How Much Can A Jeep Grand Cherokee Tow (2021, 2020, 2019, Towing Capacity)

Do you know how much the 2021, 2020, 2019, or 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

Jeep Grand Cherokee is a range of mid-size crossover SUVs, which started its life back in 1993 as a body-on-frame SUV but converted to a unibody in 2005.

While the marketing term “mid-size” is often maligned and misunderstood by the public, in the case of Grand Cherokee it only means that it is shorter than 200 inches and has 2-rows seats.

Since the first generation, its capabilities and performance were more akin to the full-size SUV, than to what one would expect from a smaller vehicle.

One of the strong selling points of the Grand Cherokee has been its very versatile towing capacity.

So, how much can a Jeep Grand Cherokee tow? The towing capacity of a Jeep Grand Cherokee is either 3,500lbs, 5,000lbs, 6,200lbs, or 7,200lbs. The exact specification of any individual vehicle in the lineup depends on three factors, engine selection, suspension selection, and the presence of somewhat optional Trailer Tow Group class III or IV packages.

2021 jeep grand Cherokee v6 towing capacity is around 6,200 pounds

2020 jeep grand Cherokee v6 towing capacity is 6,200 pounds

2018 jeep grand Cherokee towing capacity is around 7,200 pounds

2017 jeep grand Cherokee towing capacity is around 7,200 lbs

2016 jeep grand Cherokee towing capacity is 7,200 pounds

That would be the short of it, but let’s get deeper into these numbers and some other underlying facts about these figures.

Table of Contents

What Is A Jeep Grand Cherokee Towing Capacity?

When it comes to figuring out the exact maximum towing capacity of a Jeep Grand Cherokee, things can get messy very quickly.

One of the reasons is the structure of the trim levels and the standard equipment they bring, which are different for different model years.

Trim levels are not only equipment specific, but also decide the engine option which can have an impact on the towing capacity, but not always.

The drive selection, whether rear-wheel or 4×4, also can have an impact, as on some model years they have different rear axle designs, while on some there is also a mechanical limit of rear-wheel drive.

Probably the most important piece of equipment when it comes to the towing capacity, the Trailer Tow Group III and IV package, was not always part of standard equipment.

This can be a problem when buying a used Grand Cherokee and mislead you about the performance of a particular vehicle.

Arguably the least complicated way of presenting the maximum towing capacity is by sorting the trim levels per it:

3,500 pounds – Laredo E, Laredo X, Freedom, Limited, Limited X, 80th Anniversary, Overland, and Summit without any Trailer Tow Group packages.
5,000 pounds – Limited X with Trailer Tow Group Class III package
6,200 pounds – Laredo E, Laredo X, Freedom, Limited, Limited X, 80th Anniversary, Overland, and Summit with optional Trailer Tow Group Class III package; and Trailhawk, Trackhawk, High Altitude, and SRT which have class III package as standard
7,200 pounds – SRT and Trackhawk with optional Trailer Tow Group Class IV package.

When it comes to currently available new vehicles, both model year 2021 and preorders for the model year 2022, all trim levels can be split into two groups per towing capacity.

The lower capacity group is 6,200 pounds, which is dictated by the 4×2 rear-wheel drive, and the higher capacity group is 7,200 pounds, which are trims with 4×4 all-wheel drive.

The only exception is the 2021 model year’s Limited X trim level, which has towing capacities of 3,500 and 5,000 pounds depending on the drive selection.

Below you can find the 2012–2021 JEEP® Grand Cherokee Towing Capacity which included:

Year	Jeep Grand Cherokee Towing Capacity
2005	6,500 lbs.
2012	5.7-liter V8 7400 lbs
2014	6,200 lbs.–7,200 lbs.
2015	3,500 lbs.–7,200 lbs.
2016	3,500 lbs.–7,200 lbs.
2017	3,500 lbs.–7,200 lbs.
2018	3,500 lbs.–7,200 lbs.
2019	3,500 lbs.–7,200 lbs.
2020	3,500 lbs.–7,200 lbs.
2021	3,500 lbs.–7,200 lbs.

