Can Jeep cherokees haul a 2 horse trailer with dressing room?

[Bluey]

@RPM

Is your name Td?

No, I didn’t think so. I was addressing the OP.

BTW, Td, I wouldn’t haul long distances in a 1500. 2500 minimum.

We only had and have now 150s.
We have hauled long distances without any trouble.

Many, many do so, with the right trailers and cargo.

When the 1 ton quit and a friend trainer needed to make a two day trip far away, he took his 3 horse and dressing room trailer and our 150 and did just fine pulling it.

He didn’t load the trailer full, but for one horse, no problem.
We have made plenty of long trips with ours pulling our steel stock trailer to many places.

Our 1990 F150 4x4 is still going strong, after pulling our trailers, first a bp, later a gn, for all these years.
Today’s 150s are even much better at pulling.

Sure, the more trailer, the more pickup you need, but don’t dismiss 150s.
In the right place, they are fine.

[gumtree]

I have had 6 Cherokees over the years. Starting in the late 80s with “down size” body style. First one had the crappy carburetor V-6 it was a POS. Then went to the Straight 6 cyl. Limited. Good strong engine for its size. Only towed the odd 2 horse with it and not far. Had several of those. Moved into the new Grand Cherokees with the V-8 when they came out in the 90s. MUCH better for towing and just a much better vehicle over all. Had a 2001 GC Laredo big V-8 with the tow package. Towed a steel 2 BH (steel) all over the place with it, 1 or 2 horse load, to Lex KY, Va SC, NY etc. Towed like a champ never had any issues nor concerns. I also towed a fully loaded 16 foot flat trailer to Co several time back and forth. Towed fully loaded hay wagons, 3+ plus tons locally for delivery. GREAT vehicle rarely gave me problems. I used it for 15 years until the motor blew with over 200,000 miles on it. No complaints I used and demanded FAR more then the average horse owner will ever use theirs. It got decent gas millage also. Far better then my Chevy 2500 PU.

I replaced it with a 2010 Limited with the big hemi V-8 and full tow package. Tows great also. Doesn’t get as good gas millage as my 2001. Don’t like the “ergonomics” compared to my 2001. I have never used a weight distribution hitch on any of my Jeeps. Drove a friends similar set up Jeep GC short and long distance with 2 horses. I didn’t find it make any difference. To each their own on this. I’m not going to argue the point or if a properly equipped Jeep is suitable. I know they are because I have done the “research”, lots of it over 25+ years. Horses aren’t my hobby they have been my business. I have towed/transported some VERY valuable hoses with my Jeeps and 2 BH (no dressing room), steel and aluminum over the years.

All things being equal it comes down to the driver, the driver’s skill, experience and how they react to tricky situations. If they make poor decisions doesn’t matter what they are driving, towing with.

[Jim_in_PA]

@RPM

Is your name Td?

No, I didn’t think so. I was addressing the OP.

My apologies and I didn’t mean to offend you…I missed the “TD”…sorry. We all make mistakes.

BTW, the OP mentioned a lot of driving for work…see post #14

[soloudinhere]

I really hate when people talk about a vehicle made 20 years ago as if the current model has changed exactly 0% since that time.

The current 1500 pickups are as large as, and rated the same or greater than, a 1 ton from 15 years ago. The F150 ecoboost is rated for MORE WEIGHT than the gas F250/350 and is the same wheelbase and in fact, the same body as the HD pickups. These trucks are massive, in most cases bigger and heavier than a 10 year old 1-ton.

That being said, the popularity of SUVs has led them to be overengineered. I have a 2002 Yukon XL and it tows nearly the same as my 2007 JGC despite the Jeep being shorter and lighter.

Let’s not get all fire and brimstone about it. It would tow a 14’ bumper pull no dress just fine unless you are trying to tow at extremes like very high altitude or extreme temperatures. It wouldn’t be rated for 7200lbs unless it could safely stop 7200lbs, the manufacturers aren’t that stupid. Yes I know, live weight, horses move around, yadda yadda. It’s not realistic to tow every horse with a 1 ton dually, so let’s move on.

ETA: if your trailer managed to shove a grand cherokee through an intersection, your brake controller either failed or was set improperly. Don’t blame a vehicle for inability to handle the equipment necessary and operator error.

[BasqueMom]

We have both an F150 crew cab and a Ram 2500 mega cab diesel. The 2500 is a much bigger truck. It’s higher, longer and wider. Am sure if I parked the F150 next to F250, the difference would be noticeable. Both are newish models, 2017 and 2014.

[soloudinhere]

@BasqueMom

We have both an F150 crew cab and a Ram 2500 mega cab diesel. The 2500 is a much bigger truck. It’s higher, longer and wider. Am sure if I parked the F150 next to F250, the difference would be noticeable. Both are newish models, 2017 and 2014.

The 2018 F150, 250, and 350 all use the exact same body. The only difference is in the suspension components. The 2018 f150 Ecoboost is rated for MORE tow than the 250 and 350 gas models.

