Jeep Garage  - Jeep Forum banner

How to know if I have HD Cooling

63K views 45 replies 13 participants last post by  cheyennesky11211998  
#1 ·
I have a 2016 3.6L High Altitude. How do I know if I have Standard Cooling or HD Cooling? Trying to determine if I have 3,500# or 6,500# towing capacity. Thank you.
 
#2 ·
Your towing capacity is determined by whether or not you have Factory Towing or not.
 
#20 ·
Check the build sheet and/or the window sticker from links posted earlier.

Keep in mind, "trailer sway damping" I'm pretty sure is part of the ESC system and is on all WK2's. Its likely always active because actual trailer sway can only be caused by a trailer and creates a unique coupling of motion that the system is not going to mistake normal operation as trailer sway.... My guess, they list it on the Window Sticker like they list a ton of standard equipment, to wow you with how loaded the vehicle is with options that are actually just standard equipment.

You could just look at your radiator, granted that is pretty tough in a WK2 since they have so shrouded with parts that are not easy nor quick to remove to get a better look. I upgraded to a HD radiator when I replaced mine. I have a pick of them side by side, I'll try to find it and post it. The HD radiator is just thicker, like twice as thick, a full inch compared to the 1/2"-3/8" of the SD radiator, other than that, its looks identical.

As well, HD cooling and Class IV hitch and wiring is not the only thing in the TOW package that gives the 6500 lb tow rating. Different rate rear springs and load leveling shocks are also included.

And someone pointed in another thread that lead to what is needed to retrofit the TOW Package, if you actually retrofit the TOW package yourself, TOW 6500lbs and have an accident while doing so, insurance and authorities are not likely to accept you've retrofitted the tow package, and blame you for exceeded the tow capacity of the vehicle. How much consequence is that, I don't know, I'm sure in many cases it won't even come up or if it did, even count for a hill of beans, but you never know......
 
#25 ·
From what I gathered, Dealer Installed Options were really a kit from the manufacturer that allowed the Dealer to install an option, or the ability of the option, practically. Far from all options could be Dealer Installed, just not practical.... ....Usually in the Mopar Accessory Catalog, cause they really are more accessories than an assembly line option the dealer is installing rather than the assembly line....

The Remote Start is a good example... ....on the assembly line there are several totally different electronic modules that are installed in a remote start vehicle than a regular start vehicle.... ....but the Mopar Accessory/Dealer Installed Option is a simple kit with a 3rd party module that is installed and electronics configured to communicate with it, and a set of keys with the remote start button... ....So the remote starts are two totally different systems, but as far as the Owner is concerned, since its transparent to the owner, he got the exact same option that other vehicles had installed on the assembly line...

The TOW Group as a Dealer installed option? While the changes are a half dozen components, that a Dealer should be capable of replacing. The cost of the new components and labor rates for the Dealership, really make me think this is impractical and never offered as a kit. The load leveling shocks and 180amp alternator are expensive, and the radiators, fans and springs aren't cheap either, to replicate the changes done at the assembly line would be very expensive at a Dealership, that's my guess. Probably never offered as a kit....

The Class IV hitch on the other hand is easily done at the Dealership at a reasonable cost and is practical. And the wire harness was included on all WK2's save one model year, I think, but requires dealer electronic tools to enable its operation.

Now I'm wondering if the included harness with the tow hitch installed and enabled, is being called a "Dealer Installed TOW Package" but its tow rating is 3500lbs like the O.M. says.... ...not inconsistent with what the build sheet says.... TOW Group IV (because its a Class IV hitch) TOW Capacity 3500lbs.... ...the actually assembly line TOW group installed would say the same except TOW Capacity 6500lbs.....
 
#29 ·
The TOW Group as a Dealer installed option? While the changes are a half dozen components, that a Dealer should be capable of replacing. The cost of the new components and labor rates for the Dealership, really make me think this is impractical and never offered as a kit. The load leveling shocks and 180amp alternator are expensive, and the radiators, fans and springs aren't cheap either, to replicate the changes done at the assembly line would be very expensive at a Dealership, that's my guess. Probably never offered as a kit....
The HD cooling fan is difficult to retrofit; I believe it requires a different engine-compartment wiring harness... it gets a 100A feed directly from the jump post, and uses PWM control instead of two-relay control.
 
