Cherokee XJ As A Tow Vehicle

Hi all, looking for facts and experiences on using a Cherokee XJ as a tow vehicle.

I’ll start with a bit of background. I’ve used a variety of vehicles to tow mostly light weight race cars (Fiat 850 was one) and trailers over the years. I have available a Suburban 2500 (4x, 454) which was great for hauling a Class 11 (VW Bug) car, off road support equipment and 4 people. It tows at all speeds as if nothing is back there and can pass everything if need be except . . . yeah a gas station. 10 mpg sucks more than just a lot of fuel.

Considering that I am working on getting another smallish race car (FWD, dirt oval) I have to consider what to pull it with. The Cherokee XJ is one consideration. I know folks who love theirs, but none tow like I will be and the mpg has to be better. So it seemed like a good idea until I read a couple comments here:

“I've had 4 XJs and depending on tire setup (none of them were ever big, either) they could feel like they were operating on pretty thin margins trying to go straight at 70+ mph and an emergency maneuver was almost certainly going to be a disaster.”

And another said: “brakes sucked, and RENIX engine management really made me hate it.”

The round trip to the closest track is 175 miles and there is what I have to call a considerable “feature” of that trip. A hill just north of Phoenix on I-17 – only 2 lanes, 9 miles, steep grade, and only 1 exit in case of a problem.

What say you?

Don't expect much more than 10mpg towing with an XJ.  It's a brick with heavy wheels and tires.

The few that I've driven have made me insane.  I never drank the Jeep kool-aid.  I understand they are loved, but rough, choppy ride, uninspired suspensions, and antiquated powertrains.  Jeep still uses evolutions of Dodge transmissions that date back to the early 60s.  Newer ones started getting some Benz transmissions which are better, but oh so expensive to repair.  Short wheelbase doesn't help either.

I guess I'm saying, it could do it, but it falls somewhere near the very bottom of the list of (what I would call) a good tow rig.  They can be bulletproof little commuters and off roaders, but not really engineered for towing.

Ranger/Colorado/etc might be the ticket.  If you don't need the 4x4, what about a Crown Vic or Caprice/Roadmaster?

My 1990 XJ gets about 17 mpg empty and is working hard at 75 mph. It is not a good tow vehicle. It’s basically a roadgoing tractor by modern standards. My WJ is much more comfortable and powerful and gets low 20’s on the highway.  Towing with that is in the 13 mpg range with an open trailer.  The first-gen Tundra was better but still was in the low teens while towing.

If you manage to double your fuel economy (a tall order, honestly) you’ll save about 17 gallons per trip. At $3.50/gallon, that saves you $60. That’s a pretty small budget to buy, register, maintain and operate another vehicle on.  You already have a tow vehicle that is strong and capacious. I’d leave it all alone. 

I agree with Curtis on all points except my '96 XJ had an aisin trans. Same one used in the LS400 if I remember right. Easily the best part of the car. 

 I liked my XJ but definitely see it's shortcomings. I would never use one as a tow vehicle. Tall light brick of a car has enough trouble with wind at highway speeds without the added trouble of a trailer that probably weighs close to the same as it. If you haven't bought the XJ I wouldn't if this is all you need it for. You won't see good fuel economy with it empty or with a trailer.

It's boring but almost any half ton 2wd truck from the last 20 years should do what you need and get better fuel economy than the big block suburban.

Most mid size and up SUVs should be able to handle it if optioned right. 

The GM B-Body or Panther is a solid option too.

Hard pass on XJ as a dedicated tow vehicle.  Stock cooling is barely adequate as is.

Pick something of the GMT400 or GMT800 tree if you want a cheep 4x4 tow rig.

I love my XJ. It's comfy, quiet, pulls 20+mpg going 80mph. Very stable at speed. Tracks perfectly. Great controls, nice feeling interior for a 23 year old truck. It's got plenty of power going with 190hp/225ft*lbs and a lovely shifting manual transmission.

I could not imagine towing anything more than a small utility trailer. I would want more brake and wheelbase. I'd say more gearing but the autos got a much deeper final drive than my manual.

My lemons teammate picked up a GMT400 3/4ton suburban. It was cheap, tows really nice, seats all of us and get's adequate fuel economy. That's what I'd be looking at.

To pile on...I have a 2000 Cherokee, with 31” tires and a small lift. It gets 19-20 mpg on the highway, and does fine not towing. I also could not see towing much more than a utility trailer - mine gets up the hill between Phoenix and Flagstaff ok, but I would not willingly hook up more than ~1500 lbs or so of trailer and try it. 

I would also bet bet you’ll get better MPG (or at least very close) with a 1/2 ton truck/suburban towing than the  Cherokee. 