[Td1]

https://www.doubledtrailers.com/assets/images/Blog-Articles-PDF/DDT_TowingGuide_2017_links_v2.pdf

here is a summary of 2017 trucks and their respective tow capacity. The article is very well written, and really informative​​​​​​.

[Jim_in_PA]

TD, I’m really glad that article mentions WDH (Weight Distribution Hitch) as all too often that subject doesn’t some up in the horsie world like it does in the travel trailer world. Even beefie pick-em-up trucks sometimes need these to safely handle tongue weight balance on the tow vehicle properly and safely.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

A few thoughts. First, the old vehicles were made on a different platform than today. Same as the Tahoe or any other SUV today. So I wouldn’t compare that. I used a 90’s Tahoe and a 2011 once and there was no similarity in how they towed. Everyone has gone to comfort.

I towed a 2 horse little steel trailer (no dressing room) with my Expedition with tow package and WD hitch. I believe this is longer than the Jeep. I hated it. I was towing one horse. It was the 5.4L V8 engine. I felt underpowered accelerating and more importantly if she moved around at all it was terrible. Even with anti-sway and WD hitch. One time after a show she started rubbing her mane against the side of the trailer aggressively (I had broken my foot and left her braids in) and I had to slow down to 30 MPH because I felt like I was going to go off the road. Driving 30 mph on a highway is how you get rear-ended. She was moving my Expedition (and the thing weighed a lot).

I now tow a larger 2 horse trailer with a dressing room with my 1500 6.2L V8 GMC Crew Cab with large gear ratio (rated to tow 11000 lbs) and the difference is night and day. The wheelbase makes a big difference. I still can’t stand towing with the 5.3 or 5.4L V8 from a power standpoint, but that is personal preference. While I probably tow 3-4 x a year at the moment, I don’t feel like I’m going to die if a couple horses start moving around back there. It is my daily driver and the gas issue sucks.

I would get a Brenderup-style Euro trailer if you want to use a Jeep.

Adding–that is a great article link you shared.

[_eventer]

I towed a steel, 2h straight load for years with a Jeep Grand Cherokee V8. Although it definitely didn’t have the power of my F-250, it got the job done. I did use a weigh distribution hitch. The furthest I towed was about 100 miles.

[Ladylexie]

I personally wouldn’t. My biggest concern would be stopping the trailer.

[Jim_in_PA]

Anything prior to a 2011 model is not going to be the same vehicle when it comes to JGC. The current generation of JGC (and Durango) share the same platform as the Mercedes ML350. Very different than previous generation, now much heavier, better engineered and the factory towing means something. This concern with “stopping” doesn’t need to be there…an upper trim level JGC with the V8 and Factory Towing is about 5300 lbs before driver and cargo. The brakes are massive and designed for the job. But as I stated previously, I’d still recommend a lighter weight trailer, not a big honkin’ one with a DR, and a WDH. That makes for very stable, general purpose hauling with a vehicle that’s more suitable for many folks due to other needs.

[joiedevie99]

Yes and no. I tow with a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland V8 with factory tow package. I absolutely adore the vehicle. That said, I purchased a Brenderup to go with it. I do not believe it would safely haul an American-style 2-horse with a dressing room. Before this vehicle, I pulled it with a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland with factory tow package. Before that, a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with factory tow package. As you can see, it obviously suits my needs well.

If you want to haul an American-style trailer with an SUV - there are vehicles out there that will do the job. The Nissan Armada (properly equipped) will do the job. So will a Ford Expedition, Chevy Suburban, or GMC Yukon (all with proper engine/options).

[SecondInCommand]

Why not just tow with your family’s Sierra 1500, and buy something suitable for your work travels for yourself? Then you have the best of both worlds, without having to compromise on either front?

[ake987]

I think it’s nuts. Towing capacities are BS and not standardized, I’m amazed to see so many people using them here like they mean anything. I guarantee most folks towing with an SUV and even half tons are over their axle weights and payload. In a half ton, you must get the towing package with an upgraded radiator and auxiliary tranny cooler, or you are asking for trouble.

I spent a LONG time searching for the perfect 2H BP trailer that would be safe for my 2013 F150 5.0 V8. I finally settled on an all-aluminum with a small DR (door is on the nose, which reduced the overall length and weight). The brochure said my trailer should weigh 2760# - surprise, more BS. I brought my rig to a CAT scale as the first order of business. Trailer is 3020# empty. The truck had factory tow and what Ford called a Class 4 hitch - again, BS! The max WC tongue weight was 500# - which was the tongue weight on my trailer, EMPTY. A true class 4 hitch should be 1000# WC, but Ford calls this a “hybrid” class 4 - you can only get to 1000# with WDH. This meant I could add nothing to the DR without using a WDH. I ripped out the factory hitch receiver and had a true Curt class 4 installed.

I pulled one horse a bunch of times with no issue. Then I pulled two horses for the first time. Then I bought a 250.

My JGC is my daily driver.

Here’s a screen grab comparison of my 150 vs. my 250 using the spreadsheet I created. Which, as I said, I am more than happy to share.

