www.iFourWinns.com

Thinking about switching up my Yukon.... THe new Jeep Grand Cherokee SAYS it can tow up to 7200 pounds. My Yukon is rated for 7400. A little smaller wheelbase....

Do you guys think a Jeep can tow a big H240? Am I smokin' crack? Sure, it may be rated for it... but just the wheelbase/size difference...

What does everyone think?

I'm not a regular trailering person... I slip my boat, but pull it out every month or two for a cleaning... And I may occassionally take it about 150 miles over some mountain passes to a resort lake in Central Washington....

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

My comment on this is probably a waste of time because the vehicles are completely different but here it goes.. I have a 2004 Jeep GC with the 4.0 engine. Chrysler rates the towing capacity at 5500 lbs. This rating is completely overrated. She has trouble pulling my H180 up hills and highway merging can be a challenge. The vehicle and engine has changed so much though that i would NOT put much value in my comments. Good luck!

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2007 H210
2011 Chevrolet Tahoe LT

I know nothing about the Jeep, but wouldn't be surprised if it's overrated on the capacity. For comparison, my F-150 is rated for 7,300#. My actual (weighed) boat/trailer weight is 6,500#. The truck does quite well on level to moderate terrain, but if I were towing through any big hills on a regular basis I'd have to go with something bigger.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

FWIW my '04 Durango has AWD and a Hemi, and it doesn't tow my 225 Sundowner like it did my Sea Ray 185 bowrider...I can definatly tell the 225 is back there. I wish I had a longer wheelbase, but then it wouldn't fit in the garage.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Typically tow ratings are based on stopping power vs. pulling power. If your trailer brakes work properly & you're not going to be in a hurry, you should be fine.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

I have an '06 Grand Cherokee with the Hemi, there's absolutely no comparison to the 4.0L engine. Nor is the new 3.0L diesel, both are towing beasts compared to the previous engines. But I don't tow with mine so I can't really say how well it'd handle the boat. But you might want to ask over at the jeepsunlimited.com web forums: http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/fo ... .php?f=181

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

You don't want my opinion either. For towing anything on mountain roads (even if its 5 miles) safety first. Who cares if the little motor will get it going and the brakes will stop it in most cases? IMHO you need a tow vehicle that will handle the panic situations as well! This means longer wheel base, heavier tires, not just a brake system that gets by, and suspension system that can handle load in panic maneuvers. Will the jeep satisfy all this better than what you have currently?

I have towed boat, jet skis, 5th wheel, ATV/dirt bikes, and jeep over our mountain roads with many different tow vehicle's over the years and I really like a little more tow vehicle than what will just get you by, and don't ever listen to a salesman. IMHO many of todays SUV are over rated on there towing specs. We have a tahoe in the driveway, with a towing spec just over 8k, I don't like towing more than 5k with it, but thats just me.

Good luck

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Thanks for the feedback guys... I checked out the Jeep and the ride/interior just wasn't too my liking... which - my wife is happy because it's one less thing I get to nag her about.

Now back to boating!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I know you are not getting a Jeep. But I have a 2002 Jeep GC with the 5.4L V8. I did add air bags, but it tows my 2000 - 230 just fine.

I pull my 05' 200 Horizon with my Jeep Grand Cherokee and I can't even feel it back there, even through the hills in southern MO. My jeep has the 5.7 Hemi and I love it.

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2005 200 Horizon 5.0 MPI
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 5.7 Hemi

I know this is an old thread, but in case someone else searches it, I thought I would provide feedback as well.

I have a '95 240 horizon. I tow it regularly with my 2002 Grand Cherokee, using a weight distributing hitch (per Jeep's specs) without any problems or an drama. My Grand Cherokee is rated for 6500 lbs with the weight equalizing hitch.

Most of my towing is less than 10 miles each way, but I do tow it 90 minutes to another lake, and don't have any problems.

Certainly a bigger vehicle will tow it better, and I notice a clear difference between towing it with our Suburban, but if anyone wants to know whether it will work and whether it's reasonable, I would say yes.

I am pulling our 1998 Baja 252 for my 2002 Chevy Trailblazer LTZ. Most Trailblazers are rated for 5500#, but because mine is an LTZ with tow package standard and heavier suspension components it is rated at 6200. My boat weighs about 4200 dry and trailer probably another 1300 and it seems to tow just fine. I can tell it is there and I never go on the highway with it. She gets a little funny at anything over 55-60 MPH and I don't trust it. WE only live about 4 miles from the launch we use 90% of the time so it works fine. I think you would be ok on shorter trips, but not sure about long highway trips. Wheelbase just to short for comfort IMO. You get a strong cross wind at say 65 MPH and the boat is going to take over.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I towed my old 88 H200 with my 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 six and it got the job done but needed good trailer brakes and air bags in the rear coils....and a highway trip would leave you wanting more power..
We just bought a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 5.7 Hemi...I have not towed the boat with it yet...but let me tell you this thing is seriously FAST...muscle car fast off the line...I may wind up putting the Air Lift air bags in the rear coils....but for its size I think it will tow great.

And one more thing....Jeep Grand Cherokees have an optional feature that few other SUVs have...Quadradrive II...this is the full time transfer case with electronic locking front and rear differentials...this would give it a substantial traction advantage on slippery slimey ramps as compared to trucks with open diffs or just a traditional limited slip in the rear...the GM trucks did have the option of the Eaton locker which I'd certainly get if I were buying one...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II