I have just purchased a new boat 5000 lbs. and pulled it home with a pick-up, Chevrolet with 5.3 V8. Was a good pull but manageable. I have a 2012 Grand Cherokee with a 3.6l. I gave it a try but at a 100 kph. the little V6 was reving at 3000 rpm. Makes me think if I get a head wind I need more power. My question is do I buy a pick-up that I know will do the job or purchase a new Jeep with a hemi or V6 diesel? Will the Jeep pull as well as the 5.3 GM?
I have just purchased a new boat 5000 lbs. and pulled it home with a pick-up, Chevrolet with 5.3 V8. Was a good pull but manageable. I have a 2012 Grand Cherokee with a 3.6l. I gave it a try but at a 100 kph. the little V6 was reving at 3000 rpm. Makes me think if I get a head wind I need more power. My question is do I buy a pick-up that I know will do the job or purchase a new Jeep with a hemi or V6 diesel? Will the Jeep pull as well as the 5.3 GM?
On the one hand 3k rpm sounds unusual but on the other, that is less than half way to redline and is 1800 rpm under the torque peak. The '12 V6 with factory tow package is rated at 5,000 lbs and only has a five speed while a 5,000 lb boat is pretty big, wonder what the frontal area is ?
Just as a a counterpoint, my 3500 lb (unloaded) travel trailer has about the same FA as my '12 GC and pulls efforlessly at 65 mph (tad over 100 kph) and will pass 70 real quick if I need around slower traffic. At cruise here in the flatlands it just sits on about 1900 rpm in 5th lockup and 165F trans temp unless crossing the Thomas B. Manuel bridge when I see 2300 rpm..
So for one thing is the boat 5k lbs or is that boat and trailer ? How much of an air dam is it ? Have you considered a Sailfish ? YWTK.
In terms of power to pull that big of a load, the 14+ hemi or ecodiesel have more than enough. I pull a 6000lb travel trailer behind my 14 hemi, and used to pull that same camper behind my 08 hemi. The 14 pulls it a lot easier with the new 8 speed transmission.
I have pulled my dads Lund boat with both his 07 Chevy 1500 (5.3L) and my 14 Grand Cherokee, and I would say hands down the Grand Cherokee pulls almost effortlessly compared to my dads truck, particularly on big hills. That boat is probably only around 3500lbs though. The newer Chevy trucks do make more power, and do have a better transmission, so maybe you were in a newer one.
The other side of the equation is wheelbase and weight distribution. Although the Grand Cherokee is set up to handle a pretty decent load, the Ram or Chevy 1500 will be able to handle a larger gross weight and a larger tongue weight. Speaking from experience as well, the larger wheelbase in the truck also helps when things get a bit windy.
I don't know if you could find a dealer that would do it or not, but it would be cool if you could test drive a new Grand Cherokee with your boat behind it??
We have a 5500lb travel trailer and tow with our GC diesel and get at least 15mpg highway at 65ish. The 8spd gearbox puts the motor at the torque sweet spot at highway speeds. Also, no trouble uphill/downhill etcetera, we are very pleased with our Ecodiesel. No problems with sway at highway speeds.
We installed an Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch and a Tuson brake controller...this combo makes the Jeep and Trailer feel like a single unit on the highway.
Plus we regularly get 30+ highway without the trailer..........:thumbsup:
The Hemi or EcoDiesel will pull the load just fine. But there are a lot of variables that go into selecting a towing combination that works best together. A 5000 lb boat is likely a very "large" load in physical dimensions. It may or may not be a good choice to choose to pull that with the JGC. It's not always about drivetrain; it can be about balance, sway tendency and a bunch of other things. Pulling 7200 lbs of trailer/load that's low to the ground is different than the same weight that's got a higher wind factor and higher center of gravity. Pulling a live load (like horses) as I do requires staying well below capacities to insure stability.
And don't forget that even a JGC with the Hemi or EcoDiesel requires a WDH for loads over 3500 lbs and that's not usable with a typical boat trailer that has inertial/surge braking. A heavy tongue weight without WDH can be a true safety issue for both you and others on the road.
And don't forget that even a JGC with the Hemi or EcoDiesel requires a WDH for loads over 3500 lbs and that's not usable with a typical boat trailer that has inertial/surge braking. A heavy tongue weight without WDH can be a true safety issue for both you and others on the road.