Jeep GC towing 2020 400

[Deleted User]

I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a tow package rated to 6200lbs. I have a 320-S now but thinking of going to a 2020 400 boondock lite (GAWR 3930, dry wt 2895, wet wt 3163, wet tongue 372) Is this going to be a problem pulling up steep grades? I’ve seen posts where people are concerned their trucks can’t handle it.  I don’t want this to be an issue. I don’t see it will be but don’t want to hurt the TV. 

jrhamel

Do you know the tongue weight for the Cherokee? 

[Deleted User]

I can only find that info for JGC without a tow package. It’s 350lbs. I would assume with a tow package it is more. I think it’s 10% of my towing capacity so 620lbs. 

mona

I have a 2018 GC Trailhawk with factory tow package. Tow capacity 6200 tongue weight 620.

jeannie

rh5555

We tow a 2020 TAB400 BDL with just a regular Cherokee Trailhawk with the 2L turbocharged engine.  We've done some mods to lighten the tongue weight up a bit and the whole rig tows remarkably well and is uniformly stable.  Driving up over the Tetons west of Jackson on route 22, we were able to maintain 30 to 35 MPH on the 10% grades.  You should have no worries with the JGC.

N7SHG_Ham

Missstsomewhere said:

I can only find that info for JGC without a tow package. It’s 350lbs. I would assume with a tow package it is more. I think it’s 10% of my towing capacity so 620lbs. 

That is generally true, but l would want to find out exactly what Jeep says before making the 620 assumption. You want to have a 500 rating minimum for a 400 in my opinion.

rh5555

For anyone who might be interested, the mods we made to lighten tongue weight so that we could tow a 2020 T@B400 BDL with our 2L Jeep Cherokee were:

• Spare tire moved from tongue to roof rack on TV (we even have a full-size Boondock spare on the alloy rim)
• Spare tire mechanism removed from tongue (and re-purposed to hold spare tire to roof rack)
  
• Didn't get the extra aluminum trays on the tongue
• We relocate the propane cylinders to be above the axle inside the 400 while driving

This gets us down to a tongue weight of 296 pounds.  Our TV is rated at 400 pounds, and the whole rig pulls smoothly and we've never experienced any instability.  IMHO moving any weighty item closer to the axle (or off the trailer entirely) will improve stability, and lessen the need for tongue weight.  This then opens up many more TV options.

dCliffhanger

N7SHG_Ham said:

Missstsomewhere said:

I can only find that info for JGC without a tow package. It’s 350lbs. I would assume with a tow package it is more. I think it’s 10% of my towing capacity so 620lbs. 

That is generally true, but l would want to find out exactly what Jeep says before making the 620 assumption. You want to have a 500 rating minimum for a 400 in my opinion.

My 2019 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk with v6 and tow package is rated for 6200 tow weight and 650 hitch max.

4ncar

@rh5555 have you installed a proper propane bottle hold down inside the trailer? If not I would advise doing so, in the very least. I am not sure of the legalities (if any) of transporting a propane tank within the rv...something you  might look into...

rh5555

@4ncar as long as the propane is disconnected, you can transport a propane tank inside your trailer just like you can inside your TV.  We do have a clamp system to stop the cylinders flying around in case of emergency stops, though.

4ncar

rh5555 said:

@4ncar as long as the propane is disconnected, you can transport a propane tank inside your trailer just like you can inside your TV.  We do have a clamp system to stop the cylinders flying around in case of emergency stops, though.

😅👍

ADRawli

Our 2018 GC Trailhawk is rated at 6200 towing, 620 tongue weight (see excerpt from owners manual below). It works a bit pulling our 2019 T@B 400 BDL up steep grades, but we can still maintain sufficient speed (rarely fall below 50mph). Just depends on how willing you are to put your foot (and wallet) into it, I guess. There are definitely more capable tow vehicles, but the Jeep is more than sufficient for our T@B towing needs, and gosh it’s a lot of fun once we get there.  Jeeps do off-road like mountain goats. 

TNOutback

I have weighed our empty 2020 T@B 400 BDL at the scales.  Only thing on board was a full propane bottle.  Total weight was just shy of 3000 pounds, and tongue weight was 400 pounds.  It would seem you’ve got some room to work with towing with your Jeep

4ncar

Engine option will be paramount to your success with the 400. Being in the right lane with the flashers on is not my definition of, “tows fine.” The 5.7 will also not work as hard to get to speed and to keep it. Torque gets you to speed, horse power will keep you there.

dCliffhanger

dCliffhanger said:

N7SHG_Ham said:

Missstsomewhere said:

I can only find that info for JGC without a tow package. It’s 350lbs. I would assume with a tow package it is more. I think it’s 10% of my towing capacity so 620lbs. 

That is generally true, but l would want to find out exactly what Jeep says before making the 620 assumption. You want to have a 500 rating minimum for a 400 in my opinion.

My 2019 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk with v6 and tow package is rated for 6200 tow weight and 650 hitch max.

I'll stand corrected on the 620# max hitch wt vs my casual 650 memory. Thanks

Blueespy

Missstsomewhere said:

I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a tow package rated to 6200lbs. I have a 320-S now but thinking of going to a 2020 400 boondock lite (GAWR 3930, dry wt 2895, wet wt 3163, wet tongue 372) Is this going to be a problem pulling up steep grades? I’ve seen posts where people are concerned their trucks can’t handle it.  I don’t want this to be an issue. I don’t see it will be but don’t want to hurt the TV. 

We have a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk with the V6, pulling a 2019 T@B 400 BDL.  At the start of our 3 month trip, the jeep struggled.  Then, someone in the forum suggested I turn off the ECO option - by default it is on, so turning it off will turn the light on the switch on.  The jeep's performance with the trailer improved significantly.  I did lose about 3 miles to the gallon more but I'm happy with the performance.  FYI, we don't travel with our fresh water tank full.

CJax

@Blueespywe have a JGC Trailhawk with the self-leveling suspension and a 400 Boondock. Might I ask what hitch dimension works for you? The dealer gave us a 2" rise which seems way off. I'm thinking a 1" drop would have been more appropriate.

You have a similar rig to ours. Any info appreciated!

Cheers,
C

PS. I turn the ECO off even when not towing 
 

DenverJaguar

rh5555 said:

We tow a 2020 TAB400 BDL with just a regular Cherokee Trailhawk with the 2L turbocharged engine.  We've done some mods to lighten the tongue weight up a bit and the whole rig tows remarkably well and is uniformly stable.  Driving up over the Tetons west of Jackson on route 22, we were able to maintain 30 to 35 MPH on the 10% grades.  You should have no worries with the JGC.

Yikes! That speed might get me killed in the Colorado Rockies. I was planning on towing my Tab 320S with a Volvo XC90 and definitely expected to be able to maintain 50-55mph on the steepest grades of the highways. Everyone else is doing 70mph; many places have a minimum above 35mph. 

rh5555

That might seem slow, but that is an extended steep climb and we were in there with the faster trucks, and passing some slower ones. You won't see 10% grades on most highways. We can manage the 55mph on all interstate grades we've encountered.