The ability to tow can open up new worlds for drivers. While the average driver may associate towing with labour, towing can help even the typical person. How so? It lets them travel with more luggage, which can increase the number of vacation destinations they can choose from. Towing can also help when they have to move and give them peace of mind that in case of a crisis, they have the capability to transport materials fast. When a driver decides to upgrade to a vehicle that lets them tow, they seldom go back to a non-towing ride.
When I go to my local Jeep dealer, I always have towing on my mind. Too many SUVs brag about high towing capacity, only for drivers to feel like their SUV’s control suffers when they actually hit the road with a large trailer. Let’s take a look at why Jeep SUVs tend to be the best option for towing and why you’ll want to consider this during your next purchase, even if you’re not someone who does much trailering.
Why Tow?
If you’re not using your SUV for work, you might be wondering why you’d even be concerned with towing. Can towing really affect you all that much? It sure can. For one, it can let you travel more. With towing ability, you can bring supplies and luggage with you that you normally wouldn’t be able to fit inside your car or SUV. Now, you can go out camping or outbacking without having to sacrifice too many of the luxuries of home. You might not have seen yourself as an outdoors person beforehand, but towing can change all that. Isn’t it nice to know you now have that option?
If you’re a powersports enthusiast, a trailer is a great way to explore somewhere you’ve never been before. Instead of riding your motorcycle for hours to get to new territory, you can load it into a trailer and enjoy your Jeep’s comfortable ride instead. For dirt bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides, you may not even be allowed to ride them on the street, which makes towing them to where you want to ride a requirement. This way, when the trail gets too narrow or rough even for your Jeep, you can switch vehicles and keep going.
Knowing that your Jeep SUV can tow also makes moving easier, and not just for you. If a friend or family member is moving, then you can step in to help, even if you don’t have a pickup truck. Your SUV’s knack for towing is one of those things you don’t realize you need until you have it. Then, you wonder why the heck you never moved to a towing-capable vehicle earlier.
Why Are Jeeps So Good at Towing?
Let’s take a look at the Jeep Cherokee, a solid SUV with 1,800 kg of towing capability. For comparison, that’s about the weight of the Cherokee itself. If you can tow 1,800 kg, but it causes massive drag or makes you feel like you’re losing control, then you really can’t claim you can tow 1,800 kg.
Luckily, you won’t have to worry about that if you own a Jeep. The Cherokee comes with an optional engine that lets you get the most out of your SUV: the 2.0L Turbo. This engine grants you 270 hp, which will make the ride feel less arduous, even packing an extra 1,800 kg. The aggressive 295 ft-lb of torque lets you have faith in your SUV’s acceleration. Taking off with a heavy payload won’t be a concern.
A Guide to Jeep Towing Ability
The wonderful thing about Jeep’s SUV lineup is its diversity. From the smaller SUVs, like the Jeep Compass, to the larger models, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, there is undoubtedly a Jeep SUV that will fit what you need out of your vehicle.
The Grand Cherokee can tow up to 3,265 kg when equipped with the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine, which produces 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. Lest you be worried about fuel efficiency, this engine changes how many cylinders are being used depending on conditions, so it’s never overworked. If you need the maximum towing capacity you can get out of a Jeep, the Grand Cherokee is your best bet. This goes doubly for anyone who wants to use their Jeep for labour. The Grand Cherokee and its high towing capacity can help you out if you’re towing materials to a work site.
Jeep has you covered if you want towing ability but aren’t yet sure if you’re ready to tow a massive amount. The Compass is a smaller SUV but still comes with some power. Its 2.0L Turbo I-4 makes 200 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, letting you trailer up to 907 kg. The Compass acts as a great starter Jeep. For anyone who hasn’t towed in the past and wants to dip their toe in, this model lets them do so without becoming overwhelmed.
The Jeep Renegade could also be a solid option for a Jeep newbie. Like the Compass, it can tow 907 kg, but it’s smaller than the Compass. It gets by with a 1.3L Turbo I-4, making 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. This torque figure almost matches the Compass, which is what enables it to tow just as much. Its smaller stature might make it ideal if you need to tow in a city, where the streets tend to be narrower and more crowded.
For those who want something in between the biggest and smallest options, you can consider the previously mentioned Cherokee. There’s also the Wrangler, which has been upgraded for 2024 to offer 2,268 kg of towing capacity. What’s neat about the Wrangler is the available 3.0L EcoDiesel engine, which makes 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque, even more than the Grand Cherokee’s 5.7L V8. Torque is what makes all the difference when towing and a diesel engine can result in you paying less at the pump in the long run. Thanks to that, the Wrangler has become a popular choice for SUV owners who want to tow but don’t need those eye-popping horsepower numbers the Grand Cherokee gives you, along with the corresponding price tag.
Brand Quality Matters
If you want to buy a knock-off brand of paper plates to save a few bucks, then go for it. Thinking about getting a no-name candy bar? Roll the dice. What’s the worst that can happen? But don’t skimp when it comes to your ride. From capability to safety, a brand name like Jeep will always be the safest (and, in my opinion, most exciting) option. Jeep SUVs not only have competitive towing capability, but they also have the engines and safety systems that make the towing process as safe as possible. For instance, you’ll be grateful for Jeep’s Surround View Camera when you’re towing.
If you still have any doubts about Jeep SUVs, you need only look at the fandoms that have arisen around the Jeep brand. There’s a reason the slogan “it’s a Jeep thing” has become common among Jeep owners. More than the drivers of perhaps any other brand, Jeep owners love their vehicles. That alone should give you the confidence to become an owner of a Jeep SUV. With the brand’s wide range of models, there’s no question that one of them will supply the type of towing abilities that you are looking for.
