Planning to purchase -- need guidance!
 

I've joined the forum because I'm interested in buying an older (+/- MY2000) Cherokee capable of towing a tent trailer (around 2600# empty). I will use the vehicle to tow, some commuting and for my fly fishing jaunts. Any 'off-road' use would be minimal -- such as leaving gravel to dirt for river access etc., and reasonable elevation changes are possible.

If you care to weigh in, I'd appreciate it. Here are some questions:

1 - Cherokee or Grand Cherokee?
2 - I'm pretty certain I prefer the 6 cylinder w/AT. And you?
3 - I've looked at a couple -- one was 2WD and the other full time 4WD. Are other options available? Somewhat concerned about maintenance and economy with full time.
4 - Were multiple 'tow packages' available? I have the idea that can be the case, and don't know that much about it. Any light you could shed would be great.

Thanks in advance for comments!

I think both a cherokee xj or grand cherokee zj would work well for you. I'm not sure where you live, but 4wd is a must for the winters I go through. All of the v8 grand Cherokees are all wheel drive, but can be converted to 2wd/4wd with a transfercase swap. Any xj/ZJ with a tow package will most likely have 3.73 gears as opposed to 3.55, and a transmission cooler. If you could find one with a tow package id jump on it.

Explain xj zj please...

a XJ is a cherokee produced from 1984-2001 and a ZJ is a grand cherokee produced 1993-1998.

Sorry I should've explained that better.
Cherokee (84-01) XJ
Grand Cherokee (1993-98 ) ZJ

Grand Cherokee (2005+) WK
Grand Cherokee (1999-2004) WJ
Wrangler (1942-1986) CJ
Wrangler (1987-1985) YJ
Wrangler (1997+) TJ
Liberty (2002+) KJ

1986 was when they started calling it wranglers. They never called them wranglers before that

Welcome to the site.

Tony