chrisshreves

So, I am going on a camping trip this coming march, and I plan on doing some towing with my XJ. I will be towing my four wheeler (est. 600lbs.) on a 4x6 trailer (est. 400lbs). I also estimate that I will have roughly 300lbs of cargo load inside the Jeep, along with me and my cousin @ 200lbs a piece. Adding this all up I'm thinking the total load I will be putting on my Jeep is about 700lbs inside and 1000lbs towing. The trip I am making is about 250 miles one way, mostly interstate. Although I am in West Virginia, meaning flat roads are few are far between.

My XJ is a 1999 4.0 AW4 NP242 with 8.25" rear end (3.55 gears) on 235/75/R15's, No Trans Cooler (yet).

With this load should I tow in 3rd gear? Or can I tow in 4th? My XJ does not have the OD Off button. My grandfather seems to believe what I'm towing isn't a large load and that towing in 3rd would be a waste of fuel. I seem to think otherwise without a trans cooler.

If I can't tow in 4th with OD, if I invested in a transmission cooler would that suffice for towing this load in 4th with OD?

Any responses are appreciated!

thatXJguy

To be honest, the Cherokee has a rated towing capacity of about 5000 pounds. You'll be fine in overdrive with the inline 6. Even my friend's 4 cylinder Jeep (on 33's with 4:10 gearing) was able to tow another Cherokee on a 400-pound trailer.

peep

Pick up a trans cooler, about $60 with hoses and clamps, plumb it in. Good for your all round drive as well as your tow. Run her in OD.

hellrazor762

X2

chrisshreves

Thanks guys. I will do some research and see what I come up with. Any recomendations on brands?

hellrazor762

What ever you find at discount auto will work.
I put in an elec fan too.

The Rooster

you defintly need a trans cooler

gone4x4

tran kewler is a wunderful ideer,but in the interim, ifin the torque convertor keeps engaging and disengaging, i would pull it down 1 gear,then back up, dont force the issue, and yew will be fine!

stang65

trans cooler. the jeep should be fine Ive pulled alot more with mine with no issues other than down shifting for some hills.

chrisshreves

Ok sounds good. Thanks guys!

Unknown XJ

I thought you should keep your AW4 in third cause it could burn up your torque converter. Where abouts are you in WV?

chrisshreves

I am located just south of Morgantown.

Unknown XJ

Good to see more WV folks on here. Welcome BTW...... I'm in the southern part of the state.
I would recommend more research before you go fourth with your trip. There are some mountains here in our state that our XJ's just plain don't like lol. But if iirc you gotta keep it in third when towing. Ill see if I can find a link for you.

Unknown XJ

Here you go....
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/for...e/33285/page1/
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1056696
And just for good measure....
http://jeep-forums.4wd.com/showthrea...-AW4-questions

chrisshreves

THANK YOU!! I will be investing in one soon! Just pulled over 4,000lbs behind my XJ hauling metal to the scrap yard the other day, all city driving though. She seemed to have plenty of power, stopping was not fun at all though haha!