on a trailer with a half ton, and going forward wasn't the hard part, it was the stopping that proved to be difficult. Im comfortable now that Ive got a 3/4 ton ram, and it was definetly worth it. Scott
Sponge, how's the jeep going? You get that thing running yet? Anywho, my family and myself have also done quite a bit of towing over the years with all kinds of tow rigs. Ive grown up towing boats and fishing. Our last setup weighed in at just a hair over 6K pounds, and was towed with a 1/2 ton Tundra. I wouldnt hesitate to tow with that setup again. Sure, a 3/4 or 1 ton truck is nice, but it is far from needed in every situation. That 1/2 ton Tundra towed WAY better than the '95 3/4 ton Dodge it replaced, by leaps and bounds. It accelerated better, it stopped better, it towed smoother, and got 5mpg better fuel economy empty, and 3mpg better when towing the same load. Most of todays 1/2 ton pickups and SUV's are more than adequate to tow a CJ-7 on a single car trailer. Sure, a 1-ton dually would tow it better, but thats just a waste to occasionally tow 5500 pounds, especially when it has to be a DD in this area. If you were looking at a 10 year old rig, i would say get a 3/4 ton. But a new GC will do just fine.
I pretty much completely disagree. Yes, our 3/4 ton Dodge diesels make it a piece of cake towing just about anything but for dragging around a Jeep on a trailer that only weighs 6-7K, our trucks are overkill. Today's 1/2 tons can handle that no problem at all. My dad pulls our 27' inclosed snowmobile trailer that weighs about 6,700lbs no problem. Heck, I used to drag around 8K with my 1985 K5 blazer, but I did convert the running gear to 3/4 ton so brakes were stronger, but the springs are still 1/2. It did fairly well, and has a 10" lift on it. A powerfull Cherokee will do fine. waytogo
Then we agree to disagree Not a problem with that. I was just stating my opinion.. Feel free to use what you feel adequate, and Im not one to tell someone what they shouldn't do.. I know for ME, I wouldn't use anything less than a 3/4 ton, but thats not always the case for others Scott
The 1/2 ton should be fine for what you want to tow. As for the GC, yea itll tow it, but I'd be concerned about the shorter wheelbase screwing me if the trailer starts to mess around on you. As for braking capabilities, all the new 1/2 tons have huge brakes for what they are, but that doesnt really matter because you are going to be running a brake controller with electric brakes on both axles right?? Just turn up the gain and let the trailer do the braking, with a light CJ7 on there, its not gonna burn out your trailer brakes, but it will take some of the strain off of your tow rig. If it were me, Id tow it with any of the 1/2 tons, or the GC. Just a word of caution about wheelbases.
Thanks guys for the advice its exactly what I was looking for...and the concern for the wheel base is well founded and I agree. I have had mine 03 get squirrelly just flat towing. Brakes are not as much because one as mentioned the trailer brakes and two all the 1/2 ton's I am looking at have BIG 4 wheel discs... Because of the wonderful resale value my current GC has along w/this I have pretty much decided not to go w/another GC unless my dealer comes up w/some screaming deal and doesn't kill me on my trade in...there is something fun about a Hemi in that isn't there? I am going to start test driving this weekend at the latest next week...I'll let you know my findings! and Joez BTW the CJ is about 90% done its the little piddley crap and then the gremlins to take care of...if it weren't for work and the wife it would be done!!! I can't stand driving something w/a top on it in this weather... Thanks guys! Sponge
Well drove about everything...I really like the new F-150 and the Tahoe. But I decided to go w/another Grand Cherokee Main reason I liked the everyday size of the GC better and my wife was really uncomfortable driving anything bigger...she will be getting this in a year or two when we start having kids so that was important. So its an inferno red limited w/the Hemi...I haven't towed w/it yet but will be in a couple of weeks. Thanks again for the opinions! Joez the CJ is done and running quite well...
Let us know on it's towing performance. I would imagine you will be fairly low in gross weight with a smaller GC and the Hemi will probably do great.
Hey Im coming in late here but I think the grand will do great. Just make sure that you hook up the Electric trailer brakes right away so that you never have to worry about the tail wagging the dog with that shorter wheelbase. I know from experience that it is not fun. My XJ cherokee swapped ends at 45mph because the wheel base was short and the trailer got squirly (no brakes) if that is not enough than you could look in to a sway control. Congrats on the new tow rig. waytogo We need more minority rigs out there to balence out all of us diesel guys. Also glad to see another Jeeper on here. there are way too many fullsize guys here. :stir: waytogo
I'll let you all know...it will be a few weeks. The true test will be when I take it to Colorado in September. burnout