Does The Jeep Grand Cherokee Come With A Towing Package?

Jeep Grand Cherokee, depending on the trim and model year, either has an optional Trailer Tow Group package or it comes as a part of standard equipment.

Many of the trim levels of older model years, in their base configuration, came only with preparation for a Class III towing package, while others had an option for choosing either class III or IV.

Currently available new vehicles, no matter which trim level you choose, come with Trailer Tow Group IV package, with exceptions of the SRT and Limited X, for which it is an optional package.

Both Trailer Tow Groups add increased capacity to the base configurations by replacing some critical base parts with improved versions, but there are differences in the scope of improvements.

The Trailer Tow Group Class III package adds an improved transmission oil cooler, a 7 and 4 pin wiring harness, a full-size spare tire, and a Class III hitch receiver.

The Trailer Tow Group Class IV package, on top of this, adds a beefier power steering cooler, engine cooler, rear load-leveling suspension, and a Class IV hitch receiver.

What they do not include are the hitch ball mount and the ball itself, which is understandable as it leaves for the customer to configure towing devices per their own needs.

What Towing Aides Are Available On A Jeep Grand Cherokee?

When it comes to devices and technologies that will make your towing easier and safer, on a Jeep Grand Cherokee the most important one is the Trailer Sway Contro or TSC.

It is part of the electronic stability control suit and using several sensors inside your vehicle it monitors for excessive sway and takes corrective actions.

By monitoring the steering wheel input and the actual direction of the movements of the vehicle, and thus the yaw sensor detects the sway.

When active, it will start applying either left or right brakes and decrease the engine torque delivered to the wheels until the vehicle gets on the path matching the steering input.

Because this system is based on the yaw sensors in the vehicle, it can also detect and counteract the consequences of the strong crosswind.

What You Can Tow With A Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Depending on the exact configuration of your Grand Cherokee, your maximum tow capacity can vary, and so what you can pull with your vehicle.

The lowest capacity is 3,500 pounds, which is not very much compared to other available capacities, but neither is useless.

This capacity will allow you for a wide range of utility trailers, which can be used for towing various vehicles, such as snowmobiles or ATVs, or even smaller fishing boats.

When it comes to camper trailers, it will be sufficient for various teardrop, A-frame, or popup trailers, in essence, the majority of 2-sleeper trailers.

The medium capacity of 6,200 pounds will open you to a new world of possibilities when it comes to what you can tow with your vehicle, especially when it comes to camper trailers.

Some eyeball estimate is that it is good enough for almost any camper trailer shorter than 28 feet, but that’s just a ballpark figure.

Many longer trailers have a dry weight under this limit, so it would be OK to tow them barebone empty.

At the same time, there are some shorter campers which when fully stocked with all liquids, gear, provisions, and luggage; will exceed this limit.

For this reason, it is less of a hustle to tow camper trailers that have the GVWR under the towing capacity of your vehicle, and just forgo the dry weight or UVW rating of it.

The maximum capacity of 7,200 pounds is in percentages a smaller increase, but removes a lot of thinking and figuring out when it comes to camper trailer selection for either purchase or rent.

A high number of camper trailers that are appropriate for large families or groups of people have GVWR in the range between 6,500 and 7,000 pounds.

With a fully equipped for towing Grand Cherokee, you will be able to tow them too, and you would be hard-pressed to find a behemoth that it is not able to move.

Final Thoughts

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is much more than a people or family carrier, and when properly equipped it can be a serious trailer hauler.

Its towing capacity starts at 3,500 and when properly equipped it reaches an impressive 7,200 pounds.

Here are some of my favorite services, products, and Stores

Thank you for reading this article. I hope it helps you find the most recent and accurate RV, camping information. Here are some services, products, and Stores that I use and hope you´ll also find helpful.

There are affiliate links, so if you do decide to use any of them, I´ll earn a small commission. But in all honesty, these are the exact what I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family.

To see all my of most up-to-date recommendations, check out this resource that I made for you!

Top Pick

Best RV Supplies

+ Great Products & Services

+ Approved

+ Save Thousands of Dollars