How much can my jeep pull?

Hi i bought a 1991 jeep a few months ago, and i installed a class 3 draw-tight trailer hitch. I need to know how much will the jeep be able to trailer (boat)?

What model jeep, transmission (ie manual, auto, 2wd or 4wd) and engine. With that said, if your mechanical systems are not running optimally the limit will be lower.

From a 1990 Cherokee/Wagoneer owners manual:

Class III hitch
Your vehicle can be equiped to toe trailers with a Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) of 5,000 lbs or a 2,268kg maximum. Tongue weight must be equal to at least 10% of GTW, but no more than 15% of GTW.

So GTW equals the trailer plus anything loaded in or on it.

Jeep Cherokee/Wagoneer Vehicle requirements for Class III hitch (heay duty) toeing up to a GTW of 5,000 lbs.

Engine 4.0L 6cyl
Transmission Auto only
Min tire size P205/75/R15
Engine Cooling ...Heavy Duty
Battery...Heavy Duty
Transmission Cooler........Auxillary Cooler Required
Axle Lubricant.............Synthetic

Jeep cherokee limiteds generally came stock with heavy duty alternator, starter, battery and radiator. Transmission coolers were not stock that I know of.

Tips: When pulling a trailer don't put a heavy load inside your jeep.

Get the Rear differential and transmission fluid changed. Most people never change these fluids and since you bought your vehicle used you don't really know the history.
Depending on the mileage, previous care of the vehicle and the climate and terrain of the area in which you are towing in, adjustments to your engine cooling and transmission should be made for heavy frequent towing.
When I bought my 90 cherokee Ltd with 97k miles in 1997 I immediately trashed the old radiator, installed a 3 zone radiator an off the self transmission cooler. A transmission cooler is about $40. If you feel your radiator is in good shape keep it. But the bottom line is that the vehicle is a 91 so if its the original radiator its probably not in good shape.
Also its good to have an anolog temperature gauge not an idiot light. You tend to be able to see problems developing better with gauges.

My limited has a power switch that made a huge difference pulling the largest loaded Uhaul trailer from western New Mexico to Texas. So if you have that its an option you can use.

All of the above advice is very good, but Cherokees made dangerous tow vehicles for heavier trailers. The engines make terrific torque and are able to move heavy loads just fine. However, the rest of the chassis is unable to control a heavy trailer.
The virtues of a Cherokee for great off road performance (light weight, compact size) means that the Cherokee does not have the weight, wheel base or traction to safely control a heavier trailer.
IMHO, 1600 lbs is the absolute safe maximum for a single axle trailer without brakes. If you get a tandem axle trailer with brakes, 2400 lbs is reasonable.
Yes, I know many people tow much heavier loads, but the key word here is 'safe'. I could tow 10,000 lbs with a Ford Escort, but it would not be safe. Any more than the above loads and the Cherokee is absolutely unable to handle any kind of emergency manoever.

I have hauled 4500 lbs plus with my Cherokee, and I can tell you - its not safe. My 2200 lb boat and trailer gave me such handling scares, I bought a 3/4 ton full size Chevy van to pull my boat.

The info I have provided was from the Chrysler manual. The vehicle if driven safey...Key word on "safely" should be able to handle the weight Chrysler specified.


The higher center of gravity (COG) makes any SUV or modern pickup a dangerous vehicle at high speeds during turning or swerving activities for sure.

Cherokees especially the early models also have soft breaks, so when pulling a load keep that in mind.

Most of the newer SUV's and alot of the pickups have similar wheelbases and higher COG's than Cherokees. Toewing is inherently dangerous especially when you get on a highway and start moving above the recomended speeds of the trailer your towing (usually 40 or 50MPH).....and we all know everyone goes over the speed limit of those things.
Once you go beyond the specs on your vehicle or the towing equipement, your reducing your safety. Then of course, ad the nut cases on the road with you and it can be scary.

