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Towing new 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Just trade my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee in for 2024 Jeep GC. As for towing differences from what I have read, the 2024 has electric steering and electric assisted braking and HAS TO have a battery charge line run from the coach to main the battery.
Have also read you have to go into the settings and turn off the automatic electric parking brake, and change the electric steering assist to comfort (whatever that means).
Have heard of nightmare examples of the electric parking brake re-engaging while towing. Any body with experience or knowledge towing this newer model please chime in.
Chuck
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
11 Replies
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I have been towing a 2023 GC 4xe for a year. It has been perfect. I did add a charge line, biut I have no idea if it is needed or not. I did turn off Auto Park Brake, but again, I have no way of knowing is it is needed. I think a big source of towing is people that open the drivers door during the process of going into neutral.
I always put in eSave mode, so the engine is running during the process, that seems to prevent the flashing “P” problem.
Here is the process I follow:
Hooking Up
- Hook up car to bus
- Reverse to lock tow bar
- Leave car running
- Keep doors CLOSED
- Confirm Parking Brake is (Make sure ”BRAKE” not showing on Instrument Cluster)
- Shift transmission into NEUTRAL
- Press and Hold “N” on transfer case with tool
- Confirm Transfer case in N (“N” Illuminated in orange at button)
- and (“NEUTRAL” showing on instrument cluster)
- Put transmission in PARK
- Confirm “P” not flashing on Console
- Shut off engine
Confirm TC indicated “N” by button - Remove foot from brake pedal
- Press START
- Confirm BRAKE not on
- Turn OFF Ignition
- Exit Vehicle
Unhooking
Press Brake Pedal
Start Vehicle
Put transmission in Neutral
Press “N” on Transfer Case
DONE
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John nailed it. Follow his instructions.
Our 2021 GC has had the original software updated so we have power steering back immediately after coming out of the towing mode. I cannot speak about later models.
I do have the kit to keep power steering active while towing, something that eliminates the “death wobble”. But doing that will drain the battery in 3 hours so I added a Victron 24 to 12 volt charger and it is powered any time the bus is running. The kit has a toggle switch that needs to be turned on when towing, and off when not towing to keep the battery from draining.
I spent a year convincing Jeep Chrysler there were things within the software that needed to be changed and newer GCs may have those changes. Chrysler was so happy to have learned from an RVer what was required they extended my 2021 warranty to 2029. I hope the newer GCs have had the modifications.
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John & Jon:
Thanks for the valuable insight. Have seen on various non Prevost post suggesting to set the steer mode to comfort. Does that make any sense?
Chuck
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In my case, prior to the software change I had no power steering for up to 45 minutes after going into driving mode from tow mode.
That entire issue is as complicated as the debates about covid vaccines with strong opinions on both sides of the issue. Some GC owners never had the death wobble so they never installed the kit to keep the power steering active, while others needed the kit. Chrysler did not help because customer service was clueless, as was the technical support Chrysler provided dealers. In fact three years after one GC owner had such severe “death wobble” it damaged the hitch on the RV and the suspension on his GC Chrysler was still denying it could happen.
I went a long way up the Chrysler food chain and finally got an executive that sat still long enough to understand how we tow, why we need power steering immediately after towing, and how we follow a procedure to hook and unhook. He had the horsepower to force the software change.
I do not know if later year GCs than my 2021 need a kit to keep the power steering active or if there are any issues with restoring it after towing, but I do know the dealers are clueless as are the people in customer service.so asking for information from them is useless.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
I have read online (so it must be true) that once you push the neutral button to disengage the transfer case the electric steering is engaged until you reengage the transfer case. Supposedly that is why you Must have a charge line installed.
ChuckP.S. Jon it’s great to see you back on line. Hope all is well with you and your family.
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Thanks Chuck. Never was gone, but topics like this one I had experience dealing with and will jump in when I can.
If the power steering is automatically powered when in tow mode it must be covered in the owner’s manual regarding the need for a charger.
