Not impressed with 2010 Jeep

[supton]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger
There was no problem with tires slipping, just no grunt taking off in 2 Hi in first. Seemed first (manual transmission) was too high for a utility vehicle, but I suppose they are more soccer mom than utility vehicle these days.


Probably just need to "abuse" it more. Rev higher, and smell the smoke...

This is why I gave up on my Jetta, despite the camper being well w/in the tow rating. Throw a slope in the way and things change drastically. Engine has all the power to do the job, but the gearing (in my case, reverse) was abysmal.

Also: yanking a boat out of the water, I'd think that be a hard thing to do. Easy if you go slow--but then the clutch is being slipped heavily.

Gearing!

 

[buck91]

My fathers '05 KJ tows a 24ft pontoon pretty decent considering the size of the liberty.

 

[IndyIan]

I looked up the gearing on an older jeep and 1st was quite similar to my Tracker. It gets you halfway across an intersection before you want to shift. My procedure to get moving with a big load is rev it to 3500+ and let the clutch out fairly quickly. I'd rather spin a tire than smoke a clutch.

 

[kkreit01]

Not too many buy a Wrangler as a tow rig. Your comparing a minivan and truck to a JK? He wouldn't be impressed with their off road abilities. It still pulled it out, so who cares if it couldn't do it in 2wd? Yes, the 3.8s were underpowered.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
Not too many buy a Wrangler as a tow rig. Your comparing a minivan and truck to a JK? He wouldn't be impressed with their off road abilities. It still pulled it out, so who cares if it couldn't do it in 2wd? Yes, the 3.8s were underpowered.


Quote:
wouldn't take off on a moderate hill in 1st gear in 2 Hi


The OP made it sound like, after it was out of the water, he couldn't get it started on dry ground, on a moderate hill, w/o resorting to 4LO.

 

[JTK]

My new 1997 Wranger TJ, 2.5L, 5spd manual had trouble pulling a single jet-ski/trailer up and out of a heavy incline unless it was in 4-low. A fun, fairly comfortable and reliable vehicle, but gutless for towing and daily use? Very much so.

 

[ledslinger]

Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: kkreit01
Not too many buy a Wrangler as a tow rig. Your comparing a minivan and truck to a JK? He wouldn't be impressed with their off road abilities. It still pulled it out, so who cares if it couldn't do it in 2wd? Yes, the 3.8s were underpowered.


Quote:
wouldn't take off on a moderate hill in 1st gear in 2 Hi


The OP made it sound like, after it was out of the water, he couldn't get it started on dry ground, on a moderate hill, w/o resorting to 4LO.


Bingo! Your reading comprehension skills are superlative!

 

[jeepman3071]

I wouldn't pull a shopping cart with a 3.8 Wrangler, they are so under powered.

The 4.0 is a completely different animal. It develops most of its torque right off idle, almost like a diesel, and has a nice flat torque curve.

With my Cherokee I could probably pull anything that is hooked behind it. Stopping it would be the challenge.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
I wouldn't pull a shopping cart with a 3.8 Wrangler, they are so under powered.

The 4.0 is a completely different animal. It develops most of its torque right off idle, almost like a diesel, and has a nice flat torque curve.

With my Cherokee I could probably pull anything that is hooked behind it. Stopping it would be the challenge.


Cherokee brakes are horrible. They could barley stop an empty Cherokee from the factory. I will say - the JK could barley get going, but if you did manage to get it to 60 it would stop GREAT! Even with 32'' tires.

I am running the exact same set of tires on my Cherokee as my parents were running on their JK when they traded it (we put the stock 32'' mud tires on to trade). Even with the skinny 31'' snow tires, it had no power. My 120,000 mile Cherokee with an auto transmission and 3.55 gears has no problem. On hills that would require shifting to 3rd gear and climbing at 3500RPM, the Cherokee has no problem climbing at 2000 RPM. I do have to kick out of OD on some longer hills, but nothing as bad as the JK.

I will be moving this spring and considering using the Cherokee to tow a trailer. I don't expect to have any problem getting going, or with tires (load range E) or suspension (HD Leaves), but even with all new brake hardware, stopping is going to be the hard part.

 

[GMBoy]

Using the 4wd LO on pavement like that means he will be buying a transfer case soon.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Using the 4wd LO on pavement like that means he will be buying a transfer case soon.


