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JEEP TOWING
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Jon, you know the solution to this problem is to call Roadmaster or Blue Ox and have them build you the brackets for a Z06, problem solved.
May need a lift kit for the Z06 since it has less clearance than the bus.
You know there is always some smart ass giving you advice.
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This is a mid project report.
My work on the Jeep is done. All that remains is for etrailer to install the brake light wiring and the base plate. When the Jeep Fascia is removed to install the Roadmaster base plate the plate I made with the bus to Jeep power connection for the charger, the tail light wiring receptacle, the air line fitting, and the switch to turn on the power steering for towing will be mounted to the lower grille.
I would be lying if I said I was happy with Jeep. As a vehicle to drive it is nice. I am sure as a toad it will also be nice. But Jeep lied by omission about what it takes to set it up to tow. Then the kit to be installed to make the power steering work while towing did not work as designed. The dealer and I exhausted several different paths to get engineering or customer support to get it working as intended.
Phone calls to customer service by me, and Jeep engineering by the dealer were a was of time. A bigger waste of time was writing letters to customer service and the Jeep division CEO.
Maybe I did not need the kit, but there were enough reported problems towing the Jeep GC without the kit that I determined it would be worthwhile to avoid potential problems. I never suspected the problems with be with the company and not the vehicle.
I no longer expect a response or support from Jeep Chrysler so my next report will be after all is finished at etrailer and we get experience towing it for the first time from Wentzville MO to home.
I have to admit that although we have had a Dodge or Jeep in the garage since 1972, often one of each at one time this has changed my opinion about continuing to be a customer.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
Go to Jeepgarage.com
Most all post related to all models of Jeep’s have owners saying how much they love their Jeep’s, but hate the companies customer service support.
Makes you appreciate Prevost customer support that much more.
Chuck
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My anger increases as I think about this situation because the owner’s manual with holds valuable and related information such as the need for a kit and the impact of the use of the kit on the Jeep battery without supplemental charging.
But I can get past that because the dealer has been up front about the need for a kit, although that was revealed after money changed hands.
The real problem is the kit did not work as intended, and neither the dealer or I was ever able to get the needed assistance to get it to work as intended.. I figured out how to get it to work, the dealer agreed with my solution, and I do not think I am being unreasonable to expect Jeep Chrysler to fix the problem or even provide the courtesy to respond to requests for help.
As a side note the dealer expected me to pay for the kit plus installation time. When I suggested they send the bill to Jeep Chrysler. They laughed. So I suggested a second option is to remove the kit, restore my GC to the original condition, and call me when they have a kit that works. They did not laugh.
I still have not paid a penny, and do not know if I am expected to. If I get a bill my anger will increase even more.
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I was going to buy a Jeep GC as my next toad. After reading this it will not happen.
When I was shopping I told the dealer it would be towed behind the coach and not a single word regarding a power steering kit was mentioned. I am not going to go through what has been described.
I see an Equinox or something similar in my future.
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Wait until the new Grand Wagoneer comes out!! I can’t wait to see one in person. As long g as it has the same driveline as my Ram, I want one!!
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Lost a Ford Escape just outside KingmanAz. Replaced with a Equinox. Thought we had a great road from all the good reviews. Did fine untill we hit a section of road construction,then the coach started to wobble. Mind you, we have a Foretravel and weigh in loaded close to 48 k. It was the longest 1/4 mile before we could pull over and stop. This kept occuring periodically with different elements setting it off. So research carefully. Think we may have found our dream Prevost.
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Lost a Ford Escape just outside KingmanAz. Replaced with a Equinox. Thought we had a great toad from all the good reviews. Did fine untill we hit a section of road construction,then the coach started to wobble. Mind you, we have a Foretravel and weigh in loaded close to 48 k. It was the longest 1/4 mile before we could pull over and stop. This kept occurring periodically with different elements setting it off. So research carefully. Think we may have found our dream Prevost.
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NEARING THE END……..
We are here at etrailer and the process has begun. The Jeep is in the shop and etrailer is not more fully aware of the death wobble issues and with information from my paperwork may write and article to include on their site. They have had extensive experience with the wobble on Cherokees and are now aware of the issue following over to the Grand Cherokee.
The work I have seen so far is very encuraging because they leave no detail to chance. While the Jeep is in the shop for the base plate, wiring, and Brakemaster kits to be installed the bus connections were checked in detail to insure when everything is hooked up it will all work.
The plan is when the Jeep is done (which includes extensive video taping) then the Jeep will be connected to the bus, involving extensive testing of all the work from lights to brakes to tow bar and will include some parking lot driving as well as more video taping.
More reports coming.
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We are home, after towing the Jeep Grand Cherokee about 550 miles. It tows easily and the kit to keep the power steering operational works to prevent the “death wobble” or we did not encounter any condition to set the wobble going.
This has been a long, frustrating and less than satisfying experience and sorry to say my opinions about everything up and down the line are mostly negative. Let me recap to say we like the vehicle. It is comfortable, quiet, has more features than we would ever anticipate or expect to use, but as we get to know it more I am sure we will enjoy it more and take advantage of more of what it offers.