Be careful out there.

[cutter99]

@ake987

I think it’s nuts. Towing capacities are BS and not standardized, I’m amazed to see so many people using them here like they mean anything. I guarantee most folks towing with an SUV and even half tons are over their axle weights and payload. In a half ton, you must get the towing package with an upgraded radiator and auxiliary tranny cooler, or you are asking for trouble.

I spent a LONG time searching for the perfect 2H BP trailer that would be safe for my 2013 F150 5.0 V8. I finally settled on an all-aluminum with a small DR (door is on the nose, which reduced the overall length and weight). The brochure said my trailer should weigh 2760# - surprise, more BS. I brought my rig to a CAT scale as the first order of business. Trailer is 3020# empty. The truck had factory tow and what Ford called a Class 4 hitch - again, BS! The max WC tongue weight was 500# - which was the tongue weight on my trailer, EMPTY. A true class 4 hitch should be 1000# WC, but Ford calls this a “hybrid” class 4 - you can only get to 1000# with WDH. This meant I could add nothing to the DR without using a WDH. I ripped out the factory hitch receiver and had a true Curt class 4 installed.

I pulled one horse a bunch of times with no issue. Then I pulled two horses for the first time. Then I bought a 250.

My JGC is my daily driver.

Here’s a screen grab comparison of my 150 vs. my 250 using the spreadsheet I created. Which, as I said, I am more than happy to share.

Be careful out there.

Ake987- Excellent job on your research! More people could benefit from look at things so thoroughly!

[soloudinhere]

@cutter99

Ake987- Excellent job on your research! More people could benefit from look at things so thoroughly!

Except parts of it are wrong.

1. Towing capacities from all the major manufacturers are determined using the SAE J2807 standard since 2014. All towing capacities currently reported are using this standard and therefore are by definition standardized. This may be true of that PARTICULAR vehicle but it is not true for someone shopping new or even late model used today.

2. There is no such thing as a “hybrid” class 4 hitch. A class 4 hutch by definition is rated for a certain amount of weight. The truck on the other hand is not. When towing a bumper pull all vehicles have a maximum rating when weight carrying and a maximum rating weight distributing. This number has to do with the rear axle capacity of the vehicle since, when weight carrying, all the weight is on the rear axle. For most SUVs and a lot of 1500 class pickups this maximum is 500lbs weight carrying and 10% of the tow capacity weight distributing. In the case of the Super Duty, Ford says that the trailer tongue weight plus vehicle weight plus all passengers and cargo cannot exceed the rear axle rating. This may well be possible to do even without exceeding the truck’s tow rating.

Misinformation on the internet, especially when someone is looking for a new truck but people are talking about old trucks, doesn’t help anyone understand what they need to understand to be towing safely.

[IFG]

The first time you have an issue with your brakes on the trailer or brake controller, you will want a three-quarter ton. The connection to my trailer electric came loose (because sometimes we are not perfect when we make the connection). My F250 stopped it like it was nothing.

[Jim_in_PA]

…and my JGC stopped my two horse trailer with two horses loaded with zero effort with the brake controller disconnected. I know because I tested that in a parking lot from various speeds. It was designed to do that from the factory. I also don’t understand anyone’s aversion to using a WDH when towing horses when it’s pretty much the standard for towing many other kinds of loads, such as travel trailers. Even very stout trucks can benefit from rebalancing tongue weight which is the primary reason for using a WDH.

Big pick-em-up trucks are great and absolutily the best solution for hauling frequently and for higher loads. But it’s just plain not the right solution for everyone as this thread clearly illustrates.

[SonnysMom]

I towed for years with a 1500 extended cab short bed. 2 different ones. Before that I had an old Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The Jeep was great to tow with. It was a tank. For the Jeep and the first 1500 I primarily towed 2 different 2 horse BP. The one trailer was a XH/XW all steel 1974 Cotner no DR. I eventually switched to a 2 horse BP with dressing room that is aluminum over steel. I bet those trailers weighed about the same.
I now have a 2500 crew cab with short bed. Yes, I love this truck but mostly for the heated seats, leather interior and extra room.
I have never felt unsafe in any of the 4 vehicles I have owned. But I know how to set up a trailer and set my trailer brake box for the load I have.
I have never had a WDH on my rig. At one point I was thinking that due to the age of the 2500 I needed one. I just was not happy with how it was towing. I actually needed a new axle. The rubber on the rubber torsion axles was old and no longer flexible. Once I replaced the axles it towed a heck of a lot better. Having a well maintained, well balanced trailer makes a huge difference.
I trailered a 2000+ lb 18.1 H Belgian draft horse plus a 2 year old app in the Cotner with my 1500. Including over one of the Delware river bridges. All was good. I have put some big horses in all of those rigs over the years with no issue.

For the person who was questioning Jim’s picture of his trailer IMO yes it is a touch nose high. I prefer that to the alternative which is nose low. If he went to the next lower drop, which generally is 2 inches lower, it would be nose low. Sometime you just cannot get perfectly level.