As a former XJ owner, pass. Hard pass. They have lousy brakes, a poor suspension for handling and towing, marginal power unless you were towing something really light. Not to mention they are not very comfortable and I don't really like going 75 miles an hour in one even when not towing. I mean I would tell a garden trailer or something but I certainly would not tow a car hauler

If you want a cheap tow rig that actually will get 11 or 12 miles a gallon and be infinitely better at every aspect of towing, look up 1st Gen sequoias. Cheap, powerful, good tow rigs that are dorky enough that nobody buys them.

irish44j said:

If you want a cheap tow rig that actually will get 11 or 12 miles a gallon and be infinitely better at every aspect of towing, look up 1st Gen sequoias. Cheap, powerful, good tow rigs that are dorky enough that nobody buys them.

That’s basically my old Tundra wearing an SUV as a hat. Good truck. Not sure it beats out the Suburban already in the mix. The existence of that rig makes this all a pretty futile exercise. 

In reply to irish44j :

My XJ was fine at 80-85 but it was a 2wd on skinny all season passenger car tires and I was an 18 year old idiot with low standards at the time. 

Keith Tanner said:

irish44j said:

If you want a cheap tow rig that actually will get 11 or 12 miles a gallon and be infinitely better at every aspect of towing, look up 1st Gen sequoias. Cheap, powerful, good tow rigs that are dorky enough that nobody buys them.

That’s basically my old Tundra wearing an SUV as a hat. Good truck. Not sure it beats out the Suburban already in the mix. The existence of that rig makes this all a pretty futile exercise. 

yep, except for cost. Same year and miles a Sequioa costs about 50% less than a Tundra for essentially the same thing. They're the one Toyota truck that is exempt from the "Toyota Tax" really.

vs. Suburban, both have their own advantages (and a lot depends on WHICH suburban configuration, of course). Not sure how they compare price for price in terms of miles, condition, year, etc. 

I do find it somewhat curious: When I go to the track (and putting aside pickups, which are both places), I see a lot of Suburbans/Yukon/Tahoe tow rigs, but very few Toyota SUVs. At rally events, it's the exact opposite - you see a lot of cars showing up towed behind 4Runner/Sequioa/Land Cruiser/Lexus LX470, etc. No idea why that is, but I constantly notice it.  

Besides what's already mentioned here, if you dig deeper you'll find a trove of mostly negative commentary about towing with an XJ in this forum. It could be upgraded in a way that would make it better, but it'll never not be on the small side for the task at hand and i wouldn't recommend going out of your way to try it. 

What's your budget for a replacement tow vehicle? I've towed with numerous (gas) things that could do ~17mpg towing a car, but almost all much newer. 

I have said it other places, and know that I have long hauled way to much with to little, but my 89 Caravan with a 2.5 turbo made a better tog rig than any of the XJ's I have had.

I think the XJ has got to be in the top ten greatest vehicles of all time, but a tow rig it is not.

irish44j said:

Keith Tanner said:

irish44j said:

If you want a cheap tow rig that actually will get 11 or 12 miles a gallon and be infinitely better at every aspect of towing, look up 1st Gen sequoias. Cheap, powerful, good tow rigs that are dorky enough that nobody buys them.

That’s basically my old Tundra wearing an SUV as a hat. Good truck. Not sure it beats out the Suburban already in the mix. The existence of that rig makes this all a pretty futile exercise. 

yep, except for cost. Same year and miles a Sequioa costs about 50% less than a Tundra for essentially the same thing. They're the one Toyota truck that is exempt from the "Toyota Tax" really.

vs. Suburban, both have their own advantages (and a lot depends on WHICH suburban configuration, of course). Not sure how they compare price for price in terms of miles, condition, year, etc. 

I do find it somewhat curious: When I go to the track (and putting aside pickups, which are both places), I see a lot of Suburbans/Yukon/Tahoe tow rigs, but very few Toyota SUVs. At rally events, it's the exact opposite - you see a lot of cars showing up towed behind 4Runner/Sequioa/Land Cruiser/Lexus LX470, etc. No idea why that is, but I constantly notice it.  

The OP already has a Suburban, so the price comparison is moot :)

The reason Sequoias are cheaper than Tundras is because a Tundra is a small business. You can make money with one, like any truck. A Sequoia is just an old SUV for the school run so it’s valued like one. 

OK you guys have been really vague on your comments about towing with an XJ. Anyhow, I’ll take the veiled hint and move beyond the XJ, which BTW was mostly because I want to improve the MPG situation.

Regarding the Suburban. It lives at my place, as a favor to a good friend, who currently lives out of the US. I could use it again but it has been sitting for 3 years and would need some love, sneakers and registration/insurance etc. Aside from the horrific MPG it is a nearly perfect trailer / race car hauler. It sits a lot, not good for tires, because it is not economical to drive daily.

The Tahoe thought has been in the back of my mind. I could pick up a 2005 - 12 ex-PD unit at auction for a fairly decent price and most have not much more than 100k miles. I had not even considered a Sequoia – they seem a more like a pretty kind of toy.  

