Anyone Flat Towing a '21/'22 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (All 4 Down)?

[tizeye]

Be careful as which 4x4 system matters and the base "Active Drive" that comes in 99% all Cherokee with the exception of Trailhawk trim is NOT APPROVED for 4 down towing. The "Active Drive II" available in the other trims - Latitude, Overland, Limited, etc is approved and is an extra cost option rarely ordered as people don't know the difference and in their mind they are getting 4x4 with the Active Drive without additional cost. As such, most of the new and used Latitudes will not have Active Drive II and you really have to check which 4x4 system it has, as physical lockout is required. The Trailhawk only offers the one 4x4 system and can be 4 down towed, but compared to the Latitude, it has the disadvantages of significantly lower fuel economy and noisy tires with their aggressive tread, plus potentially tighter suspension for off-road.

If yua are looking for the more sedate ride of the Latitude, would seriously consider the Cherokee's direct competitors that are 4 down towable - Ford Escape Hybrid (but not the other 1.5 and 2.0L engines) AWD or FWD, Chevy Equinox, or slightly smaller Chevy Trailblazer/Buick Encore GX twins but they must be the 1.3L AWD, and in the Buick, must be the GX and not the prior generation that is still sold along side the GX but with just the Encore name.

[hugh37]

Very good info, tizeye. In my extensive research regarding what's towable and what's not, I've come across that it's the Active Drive ll and NOT the Active Drive l. Something very puzzling...I've read that if it's "4x4" it can be towed; however, if it's "(4x4)" (in parenthesis) it is NOT flat-towable. All I see for the many Jeep Cherokees online are "(4x4)". Familiar with that? Thanks, again.

[Shadow5501]

Originally Posted by hugh37

Great info, guys...thanks! Would it be acceptable on this thread to ask about your base plate setup on your Jeep...since they are "mates"? I have a Demco tow bar from flat towing my previous SUV. From viewing installs of the Demco base plate on the Jeep it too looks very complicated...requiring removal of the entire front end of the Jeep?? I'd like to think I could handle it, since it was necessary for me to remove the front end of my previous SUV to replace the washer fluid reservoir! Has anyone installed their base plate for their flat towable Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee, etc.? I'd appreciate any input you can offer. Larry

My Cherokee is a 2020 Limited that I special ordered with the ADII drivetrain for flat towing.

The Trailhawk has a unique fascia and front end that are different from all the other trim levels of the Cherokee. There are some advantages to working with the Trailhawk when it comes to installing the baseplate and wiring.

I am using a Blue Ox base plate and tow bar. I did the install and wiring myself. Removing the front fascia is actually quite straightforward and simple, though you’ll want a helper.

Two factors complicate the install on the Limited (and anything else that is not a Trailhawk). First, opening have to be cut in the lower black plastic grill for the baseplate to protrude through. It’s not especially difficult, but is tedious. You need to work carefully to have an aesthetically appealing result. The required opening already exist on a Trailhawk, so it’s easy peasy.

Second, the Limited has active shutters behind the lower center grill. This is likely where you’ll want to mount the electrical connector. The shutter box and motor assembly make it much more complicated to mount and route the wiring. You can’t remove the shutters, or disconnect the motor, or anything because it sets the check engine light. So again, more tedious work to mount the electrical plug and route the wiring harness. In contrast, the Trailhawk does not have any active grill shutters - its wide open down there.

I’ll add a disclaimer - this was all as of the 2020 model year. Things may have changed.

Regardless of which model you choose, you’ll want to include a charge line for the Jeep’s battery. The issue is every time the brake pedal is depressed, the electronics wake up, the dash lights up, and it generally gets ready for someone to start the engine. It’ll go back to sleep after a few minutes, but after a day or two of this the battery will get weak.

[PKI]

In 2022, only the Trailhawk trim was available with the Active Drive II transfer case. Personally, I really prefer the Trailhawk, as the more rugged off-road suspension is much more suited to dealing with unlevel bridge transitions and semi-truck induced pot holes in the right lane.

We do not find the aggressive off-road tires to be problematic with the ride. Coming from an S-type Jaguar, that says something about how good the ride is. The leather option is highly recommended as it gives the passenger electric seat controls and lumbar support.

We do not find it difficult to set up for towing. I made up a book that includes the instructions and follow them item by item. We read that there were 18 steps, but some are intuitively obvious. -- pull up on a level spot and place the shift lever in park. -- hook up to the motorhome. -- place in reverse and check that vehicle does not move. Those types of actions are as obvious to do as checking that the tires turn and the towbar locks in place on both sides.

Key to success - close the driver's door during setup - and - disable the automatic parking brake set feature in the settings menu.

Note - instructions say to remove the key fob. That is not usually possible as it will likely be in your pocket and you are in the vehicle completing the tasks on the list. Do not be confused, but rather remember to only start the engine when the procedure says to start it. Otherwise, do not have your foot on the brake when you press the start/run button as a task.

Another note - the biggest problem I have with the Jeep Cherokee is that it is difficult to see the parking brake light. I have to center my head in the vehicle to see the light that turns on when the brake is engaged. The light goes out after a time, but a pull on the brake actuator switch will cause the light to show.

Note - all options were not available in 2022. Specifically, the parking sensors were not installed and there is a $50 credit on the window sticker.