Well, I am about to buy a tow vehicle to haul my crap around to far away trails. My question is which would you pick a 99-2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/4.7 v-8 and a tow package or a 2000-2002 Dodge Durango w/5.9 and a tow package. I really like the looks of the Jeep but I have heard really bad things about the transmissions w/all wheel drive. I am kinda leaning towards the durago right now. I do not want a big truck because it will be my daily driver and there is no way I can jump from a vw golf to a full-size. So what do you think The Cherokee or the Dodge? Thanks

I don't know how much weight you're going to tow, but in my opinion, you'll be much happier with a diesel truck (I've owned a gas and diesel hauler). You can do more with it too - because when you buy a truck, you'll use it for "truck" type stuff.

If you have your heart set on either the Dodge or Jeep though, go with the Dodge.

how much are you towing? If you are talking about towing something like a jeep on a 16' flat bed trailer, I wouldnt touch the Jeep, too short of a wheel base. I honestly think the Durango is too short too, but better.

And if you are worried abotu the jeep tranny, to make you feel better the durango has the same tranny in it :flipoff2:
When looking at trucks for my mother she orignally looked at a 5.9 limited GC, then a 5.2l durango slt, and then bought a 98 4 runner. The durango felt the most stable, but the traction was insane with the 5.9l. The 4runner was the best choice.
That being said, I wouldn't tow a trailer w/jeep with either the 4 runner, or the Jeep, and wouldnt ride in either that was towing them either.

Also remember this, the durango has a frame, the jeep doesent.

Garrett

Remember, the Durango is an enclosed Dakota. Basically.

The Jeep all wheel drive problem is the 249 case, not the tranny. The V8's have the 46RE, which is a derivitive of the 904. The 4.0L had the 42RE which came from the A500. Both are decent trannys.

I have a ZJ now, and I just posted for help on selecting a suitable 3/4ton. I have towed ski boats just fine with the ZJ, but wouldn't touch much more than about 3500-4000 with it. The brakes are simply not up to the task. At least mine weren't.

M.

Originally posted by geepincj7
Well, I am about to buy a tow vehicle to haul my crap around to far away trails. My question is which would you pick a 99-2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/4.7 v-8 and a tow package or a 2000-2002 Dodge Durango w/5.9 and a tow package. I really like the looks of the Jeep but I have heard really bad things about the transmissions w/all wheel drive. I am kinda leaning towards the durago right now. I do not want a big truck because it will be my daily driver and there is no way I can jump from a vw golf to a full-size. So what do you think The Cherokee or the Dodge? Thanks

All I can say is that if you've got the cash be picking up a new V8 GC or 5.9 Durango....I'd be over in the used truck lots looking at a used diesel 3/4 ton.....but that's just me. :D

I know you don't want a big truck, but a reg. cab 3/4 ton 2WD isn't the biggest truck out there anyways, and you'll get alot more use out of it than the Grand.

The money you save will by a nice trailer, and you'll be towing with more power and much more safety.

A friend of mine in our club has been regularly towing his CJ-7 on a tandem axle trailer behind a V-8 WJ for a couple of years now. He says it tows just fine, but I have neither driven this combo or even ridden in it. He also said stopping power was just fine with properly working trailer brakes. However I would have to say that a fullsize truck would be better.

Regarding the difference between the GC and Durango, the Durango is slightly bigger and heavier.

The '99 and newer GC's (WJ) with the 4.7L V-8 come with the 45RFE transmission which seems to hold up pretty good. A modified version of this transmission is also used behind the 5.7 Hemi in fullsize 3/4 ton trucks. The transfer case is a NV247 fulltime case which I haven't really heard any problems about. The pre-99 V-8 models (ZJ) had different engines and transmissions so you can't really use them as a comparison. I never was impressed with the trans in these older ones, especially the 42RE used behind the 4.0L.

The Durangos are also available with the 4.7L/45RFE combo, but not sure what the first year this available in them (2000, 2001 ??). I personally prefer the 4.7L in the Durango as compared to the 5.9 for daily driving......seat-of-the-pants performance is as good or better IMO and a little better gas mileage (both of these are partially due to the better shifting and lower geared 45RFE trans), though I believe they rate the 5.9L versions higher on towing capacity.

I just priced out an '03 Durango with the 5.9L, towing package
and anti lock brakes. It came to just over $32,000. That's a 4x2
SLT. Hell, you can get a RAM 3500 quad cab dualie CTD for that
price.

I recently bought a 03 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Long Bed, Quad Cab, Cummins HO w/6 Speed NV5600. It has the $770 Infinity stereo system, power seat, heated mirrors, cruise, tilt, electric everything, blah blah blah you get the idea.

$26,135.00

I drive a diesel ram 01, and love to tow with it. My brother has an 01 durango and towed from coast to coast, a VW pasat (sp?) on a tandem trailer packed full of crap the bed was stuffed and he ever had to put overload springs on it to sit halfway level. Also had his wife and kid with him. He made it with no problems!

Buddy of mine tows with a Durango (the better of the two choices). Will be going full-size next time around. BARE MINIMUM, get a full-size 1/2 ton P/U or Utility. Using a downsize to tow is like shooting elk with a .243. It's legal, and it's been done, but that doesn't make it right. A 1/2 ton is more like a .270, acceptable, but only under optimum conditions.