But since we were buying it primarily because of the Jeep Grand Cherokee reputation as a vehicle ideal for flat towing our negative thinking was started by finding out AFTER the purchase a kit was needed to prevent a towing issue from the “death wobble”. Prior to the purchase I read the owner’s manual on line and all it covers is how to put it in neutral, and get it out of neutral for towing. There was no mention of anything else needed until we learned of the kit.
I do not visit sites like RV2 and PC has never had a post about that towing problem so I was surprised to learn of the need. How I learned after closing the sale is either a dealer or Jeep Chrysler trick to not discourage a sale. I did ask the dealer to install the kit. The second thing of a negative nature was the kit would not work when installed.
So after the dealer realized the kit they installed wasn’t working as designed they reached out to Jeep Chrysler engineering and after 4 weeks still had no favorable response. I called customer service and might as well have talked to the wall. There was no response to my phone call or written letter asking for repairs to the design to be made.
With no response coming, I fixed it so it would work. Not the way intended by Jeep Chrysler, but at least I had a workable system. It was during this time I learned on various RV sites the power steering kit would deplete the battery in 3 hours so I set up the bus and Jeep with a Victron 24VDC to 12VDC smart three stage charger from our advertiser Inverter Services. I installed that, again with no information or notice of its needs from Jeep Chrysler.
After I had done my work running the Brakemaster air line, adding the charging system, and having the power steering kit installed and finally working as intended after Jeep made a change the only remaining work was to install the tow bar base plate and get the Jeep wired for the tail lights. I opted to use etrailer.com, a retailer of Roadmaster equipment, and they did the installation work at no charge because they wanted to video a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee install.
Mechanically the work they did was acceptable but how they mounted the various connectors was more suitable for a work truck rather than a luxury SUV. I will redo the visible portions of their work so it looks a lot better. But it all works.
The acid test was towing. It turns out the steps to prepare the Jeep for towing are numerous. They also have to be done in a specific sequence. This was a new experience because everything I have towed up to this point was simple. Put the transfer case in neutral by pushing a button or shifting the transfer case in neutral. There has never been anything more than push a button or shift into and out of gear. Now I have 14 steps I need to follow in a very precise sequence.
But after following the steps, it does go into neutral, and is ready to tow once the power steering system is turned on. That is a simple 3 or 4 step process. The instructions for the power steering kit reveal the last surprise in which Jeep Chrysler acknowledges for the first and only time a charging system is needed to keep the Jeep battery from being depleted. Thank goodness the internet had a lot of information about the need for charging so I was ready.
The final negative event was at home, after getting the Jeep back into driving mode and after unhooking I find the power steering system will not work. In fact again there is nothing that says it will not work after unhooking, and thanks again to the internet I think I have found how to change some settings as a way to overcome a 20 minute delay for the power steering to come alive and I have made those changes but not verified the PS will work as soon as unhitched and the transfer case is back engaged.
Would I have bought the Jeep if I knew all that was not provided in the owner’s manual? Probably not because the more complicated and lengthy he procedure for towing, the greater the risk of a future problem. Nice SUV, but now that I know Jeep Chrysler lies by omission, and has virtually no customer support I likely will go elsewhere if the GC is ever going to be replaced.
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Jon,
I know a pick-up is not for everyone, but I recently transitioned away from my Mini Cooper (6-speed manual) as a toad into a Ford F-150 4-wheel drive. I’m amazed at the ease of getting the F150 into tow mode. Just a few steps and it’s ready to go.
I’m interested in the new electric “Lightning” F-150. Hoping it’s 4 down towable. If so….I’ll have one! I am retired and only drive a few miles per day. The electric is perfect for me. Of course…..I’ll always have a petrol car for my wife for long trips!
Glad you are nearing the end of your quest……
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My quest has ended and I have a nice toad. I really dislike the complexity and number of steps required to get it from a driveable to a towable mode, but maybe I will get used to what seems like an endless list.
Most of what I do not like in the overall opinion of the Jeep is the software is set up to protect drivers from themselves with features that tend to provide protection but are annoyingly intrusive, including multiple portions of the change to or from driving to towing mode.
One thing I never knew but found out the hard way is if it has a trailer hooked up it really doesn’t want you to back up. Every time I tried to back up with the trailer, the first thing it would do was slam on the brakes as if I was going to back the Jeep into something. Maybe all modern cars are this way.
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There are those who laugh at our 17 year old British made Lucas wiring equipped Land Rover Discovery II, for a toad. But….No struggle having to follow a multitude of mind numbing steps to “transfer neutral. No distance or speed restriction
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My 2017 Ram is easy, put transfer case in neutral and go.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
I am glad that it seems you are finally at the end of this frustrating process.
There actually was a thread that asked about the “death wobble” on PC. It was a thread I started and a question I ask within the thread.
/threaddetails.asp?Category=General%20Discussions&ThreadID=12691
“The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited we have focused on is a 2017. It has a great ride and ease of entry for Odie is super.
We have read about the “death wobble” on some Grand Cherokees. Does anyone have knowledge of that and the fix for it?“
Fortunately, we have not had a problem yet. I am with you, the 14 steps are a little excessive!
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