Grand Cherokee for touring & tow duties

[TheOtherLeft]

I'm looking into the Grand Cherokee as a play/touring vehicle. For touring I'll be towing a 2.1T (tare) caravan.

With 510Nm of torque seems pretty good.

Are they a reliable 4by and what's parts/service availability in the scrub like?

Are there any major things to look for in termsof reliability, breakdowns etc.

[tasar]

Which Grand cherokee ?

ZJ
WJ/WG
WH

Diesel 2.7l or 3.0L
Petrol I6 or V8 4.7 or 5.7L

the jeep community is much bigger than you think - owners allover Oz

for touring and towing the diesels the best either the 2.7l or the 3.0l
I think the 3.0l CRD is amazing

if there is a merc or jeep dealer then you have parts for a jeep - new
there are heaps of after market specialists who can help

If your going to go outback stuff - need stiffer suspension (small lift), long range fuel tank (it goes in the rear tyre area) and then somewhere to put your spare - roof or carrier

Quadadrive makes all other stock 4wd's seem like 2wd's

[pmturnbull]

with 510nm it would be the new 3litre diesel.

[TheOtherLeft]

Sorry forgot to add.

Yep I'm looking at the diesel/auto.

So how many Jeep/Merc dealers are there out in the smaller country towns?

[tasar]

DaimlerChrysler Australia Pacific - Home (http://www.daimlerchrysler.com.au/)

will give you dealers - they are in all the major centres - not as good a toyota

If you are going to do outback stuff definitely need the after market suspension

[jeeptheone]

Ive got the 3.0 CRD and it pulls like a champ and does not guzzle much either. Rear springs and shock need an upgrade though from stock. Pulled a loaded Range Rover on a car trailer from Bundy to Brisbane with 3 people in the car and maxed at 14.7 L/100km's. Was able to overtake with no issue and stay at either 100 or 110 as required.
Mine has been reliable to date with only a coupe of niggling issues fixed by the dealer.
Also do the chip to get the 200kw and 600nm of torque, leaves everything for dead, even the 4.5 V8 cruiser.

JTO

[Babablackjeep]

Ive got the 3.0 CRD and it pulls like a champ and does not guzzle much either. Rear springs and shock need an upgrade though from stock. Pulled a loaded Range Rover on a car trailer from Bundy to Brisbane with 3 people in the car and maxed at 14.7 L/100km's. Was able to overtake with no issue and stay at either 100 or 110 as required.
Mine has been reliable to date with only a coupe of niggling issues fixed by the dealer.
Also do the chip to get the 200kw and 600nm of torque, leaves everything for dead, even the 4.5 V8 cruiser.

JTO
I recently traded my V8 WG for a new WH 3.0l and I agree with Jeeptheone these vehicles are incredible. I tow a 3 tonne boat and it does it easy. I fish at Tin Can Bay and the road from Gympie is quite hilly in parts; that 3.0l diesel has so much torque it climps those hills like they dont exist. As for upgrade of rear suspenion I personally don't believe it is needed. Compared to the WG it is firmer and Jeep increased the tow ball weight to 325kg and towing capability to 3500kg.

My WG certainly needed it and I put airbags on the rear suspension as well as Rancho shocks, The WH has the same feel as the upgrade I did to the WG so I've left the WH alone. I use a Weight Distribution system which balances/levels the weight, consequently the amount of tow ball weight is reduced and everything is nicely balanced for towing; makes a heck of a difference.

I don't think I'll be chipping mine though to clean up a 4.5 V8 cruiser I had one try the WH on a little while back going up a hill with a passing lane it even had a run up on me but when I opened the WH is absolutely left the cruiser for dead!!! At the time I didn't realise the cruiser was a V8 until it passed me...the owner of the cruiser gave me the thumbs up and a wave as he passed. Besides my WG could clean one of them up anyway.:zzz: