Auto or Manual

[samo_ott]

I'm planning to tow a 2,900 lb boat (including trailer) about 2,000 miles. I have 2 Jeep Cherokees that I can use. Both are 6cylinder 4.0 litre high output. One is a auto and one is a 5 speed. I don't have a tranny cooler on the auto (but can/will put one on) but was wondering what folks thought would work better, the auto or the standard. Thanks.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Auto or Manual

IMO If you're not doing much shifting, the standard shift,,, If you are, the auto. Either way, that's a lot of weight for those paticular vehicles to be towing so far.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Auto or Manual

Like Mike says, flatground, use the standard.
In a lot of hilly country, the auto.
I have towed my Gambler with my '96, auto, but whoaaaa baby, it and I did not like it.

 

[rndn]

Re: Auto or Manual

I like the automatic. No clutch burning as you would get on s standard pulling the boat out of the water and as long as you put a tranny cooler on the auto.

 

[oops!]

Re: Auto or Manual

your pretty flat out there. you goin to florida?
there is a post here on bringing a boat across the boarder... magster i think. good post...

2900 is heavy and cooler or not you wont have a tranny left if you go auto.
i hate shifting bit id take it.

or rent a big cargo trailer ....load it and see how either jeep does. if you like it your good to go

cheers
oops

 

[donnymac]

Re: Auto or Manual

I'd go standard, well maybe it's because I've never owned a automatic. If it has 4 low, don't sweat the boat launch. My pathfinder is only a 3.0 liter and it idles up the ramp in 1st 4 low with a 2800lb boat and trailer. I use the pathfinder for quick launching( I live 1/4 mile from the dock) and I use my F250 5.4 liter for any sort of trips. I did use the pathfinder once for a longer trip and it was scary. Just not enough vehicle weight or horsepower(190)

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Auto or Manual

your pretty flat out there. you goin to florida?
there is a post here on bringing a boat across the boarder... magster i think. good post...

2900 is heavy and cooler or not you wont have a tranny left if you go auto.
i hate shifting bit id take it.

or rent a big cargo trailer ....load it and see how either jeep does. if you like it your good to go

cheers
oops

Yep, picking a sailboat up in Florida and bringing it home. I'll look for that post about bringing it across the border, thx. Actually, it's 2500 lbs I found out. But I do have some mountains in Penn. to cross... Flat most if the way.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Auto or Manual

Ok, so I think I'll go with the standard as I have no launches to worry about and even if so have 4WD low to do it. The Cherokee is rated @ 5,000lbs to tow and I just found out the boat is 2250 lbs dry... then add the trailer... So hopefully I'll be ok. Does anyone else use a 4.0 L Cherokee to tow a long distance? If so what were the results?

 

[tommays]

Re: Auto or Manual

i tow with a 4.3 Gm from LI to upstae NY a LOT and i think you will find at a LOT of 3rd and some 2nd gear hills depending on the rear end ratio




Tommays

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Auto or Manual

I can handle the slow hills as long as that's it... Just use the 4 ways like the semis... What do you tow? How heavy?

 

[tommays]

Re: Auto or Manual

I tow a Maxum 2000SC less than 3800# Stoping is fine but going on the long hills reqiures well timed downshifts even with the Automatic

Most of the time if i keep from droping below 2600 RPM it will pull all the grades BUT once its below that i will spend soem time at 3800+ rpm TO KEEP UP THE MIN SPEED LIMIT



Tommays

 

[Ezrider_92356]

Re: Auto or Manual

5 speed. the auto might be better at the lauch but i prefer towing with a manual, the better use of engin breaking on down hills and not having to worrie as much about overheating the tranny is a plus

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Auto or Manual

Look at your owner manuals.
They will indicate a towing capacity and the ratings will be more for the auto than the manual.
For a reason. Usually because it is assumed that the average consumer does not treat a manual the proper way.
Also, the early Cherokee 5-speeds are not the strongest that could have been used.
They had a perchant for burning the clutch or twisting the center out of the pressure plate.
That being said, I towed a Jeep CJ5 on a trailer with a Jeep Comanche 4.0 with the 5-speed several times Michigan to North Carolina. Let me tell you, it was not an easy tow with 3500lbs behind you without trailer brakes. Especially in the eastern Tennessee mountains.
But I was still passing semi's.

I would do it with the automatic.
If you have oversize taller than O.E.M. tires on it, go back to original size for the trip.
Run I-81 and I-75 and you will have minimal mountains.

Taking advantage of the Canadian dollar, eh?

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Auto or Manual

I do not have the owners manual for either. On the edmunds.com site the '98 (auto) was listed at 2500 lbs only and the '91 (5 speed) was listed at 5,000 lbs. for towing... weird. Good point about the tires, Will check to see if they are the stock size. thx. And yes, the good dollar helps... Plus boats are so much damn cheaper down south...