Budget wise this is one of those ‘I’ll know it when I see it’ things. This dirt roundy IMCA car thing only came up in April or so. I’m mostly looking at cars that are already built, and some I can barely unsee. Also, I’m looking just on the www as most of those that are available are in the Midwest and I’m in AZ. My gut is leaning toward a Mitsu Eclipse but there are few available. I could build a car and in some ways I would prefer to – as it would be done my way not Bubba’s way.

Sooo, that’s my story and for the moment I’m stuck to it. Thank you for the input.

W163 MLs are pretty cheap. We've towed 5k behind an ML500 with good results. Good power, relatively economical when not towing, cheap parts, easy to work on. If you've never driven one, I'd consider taking one for a spin. They drive like a Mercedes should. Interior is comfy.

Vague?

From this thread: too small, suspension not up to the task, inadequate brakes, inadequate cooling, fuel economy isn't much better, marginal power.

Short of putting together a spreadsheet or power point presentation, "Why the XJ Sucks as a Tow Rig" I'm not sure we could have been any clearer.

bigdaddylee82 said:

Vague?

From this thread: too small, suspension not up to the task, inadequate brakes, inadequate cooling, fuel economy isn't much better, marginal power.

Short of putting together a spreadsheet or power point presentation, "Why the XJ Sucks as a Tow Rig" I'm not sure we could have been any clearer.

It was VERY clear. I thought I was clearly being sarcastic.

Most of the 5 speed sticks came with 3.07 gears.  Autos got much better gears 3:55 and up.  I’ve heard rumors of Pioneer trim optioned ones with 4:10.  Mine was stick and 3.07.  When I towed a BMW motorcycle to Colorado on an open 10’ utility trailer, it didn’t struggle but you darn sure knew it was hooked to something.

Keith Tanner said:

irish44j said:

Keith Tanner said:

irish44j said:

If you want a cheap tow rig that actually will get 11 or 12 miles a gallon and be infinitely better at every aspect of towing, look up 1st Gen sequoias. Cheap, powerful, good tow rigs that are dorky enough that nobody buys them.

That’s basically my old Tundra wearing an SUV as a hat. Good truck. Not sure it beats out the Suburban already in the mix. The existence of that rig makes this all a pretty futile exercise. 

yep, except for cost. Same year and miles a Sequioa costs about 50% less than a Tundra for essentially the same thing. They're the one Toyota truck that is exempt from the "Toyota Tax" really.

vs. Suburban, both have their own advantages (and a lot depends on WHICH suburban configuration, of course). Not sure how they compare price for price in terms of miles, condition, year, etc. 

I do find it somewhat curious: When I go to the track (and putting aside pickups, which are both places), I see a lot of Suburbans/Yukon/Tahoe tow rigs, but very few Toyota SUVs. At rally events, it's the exact opposite - you see a lot of cars showing up towed behind 4Runner/Sequioa/Land Cruiser/Lexus LX470, etc. No idea why that is, but I constantly notice it.  

The OP already has a Suburban, so the price comparison is moot :)

The reason Sequoias are cheaper than Tundras is because a Tundra is a small business. You can make money with one, like any truck. A Sequoia is just an old SUV for the school run so it’s valued like one. 

oh, must have missed that he already had one, lol.

yeah, I know why it's cheaper lol. 

I had a 2002 KJ (Liberty) with tow package that towed my 3900 lb. open tailer without trauma. 

I just mentioned it since it is the successor to the XJ.

Just to keep beating this dead horse, I used an XJ to pull a couple of rallycross cars on a tow dolly and will not ever do it again. Granted, I firmly believe that the tow dolly is one of the worst things on earth to tow, but the XJ was not up to the task. 

As has already been mentioned, it barely has enough power, the wheelbase is too short, and you'll get awful fuel economy. 

I was towing a Miata on a tow dolly (with surge brakes - also an invention from satan himself), and got into a "tank slapper" of sorts when I hit one of Michigans world-renowned potholes at speed and the combination of tow dolly/miata started whipping back and forth. I saw my life flash before my eyes and after that day I decided I would never again own a tow dolly or tow anything with an XJ. It didn't weigh enough to comfortable tow heavy things, the brakes were marginal, wheelbase made it unstable, and the unibody transmitted every single bump from whatever you're towing directly into your seat and subsequently your spine. 

As much as I dislike trucks, they really do make towing MUCH easier.

I love my XJ, I would not tow with it. 

I'm sure someone will throw rocks at me for the suggestion, but if all you need is towing a small fwd car on an open trailer, have you considered a Honda Pilot or Ridgeline? They're ugly, but they get fantastic mileage (for a truck) both laden and not. Rated for 5000lbs. I managed 16mpg towing my Miata on an open trailer up and down the hills between Greenville and Atlanta Motorsports Park in my MDX. The J35 is a great engine.