TEX

The wife and I saw a Grand Cherokee towing a travel trailer that might've maxed out at 5,000pds. Which is about the same or less than a car hauler and Jeep. That was very scary to watch. Major sag on the rear of the Jeep. It's probably legal, but, doesn't mean I'd feel safe in or near the vehicle. I think it's safe to say any fullsize 1/2 ton p/u will out tow a GC. If funds permit go for the 3/4ton.

My opinion is that if you are going to spend that kind of money for a "tow rig"you should get at least a 3/4 ton diesel truck.You have to consider that your not just going to be towing your rig but also all the gear and people.A 3/4 ton will have the suspension to this safely and a diesel is going to have the torque to pull!I have 01 Dodge 2500 long bed with the Cummings,would not want any thing else.With out a load the fuel mileage is 19/22 mpg.Towing is about 16 mpg.

This will also be a daily driver so I do not want a full size truck or a diesel. All of you seem to be getting on this safety kick. I for one do not see what is unsafe about this at all. The trailer and Jeep I tow is about 5000 lbs. The durango with a 5.9 and 4.10 gears is rated to pull 7000 lbs and the Grand with a 4.7 is rated at 7000 also. I will be using trailer brakes and I know how to load the trailer so it will not sway all over the palce nor will the vehicle sag in the rear. In an ideal world i would get a fullsize to use as a specific tow rig. However, since I will be driving this daily I do not want a full size. I have towed with a grand cherokee before and have never had a problem and I have neard really good things about the durango. I do not drive 75mph and try to keep it about 60-65 like everyone who tows anything should do. So between these 2 choices which would you prefer...thanks

Originally posted by geepincj7
This will also be a daily driver so I do not want a full size truck or a diesel. All of you seem to be getting on this safety kick. I for one do not see what is unsafe about this at all. The trailer and Jeep I tow is about 5000 lbs. The durango with a 5.9 and 4.10 gears is rated to pull 7000 lbs and the Grand with a 4.7 is rated at 7000 also. I will be using trailer brakes and I know how to load the trailer so it will not sway all over the palce nor will the vehicle sag in the rear. In an ideal world i would get a fullsize to use as a specific tow rig. However, since I will be driving this daily I do not want a full size. I have towed with a grand cherokee before and have never had a problem and I have neard really good things about the durango. I do not drive 75mph and try to keep it about 60-65 like everyone who tows anything should do. So between these 2 choices which would you prefer...thanks

Well, then I wouldn't go with the Durango. It's stopping distance isn't as good with a load than the Cherokee. The jeep has a shorter wheelbase, so I wouldn' go with a long trailer.

Numbers I could find on the quick:

1997 Cherokee, 120'
1998 Durango, 135’

The Durango has a frame.

Between those two vehicles it is an easy choice, the Durango for it's solid frame and longer wheel base. Other than that how about a Yukon or Tahoe, still make a nice daily driver and not to big.

I dont quite get you not wanting to drive a 3/4 ton every day. I used to commute through traffic in my ram 5 days a week, and now drive through LA traffic. To tell you the truth, it is nicer to drive than my 85 4 runner or the 98 4runner I drove before my ram. Yes it is bigger, but I have never had a problem. (I used to commute in a volvo for awhile too, and yes the ram is about the same as driving the volvo).

Garrett

Originally posted by geepincj7
This will also be a daily driver so I do not want a full size truck or a diesel. All of you seem to be getting on this safety kick. I for one do not see what is unsafe about this at all. The trailer and Jeep I tow is about 5000 lbs. The durango with a 5.9 and 4.10 gears is rated to pull 7000 lbs and the Grand with a 4.7 is rated at 7000 also. I will be using trailer brakes and I know how to load the trailer so it will not sway all over the palce nor will the vehicle sag in the rear. In an ideal world i would get a fullsize to use as a specific tow rig. However, since I will be driving this daily I do not want a full size. I have towed with a grand cherokee before and have never had a problem and I have neard really good things about the durango. I do not drive 75mph and try to keep it about 60-65 like everyone who tows anything should do. So between these 2 choices which would you prefer...thanks

lol
I currently daily drive a 93 f250 supercab longbed 4x4 diesel as a commute truck, and am getting rid of it- for a 2000 f 350 crew cab dually 4x4 diesel, the 250 just isn't big enough...

Originally posted by geepincj7
I for one do not see what is unsafe about this at all.

First time you head out on the highway with that GC & trailer you WILL see what's unsafe about it. Trust me. I towed a similar load for many years behind a 1/2 ton FULL-SIZE truck & had numerous close calls that wouldn't have even rated as "an incident" had I been using a more appropriate vehicle. And my old 1/2 ton, marginal though it was, is twice the tow rig of either of the rigs you're looking at.

Don't want a 3/4 ton as a daily driver? Well, instead of dropping $35k on a Durango or GC, why not $15k on a compact car for daily driver chores, & $20k on a late-model 3/4 ton truck to be used only when needed? I mean honestly, Durangos & GC's aren't exactly ideal choices for daily drivers either. The Durango will suck more gas than my 1-ton.

TEX

I am not sure where you live but around here a used 2000 durango or GC go for about 10-14k. I would never spend 35 k on any vehicle. I do have that in my trail jeep but that has been spent over the last 10 years. Again I have towed with a GC and I do not see what is unsafe about it. It had plenty of power to pull it and with the trailer brakes I never had any stopping problems. I even used a regualr Cherooke once to tow my Jeep up to Attica with no problems. It was a little underpowered but it got the job done.