Towing Jeep "4 down"...

[honu]

I know this is a forum dedicated to the Liberty, but hopefully, my question can be answered by the knowledgeable folks here....

I'm looking at a 2006 Grand Cherokee with a 4.7 engine and an electronic four wheel drive system. The reason for this potential purchase is, we want a vehicle to tow behind our motorhome and the GC fits our needs.

Unfortunately, we bought a 2WD Liberty back in '02 and the cost of the mods needed to make it towable aren't worth it. I plan on keeping the Liberty, this GC would be for my wife's use and when we're on vacation.

My concern though is, can this vehicle be towed 4 down? It doesn't have the traditional transfer case in which you can shift it into neutral with a nice, big fat lever... everything is done by pushing buttons.

Thanks for any insight you might provide.

 

[dude1116]

Quoted from About.com: "If your 4WD has no manual lockout hubs and/or no manual transfer case, then you will need a coupling device on the rear drive shaft to tow it safely."

I would assume probably not. Without a little work. I would say check the owner's manual, but you don't own the Jeep. DOH!

 

[honu]

Quoted from About.com: "If your 4WD has no manual lockout hubs and/or no manual transfer case, then you will need a coupling device on the rear drive shaft to tow it safely."

I would assume probably not. Without a little work. I would say check the owner's manual, but you don't own the Jeep. DOH!

I kinda thinkin' you're right about the lack of a manual transfer case... but, being completely uneducated in the ways of the electronic 4X4 systems, I thought I'd be better off asking the experts.

I don't have access to the owner's manual, I haven't purchased the vehice as of yet... but I've found that on this particular subject, they can be a bit ambiguous... or they don't address it at all.

As it turns out, just after I posted up, I had a chance to speak with a Jeep service tech. He stated the electronic 4X4 system is NOT compatible with towing on all four wheels, I'd have to install a disconnect kit... something I could just as easily do on my Liberty.

Oh well, back to shoppin'....

Thanks for your help.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Buy a 4X4 Liberty.
I've spoken with allot of RV'ers who tow them and love them.

 

[honu]

Buy a 4X4 Liberty.
I've spoken with allot of RV'ers who tow them and love them.

Agreed, they're a great vehicle. Had I done proper research and not relied on what a salesman said, I'd have bought the 4WD Liberty back in '02. Learned my lesson... Oh well, that's water under the bridge... so I'm gonna be searching for a clean, used Liberty 4X4 as a tow'd.

 

[dude1116]

So out of curiosity, why can you tow the 4x4 and not the 4x2? >.>

 

[Ry' N Jen]

So out of curiosity, why can you tow the 4x4 and not the 4x2? >.>

The 4x4 has a transfer case which can be shifted into neutral, this disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain, thus being able to be used for flat towing behind another vehicle.

 

[dude1116]

The 4x4 has a transfer case which can be shifted into neutral, this disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain, thus being able to be used for flat towing behind another vehicle.

Hmmm didn't know that the T-Case disengaged the driveshafts. Good to know!!!

 

[HoosierJeeper]

You can..it will have Neutral. On the T handle 4 LO thing, near there, there will be a small button that you push with a pen tip that is for Neutral.

 

[honu]

Just for the sake of discussion, would it be feasible to install the transfer case, front differential and axles in a 2WD Liberty? The reason I'd consider this is that my Liberty has been absolutely bullet proof... aside from the ball joint recall, nothing has ever broken on this vehicle.

I realize anything can be done, as long as cost isn't a factor... but could this be done for a reasonable cost. I pretty sure the parts can be obtained through a salvage yard or on-lione.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Just for the sake of discussion, would it be feasible to install the transfer case, front differential and axles in a 2WD Liberty? The reason I'd consider this is that my Liberty has been absolutely bullet proof... aside from the ball joint recall, nothing has ever broken on this vehicle.

I realize anything can be done, as long as cost isn't a factor... but could this be done for a reasonable cost. I pretty sure the parts can be obtained through a salvage yard or on-lione.

By the time you add up all the parts required to convert your 4X2 to 4X4,
it would be less costly to purchase a 4X4 KJ.
Then just keep the 4X2 as a parts truck.

 

[JeepJeepster]

In short, yes, you can tow a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a motor home if it has the little lever to put it in 4low. As said, there is a small button you press to put the Tcase in Neutral.

 

[Josh]

Just for the sake of discussion, would it be feasible to install the transfer case, front differential and axles in a 2WD Liberty? The reason I'd consider this is that my Liberty has been absolutely bullet proof... aside from the ball joint recall, nothing has ever broken on this vehicle.

I realize anything can be done, as long as cost isn't a factor... but could this be done for a reasonable cost. I pretty sure the parts can be obtained through a salvage yard or on-lione.

I saw this on CL and though of this thread:
2002 - 2003 Jeep Liberty
its on the other side of the country from you, but it does show someone else has considered the conversion.