Actually the official limit is 4500 lbs. without the Tow Group. Many later Cherokees though do have aux transmission coolers installed OEM which are a key element of that limit. As the years from 2014 progressed it seems that more had the aux cooler OEM. All Trail Hawks from day one had it. If you had AD2 you had it from day one. Also it seemed that more may have had it as the years progressed simply because the ZF needed it because of its compact size and heavy workload (4WD) from the Cherokee. Simply a precaution by FCA in my opinion.
This has been discussed many times over the almost 5 years I have been reading this forum.
@Fj4080 kind of confirms Aux cooler in this continuing saga.
I can remember the old days that many times the tow shops would have to add an aux cooler and possibly change the axle ratio at the same time. This was all depending on how much weight was involved. Those were the main changes needed to tow. Sometimes adding some simple suspension changes like HD shocks were also done.
I would have a shop add a hitch, tap into the rear lights, and change the fluid every year at the end of the tow season. At my tow weight an aux cooler was not needed.
That tow weight was under 2k. The old days are not much different than today in the reality of things except the tail lights.
The Cherokee itself, structurally OEM, will tow 4500lbs as it sits. I have seen nothing to the contrary. Its the extra cooling that is the issue.
Aux trans coolers can be added
if needed, specifically for the Cherokee. These are aftermarket systems for the Cherokee. That is the most important element of the Tow group outside the hitch/wiring cable. The extra engine cooling may simply be the extra fan on the radiator if so equipped.
The axle ratio is what really limits the Cherokee towards that upper limit if its non OEM tow. The main thrust is to keep the parts and equipment cool, primarily the transmission. It always has been and always will.
Now obviously there is a warranty involved so that limit is there for a good reason. FCA will guarantee your tow up to that limit with their specific equipment package. Aftermarket packages do not pass the muster as FCA can not nor should they guarantee their performance or how thy will stand up to various weight limits.
Also another issue is non OEM tow receivers and wiring set ups. If not installed properly they can actually damage the vehicle itself.
A
properly installed aftermarket tow set up is obviously at your own risk if you are towing 3,000lbs or so but I doubt there will be issues if the vehicle is maintained properly. In the end its proper cooling...…
One of the reasons I have gotten OEM tow set ups on my last 4 Jeeps was its a well integrated package with the axle ratio so as to maintain that warranty and on my 2014 a Max Care Life plan. That OEM tow was the reason 3 out of the 4 Jeeps had to be factory ordered.
But just some general observations.
