Community Forums

djpauls · 12-29-2019, 03:58 PM

I am very interested in what you find out. The best that I could get from FCA was that it must be to prevent the battery from going dead so I installed a toad charge. First trip is at the end of January.

jwlce · 01-14-2020, 08:01 AM

Just as an interim follow up. The folks at FCA are looking into it a bit deeper. Their product specialists are on the case. I believe it has been forwarded to engineering department. I did note another discrepancy in my manual. Flat towing when disabled on page 310 (third edition of manual) does NOT specify disconnecting the ground where recreational Flat towing on page 269 does??? They are aware of the 2019 to 2020 change in the ground cable as well as the recreational vs disabled issue. I will update as they get back to me.

djpauls · 01-15-2020, 07:46 AM

Just as an interim follow up. The folks at FCA are looking into it a bit deeper. Their product specialists are on the case. I believe it has been forwarded to engineering department. I did note another discrepancy in my manual. Flat towing when disabled on page 310 (third edition of manual) does NOT specify disconnecting the ground where recreational Flat towing on page 269 does??? They are aware of the 2019 to 2020 change in the ground cable as well as the recreational vs disabled issue. I will update as they get back to me.

Anxiously waiting to see what you find out. You already have had more success than I. My first trip is planned in less than 2 weeks.

jwlce · 01-15-2020, 02:58 PM

This is what they said about the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee:
"This is a courtesy email update regarding your recent communication with Jeep Customer Care.

I appreciate your patience since placing your initial inquiry - we wanted to verify/validate with our Jeep Engineers specifically on this topic.

After further review, it has been determined the process of disconnecting the battery is not required when flat towing the vehicle. This step may be disregarded.

I do hope this information further assists with your inquiry. You are always welcome to call us directly with your questions at the Jeep Product Information Center by calling 1-877-426-5337."

Just to cover my butt, No responsibility on my part is expressed or implied about this information. and it ONLY applies to the ground cable. All other aspects of flat towing in the appropriate manual still apply... but I will be flat towing mine.

CWSWine · 01-16-2020, 02:26 PM

I assume Jeep got the wobble fixed even though they won't admit it is problem. My 2017 Grand Cherokee has done three times all at slow speeds and the last time was bad enough that i won't tow 4 down anymore. Here is the thread talking about it. I post this so if does happen you know what it is and corrective action to stop it.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/new-p...le-360864.html

captdbg · 06-16-2020, 06:52 AM

What is the outcome of the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee flat towing and disconnect of the ground wire.Do you need to or not Couldn’t find the outcome of this thread on search.Want to buy a 2020 but don’t want to disconnect the ground every time and lose all save memory of Bluetooth and radio Thank You

djpauls · 06-17-2020, 09:47 AM

No need to disconnect the ground cable. I just completed a 2,500 mile trip with no issues. I did have a "toad charge" from motorhome but believe that it is unnecessary.

Safe Travels!

Badmanrick · 07-20-2020, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpauls

Setting up 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Roadmaster Tow Bar and Air Force One braking system. I am confused about disconnecting the battery for towing. One page in the owner's manual says to disconnect yet the step by step procedure does not mention it. The dealer seems to think that it doesn't have to be disconnected. For those of you with late model Jeep Cherokees as a toad. Do you disconnect the battery?

Thanks

I have a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit and the instructions for towing clearly state: turn the ignition to the off position. Nothing about disconnecting from the battery.
I also have a Roadmaster invisibrake 8700 and it states to turn on the lights on the motorhome and it will charge the battery.
You can’t charge the battery if it is disconnected. And you loose ALL your settings.
You want to tow as easy as possible.
Your Jeep was made to tow. Enjoy it.