Not after only a couple of miles, I'd hope. Just avoid turns.

 

[VNTS]

If you want to have some fun, go vist the local boat ramp.

We have a brand new one near where I live, town got dontated land and state porkulous money. Very nice.

Anyhow me and the wife go down for a laugh in late spring to watch all the newbies who bought boats but dont have a clue. We live in Liberal Yupie land where most are trying to save the planet with their econo CUV's. They have no clue about tow ratings and the law.

anyhow best show was a older guy and his wifey with a 08sh CRV. Think palstered with Obama stickers and Green Peace etc
had about 18 ft Four winns bow rider. I am guessing 4000 sh lbs combined. Probably over the rating of the CRV by 1000 lbs or so.

anyhow he probably nursed it and was able to lauch just fine, but now is attempting to pull it out at lower tide, ramp is long and has incline but is really nice launch. We are sitting at a picnic table, I turn to the wifey and tell her this is goign to be funny.

Guy hooks up the boat, gets maybe two feet up the incline where it starts to get steeper, hits the slick wet spot where someone else's boat drained. Front driver wheel starts to spin, CRV does not move. Guy floors it some more LOL then I hear boom

and wraping.

Guess the real time AWD or whatever they call it does not send much tourque to the rear wheels and the electronic wizzardwy does not do much. Guy gets out and you can see he blew a cv joint and rapped the axles around a few times for good measure. Trasn fluid is leakign on the ground. Another boater starts chewign his asz telling him his CRV isnt rated to tow something that size. he goes grabs a absorbent pads out of his truck to prevent the fluid from getting into the water. He grudgely pulls the CRV out into the lot and then hauls the guys boat. I hear him telling the guy to get a real truck or SUV rated for the size boat.

We have idiots like this all over the place since we live near the Ocean and all the boat dealers wont compromise a sale and mis-inform customers. I talked to a guy at MMTA and he told me the staties pull over impound vehicles and idiots like this all the time.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
I wouldn't pull a shopping cart with a 3.8 Wrangler, they are so under powered.

The 4.0 is a completely different animal. It develops most of its torque right off idle, almost like a diesel, and has a nice flat torque curve.

With my Cherokee I could probably pull anything that is hooked behind it. Stopping it would be the challenge.


Cherokee brakes are horrible. They could barley stop an empty Cherokee from the factory. I will say - the JK could barley get going, but if you did manage to get it to 60 it would stop GREAT! Even with 32'' tires.

I am running the exact same set of tires on my Cherokee as my parents were running on their JK when they traded it (we put the stock 32'' mud tires on to trade). Even with the skinny 31'' snow tires, it had no power. My 120,000 mile Cherokee with an auto transmission and 3.55 gears has no problem. On hills that would require shifting to 3rd gear and climbing at 3500RPM, the Cherokee has no problem climbing at 2000 RPM. I do have to kick out of OD on some longer hills, but nothing as bad as the JK.

I will be moving this spring and considering using the Cherokee to tow a trailer. I don't expect to have any problem getting going, or with tires (load range E) or suspension (HD Leaves), but even with all new brake hardware, stopping is going to be the hard part.



I upgraded my front brakes to Hawk ceramic pads with slotted and drilled rotors. It made a night and day difference. I also had the brake lines flushed by a shop. These two things made my Jeep stop better than it ever could from the factory. It made such a difference we did the same thing on my friend's Cherokee. I highly recommend this upgrade before towing.

 

[accent2012]

A CRV can tow? Nah, I don't believe it.

 

[ledslinger]

VNTS - My philosophy about amusement from other's misfortune at boat ramps, or anywhere else for that matter, is that it is bad karma. I think it ups the odds that you will be the brunt at some point.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
I wouldn't pull a shopping cart with a 3.8 Wrangler, they are so under powered.

The 4.0 is a completely different animal. It develops most of its torque right off idle, almost like a diesel, and has a nice flat torque curve.

With my Cherokee I could probably pull anything that is hooked behind it. Stopping it would be the challenge.


Cherokee brakes are horrible. They could barley stop an empty Cherokee from the factory. I will say - the JK could barley get going, but if you did manage to get it to 60 it would stop GREAT! Even with 32'' tires.

