Tow Vehicle

Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 15:23
ThreadID: 131405 Views:3355 Replies:10 FollowUps:13
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Hello, wondering if anyone is using a Jeep Grand Cherokee as a tow vehicle and if so, what are the pros and cons. I'm currently using a Patrol. Thank you.
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Reply By: Notso - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 15:58

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 15:58
Good mate has one, well he had one and traded it in on a BT50, which he traded in on another Jeep Grand Cherokee. He loves it and after his little adventure into a BT50, he couldn't wait to get back into a Jeep! Should say he tows a big van with it around 2.7 tonnes.
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Follow Up By: Greg_513 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 16:06

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 16:06
Thank you Notso. I tow a 21'6 van and max I can tow with the auto patrol is 2500 kg. We're still undecided but leaning heavily towards the Jeep.
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Reply By: Kevin S - Life Member (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 16:01

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 16:01
A lot of people are, Greg, but you might find more of them on a caravan forum such as the one associated with the Caravan and Motorhome magazine and Web site.
Cheers, Kevin
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Follow Up By: Greg_513 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 16:07

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 16:07
Thank you Kevin. I'll check that forum.
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Reply By: Crackles - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 19:02

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 19:02
Pros. Excellent power, very comfortable, high level specs at a relatively cheap price.
Cons. At a little over 2 tonne they are fairly light for towing a big van & can be a touch unreliable.
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Follow Up By: Greg_513 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 20:36

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 20:36
Thank you Crackles.
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Reply By: TomH - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 19:50

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 19:50
Have a read on here Some love them Some hate them

Do a search on "Towing with a jeep" Been fiercely debated by the lovers and haters LOL
Caravanners forumUp to you
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Follow Up By: Greg_513 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 20:36

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 20:36
Thank you TomH
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Reply By: Top End Az - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 20:38

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 20:38
As has been said; people love em or hate them. The bloke in this video which was on the news about a year ago didnt think much of his.
http://www.destroymyjeep.com/
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Reply By: Keith H7 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 21:28

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 21:28
I have a Grand Cherokee DIESEL and love it. Yes had a couple of issues over 2 years but nothing major (more issues with the dealers) Jeep Australia are excellent with service and providing advise. My belief is that there are issues with all vehicles at some point. I have two other friends with Jeep Cherokees that pull vans up to 26 ft with no issues, good consumption etc.Those that have never driven a Jeep are quick to be negative.... without any substance. DON'T HOLD BACK
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 21:56

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 21:56
As a member of the Melb Jeep club for 6 years unfortunately Keith I saw plenty of substance to back up the many negative reports. All brands have issues but never have I seen tilt trays called for on so many trips for all manner of faults. If you get a good one they are a great car............
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Follow Up By: Member - mark D18 - Thursday, Jan 21, 2016 at 18:12

Thursday, Jan 21, 2016 at 18:12
The problem is there is plenty of negative substance ,hence the defensiveness from owners I guess

Cheers
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Reply By: Member - WBS - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 21:54

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 21:54
I tow with a Jeep Grand Cherokee (2012 V6 diesel). My caravan comes in at around 2.5 ton loaded. Before the Jeep I towed the same van with an 80 series Land Cruiser diesel with aftermarket turbo. Performance wise its chalk and cheese.

The Jeep tows it much better. Far more powerful, far more economical, just as stable and much more comfortable.
The Land cruiser would only tow comfortably in 4th gear(manual) and would die on hills. I didn't rate it highly as a tow vehicle in the end. It did the job but slowly.

With the Jeep I average 13.7 litres/100km (towing) so far.
With the 80 Series I averaged 19 litres/100km (towing) over its life.

Regarding reliability: I doubt I will ever own a more reliable vehicle than my 80 series. It was extremely reliable. It never failed to proceed once in the 16 years I owned it. I spent about $1500 on repairing stuff that broke over the 16 years I owned it. That does not include the many thousands I spent on regular maintenance and servicing. The Jeep has also proven to be reliable so far but only time will tell and its early days. From my experience it is no less reliable than any other modern vehicle on the road. It is also no slouch off road.

