2000 Cherokee towing capacity
#4
☠ CF Sheriff ☠
a general rule of thumb for *safe* towing long distances
The weight of the Trailer + Load < 80% Curb weight of vehicle doing the towing
So in our case 80% of 3360lb = 2688lb.
This is not because the engine can't pull it, because it certainly can. It's because you need to be able to CONTROL the load. A Cherokee is very light, especially in the rear end. It is physically impossible for a vehicle to control a load heavier than what it weighs itself. Imagine needing to make a turn at the bottom of a hill. The load wants to keep going straight and could jackknife or flip the vehicle pulling it. Also, i'm sure you've realized by now that our brakes aren't exactly very good at stopping the jeep by itself, never mind with a heavy trailer attached.
I personally wouldn't recommend pulling more than 3000lb (assuming you have a class III hitch)
The weight of the Trailer + Load < 80% Curb weight of vehicle doing the towing
So in our case 80% of 3360lb = 2688lb.
This is not because the engine can't pull it, because it certainly can. It's because you need to be able to CONTROL the load. A Cherokee is very light, especially in the rear end. It is physically impossible for a vehicle to control a load heavier than what it weighs itself. Imagine needing to make a turn at the bottom of a hill. The load wants to keep going straight and could jackknife or flip the vehicle pulling it. Also, i'm sure you've realized by now that our brakes aren't exactly very good at stopping the jeep by itself, never mind with a heavy trailer attached.
I personally wouldn't recommend pulling more than 3000lb (assuming you have a class III hitch)
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Spencer_P (03-30-2022)
#6
CF Veteran
How far and what type of terrain....I tow my 6000 lb boat 10 or 15 miles on flat Long Island. It can pull it....stopping quickly is another issue. You want to be legal....its probably a lot less
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