#26 ·
I think there is some confusion between GVWR (The maximum weight of your Grand Cherokee) which is 6500 lbs and Towing Capability -

(Capability numbers here are for the 4X4 version, 2WD and SRT may be different - check your owner's manual)

The 3.6l Pentastar V6 towing capability is:

With the FACTORY INSTALLED Tow Package the Maximum tow rating for a 3.6L Pentastar V6 powered JGC is 6200 lbs., 620 lbs. Hitch Capacity.

Without the FACTORY INSTALLED Tow Package the maximum Tow rating for a 3.6L Pentastar V6 powered JGC is 3500 lbs., 350 lbs. Hitch Capacity.

The 5.7L Hemi V8 (and EcoDiesel) towing capability is:

With the FACTORY INSTALLED Tow Package the Maximum tow rating for a 5.7L Hemi V8 or EcoDiesel powered JGC is 7200 lbs., 720 lbs. Hitch Capacity.

Without the FACTORY INSTALLED Tow Package the maximum Tow rating for a 5.7L Hemi V8 or EcoDiesel powered JGC is 3500 lbs., 350 lbs. Hitch Capacity.

As previously stated some trims (ie; Trailhawk) include the Factory Tow package as part of the Trim Level Package

The FACTORY INSTALLED Tow Package can only be installed at the FACTORY. Owner or Dealer Installed Hitches are not certifiable to the higher limits.
 
#27 ·
Thanks for the clarification on the numbers....
...The FACTORY INSTALLED Tow Package can only be installed at the FACTORY. Owner or Dealer Installed Hitches are not certifiable to the higher limits.
My guess is the Certification is far more than just the strength of the TOW Hitch, after all, it's the same TOW Hitch installed the same way as at the factory, as far as the Hitch is concerned, there is no difference. But safely towing is far more than the hitch being strong enough.

The HD Brakes, Cooling, Bigger Alternator and I suspect the most important, rear suspension increased spring rate and load leveling shocks are part of the Engineering guidelines used to certify the vehicles to the higher tow ratings. That is not only engineering guidelines for the Hitch Strength, its also the engine cooling, electrical power and braking capacity to handle the higher load. And Suspension that has the correct dynamic characteristics.

There are no kits in the Mopar Accessory Catalogs that I am aware of, I just don't see it being practical to have a dealer swap all of that equipment, the cost of the parts and labor would be too expensive.

An owner could swap in that equipment, DIY and using direct replacement aftermarket, might not be that expensive. BUT, like someone mentioned in another thread, DIY is no official certification of the higher TOW Capacity, nor a process to gain it. So if you do get all the info right on the configuration and reconfigure it yourself, maybe the vehicle can safely handle the higher TOW weights, but if you get in an accident, as far as the authorities and insurance is concerned, you were towing above the tow capacity for your vehicle.
 
#42 ·
Does this constitute the HD factory towing package or is it a separate line item with its own cost? This is a 2018 GC High Altitude. Thanks

Yes, you have Factory Towing. It was standard on the 4X4 HA.
 
#43 ·
Thank you. Dad was a truck driver and can back 53’ around a corner but I haven’t towed before. Picking up a boat next week and getting things in order. Boat trailer is dual axle disk with proportional brakes about 5,900 pounds total which I think is near the max as I want to be well under the max tow rating.
 
This post has been deleted
#44 ·
What model year and trim level do you have? As I mentioned previously, that matters as 4x4 vehicles at higher trim levels have factory towing as standard and some other trim levels had the Factory Towing installed at build time and others did not. Your build sheet is a good thing to determine the latter if you have a lower trim level.
 
Featured vehicles
Explore custom vehicles by our forum members. Click a card for details or add your own!
Loading…