It needs to be understood that if it is engaged when the transfer switch is in neutral if you are overnighting somewhere without putting the GC into driving mode, it either needs to be able to be turned off, such as a switch or fuse removal, or the charging line from the bus needs to provide charging current until the GC is unhooked.
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Posted earlier
TowingThread Carguy 
Towing2022-23 Jeep CAUTION I purchased a new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee to tow behind my motorhome. I towed if from my home in Orlando to Petoskey MI in June without issue except for some problem codes regarding tire pressure, etc.
I left Petoskey traveling just to west of Philadelphia in late September. Stopped at service plaza and had to disconnect toad.(long story). Hooked toad up following manual instructions to the letter. Checked at least twice to be sure the park assist did not activate parking brake. It was definitely not on when exiting car.
Had window down on coach and watching camera to be sure everything ok. Got about 1/2 mile on Penn turnpike with Barriers on both sides and no shoulders. Heard loud tire screeching and heavy black smoke coming from toad. Had to stop in active traffic lane and get out. Discovered the parking brake on. Released it and towed another 50 miles without incident.
While unhooking I noticed the Jeep sitting very low on the driver side. Took to Jeep store and learned air bag had exploded from the heat and rear tires were flat spotted. They did a 4 wheel alignment and said it was good to go. Left there with car pulling badly to right. Obviously there are more serious suspension problems. Will resolve when I get home.
Reason for this post is to share what I learned the hard way. Most likely this problem was caused by the forward collision control malfunctioning applying the parking brake or the parking assist.
I learned the hard way before towing:
A. Be sure forward collision control is turned off in settings.
B. In order to defeat parking assist when you start process attach the driver seatbelt and leave it attached until you are unhooking car. This turns parking assist off
C. When getting the transfer case into neutral keep driver door shut until car is fully turned off. Opening door could activate parking assist which in turn activate the parking brake.
D. Watch for the red brake light on instrument cluster. If lit be sure to releaseHope this help’s
update:
Found out why Jeep pulled hard to right and dived left when braking. There is a large crack in the frame that is easily visible. Amazing the Pennsylvania dealer did not say a word about this. Fortunately the area cracked is a bolt on subframe. Will be an expensive repair, but worst part will be frame damage repaired on the car fax when I want to get rid of It. Sure wish I had chose a different tow vehicle
Car has a new owner and will definitely not buy another to tow
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During my often and lengthy, sometimes contentious conversations up the food chain at Chrysler I asked how a company that owned an extremely large percentage of the towed vehicles market could be so dumb as to piss off their RV customers.
Not a single one admitted or realized how complex and difficult it was to get a GC ready for towing, or worse, get the software changed to simplify switching from tow mode to drive mode.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
Dave:
Made note of all the settings you made. It’s got me very concerned about my decision to get another GC. Traded in a 2014 GC that had over 100,000 mile on the odometer and another 60,000 towed that didn’t show on the odometer. Never had a single problem with it, hence the decision to get another. I did read about a few problems people had with the new ones, but majority of reviews were positive. Of course I had to get the one with all the bells and whistles that I now understand cause a lot of the problems. Geeeeer
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Soooooo
Now have the base plate, wiring for lights & charging connected and Air Force one braking installed.
Per recommendations on this site I turned off all items suggested through the touch screen and followed the transfer case disconnect instructions.
Did a test tow around the neighborhood, all went well, but do have some turn signal light issues.
My biggest concern is; when backing up to lock the tow bar in place , I backed up a bit to aggressively and the Jeep set the auto parking brake when the car jerked from the tow bar reaching it’s limit and locking. Went back into the settings and confirmed the auto parking brake was OFF.
If the auto parking brake set itself from the jarring of locking the tow bar (even when it’s been turned off), I am concerned it will set itself when jarred going down the road.
All this automatic stuff is a PITA
Chuck
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So, finally making our first Long Distance Trip with the new Jeep GC. 600 miles in and so far so good (knock on wood). Only issue so far is the suspension has raised to full up all by itself a couple of times. I have double checked and the suspension auto Entry/exit is turned off. Not sure why this is happening.
Chuck
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