I'd agree with MagicRat....towing with a GTW of 5,000 lbs wouldn't be comfortable at highway speeds. I just don't have faith in the brake design on cherokees. Your 91 still had soft breaks and I think thebreaks may have been redesigned only a few years prior to the termination of the model. They added ABS in 90 or 91, however most of the cherokee owners I have spoken to continued to complain about the breaks on their vehicles well into the 90's

Thank you viper and magicrat, i'll try not to tow more than 3,ooolbs, i think thats what a 19ft boat and trailer weight might be? when you say,Tongue weight must be equal to at least 10% of GTW, but no more than 15% of GTW. Is that at the ball of the hitch? and how can i weigh it?

Thank you viper and magicrat, i'll try not to tow more than 3,ooolbs, i think thats what a 19ft boat and trailer weight might be? when you say,Tongue weight must be equal to at least 10% of GTW, but no more than 15% of GTW. Is that at the ball of the hitch? and how can i weigh it?
Many of the newer SUV's have similar wheelbases to the Cherokee, but can safely tow more because they are wider and significantly heavier.
For example, the Chevy TrailBlazer is just about 1000 lbs heavier than a Cherokee. Don't ask me where they put it, but that weight provides more mass to resist the swaying forces of the trailer, and more weigh to plant the (bigger) tires it has.
Yes, if your 19 ft boat is fibreglass, 3000 lbs is about right. An aluminum boat of that size would be a bit lighter.
IMHO its too much weight for safety, and definitely too much if its a single axle trailer with no trailer brakes.
Yes, you can tow it, but remember, you will have very little extra braking or manovering capability in an emergency.

As I stated before, I towed my 16 ft boat quite a lot with my Cherokee, and it was always a white-knucle expreience. My full size 3/4 ton Chevy van tows it like its not even there. No sway, and the brakes stop the truck as well as always. And that is what you want for safe towing. If you can feel the trailer back there all the time, its probably too much load.

As for tongue weight, yes its measured at the end of the tralier tongue where the hitch ball goes. Place the tongue on a bathroom scale to see the tongue weight. Most scales go up to 300 lbs so it should do.

I am an amatuer repair artist and want to know the best way to change front/rear differential fluid

remove the differential covers, let the oil drain out.

Clean the sealing surfaces on the housing and cover

apply a 1/8"bead of silicone RTV to the cover, install the cover and tighten the cover bolts.

use what is recommended in the manual (usually 80w90 but 75w90 will work)

best fluid is a synthetic (I prefer Mobil 1) and add 4 oz of positrac fluid to the rear diff if you have posi.

the tag on the rear diff will say if it is posi or not.

this is a question to either viper1861 or MagicRat:
I have a situation where i need to tow my jeep cherockee '93 sport 2 door and i need to know its gross weight -naturally i dont have the manual and i can't seem to find it online. would you guys know at least an estimate... thanks a bunch.

to clearify -the jeep cherockee '93 is 4.0 - 6 cyl ...
since its rear drive might i have a problem using a tow dolly? the one you get the front wheels on?
thks

Gross weight is the weight of the vehicle and the maximum amount of cargo.
What you need to know is the curb weight, which is approx. 3400 lbs.
Towing with the front wheels on the ground is dangerous. But you can loop the seat belt through the steering wheel to minimize the risk.
You can tow it with the rear wheels on the ground and the transfer case in neutral.

to clearify -the jeep cherockee '93 is 4.0 - 6 cyl ...
since its rear drive might i have a problem using a tow dolly? the one you get the front wheels on?
thks

Hauled trailer 2500 lbs+, load encluded, on my 4.0 6 CYL 90 Jeep Cherokee Limited Edition A/T from Virginia to Houston (1300 miles). Handles well as long as one keeps to the speed allowed for trailer and load. If one goes beyond the speed of 45 mph in most cases, trailer will of course snake tail on you. I'm heading back to Virginia in Febuary or March and will do it again. Not a problem. Keep it safe and Good luck!