I own a 98 Cherokee Sport 4x4 with a tow package which I bought brand new. I now have nearly 260K miles on it and although I have taken very good care of it, I'm planning to move from Southern California to North Carolina in a few weeks.

My plan is to tow my 5x8 open trailer (about 500lbs) with a road bike of about 600lbs and possibly my roll away tool box which may weigh another 500 lbs plus some ancillary stuff, clothes confuser guns, yada, yada.

My question is about the transmission's ability to make this trip. I have serviced the trans (AW4) with complete flush and refills three times during it's life each time running roughly 90qts through til it came out clean and in general taken very good care of the vehicle. I'm not experiencing any current symptoms with the trans or engine but ....should the trans be able to make this 2400 mile trip towing a 1500 lb load or am I headed for trouble? What are some things I should be thinking of regarding this tow? What say you all?

 

that trans is a great unit. you should be fine, take it easy when you can, and i'd cruise around 60.

are you gonna have brakes on that trailer??

 

Does your XJ have a tranny cooler installed? That would probably be near the top of my list.

 

Yea for sure i would also recommend keep your speed down. It will pull the load much better and save on everything. "If you will drive it across town-drive it across the country."

 

I know that the load I'm planning towing is well within the allowable limits and if it were newer, I'd feel better. I have towed bigger trailers a time or two, but only a few hundred miles ... and there are no brakes on the trailer, as it is a single 2900 lb axle. Should it have brakes?

And, yes, it has a trans cooler and HD radiator.

 

You should be well within your bounds, but you may want to put in some fresh tranny oil just to make sure it's up for the trip.

As for how many miles is "too many..." when your gauge rolls back over to zero.

 

Very well put. Run that good old 4.0 until it dies. I have seen plenty of them over 300k and still running good and strong. Just make sure all the normal maint. is up to schedule and you should be fine.

 

i don't know, i'm no trailer expert, but putting over 2 grand on the back is gonna effect your braking a lot, make sure you plan for that big time.

 

If you aren't having problems now then you should be fine so long as you don't push it too hard. I made this same trip 4 times, twice in my exploder. First time with 180k miles and back with 240k miles. Know your truck and you'll be fine. Take it easy. Give yourself more braking room.

I would suggest going the southern route on I-40. When I came back the first time, I went north through I-70 (I think, through Denver since I was heading to RI) and it was hell on my truck due to the hills. the I-40 route isn't bad. I-8 to I-10 can be a bit brutal during the summer if you are towing. Hot truck, hot brakes...generally miserable time.