I am running the exact same set of tires on my Cherokee as my parents were running on their JK when they traded it (we put the stock 32'' mud tires on to trade). Even with the skinny 31'' snow tires, it had no power. My 120,000 mile Cherokee with an auto transmission and 3.55 gears has no problem. On hills that would require shifting to 3rd gear and climbing at 3500RPM, the Cherokee has no problem climbing at 2000 RPM. I do have to kick out of OD on some longer hills, but nothing as bad as the JK.

I will be moving this spring and considering using the Cherokee to tow a trailer. I don't expect to have any problem getting going, or with tires (load range E) or suspension (HD Leaves), but even with all new brake hardware, stopping is going to be the hard part.



I upgraded my front brakes to Hawk ceramic pads with slotted and drilled rotors. It made a night and day difference. I also had the brake lines flushed by a shop. These two things made my Jeep stop better than it ever could from the factory. It made such a difference we did the same thing on my friend's Cherokee. I highly recommend this upgrade before towing.


I may look into that. Have been researching rear disc swap too.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
I wouldn't pull a shopping cart with a 3.8 Wrangler, they are so under powered.

The 4.0 is a completely different animal. It develops most of its torque right off idle, almost like a diesel, and has a nice flat torque curve.

With my Cherokee I could probably pull anything that is hooked behind it. Stopping it would be the challenge.


Cherokee brakes are horrible. They could barley stop an empty Cherokee from the factory. I will say - the JK could barley get going, but if you did manage to get it to 60 it would stop GREAT! Even with 32'' tires.

I am running the exact same set of tires on my Cherokee as my parents were running on their JK when they traded it (we put the stock 32'' mud tires on to trade). Even with the skinny 31'' snow tires, it had no power. My 120,000 mile Cherokee with an auto transmission and 3.55 gears has no problem. On hills that would require shifting to 3rd gear and climbing at 3500RPM, the Cherokee has no problem climbing at 2000 RPM. I do have to kick out of OD on some longer hills, but nothing as bad as the JK.

I will be moving this spring and considering using the Cherokee to tow a trailer. I don't expect to have any problem getting going, or with tires (load range E) or suspension (HD Leaves), but even with all new brake hardware, stopping is going to be the hard part.



I upgraded my front brakes to Hawk ceramic pads with slotted and drilled rotors. It made a night and day difference. I also had the brake lines flushed by a shop. These two things made my Jeep stop better than it ever could from the factory. It made such a difference we did the same thing on my friend's Cherokee. I highly recommend this upgrade before towing.


I did the same thing for my 2000 Cherokee. The Powerslot rotors and Hawk pads - awesome and virtually no dust.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

How do they hold up to mud? I'd be afraid of baking mud into the slots on the rotor when I go off road.

 

[kkreit01]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger


Bingo! Your reading comprehension skills are superlative!


And the point of this thread is worthless. We all know the Wrangler isn't a tow rig, and the 3.8L was gutless. They fixed part of that, but it still isn't a tow rig. Stick a 8000lb+ boat behind your Chevy, and then see how well it could have done in the same situation. You wouldn't have been impressed with the Jeep on the highway either -- without a boat behind it. It's obviously not a vehicle for most.

 

[ledslinger]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
Originally Posted By: ledslinger


Bingo! Your reading comprehension skills are superlative!


And the point of this thread is worthless. We all know the Wrangler isn't a tow rig, and the 3.8L was gutless. They fixed part of that, but it still isn't a tow rig. Stick a 8000lb+ boat behind your Chevy, and then see how well it could have done in the same situation. You wouldn't have been impressed with the Jeep on the highway either -- without a boat behind it. It's obviously not a vehicle for most.


I wasn't comparing the Wrangler's pulling ability to my Silverado. As an aside, I commented on how much better the Michelin's traction is compared to the OEM Goodyears on the same ramp. I wouldn't want to pull over 5K pounds with it except for very short runs.

I didn't know how bad 3.8 Jeep engines are until I rode in this one. He bought it new with hail damage for $19K and had a buddy who does dent removal fix them all for $300. I wouldn't want it for $19,300, and it probably lists for nearly $30K. I knew its not a good tow vehicle, but you learn a lot about a vehicle when pushed. I don't know if the motor is intentionally cammed to have no low end torque in deference to power while revving, but I don't think I'd like owning one.

It appears the Jeep has a towing rating of 2000 lbs, so it was at double capacity. The Honda Odyssey is rated to tow 3500 with all towing options.