Towing Capacity of 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited

Question:

I just bought a 2 horse aluminum fibreglass trailer. I have a 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited but I don’t think it has a tow package since there is no hi h. If I go to a dodge dealer and get this installed what should I ask for and what would be the maximum capacity?

asked by: Deb

Expert Reply:

When towing, you're always going to be limited by the lowest rated component in your towing setup. You'll want to consult your owner's manual and your Jeep dealer, but it looks like from my research that your 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited without the factory towing package has a towing capacity of 2000-lbs. I would be worried that your horse trailer is going to weight that much unloaded, so it will be considerably more once you start loading horses and cargo inside it.

As for a hitch, the dealer is going to have their own hitch options that may differ from what is actually on the market, but a good hitch that some Jeep dealers use is the Curt Mfg. The appropriate hitch for a 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited is the Curt # C13171 , which is a 2" hitch and is rated for 5000-lbs towing capacity; but as I mentioned earlier, you're going to be limited to the towing capacity of the vehicle since it is much less than that.

If it's possible that you in fact have a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited instead of the smaller Jeep Cherokee your towing capacity that I was able to find is 3500-lbs, but again, you'll need to consult with the dealer and/or owner's manual.

I would also recommend finding out what the dry weight of the horse trailer that you just purchased is, as well as confirming the towing capacity of your vehicle. You won't increase towing capacity by putting on a hitch that is rated higher, and I also know that Jeeps are going to have varying towing capacities that depend on the engine, transmission and if it was equipped with a tow package. Long story short, you'll want to have a look at the owner's manual, dealer sticker that came with the vehicle or consult with your Jeep dealer in order to determine what is going to work best for your Jeep. You'll also want to have your VIN handy if you go through the dealer since they'll be able to determine precisely what your vehicle was equipped with.

If it ends up that you're able to tow your trailer with the Jeep Cherokee, you'll also need a wiring harness like the Curt T-Connector # C56208 , as well as a hitch ball and ball mount like the Ball Mount Kit # 989900