What don't I like about the Jeep?
That the spare is inside the vehicle and not under it.
I'm not sure how readily available spare parts are out of the big cities, or even in the big cities for that matter.

That's my take.

WBS


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Follow Up By: Crackles - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 22:13

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 22:13
Comparing the power & fuel econemy of a current model verses a 26 year old design, I'd be pretty dissapointed if some improvement hadn't been made no matter what brand ;-)
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Follow Up By: Nutta - Thursday, Jan 21, 2016 at 21:33

Thursday, Jan 21, 2016 at 21:33
I hear the tojo 200s can use around 25lph towing so that line doesnt make sense.
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Follow Up By: Kyle H - Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 08:29

Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 08:29
You probably heard that from somebody that doesn't own one.
How come every time tow vehicles are discussed 200series comparisons start.
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Follow Up By: Greg_513 - Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 15:24

Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 15:24
Thank you all for your responses
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Reply By: Ron N - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 23:35

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2016 at 23:35
Greg - Product Review provides a level of feedback from many actual owners, that gives you an insight into potential Jeep problems.
Take out the reviews where an owner has only just taken delivery of his/her Jeep and can't provide a history of usage.
Take out the reviews where the "owner" is obviously a Jeep salesperson.
Ignore the reviews where the owner says he's done nearly 300,000 kms, and never spent a cent on it.
Then you're left with a range of honest reviews - some good, some not so good.

Common, recurring Jeep stories are that Chrysler Australia treats you like a cockroach if you have the gall to complain about their product.
The stories about the dreadful Jeep parts prices, and lack of parts availability are largely true.
The pricing isn't getting any better with the AU$ sinking to 68 cents against the US$.
The dealer you buy your Jeep from, appears to have a large effect on how the product is viewed.

A recent complaint on this forum involves the Jeep capless fuel filler and the difficulty/impossibility of refuelling from hi-flow pumps.
I understand a special funnel is provided to allow refuelling from a can, but this funnel does not allow the use of a hi-flow pump.

Product Review - Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep refuelling - capless filler doesn't allow hi-flow pumps to be used

Cheers, Ron.
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Follow Up By: Greg_513 - Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 15:28

Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 15:28
Thank you Ron.
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Reply By: TomH - Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 10:29

Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 10:29
http://www.canstarblue.com.au/vehicles/cars/overall/

http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/cars/consumer-reports-best-and-worst-car-brands-in-2015-include-lexus-mazda-and-toyota-1.10387053

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/02/25/jd-power-vds-reliability/23982237/
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Follow Up By: Greg_513 - Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 15:24

Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 15:24
Thanks again Tom
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Follow Up By: Ron N - Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 17:33

Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 17:33
It's interesting to see that 2 out of 3 of TomH's links are of U.S. origin, where the models and type of usage are often considerably different to Australia.

In the first Australian-based link, Canstar state that in their clients feedback the car owners put reliability 4th out of 6 ownership requirements. They claim that people put "driving pleasure" 1st.

I think that shows that the type of people they have interviewed, must have been a very narrow base group.
The reason I think that, is - people living within close range of a dealer or towing service don't place any major value on reliability - because if their vehicle breaks down, it's of no real concern to them, as assistance and optional transport is readily available.

However, anyone who lives well away from dealers, mechanics, towing services and alternative transport, would place reliability 1st on the list of owner requirements.

I know I place reliability top of the list in vehicle ownership - because nothing is worse than a vehicle that won't go, when you expect it to. And nothing is worse than being stranded far from home and help.

For that reason, if I look at any potential vehicle purchase, and there is a whiff of repeat stories about reliability issues, then I cross that vehicle off my list.

Cheers, Ron.
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Reply By: Greg_513 - Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 15:26

Friday, Jan 22, 2016 at 15:26
Thank you to everyone who has responded to my query. We now have numerous places to go for research and appreciate ths advice given. Thanks again. Greg.
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