Airstream tow vehicles are one of the most talked-about subjects in the Airstream community, and for good reason. While we know better than to get involved in the Great Tow Vehicle Debate, we do have plenty of advice on what to look for when shopping for a tow vehicle. It’s one of the most appealing aspects of an Airstream Travel Trailer, in my opinion, that they’re towable, usually behind a truck or SUV. Unhitching, setting up camp, and leaving your campsite intact and secure allows you to go on day trips in the surrounding area while your travel trailer is still in place.
Simply lock your Airstream’s door, get in your truck, and head off to wherever your next adventure may take you. It gives you the freedom to go back and check out that trailhead you passed on the way in, go down to the beach for the afternoon, or take one of Airstream’s renowned silver bullet travel trailers, such as the Globetrotter or Flying Cloud, or their Basecamp counterparts, into town for supplies. Many people, regardless of their familiarity with trucks, towing, and hitching, are drawn to the freedom of an Airstream Travel Trailer because of its versatility. For those who want an Airstream but have never towed one or anything else for that matter, don’t be discouraged you are not alone in your desires.
Overview
Essentially, you have two main concerns: safety and functionality. We will follow the “Safety first” policy, just as we would on a building site. Towing a trailer should only be considered if your vehicle is capable of towing it. Assuming you’ve met the bare minimum requirements, the decision is yours as to what you’ll do next. So, let’s start with some safety considerations, and then I’ll go over the different types of vehicles you should consider, as well as the advantages of each type.
Safety
When selecting a tow vehicle, you should consider the demands of your trailer and the capabilities of the tow vehicle. To begin, I’ll provide you with the fundamentals and then go into greater depth if you are interested in learning more. The basic question of “Can we tow that?” is driven by a few key numbers. Please consider the following points:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (Maximum Trailer Capacity)
This is the maximum safe weight that your trailer and everything you load into it can safely support. In the event that you overfill your trailer, you are not operating in a safe manner. Dry weight, also known as base weight, of the trailer, as well as the trailer’s maximum cargo capacity, are included. It should be noted that “cargo” includes all of the water in your tanks, and that stuff is heavy, so take care not to overload your trailer. The amount of weight your trailer places on the tow vehicle when it is properly hitched is referred to as the tongue weight of the trailer. In the majority of cases, this represents between 10 and 15 percent of the trailer’s gross vehicle weight rating
Can a Jeep Cherokee Tow the Type of Camper I Want to Bring Along?
Jeep Cherokees can be very attractive vehicles that, on the outside, resemble sleek SUVs but, on the inside, are capable of handling a great deal. Towing a camper is usually not a problem for a Jeep Cherokee because of its durability, but it does have its limits when it comes to towing power. Depending on the model, the Jeep Cherokee can tow anywhere from 2000 to 5000 pounds in weight. Pop-up trailers, hybrid trailers, Airstreams, and Teardrop trailers are all examples of this type of trailer design. It is possible to increase the towing capacity of your Jeep Cherokee by making a few minor modifications to the vehicle, which we will discuss further later.
It is also important to consider engine size
It is true that there are limitations to the amount of weight you can tow with your Jeep Cherokee based on the maximum towing capacity listed by the manufacturers, but these limitations can vary depending on the type of engine you have installed in your Jeep Cherokee. Some of the newer Jeep Cherokees, in particular, have the option of selecting or upgrading to a different engine class, and the different engine can increase your towing capacity.
Increasing the towing capacity of your vehicle
Other upgrades that you can get for your Jeep Cherokee to increase your towing capacity are similar to looking into different engine options for your Jeep Cherokee and determining whether or not you have room for an upgrade.
Enhance the transmission’s performance
It’s a little-known fact that towing a large load with any vehicle can cause an automatic transmission to overheat. The result can be numerous problems when towing at the maximum towing capacity, and towing at the maximum towing capacity may even be uncomfortable at some points.
How Big of a trailer can a Jeep Grand Cherokee tow?
According to the trim and year, the Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow a camper and equipment weighing up to 7,200 pounds. Pop-up campers, hybrid trailers, teardrop trailers, and some traditional travel trailers are among the types of campers that can be towed with this weight limit.
Can a Jeep Grand Cherokee tow 7000 lbs ?
In rear-wheel drive configurations, the Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow up to 7,400 pounds (and up to 7,200 pounds in four-wheel drive configurations) when equipped with either the 3.0-liter turbocharged EcoDiesel V6 engine (the most fuel-efficient option) that produces 240 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque or the 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 420 horsepower and 580 lb-ft of torque.