I was flat towing my CJ yesterday (about 400 miles) the Grand Cherokee (WK) tows awesome the Hemi had so much power that the CJ I was pulling is all that held me up...so nice to pull w/power and brake like nothing was behind me... But I turned from a stop light right into a two lane road...very slowly and wide but a median in the middle wouldn't let it be super wide... 2/3 of the way into the turn it started pulsating and at first I thought the CJ wasn't turning correctly and was shoving my WK but as I thought it about it more if felt like ABS then later in the day it did it again and it was definately ABS or the MSD/traction control... It kinda freaked me out and was looking for anyone else that's had this and have a solution...should I turn off the traction control when flat towing? When I use a trailer when towing the CJ should I expect this with my trailer brakes plugged in? I will have it in a few weeks...
IMHO, the towing scare is that you are towing a CJ (flat towing or not) with a grand cherokee.. now thats scary. Scott
I have been flat towing with a Grand Cherokee for over three years and never had a problem...my other GC never had any issues towing my CJ, It is looking like this leading to the new MSD traction control system...it has a nice off switch witch I am going to utilize going forward. The system automatically shifts power and braking to wheels to prevent any slip. Anyone have any specific input? Thanks! Sponge
A Hemi powered GC is fine hauling around a little Jeep. Not everyone needs a diesel powered 3/4ton.... ANyway, back to the question. I would think it would work better on a trailer. Maybe the trailer won't push and pull as much as the CJ with a tow bar.
Yes the trailer is coming soon...my Dad is using it to haul logs up and down the hill on his property for the new house he is building (log cabin style) as soon as he's done its mine. It might be a little long for what I will be using if for...SO if anyone catches wind of a used trailer that's long enough for a CJ drop me a line please. Thanks! Sponge
Keep your "you can only tow with a 3/4 ton diesel" attitude over on pirate. He is well within the limits of the GC, and being somebody who has seen him tow with his last GC, I know that he knows what he is doing. Sponge, take it out arround where you live and see how it handles without the traction control. Im betting that the lack of tongue weight is screwing with the computer as your CJ starts to push on your Grand. It should do quite a bit better with a trailer behind it, tongue weight and trailer brakes make a world of difference.
Doesnt need to be a diesel, but should be a 3/4 ton, IMHO... opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and they usually stink.
Nope, it is a FACT that he is within the manufacturers GCWR. Neither Dodge or the highway patrol would have a problem at all with his setup. Sorry but him being fine with a GC is not a stinky butthole, its a fact. According to Dodge.... A GC can safely tow 6,500lbs when properly equipped (like Sponge's GC). A small Jeep being flat towed is no where near 6,500lbs. Heck, it could flat tow that 3/4t 4x4 pickup that you think he needs. His Jeep on a trailer will be getting close to 6,500lbs, but probably not over, and anyone that tows knows that the factory ratings are conservative anyway, but that doesn't matter because he still wouldn't be pulling at full GCWR anyway..... I'd like to see you still say he's crazy now. opcorn: oke: Have a nice evening.
Having been involved in an accident while riding with someone flat towing a jeep with a grand cherokee, because someone cut in front of my buddy on the freeway, and my buddy couldnt stop all the weight pushing on him, I still stand by my opinion. He may have been within the weight ratings, but until he's involved in an accident because he couldnt stop fast enough while flat towing, he won't know what its like. Honestly, putting the jeep on a car trailer thats got at least brakes on one axle is going to be safer than flat towing it, with no brakes on the towed vehicle. And yes, I flat tow with my truck, but I rarely go over 60 mph, and I stay in the slow lane. As soon as my trailer is done I will be using that. Im not arguing that he wasnt within the weight ratings, but having been involved in an accident while my buddy was flat towing, it always scares me when I hear of smaller vehicles like the GC flat towing another jeep. again.. this is just my point of view, and I do understand, he's within weight ratings.. I guess I should have clarified my point in the original reply. Scott
Clarified and understood thanks for the input... I am looking forward to having the trailer... It states in the specs not to have a trailer over 30ft which is WAY bigger than I need anyway does anyone have a recommendation for a trailer The Specs for are as follows for my GC: 330 BHP @ 5100 RPM 375 LB-FT @ 3500 RPM Max gross trailer weight 7200 lbs 3.73:1 axle ratio Power steering cooler Transmission oil cooler (auxiliary, external) Frame-mounted receptacle for load-equalizer type hitch 7-way and 4-way plug harness (pre-wired for brake controller) I specifically optioned this w/the Hemi and towing pkg to tow my GC on a trailer so any advice or input (beyond buy a 3/4 Ton) would be appreciated! waytogo Cheers, Sponge
I would recomend at least a sway control. Having towed trailers with a shorter wheelbase vehicle I know that you can get the tail-wagging-the-dog problem and its not fun. Depending on how the truck tows, you may consider a weight distributing hitch setup as well. And you DEFINATLY want electric brakes before you even move the trailer. -Brent
I am definately doing brakes preferably on both axles...was planning on a sway control DC recommends a weight distribution I believe... so I will likely go w/all of the above I am making a trip to Colorado and the last thing I want or need is any concerns going through the mountains... Does anyone have a recommendation for shop (Joez in the area/Chicago?) or where to begin looking for all of this? I am hoping to find a used trailer and new of the above... Thanks! Sponge
Uhm, NO! There is no way you can safely Flat-Tow a vehicle twice the size of the tow rig. Him towing the CJ is fine because it can not push the Grand Cherokee into a jackknife, but a 3/4 ton pickup would at any speed above 5 MPH. I've flat towed a 1 ton Ford crewcab dually with my 3/4 ton Chevy once, well within the weight rating for a trailer, but could not go over 5 mph safely because I had no control of where the steering would take the front of the Ford above that speed. Flat towing is a completely different animal than towing with a trailer or car dolley.
you had the steering wheel locked right? it should be locked. yeah, it will cause a bit of tire scrub and that is most likely what you are feeling.... just a thought though... grant
No steering wheel was unlocked...but it appears after talking w/Jeep that it the traction control system. With the extra weight pushing it but not on the tounge going around a corner screws up the gyroscope for balance and traction and that's what happened...so I just need to turn off the traction control when flat towing. Hopefully won't be doing it much if ever again anyway...trailer is coming soon
I was always told you leave the wheel unlocked, at least thats how I flat towed my K5 200 miles with no problem. It followed right behind me and the wheels centered out every time??