Dark Sky · 07-20-2020, 07:34 PM

I have no experience with a Grand Cherokee "yet", but I have to ask, have you actually towed for long days without disconnecting the battery or adding a charge line to supplement the 'lights on' instruction for your Invisibrake? The reason I ask is that I fought this for a long time with my Wrangler that is equipped with an Invisibrake. After ruining a battery or two from running it completely flat, even though I confirmed that the 'lights on' position was providing a few amps to the battery, I couldn't solve my problem until I added a battery disconnect, and wired it in such a way that a dedicated charge line that floats my bus batteries with the Wrangler battery remains connected with everything else disconnected from the battery. This is easily done with a knife blade isolation switch. I can't say why my experience might be different, only that this is what my experience was. Perhaps you haven't run some long towing days like 12-14 hours?
Thanks for sharing!

Badmanrick · 07-21-2020, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Sky

I have no experience with a Grand Cherokee "yet", but I have to ask, have you actually towed for long days without disconnecting the battery or adding a charge line to supplement the 'lights on' instruction for your Invisibrake? The reason I ask is that I fought this for a long time with my Wrangler that is equipped with an Invisibrake. After ruining a battery or two from running it completely flat, even though I confirmed that the 'lights on' position was providing a few amps to the battery, I couldn't solve my problem until I added a battery disconnect, and wired it in such a way that a dedicated charge line that floats my bus batteries with the Wrangler battery remains connected with everything else disconnected from the battery. This is easily done with a knife blade isolation switch. I can't say why my experience might be different, only that this is what my experience was. Perhaps you haven't run some long towing days like 12-14 hours?
Thanks for sharing!

My Grand Cherokee has an AGM battery and when hooked to the motorhome with the lights on I am getting the proper charging voltage to the Jeep. My motorhome a 2019 Thor Hurricane34j also has AGM batteries for house and starting.
I have not had any problems towing long distances with this setup.

Dark Sky · 07-21-2020, 08:31 AM

Thanks for sharing your experience. It's good to know that the Invisibrake charging system can actually work properly. Maybe the AGM batteries stand up to abuse better, or I wonder if my 'lights on' charging on my Invisibrake doesn't keep up because my brakes actuate whenever the exhaust brake kicks in (and I always have it on)?
If that's not it, maybe something's not right with my Invisibrake setup and I'm not getting the full charge. Oh well, I've installed the float connection between Wrangler battery and motorhome batteries so the potential problem has been bypassed.

deandec · 07-21-2020, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Sky

I have no experience with a Grand Cherokee "yet", but I have to ask, have you actually towed for long days without disconnecting the battery or adding a charge line to supplement the 'lights on' instruction for your Invisibrake? The reason I ask is that I fought this for a long time with my Wrangler that is equipped with an Invisibrake. After ruining a battery or two from running it completely flat, even though I confirmed that the 'lights on' position was providing a few amps to the battery, I couldn't solve my problem until I added a battery disconnect, and wired it in such a way that a dedicated charge line that floats my bus batteries with the Wrangler battery remains connected with everything else disconnected from the battery. This is easily done with a knife blade isolation switch. I can't say why my experience might be different, only that this is what my experience was. Perhaps you haven't run some long towing days like 12-14 hours?
Thanks for sharing!

We have towed GC 4.7L about 80,000 miles with no battery disconnect or charging while using a Brake Buddy system. Longest haul was about 26 hours.

However, the Jeeps are 1999 WJ and 2005 WK Versions.

Metalbendr · 10-22-2020, 10:59 AM

Just for information I just bought a new 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee TrailHawk last week. The owners manual has no statements about disconnecting the battery for recreational towing. I contacted FCA to confirm as well. There is no requirement as was noted by others.

dezolen · 10-22-2020, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deandec

We have towed GC 4.7L about 80,000 miles with no battery disconnect or charging while using a Brake Buddy system. Longest haul was about 26 hours.

However, the Jeeps are 1999 WJ and 2005 WK Versions.

That’s surprising as a Brake Buddy uses battery power to operate. Never had an issue with classic model but when I got a deal on the delux Brake Buddy I found it needed more juice to operate. Just upgraded to GC Summit and installed charge line just in case.