[andi*pandi]

My parents are looking at a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with V8 to tow their horse trailer and 2 horses. (~5000 pounds) The Jeep they're looking at has a non-standard trailer hitch on it, and the elderly owner doesn't remember how much it can tow. The manual is locked in the glove box that is jammed.

Calling dealers comes up with 5 different answers. They are clearly clueless.

Google-foo reveals an automagazine ad that says if it's the V8 engine it can haul 6500 pounds, otherwise only 5000. How reliable is a classified ad?

Google-foo also says that the towing capacity should be printed on the door panel. They are checking on that, can anyone else confirm this?

I've checked KBB and Edmunds and Carfax, and no useful info. Any other sources to check?

thanks, and thanks in advance for not making this a "SUVs SUCK" thread.

[Doofy]

Right...

I can't remember the tow weight of one of those but it's based on wheelbase more than engine size. For example, the 4.0 Cherokee can tow more than a 4.0 Wrangler (same engine) because the wheelbase is longer.

I can tell you this: If it's a side-by-side horse trailer (like this) then a Grand Cherokee with a V8 will have no problems - I used to cart two big horses around in one of those behind a 2.5 TDi Cherokee. I can't remember the weights but I'm crazy insane about safety on things like that so I would have checked and made sure it was within limits at the time before doing it.

Longer wheelbase on that Grand, more torque and higher BHP says "yes, it'll do it no problem" to me.

Hope this helps.

[Doofy]

OK, this page, post 10, says 5,000 Lbs. Sounds about right.

Looks like that's going to be your maximum based on wheelbase, regardless of the V8's extra power (check the 4.0 6 cylinder and the 5.9 V8 - both are 5,000 Lbs).

But, like I said - it's well doable. Been there, done that.

[d4nth3m4n]

after checking wikipedia, it seems that the engine is the magnum 5.2l and the chassis (car nerds are all about chassis codes) is ZJ. i'm googling around, but i figure the more we have googling, the better.

cliffs:

google keywords to try:
* 5.2 magnum
* ZJ jeep

[d4nth3m4n]

after a quick look-

Jeep ZJ Produced from 1993-1995

Exterior Dimensions:
Length: 176.7 in. Width: 69.2 in.
Height: 64.9 in. Wheel Base: 105.9 in.
Ground Clearance: 8.2 in. Curb Weight: 3574 lbs

Interior Dimensions:
Front Head Room: 39 in. Front Hip Room: 56.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 58.2 in. Rear Head Room: 39 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 57.6 in. Rear Hip Room: 49.3 in.
Front Leg Room: 40.8 in. Rear Leg Room: 35.7 in.
Luggage Capacity: 40.1 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 80 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

Performance:
Base Number of Cylinders: 6 Base Engine Size: 4 liters
Base Engine Type: Inline 6 Horsepower: 190 hp
Max Horsepower: 4750 rpm Torque: 225 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4000 rpm Maximum Payload: 1150 lbs.
Maximum Towing Capacity: 5000 lbs. Drive Type: RWD
Turning Circle: 36.6 ft.

Optional Engine - 5.2 MPI V8 (MPI stands for Multi-Port Injection)
Horsepower:220

Fuel Tank Capacity: 23 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway) for 6cyl
Manual: 16 mpg / 21 mpg Automatic: : 15 mpg / 20 mpg
Range in Miles: (City/Highway)
Automatic: 345 mi. / 460 mi. Manual: 368 mi. / 483 mi.

from here

edit: should have read doofy's post. whatever, i'll leave it, might as well save a click.

[Hugi]

Do you have the VIN (Vehicle Idenfication Number)?

I should be able to tell you if you do.

[andi*pandi]

I do. (pm sent)

[Doofy]

I'll bet you Hugi tells you it's 5,000 Lbs.

[Hugi]

Well... I've got a couple of those vehicles in the Icelandic vehicle registry. They seem identical, but registered towing capacities are very different between them - 1.500 kgs. for one of them (3.300 lbs) and 3.500 kgs. (7.700 lbs) for the other. Looks like an anomaly in the vehicle registry since both of them sport the same 5.2 litre V8 engine - in fact, they look identical from a technical perspective.

Sorry.