austr1

Hello, I am new to this site so I hope this is in the correct location. I have a 2001 Cherokee that is stock. I recently got a trailer and the jeep tows it fine. The problem is that around 65 mph the jeep struggles, especially on hills. I was hoping there were some performance mods that would help. I looked up some and thought a Jet 1 chip with an cold air intake might be the best bet. I did find a GF1 chip for under $100. I says it will add upwards of 60hp. I dont know if I believ that. Usually if it sounds too good to be true it is. Can anyone give me some help with this or suggest a direction that may help me out. Oh the trailer is only 3000 pounds.

kyledye25

You should probably try a full tune up first. Chips aren't going to do anything. Many people will tell you that here. The only things you can do to help would be a cold air intake(spectra makes a cowl intake worth buying), bigger throttle body, and a better free flowing exhaust. That would help. Swapping fuel injectors may help as well. Search for "neon" injector swap. Mines a 96 and I did the injector swap...couldn't be happier. It didn't add power really, maybe a tiny bit, but made a difference on how the jeep runs over all. Which is much better. More will chime in..

kyledye25

Oh....and welcome to the forum!

93XJLI

3000lbs? thats a lot of trailer for a XJ...

ultimate-xj

Actually the super hip give you pretty good gains as far as percentage. 190 hp and 230 tq stock with programmer intake and throttle body gain 30 hp and 30 tq. That's over 10% I would say that's pretty good for bolt on's.

VTJeep

A general rule for increasing HP/TQ:
Air
Fuel
Spark
Compression
However, without going all out, several things can be done to free up existing ponies. If you do mod the intake know the difference between WAI and CAI. A true CAI can be done for same price as WAI. Larger TB needs matched manifold port, the larger TB alone won't matter if manifold inlet is still OEM spec. Free flowing exhaust. Better plugs/wires, probably could consider cleaning/replacing TPS, IAC valves, o2 sensors. A company called B&M makes a tranny cooler that takes the responsibility of cooling the transmission off the radiator, that's a good thing. New fluids and a good radiator flush. Unplug (or just scrap) the a/c, replace the mechanical fan with electric- two benefits with this, the option to put a control switch in the cab for the hot days/long trails and it free's up some more of those afore mentioned ponies.

Edit- if you did the chip, I'd say don't make it the first mod. You'll get crazy HP gains (like they claim) in a 7.4L TT diesel type scenario, but nominal gains in a stock lil 4.0...

SeriousOffroad

Proper gearing is the best upgrade you can do.

FunkRider

You might be disappointed after you spend a wad of money on an intake, TB, header and exhaust and the difference is only marginal when towing. Like SeriousOffroad said you should be looking at gearing. Are you running stock sized tires? That is a heavy trailer for an XJ. If you don't tow often just accept the lack of power, hit the 4 ways and drop your speed on hills instead of kicking the crap out of the engine to keep it over 60mph.


You're telling me you actually think you will see 30hp total from a programer, intake and throttle body? Bolt on mods do not add up like that.

BC5one3

Gears and a good running engine that can breath and exhale good... And if ur pulln 3000lbs behind a cherokee at 65 mph or faster il stay behind u n watch u swap out that car in front of u hope u got trailer backs

salad

+1 on regearing. The Tow Package came with a transmission cooler, OEM hitch, and a bit deeper gear ratio (3.73:1 vs 3.55:1). If you're on an automatic (I assume so, you didn't mention what transmission you have) then rolling around in overdrive pulling that kind of load will certainly make an XJ grumpy. Better intake and exhaust will definitely help overall. I'd look at a cowl breather with a good filter, some exhaust upgrades, and gearing at the same time if I was serious about towing.

Chips won't work for crap on the 4.0.

DirtRoadXJ

x5 on the regearing.

ultimate-xj

Programmer
https://www.superchips.com/Store/tab...q/Default.aspx

Intake, programmer, and throttle body.
https://www.superchips.com/Store/tab...mer_EXT_(99-01)

Everybody that has used these said they were money well spent.

Not say that gears aren't the best bet but the programmer isn't a waste of money.

I would be interested to hear from anyone that has tried one on a 97 and newer and didn't like it.

cookrw

This is something I have always wondered, my Jeep has lines that run from the trans to the radiator. Is that a trans cooler, or something else?

Oh, and drive in 3rd, not OD, when pulling big loads. I have been taught to do that with all of the vehicles I have driven (That don't have a separate tow/haul setting)
I don't think Jeeps would be any different, and that is what I do when I tow stuff with mine

SeriousOffroad

Yes

outkast

They call it a cooler but its hard to cool something when it is ran threw boiling hot coolant.